Roots of conservation: A legacy of land and learning
Willson property forest (Photo by NCC)
Thanks to Phil and Kay Willson’s great generosity, a conservation agreement on their land, in the Rural Municipality of Spiritwood, Saskatchewan, was donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in August 2024. A conservation agreement...
Working in wetlands: A complex ecosystem
Wetland creation site: staff and volunteer group with newly created woody berm structure in 2022 (Photo Carolyn Davies/NCC)
The Minesing Wetlands is an incredible complex. Designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, a Provincially Significant Wetland and a Life Sciences Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, it is a critical area for conservation....
Weeding out trouble: A summer as an invasive species sleuth
Hiking on the ridge to check on biocontrol releases (Photo by NCC)
This summer I had the incredible opportunity to work as an invasive species technician with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in the Waterton and Castle Crowsnest Natural Area. This remarkable area is known for its diverse landscapes and...
The swamp’s unlikely hero: a beetle
Purple loosestrife at Beaver Meadow wetland, ON. (Photo by Jen Arbeider/NCC staff)
When I first started as a conservation technician with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in May, I was very excited to observe unique species of plants and wildlife, as well as work in a diversity of habitats and make a difference in...
A blazing start: Restoring habitat with a prescribed burn
Prescribed burn at Upper Big Creek Block of Norfolk County, ON (Photo by NCC)
How is burning a form of restoration and how does it work? Prescribed burns can be used for many different purposes: they can remove invasive species in an ecosystem, remove undergrowth on the forest floor, create new habitat for wildlife, provide...
Meet NCC’s 2023 summer interns: Sabrina Hasselfelt
Laced up and ready for what the field day may bring (Photo by Sabrina Hasselfelt/NCC staff)
As I stepped into this internship at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), connecting with fellow interns and sharing their stories and passions has been something I’ve been looking forward to. I gladly introduce to you our next intern in...
Behind the scenes at Gaff Point, one of Nova Scotia’s most beloved trails
Doug, the Nova Scotia stewardship manager, introduced the NCC staff and volunteers (Photo by Andrew Herygers/NCC staff)
The forecast had predicted rain on the morning that I attended a Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) Conservation Volunteers (CV) event at Gaff Point, Nova Scotia. I was there to help repair part of the trail that had been affected by erosion and,...
Understanding gratitude as a survival skill
NCC’s Black River Bog property, NS. (Photo by Jill Ramsay/NCC staff)
A naturalist and former mentor of mine once told me that gratitude was a survival skill. My initial interpretation took this to be a re-imagining of the various “stay positive” expressions we have all heard over the years. But he...
The McIntyre Ranch — Preserving native grassland and wildlife habitat
McIntyre Ranch, AB (Photo by Leta Pezderic/NCC staff)
There have been many special occasions in the 129-year history of McIntyre Ranch, but, surely, conserving it forever must be one of the most momentous ones. In 1894, William McIntyre began his legacy to conserve grassland in a sustainable manner,...
Conservation heroes in the county: John Lowry
John Lowry and Amanda Tracey at a CV event in Newburgh, Ontario, December 2022 (Photo by Chelsea Marcantonio/NCC staff)
One of my favourite parts of working for the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is running events — particularly Conservation Volunteers (CV) events. I love meeting new people, learning their stories and what motivates them to come out. I...
