DUC celebrates anniversary milestone

On May 27, 2018, Ducks Unlimited Canada dedicated the evening to partners and volunteers at their 80-50 Anniversary Celebration, held at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort in Victoria, B.C.

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has been conserving wetlands for waterfowl and wildlife across Canada for 80 years, and working with government, other non-government organizations, industry, agriculture, volunteers and supporters to conserve wetlands in British Columbia for 50 years.

Attending this special anniversary celebration were DUC partners, volunteers and esteemed guests: Her Honour, the Honourable  Janet Austin, OBC, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and her husband, His Honour Ashley Chester, along with Councillor Norman Garry Sam of the Songhees First Nation. Coun. Sam welcomed the party to the lands of the Lekwungen Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, were unable to attend the event but sent congratulatory messages.

DUC thanks the Honourable George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy for British Columbia, Mr. Andrew Wilkinson QC, Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Andrew Weaver, Leader of the Third Party for their congratulatory messages at the event, and the many members of the Legislature who graciously attended.

Thanks also go to Nancy Wilkin, Director of Ceremonies, who emceed the event with poise, and to sponsors of the evening: The DUC Volunteer Provincial Council, The Nature Trust of British Columbia, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, and the BC Oil and Gas Research and Innovation Society.

DUC’s volunteers shine brightly throughout DUC’s 50-year history in British Columbia and were at the centre of the evening. George C. Reifel, past president of DUC’s national board of directors and long-time volunteer, delivered the official Loyal Toast. Volunteer Len Everett was recognized for 30 years of service to DUC and the wetlands of British Columbia.

DUC dedicated this event to June and Bob Clark. The Clarks are lifelong supporters of DUC, and Bob acts as Senior Director for DUC British Columbia.

DUC boasts 925 volunteers in British Columbia. Over the years, these dedicated conservationists have supported DUC’s work on 612 projects across more than 444,000 acres (179,680 hectares) of conserved and secured land.

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is the leader in wetland conservation. A registered charity, DUC partners with government, industry, non-profit organizations and landowners to conserve wetlands that are critical to waterfowl, wildlife and the environment.