Volunteers

Blending strategy and passion to support volunteer engagement

Jim Anton named Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Manitoba Volunteer of the Year

By Keagan Perlette April 23, 2025

Jim Anton, Manitoba Volunteer of the Year

When Jim Anton talks about his work with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), his enthusiasm and optimism hits you like a warm, welcoming wave. His love of conservation and the Ducks Unlimited Canada community is palpable. “I always say that DUC is wetland conservation fueled by passion. The passion of the board of directors, the staff and the volunteers is contagious,” Anton says. “I’ve thought about stepping back many times, but this group of people just pulls me right back in.”

Anton joined the DUC Charleswood Committee 36 years ago and has been on numerous committees since. He’s served on the Manitoba Provincial Council for about 25 years where he’s been chair for seven years and currently serves as co-chair. “One of the most meaningful parts of being involved with DUC is that it’s helped me grow as a person,” he says. “I started off at the event level. I’ve been a chapter chair, I’ve chaired two conferences and I’ve moved up into Provincial Council. I’ve also spoken in front of the DU Inc., DU Canada and DUMAC (Mexico) boards of directors on behalf of the Council.”

In 2018, Anton spearheaded the very first strategic plan for the Manitoba Provincial Council. The team was looking for a way to monitor and measure their initiatives with the goal to increase volunteer recruitment. “We identified eight key areas we wanted to focus on in Manitoba,” he explains. “We wanted to attract volunteers, get more members onto Provincial Council and retain volunteers by providing better support and communication.” In light of their strategic goals, Anton helped revive the quarterly Duck Tales newsletter, which has been instrumental in boosting volunteer recruitment, engagement and retention. In recognition of his dedication and the impact he’s had on DUC, we’re proud to name Anton Manitoba Volunteer of the Year.

Anton built his strategic skillset over his career as a financial planner. Through Ducks Unlimited Canada, he’s been able to combine his professional experience with his lifelong interest in the science of conservation. “I have a background in soil and water chemistry. When I left college, I worked for the City of Winnipeg in wastewater management. I was responsible for monitoring the flows and nutrient loading on the Red and Assiniboine Rivers here, all the way out to Lake Winnipeg,” he says. “Finance isn’t my passion and that’s why I stuck with DUC, because it allowed me to pursue what I really love.”

Over the years, he’s shared that love with his own children.

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I come from a volunteering family where giving back was really important.

Jim Anton

“My kids gravitated to DUC and we would go to Greenwing events or volunteer at trout fishing derbies. My daughter is about to celebrate her 10th anniversary as a volunteer. My two sons celebrated their 10-year anniversaries last year and the year before. I was able to give them their certificates.”

Anton is excited about the potential for Ducks Unlimited Canada’s science-backed initiatives to move the needle on pressing environmental challenges. He sees a path forward through attracting more young people to the organization. “We’re more than just ducks, we’re focused on global warming, flood mitigation, carbon sequestration, and nutrient loading. We’re working to prevent issues like algal blooms on the beach at Lake Winnipeg. Wetland conservation influences all of those things,” says Anton. “Those issues really resonate with the youth. If you get the youth involved, there’s a good chance their parents and grandparents will get involved too, so that’s our priority going forward.”

There are approximately 460 Ducks Unlimited Canada volunteers in Manitoba and 3,030 across Canada. Ducks Unlimited Canada is proud to recognize each of them — including leaders like Jim Anton — as volunteer champions and conservationists who make waves and together, create ripples of change by serving with generosity, passion and dedication.

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