Crafting a conservation legacy

When his best friend/co-worker Gary Carr moved to Nova Scotia and started Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Lower Sackville chapter about 15 years ago, Ford and his wife started travelling there to assist with set up for the annual Ducks Unlimited Canada fundraising dinner. Several years later, when Ford and Carr both retired, Carr returned to New Brunswick and started the Geary chapter, which Ford has been involved with ever since.

Post-retirement, Ford began carving out more time for giving back (including volunteer canteen shifts at Willie O’Ree Place on behalf of the Nashwaaksis Y Service Club) and for one of his other passions and hobbies, woodworking – discovering a unique way to support Ducks Unlimited Canada’s conservation efforts. In addition to charcuterie boards, cutting boards and Adirondack chairs, his river tables are works of art that have pieces of home handcrafted into each one. At the time of this interview, he was working on a resin table for the Geary chapter’s annual fundraising dinner and auction.

“There’s a lake not far from Geary that’s very popular for trout fishing in the spring called South Oromocto Lake. So, I’m cutting that into the table and then I’ll fill that with epoxy and put little stones in it. And I whittled a little fish out of cedar and (I’ll) paint that and put it in it,” he explains.

His river tables, which he estimates take about 50 hours to create, are true labours of love. They’ve also become highly sought after items at DUC auctions organized by the Geary chapter and others, where Ford has been donating them to help raise funds (fetching up to $800 a piece).

“It’s a great way of giving back,” he says.

“Three years ago…two guys came up from the Hampton chapter…and then they wanted me to make a table for them. Of course, I couldn’t say no. My wife says I don’t know how to say no,” he laughs. “So I’ve made tables for them and they’ve done well with their chapter, with the donations from that. And I’ll probably continue on.”

In addition to his woodworking skills, Ford offers his time to assist with the Geary and Hampton committee’s events. He was also a land guardian for a number of years, keeping an eye on Ducks Unlimited Canada properties in the area and along the Saint John River, and has been sharing the lessons he’s learned about conservation with the next generation, helping instill a sense of responsibility.

“I’m almost 72 and I shouldn’t be worried about what it’s going to be like for me,” he chuckles. “But I think about it for the future of the next generations coming up.”

“I always, when I take kids fishing with me, teach them (to) pick up the rubbish and protect the waters. My nephew comes with me quite often and he knows when we take the boat out of the water and we bring it back home, we wash the whole hull…because you don’t want to take anything with you that’s going to transfer to the next waterway.”

While he doesn’t feel he’s worthy of the title of DUC’s New Brunswick Volunteer of the Year, volunteers like Ford create ripples that lead to a sea change in how people view the natural world and their place in it.

“Most people rely on the government to protect and preserve our natural resources. And in all reality, it’s everyone’s responsibility,” he says.

“So I think talking to someone about Ducks Unlimited, it’s a great way to play your part as far as making a difference in protecting our lands and our waters. And if you can convince people to get involved, every little bit helps.”

There are approximately 190 Ducks Unlimited Canada volunteers in New Brunswick and 3,030 across Canada. Ducks Unlimited Canada is proud to recognize each of them—including outstanding leaders like Layton Ford—as volunteer champions and conservationists who make waves and together, create ripples of change by serving with generosity, passion and dedication.