NCC Magazine Winter 2024

Room 

to thrive 

TKTKTKTKTKTKT 

Protecting enough quality habitat 

for a diversity of plants, animals and 

natural systems to thrive 

natureconservancy.ca 

WINTER 2021 1

WINTER 2024 

CONTENTS 

Nature Conservancy of Canada 

4 Nature knows no bounds 

NCC has partnered with Parks Canada to 

bolster conservation near national parks. 

6 Ghost Horse Hills 

Embrace the frosty magic of the season 

with a captivating hike in this winter 

playground north of Edmonton. 

7 Winter’s avian 

allure unveiled 

Winter is a great time to learn the 

basics of birding. 

7 Dream catcher 

Colin Campbell’s backpack carries the 

memories of his family’s connection to 

nature, and to each other. 

8 Room to thrive 

Protecting appropriate habitat in 

adequate amounts is essential 

to providing connected landscapes 

that support biodiversity. 

12 Mule deer 

This member of the Cervidae family 

is named for its large, mule-like ears. 

14 Project updates 

Enhancing biodiversity in SK; advancing 

Reconciliation in MB; partnership 

with Qalipu First Nation; NCC on the 

world stage. 

16 Visual impact 

Photographer Mike Dembeck connects 

our hearts to nature through his images. 

18 Weaving nature into art 

Art inspired by nature, with the land and 

sustainability at its core. 

Digital extras 

Check out our online magazine page with 

additional content to supplement this issue, 

at nccmagazine.ca. 

Nature Conservancy of Canada 

365 Bloor Street East, Suite 1501 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4W 3L4 

magazine@natureconservancy.ca | Phone: 416.932.3202 | Toll-free: 877.231.3552 

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the country’s unifying force for nature. We seek 

solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, 

permanent land conservation. NCC is a registered charity. With nature, we build a thriving world. 

The Nature Conservancy of Canada Magazine is distributed to donors and supporters of NCC. 

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Trademarks owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. 

FSC® is not responsible for any calculations 

on saving resources by choosing this paper. 

Printed in Canada with vegetable-based inks by Warrens Waterless Printing. 

This publication saved 31 trees and 30,668 litres of water*. 

CREATED BY: CALCULATEUR.ROLLANDINC.COM. PHOTO: DENIS DUQUETTE. COVER: PAUL ZIZKA (INCOMAPPLEUX VALLEY, BC). 

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2 WINTER 2024 natureconservancy.ca

Musquash Estuary 

Nature Reserve, NB. 

Featured 

Contributors 

MARIE-MICHELE ROUSSEAU-CLAIR: ETIENNE BOISVERT. 

Dear friends, 

Being in nature provides me with a sense of harmony 

and wholeness; it’s part of what I need to thrive. In fact, 

I chose the city where I live based on its proximity to 

nature and protected areas, including La Mauricie National Park and 

adjacent Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) projects. I love to 

spend time in these places and reflect on how elements of the CARE 

principle (Connected, Adequate, Representative and Effective) are 

at work to make nature more resilient to the impacts of biodiversity 

loss and climate change. 

The national park, as you’ll learn on page 4, is also part of an 

exciting new partnership between Parks Canada and NCC to bolster 

conservation across the country. It contributes to providing suitable 

habitat for at-risk eastern wolves. In complement, NCC’s projects 

adjacent to the park protect habitat for wood turtles. Together, the 

area is made more resilient through the connectedness and variety 

of quality habitats, as well as knowledge sharing and collaboration 

between the two organizations. 

In this issue, we delve into the A of CARE in our four-part 

series: understanding the importance of protecting enough of 

every habitat for species, natural processes and cultural aspects 

to persist through time. As Iryn Tushabe explores in the feature 

story, adequacy goes hand in hand with connectivity to achieve 

a network of quality habitats for life to thrive. 

I hope you will be inspired by the examples of conservation in 

this issue that embrace adequacy and see the opportunities for 

more great work from coast to coast. Thank you for your continued 

support of Canada’s nature. 

Yours in conservation, 

Marie-Michele Rousseau-Clair 

Marie-Michele Rousseau-Clair 

Chief conservation officer 

Iryn Tushabe 

is a Ugandan-Canadian 

writer and journalist 

now living in Regina, 

Saskatchewan. Her work 

has been nominated for 

numerous awards. Her 

debut novel, Everything 

is Fine Here, is forthcoming 

with House of 

Anansi press in winter 

2025. She wrote “Room 

to thrive,” page 8. 

Aaron McKenzie 

Fraser is a professional 

editorial, commercial 

& industrial photographer 

based in 

Halifax. He specializes 

in location-based 

environmental 

portraits for magazines 

and advertising. 

Aaron photographed 

Mike Dembeck for 

“Visual impact,” 

page 16. 


WINTER 2024 3

COAST TO 

COAST 

2 

1 

Nature 

knows 

3 

4 

no bounds 

5 

NCC has partnered with Parks Canada to 

bolster conservation near national parks 

6 

Birders’ paradise, picturesque summits, soul-soothing 

forests, seaside vistas and rolling prairies…Canada’s 

national parks and national park reserves teem with life. 

The survival of the plants and animals living in these natural 

enclaves, however, depends on connected and intact natural 

spaces beyond park borders. Yet the landscapes that bring us 

these gems are under threat from climate change and biodiversity 

loss, and strained by human activity and development. 

A new partnership between the Nature Conservancy of Canada 

(NCC) and Parks Canada (PC) will support healthy and resilient 

landscapes across the country. 

The Landscape Resiliency Program, a $30-million initiative, 

was launched in October 2023. PC will contribute $15 million to 

the project, with NCC raising another $15 million. NCC will work 

with Indigenous Nations, local communities, property owners 

and partners to support area-based conservation near several 

PC parks or reserves. The goal is to conserve 30,000 hectares by 

2026. Explore these special places and the species they sustain. 

Learn more at natureconservancy.ca/resiliency. 

1. Gulf Islands 

National Park Reserve 

Nestled off Vancouver Island’s 

southeastern coast, the Gulf Islands 

National Park Reserve protects islets 

and coastal landscapes. Seals, otters, 

orcas and salmon swim in the waters 

of the Salish Sea, while seabirds and 

eagles fly above. NCC has supported 

conservation in the Gulf Islands since 

the 1980s. The Salish Sea Natural Area 

is crucial to the migration of many 

species, including at-risk western 

grebes. Most recently, NCC secured 

Reginald Hill on Salt Spring Island 

and Edith Point on Mayne Island, both 

of which protect significant stands of 

mature coastal Douglas-fir forest. 

2. Kootenay National Park 

British Columbia is a gift to nature 

lovers; the stunning landscapes here 

just keep on giving. And Kootenay 

National Park is no exception. This 

Rocky Mountain gem is a haven for 

diverse wildlife, like moose, grizzly 

bear, black bear and Canada lynx. 

Home to 29 endangered species, it 

features open forests and grasslands. 

Since the 1990s, NCC’s efforts in the 

area have enhanced connectivity and 

restored vital habitats, especially at 

Thunder Hill Ranch, Marion Creek 

Benchlands and Luxor Linkage. 

1: FERNANDO LESSA; 2: THOMAS DRASDAUSKIS; 3: BRENT CALVER; 4: JASON BANTLE; 

5: ADAM BIALO/KONTAKT FILMS; 6: BRIANNE CURRY/NCC STAFF. 


7: NCC; 8: NCC; 9: ANDREW HERYGERS/NCC STAFF; 10: MIKE DEMBECK. 

7 

8 

3. Waterton Lakes 

National Park 

The magic of Waterton Lakes 

National Park occurs where four 

unique ecosystems converge. Aptly 

named “nature’s meeting place,” it is 

a haven for diverse wildlife. Next to 

the park lies the Rocky Mountain 

Front region, where species like elk 

migrate between the mountains and 

the foothills grasslands. In 1997, NCC 

and the Weston Family Foundation 

jointly launched the Waterton Park 

Front Project, a 12,950-hectare 

conservation initiative that changed 

the course of Canadian conservation 

by providing the template for 

multiple landscape-scale projects 

funded by the Foundation. 

9 

10 

4. Grasslands 

National Park 

Nature takes centre stage at 

Grasslands National Park in southwest 

Saskatchewan. Here, the province’s 

largest remaining tracts of native 

grasslands are home to iconic species 

like pronghorn, swift fox and 

ferruginous hawk. Visitors may spot 

at-risk loggerhead shrikes spearing 

their prey on thorns and spikes, or 

burrowing owls peeping up from 

badger holes. Thanks to more than 

25 years of community collaboration, 

NCC has protected vital natural areas 

like Old Man on His Back Prairie and 

Heritage Conservation Area, Wideview 

Complex and Rangeview for critters 

of all shapes and sizes to thrive. 

5. Bruce Peninsula 

National Park 

Bruce Peninsula National Park’s 

renowned aquamarine waters hug 

the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula and 

will have visitors wondering whether 

they’re in the Caribbean. The 

escarpment’s shoreline caves boast 

a bouquet of biodiversity, from 

gastropods to hibernating bats. 

While marvelling at the marshes, 

meadows, alvars and sandy shores, 

remember that this area supports 

globally rare species, including over 

50 species at risk. Since 2014, NCC 

has worked alongside the Saugeen 

Ojibway Nation to ensure the 

peninsula continues to thrive for 

future generations by protecting 

habitats, monitoring species at risk, 

managing invasive species and more. 

6. Point Pelee 

National Park 

At the southern tip of mainland 

Canada lies Point Pelee National Park. 

The Carolinian Life Zone, which contains 

this tiny slice of Canada, supports 

2,200 plant species and over half of 

the country’s bird species. It’s also 

where rare snails hang out — the 

unsung heroes of nutrient recycling. 

But “outrunning” environmental 

threats for these snails would be quite 

the challenge. That’s why habitat 

protection is vital for their survival. 

NCC and its partners have been 

working in the surrounding area since 

2000, protecting and enriching this 

unique haven, ensuring local species 

continue to thrive and work their 

ecological magic. 

7. Thousand Islands 

National Park 

Thousand Islands National Park 

features rugged shorelines and 

granite islands in the St. Lawrence 

River. Part of the Frontenac Arch 

natural area and snuggled between 

the Algonquin Highlands and the 

Adirondack Mountains, this park is 

part of a vital wildlife corridor and 

a meeting point for Carolinian and 

boreal species. The surrounding 

natural area boasts UNESCO and 

Canadian Herpetological Society 

designations and supports 40 species 

at risk, including Canada’s largest 

snake, gray ratsnake. NCC, Parks 

Canada and partners have collaborated 

in the Frontenac Arch since the 

early 2000s to conserve, restore and 

connect natural spaces here. 

8. La Mauricie 

National Park 

La Mauricie National Park, nestled 

in the Laurentian Mountains, 

boasts over 150 lakes and ponds and 

supports a multitude of unique 

species, including the vulnerable 

wood turtle. But quantity does not 

necessarily equal quality. Helping 

species like wood turtles requires 

quality habitat and connectivity. 

Ongoing conservation efforts to 

expand the area’s vital ecological 

corridors will ensure that turtles and 

other species can live, breed and 

thrive. In 2022, NCC protected two 

sites as part of an ecological corridor 

connecting La Mauricie National Park 

and other protected areas. 

9. Kouchibouguac 

National Park 

Nature unfolds its glory on the east 

coast of New Brunswick at Kouchibouguac 

National Park, a biodiverse 

tapestry of estuaries and salt marshes, 

freshwater, wetlands and forest ecosystems. 

Visitors can marvel at the tidal 

forces that sculpt the landscape here. 

More than 15 species at risk are found 

here and at nearby natural areas, 

including adorable, but endangered, 

piping plovers, which use the sandy 

beaches and mudflats for foraging 

and nesting. NCC has been working 

with partners and communities within 

25 kilometres of the park since 2009, 

with projects like the Cap-Lumière 

and Point Escuminac nature reserves. 

10. Kejimkujik 

National Park and 

National Historic Site 

Kejimkujik National Park and 

National Historic Site is within the 

greater natural area of southwest 

Nova Scotia. More than 2,800 

kilometres of shoreline, Wabanaki 

(Acadian) forests, barrens, wetlands 

and beach habitats provide a world 

of awe. But habitat loss and lack 

of connectivity are wreaking havoc 

on Nova Scotia’s eastern moose 

population. Protecting natural areas 

gives moose more room to roam 

and find food and shelter. Since 2002, 

NCC has conserved natural areas 

within 25 kilometres of the park, in 

collaboration with local communities 

and partners. Projects include the 

Silver River, Moose Lake and Upper 

Ohio nature reserves.1 



BOOTS ON 

THE TRAIL 

 

N 

Ghost Horse Hills 

Range Road 234 

Township Road 584 

Ghost Horse Hills 

Embrace the frosty magic of the season with a captivating hike in this 

winter playground north of Edmonton 

Located just 55 kilometres north of Edmonton, this 110-hectare project features boreal 

forests and wetlands. It’s the perfect place to explore on a crisp winter’s day. 

As you embark on this snowy adventure, don’t forget to pack your snowshoes; this 

winter wonderland is often blanketed in a deep layer of snow. 

Ghost Horse Hills’ 800-metre path ends in a breathtaking view of the surrounding plains. 

This trail connects to a network of trails in the neighbouring Halfmoon Lake Natural Area for 

further winter wanderings. 

One of the most captivating features of Ghost Horse Hills is its boreal forest, where white 

spruce, white birch and jack pine trees tower above. Here, keep your eyes out for winter birds, 

such as pine grosbeak and bohemian waxwing. If you’re lucky, you might also spot snowshoe 

hare, porcupine or ermine tracks.1 

LEGEND 

-- Path 

P Parking 

SPECIES TO SPOT 

• American mink 

• bohemian waxwing 

• Canada jay 

• Canada lynx 

• common redpoll 

• ermine 

• least weasel 

• pine grosbeak 

• porcupine 

• snowshoe hare 

• snowy owl 

LEARN MORE 

Visit natureconservancy.ca/ghosthills 

TOP TO BOTTOM: LETA PEZDERIC/NCC STAFF; MICK THOMPSON; ROBERT MCCAW; DELANEY SCHLEMKO/NCC STAFF; MIRCEA COSTINA. 

6 WINTER 2024 

natureconservancy.ca

ACTIVITY 

CORNER 

BACKPACK 

ESSENTIALS 

Winter’s avian 

allure unveiled 

Want to get to know more birds and birdsongs 

but don’t know where to start? Winter is a great 

time to learn the basics of birding. Bare branches 

give you a clearer sightline to see what’s flitting 

around, and with fewer species singing, zeroing 

in on a specific bird’s sound will be easier. Come 

spring and summer, you can build on that 

foundation of winter sights and noises and 

expand your repertoire as migratory species 

start to filter back. Here are some more tips 

for winter birding: 

PHOTO: LUCY LU. ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCK. 

ALL’S QUIET? DON’T FRET! 

Winter birding can feel a bit unrewarding at first. 

You may have to go quite some distance before 

picking up a chirp or tune. Turn your eyes and 

ears on high-alert mode and you’re more likely to 

pick something up. Look for dense, shrubby areas 

that could provide safe places to forage and shelter 

from the elements and predators. Watch for plants 

that retain fruits and seedheads and you may spot 

some feathery foragers. 

HEAD TO THE SHORELINE FOR WATERFOWL 

As ponds, lakes and rivers freeze up, waterfowl 

may congregate in denser flocks as the areas of 

open water get smaller and smaller. Fast-flowing 

water stays unfrozen for longer, and deeper ponds 

and lakes can be the last to freeze. In cold spells, 

birds not usually found in your area may show up 

if their normal wintering spots have frozen. It’s 

worth scanning your binoculars over every 

Canada goose and mallard in the flock in case 

there is a visitor among the crowd. 

KEEP YOUR FIELD GUIDE HANDY 

A good old-fashioned field guide with illustrations 

of the species and lookalikes is great to have. 

Apps like Merlin Bird ID can narrow down potential 

suspects with filters, such as colour, size, habitat 

and range. The sound ID feature can suggest which 

species is singing. You can also enter your observations 

into eBird to help the science and conservation 

community better understand the distribution 

patterns of our feathered friends. 

Dream catcher 

Colin Campbell’s backpack carries the memories of 

his family’s connection to nature, and to each other 

Our love for the outdoors, nurtured and enriched in the embrace of the 

temperate rainforest on Canada’s West Coast, has been made possible 

by a steadfast companion: a special backpack that has become the key 

to unlocking our wilderness dreams. 

This trusty backpack, weathered and well-loved, is a symbol of our collective journey. 

As my wife and I explored the winding trails of the Pacific Rim rainforest, we soon 

realized its invaluable role in our family’s adventures. With three young daughters in 

tow, the backpack has served as both a source of comfort and an emblem of possibility. 

One of its most remarkable features is the space it provides for our tired children. 

When their little legs can no longer carry them through the terrain, we gently hoist 

one of our daughters, typically the youngest one but not always, into the backpack, 

securing her snugly against our backs. Her sleepy smile tells us she is content, 

surrounded by the sounds of the forest and the scent of damp earth. 

The backpack is not just a means of transportation; it reminds me of nature. Its 

numerous pockets hold everything we need — a myriad of snacks and water bottles 

and trinkets. 

Our family’s bond continues to grow stronger with each excursion, as we meander 

through mossy groves, follow bubbling streams and marvel at giant cedars. The backpack 

bridges gap between generations, connecting us not only to the wilderness 

but to each other.1 


Room 

to thrive 

Protecting appropriate habitat in adequate 

amounts is essential in providing connected 

landscapes that support biodiversity 

BY Iryn Tushabe 


Lonetree Lake, SK. 

GABE DIPPLE. 

Levi Boutin pulls a blade 

of grass from a thicket. Peeling 

back the narrow leaves to get 

at the even narrower panicle 

inside, he says, “So this part 

is the grass seed and then this twisted bit is 

the awn.” He’s holding it up, a tiny strip with 

the delicate appearance of a short needle 

and long thread. “When the seeds fall to the 

ground, and as other grasses or animals brush 

against it, it will just corkscrew into the 

ground, driving the seed into the soil.” This 

unique evolutionary strategy, the ability to 

self-seed, gives the prairie grass its name: 

needle-and-thread. 

The plant is one of many prairie species 

native to Saskatchewan’s grasslands, including 

here at Lonetree Lake, an hour and 

45 minutes south of Regina. It is so close to 

the U.S. border that my cellphone provider 

warns me about possible roaming charges. 

A brisk wind chops up the blue surface of 

the lake and noisily whips through the grass. 

But the herd of cattle grazing beyond the 

glittering water seems unperturbed. A large 

bird of prey hovers above us, possibly hunting 

for a mid-morning snack. Boutin, a stewardship 

coordinator with the Nature Conservancy 

of Canada (NCC), identifies it: ferruginous 

hawk. Looking around me, I can see at least 

two burrows in our immediate vicinity; ground 

squirrels abound. That hawk will not be hungry 

for long. 

Other at-risk birds that Boutin and others 

have seen here over the past year include 

chestnut-collared longspur, Sprague’s pipit, 

common nighthawk, horned grebe and western 

grebe. 

For the most part though, Lonetree Lake, 

also locally known as Clear Lake, is a stopover 

area for migrating birds. 

“In the spring, we were seeing upwards 

of 1,000 birds at one time,” says Boutin, adding 

that’s what makes this place even more 

special, since birds always need a place 

to refuel and catch some rest during their 

migration. “I like knowing that for thousands 

of birds, their first stop in Canada is this 

lake, and that now it will always be healthy 

and conserved.” 

Adequacy — having enough of every 

quality habitat for the persistence of biodiversity 

and natural processes — is one of 

the core CARE principles NCC relies upon 

when thinking about long-term conservation 

(see sidebar, page 11). It goes hand in hand 

with Representative, which is the inclusion, 

in the protected and conserved area network, 

of all the species and features that naturally 

exist there. 



“So, if you think of Saskatchewan, the first 

iconic image that probably comes to mind is 

prairies,” says Marie-Michele Rousseau-Clair, 

chief conservation officer for NCC. “But Saskatchewan 

is not only prairies. There are 

trees, water bodies — lakes and rivers — and 

tons of other amazing habitats. All of which 

are important for the survival of species.” 

The right mix 

Last summer, Saskatchewan residents pooled 

together their Saskatchewan Government 

Insurance rebates and donated the money to 

NCC. Funds from the Field of Dreams campaign, 

led by University of Regina professor 

Marc Spooner, and from other donors enabled 

NCC to acquire Lonetree Lake, a 629-hectare 

property that consists of native and tame 

grassland, seasonal creeks, wetlands and 

shoreline habitats. The diversity and quality 

of habitats in this one place make it possible 

to protect a whole host of native species that 

depend on these habitats to exist, including 

those facing the danger of extinction. “So, it’s 

the right hectare at the right place for the 

right reasons,” explains Rousseau-Clair. 

A health assessment of the grassland ecology 

showed patches of the land at Lonetree 

Lake to have been previously overgrazed, 

while others, like the area where the cows 

are grazing, hadn’t been disturbed much. 

“Our management plan is to rest the 

overgrazed area for a little while to allow 

for the recovery of the native grasses, which 

leads to better quality habitat,” Boutin says. 

“And we’re targeting grazing on the other 

side of the lake, which is thick with biomass.” 

Historically, at-risk species, such as burrowing 

owl, bobolink, great plains toad and 

eastern yellow-bellied racer, were observed 

at Lonetree Lake. It’s possible, Boutin says, 

that those species are still present, but they 

have yet to be spotted by NCC staff. 

“But that doesn’t really matter,” he says, 

explaining the strategy remains the same. 

“We will conserve this habitat with them in 

mind, knowing that they may very likely come 

back in search of food or a nesting place.” 

Needle-andthread 

grass. 

Burrowing owl. 

Complete care 

The Musquash Estuary Nature Reserve in 

New Brunswick is another example where 

NCC is contributing to the goal of adequacy 

and connectivity, which is the C in CARE. Not 

only is it the organization’s largest reserve 

(2,300 protected hectares) in Atlantic Canada, 

it also connects a much larger provincial 

protected area, called Loch Alva, to the federal 

Musquash Estuary Marine Protected Area. 

“What we’ve done here is we’ve connected 

these two areas,” says Paula Noel, NCC’s 

New Brunswick program director. Previously, 

she explains, the upper waters of the river 

were protected, as was the marine component. 

But there was a gap in between that 

large mammals couldn’t navigate without the 

threat of going through industrial and developed 

areas. With that gap closed thanks to 

NCC’s acquisition of land parcels from different 

landowners, wildlife have a large tract of 

intact nature to themselves. The transition 

zone between land and water within the larger 

conservation area and estuary is a great 

example of both connectivity and adequacy. 

The combined area supports wide-ranging 

Moose. 

Musquash Estuary Nature Reserve, NB. 

mammals, such as moose, bear and bobcat, 

that depend on both aquatic and terrestrial 

habitat. These species require a variety of 

habitats, so by conserving the entire watershed 

from headwaters to coast, NCC is ensuring 

adequate space for these species to roam 

freely. “You can’t get much more complete 

than that,” says Noel, pointing to the entirety 

of the lands and waters conserved by the 

province, federal marine protected area, 

Ducks Unlimited Canada and NCC lands. 

Efforts continue to protect other quality 

habitat along the estuary, an important offshore 

marine environment and the only designated 

Marine Protected Area in the province. 

Having secured over 90 per cent of the land 

surrounding the estuary, Noel says NCC is 

expanding farther out along the coastline on 

the Bay of Fundy, where the tides are some 

of the highest in the world. “They bring in 

harbour seals and porpoises to feed on the 

rich marine life of fish and other invertebrates 

in the estuary,” she explains. “And then a lot 

of that production in the water gets exported 

offshore and helps support the fish and marine 

life in the Bay of Fundy.” 

L TO R: LEVI BOUTIN/NCC STAFF; ANDY TEUCHER; MIKE DEMBECK; COURTNEY CAMERON/NCC STAFF. 


L TO R: GABE DIPPLE; SEAN FEAGAN/NCC STAFF; LETA PEZDERIC/NCC STAFF. 

Nature’s rhythms 

Back at Lonetree Lake, we are making our 

way toward the top of the hill when Ross 

MacDonald arrives on the back of his gorgeous 

horse, Sun. An agrologist by profession 

with a specialization in grassland management, 

MacDonald is a rancher. He lives 24 

kilometres east of Lonetree Lake. They’re 

his cows grazing in the pastures south of the 

lake. As we approach the hill, he indicates 

a cow pie, calling it a manure pack. 

“There’s a whole system of biology that’s 

going on under here,” he says, turning the 

cow pie over to reveal a host of insect diversity 

underneath, including dung beetles. New 

plant growth is already integrated with the 

manure and will break it down over time, he 

explains, pulling nutrients into the ground. 

“And that’s really the fundamentals of building 

the soil,” he says. 

We continue our tour, the men telling me 

about these grasslands, how they have been 

here for tens of thousands of years, thriving 

under pulses of disturbance and rest. Historically, 

when buffalo roamed across North 

America, they were nourished by these pastures. 

The large, wild grazers were smart; 

they knew not to overgraze or damage the 

prairie. But cattle, buffalo’s replacement, 

aren’t as forward-thinking. 

“It’s our job to manipulate the cows, moving 

them where we need them to graze to 

achieve that pressure,” says MacDonald. This 

approach to habitat management reintroduces 

the pressure that the ecosystem evolved 

with, allowing for the prolific regrowth of 

native grasses, and facilitating habitats that 

are conducive for native species. 

Prairies offer habitat between their vegetation 

layers of midgrasses, shortgrasses, halfshrubs, 

wildflowers and ground cover. Most 

prairie birds are ground-nesting, so the quality 

of the vegetation is very important. Last 

year when Boutin first visited Lonetree Lake, 

he was impressed with the plant diversity 

even in the more exploited areas. 

“Here, let me show you,” Boutin says. He 

digs up a small clump of ground cover: the 

Lonetree Lake, SK. 

biocrust. Made up of clubmoss and lichen, it 

is green and spongy with a shallow network of 

roots that holds the dirt together, protecting 

the soil from blowing away with the wind 

or washing off in the rain. This fragile layer, 

which takes the longest to re-establish, is 

important for the grassland’s resilience. 

“When rain drops hit it, the spongy mass 

cushions the raindrop’s fall and then draws 

the moisture into the ground,” MacDonald 

says of biocrust, calling it a crucial species of 

grassland ecology that’s under-appreciated. 

“In its absence, the raindrop smashes the soil 

directly and erodes it.” 

The presence and extent of the biocrust 

indicates it won’t take more than the 

re-establishment of the natural rhythms of 

disturbance and rest to return the grassland 

habitat to its optimal health. In fact, one year 

under the stewardship of NCC and Lonetree 

Lake is already bouncing back: a patchwork 

of grass both grazed and ungrazed, shrubs, 

rocks and wildflowers. Beyond the fence, 

the land connects to neighbouring tracts of 

grassland reaching beyond the border into 

the U.S. It’s a fabric large enough to provide 

refuge for species escaping from human 

pressures, such as farming, on adjacent 

privately owned land. 

Climate change is another pressure whose 

inevitable impact on adequacy is hard to 

predict since different species respond differently. 

According to Rousseau-Clair, NCC is 

accessing data about how climate conditions 

will affect biodiversity now and in the future 

to anticipate and predict where current and 

future habitat refugia are located. 

“There’s a lot of research going on,” she 

says, explaining that in some cases, NCC’s 

own research program is addressing knowledge 

gaps. “There’s data for several species, 

habitat and processes, but data doesn’t exist 

for everything. We can benefit from more 

and better evidence to inform our work.” 

What remains unchanging is the need, 

she says, to provide connected habitats in 

a proportion that is connected, adequate, 

representative and effective.1 

C ARE 

It’s perhaps no surprise that at 

NCC we CARE about nature every 

day. You see, for nature to thrive, 

protected and conserved areas 

need to be Connected, have 

Adequate quality habitats, be 

Representative of all species and 

be managed Effectively. Together, 

those principles represent 

an internationally recognized 

framework to support the creation 

of resilient landscapes. If the 

places we conserve meet these 

criteria, landscapes will be able to 

withstand the impacts of climate 

change and biodiversity loss. 

And if they are resilient, then we 

feel confident we are building 

a thriving world with nature. 

What does adequate conservation 

look like? It means protected 

areas include enough quality 

habitat to allow a diversity of 

plants, animals and natural 

systems to survive. Has an 

adequate amount of area or 

habitat been secured for 

each feature or species of 

concern/interest? Some species 

need more habitat than others, 

and the goal is to protect enough 

habitat for each species to 

survive and ideally thrive into 

the future. 



SPECIES 

PROFILE 

Mule 

deer 

Native to western North America, this 

member of the Cervidae family is named 

for its large, mule-like ears 

MARK RAYCROFT. 


APPEARANCE 

The most distinguishing features of 

mule deer are their large ears and white 

rump patch. They have a dark forehead 

and light grey face, and their small, white 

tail is tipped with black. Males typically 

weigh 65 to 110 kilograms, and females 

can weigh 50 to 75 kilograms. Their 

reddish-brown coat changes to 

a brownish-grey in winter. 

HABITAT 

This species thrives in 

habitats with early-stage plant 

growth, mixed plant species and 

shrubs. In BC, mule deer remain at 

high elevations until late fall and 

then migrate to lower ranges 

with shallower snow. 

What is NCC doing 

to protect habitat 

for this species? 

In BC, NCC protects deer 

habitat on its Kootenay River 

Ranch, Luxor Linkage, Sage 

and Sparrow and Bunchgrass 

Hills properties. In Alberta, 

mule deer have been observed 

on the Wakaluk, Palmer 

Ranch and Carbon Coulee 

properties. Connectivity to 

other large, protected areas, 

such as provincial parkland, 

is essential for this 

species’ survival.1 

THREATS 

Threats to this species include 

habitat loss and conversion, climate 

change and vehicle collisions where 

roads cross major winter ranges. 

Chronic wasting disease, a fatal 

degenerative disease, is a major 

threat to mule deer populations 

east of the Rockies. 

Kootenay River 

Ranch, BC. 

HELP 

OUT 

Help protect habitat 

for species at risk at 

natureconservancy.ca/ 

donate. 

NICK NAULT. 

RANGE 

Mule deer, including black-tailed 

deer, are found only in North America; 

from northern Mexico to southeast Alaska 

and the southern Yukon, and from the Pacific 

Coast to western Manitoba, Kansas and 

northwest Texas. In Canada, most are found in 

the rugged, dry valleys and plateau of 

BC’s southern interior, while in Alberta, they 

are most common in the grasslands, 

foothills and Rocky Mountains, and in 

the parklands and southern 

boreal forest. 

• 

Range in Canada 



PROJECT 

UPDATES 

1 

Enhancing biodiversity at Echo Creek 

ECHO CREEK, SK 

1 

2 

4 

THANK YOU! 

Your support has made these 

projects possible. Learn more at 

natureconservancy.ca/where-we-work. 

3 

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) plays a vital role in 

conserving biodiversity, often embarking on ecosystem restoration 

in areas it protects. Echo Creek in Saskatchewan is 

a prime example, where NCC is restoring idle croplands overrun by 

invasive weeds. Over two years, staff will combat these invaders 

through mowing and chemical control, followed by seeding native 

grasses and forbs. 

Erosion along the creek threatens further habitat loss and sedimentation. 

NCC is working to restore the area by rallying community 

volunteers and planting native shrubs and willow staking. As trees 

and shrubs take root, they'll stabilize banks, reduce runoff and lessen 

the risk of floods. A healthy streambank fosters diverse species, enhances 

landscape connectivity and corridors for wildlife movement, 

curbs erosion, filters contaminants, and boosts aquatic biodiversity 

now and for future generations. 

PORTRAIT: KYLIE POLLARD/NCC STAFF; NCC. INSET: MARLA ANDERSON/NCC STAFF. 

Rooted in 

the landscape 

“I am originally from Nova Scotia. I moved to 

Alberta in 1958 to be a teacher and have remained 

in Alberta where I eventually met my wife, Mary. 

“Even over the years, Nova Scotia has held a special 

place in my heart — particularly Port Joli, located 

in the southwest of the province. As a child, my 

family vacationed there during the summer. I have 

beautiful memories of my grandfather’s small, 

rustic cabin overlooking the white sandy beach. 

I remember wildlife all around the cabin, from 

shorebirds to moose. 

Cutting over croplands, Echo Creek, SK. 

Above: Seeding over croplands, Echo Creek, SK. 

“In the spring 2017 issue of the Nature Conservancy 

of Canada Magazine, I learned that NCC was protecting 

lands in Port Joli. I was thrilled to know this 

place and the nature I grew up with will be there 

forever, even though the cabin is long gone. This 

is a place where I still have family roots. Although 

I never lived in the area, it is still like going home 

when I have a chance to visit. 

“If my grandfather were alive today, I am sure he 

would be a dedicated and enthusiastic supporter 

of the Nature Conservancy of Canada. As I am, 

he would be immensely proud that my home 

province’s beautiful and vibrant Port Joli region 

will be protected for posterity.” 

~Cal and Mary Annis have been NCC 

donors since 1991 

14 WINTER 2023 natureconservancy.ca

Cattle at Jackson Pipestone, SK 

FAYAZ HASAN/NCC STAFF; MATT GASNER/NCC STAFF. 

2 Advancing 

3 

Reconciliation 

WAGGLE SPRINGS, MB 

NCC is working with local Anishinaabe representatives 

and the Beddome family to jointly steward 

and monitor 305 hectares on the banks of the Assiniboine 

River, south of Shilo. This area is important 

culturally, agriculturally and for biodiversity 

conservation. The land, near Waggle Springs, has 

been named Wabano Aki, which translates to 

“Tomorrows Land” in Anishinaabemowin. 

This partnership serves as inspiration to advance 

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and 

is an example of how conservation success can be 

achieved through a whole-of-society approach. 

To learn more visit natureconservancy.ca/wabanoaki. 

4 

NCC on the world stage 

PLANET EARTH 

Naming ceremony at Wabano Aki, MB. 

A unique internship 

experience 

QALIPU FIRST NATION 

Last summer Julia Ball, a graduate of Memorial 

University of Newfoundland, joined NCC as a 

conservation intern. As the first shared intern 

between NCC and partner organization Qalipu 

First Nation (QFN), Ball became a key conduit 

between the two organizations. 

The ongoing partnership with QFN involves 

information sharing and remote stewardship support. 

Ball brought to the shared internship role a 

keen interest to learn from Indigenous knowledge 

and a passion for nature. As an intern hosted in 

QFN’s office, she was NCC’s boots on the ground 

for the west coast of the island. 

The knowledge gained, relationships made and 

friendships forged during this internship have 

provided Ball with a great foundation to embark 

on her professional career; she now works fulltime 

with QFN. This unique internship was made 

possible by the generous support of our funder, 

Cenovus Energy. 

NCC is making sure nature’s voice is heard and respected, each time the world gathers to find solutions 

to the climate and biodiversity crises. Whether at a climate conference of the parties (COP) or one 

focused on biodiversity, NCC helps show the world how enduring and impactful conservation initiatives 

can help tackle these monumental challenges. 

For example, leading up to the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December 2022, NCC 

worked alongside other Canadian delegates and international leaders to identify how the world could 

reach its conservation goals by 2030. Then, after the world adopted a new framework for nature at 

that conference, NCC stepped forward to help Canada achieve its conservation targets. And, at the 

latest climate conference last December in Dubai (COP28), NCC highlighted the economic value that 

protecting and restoring nature can bring to communities. We’re not done, either. 

This October, NCC will host global peers in conservation at the 2024 Global Congress of the 

International Land Conservation Network in Mont-Sainte-Anne, QC. Together, NCC and these groups 

are finding bigger, bolder and more inclusive ways to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, and combat 

the impacts of climate change, all achieved through nature conservation. 

To conserve the planet’s biodiversity and safeguard our communities from the impacts of climate 

change, nature conservation needs to be a priority. NCC is helping ensure it is.1 

Partner Spotlight 

Grasslands are important for soil 

and water conservation, flood 

control and climate regulation. 

Sometimes described as an 

upside-down forest, grasslands 

absorb and store billions of tonnes 

of carbon in their deep roots, 

keeping it fixed in the soil and 

helping to counter the effects of 

climate change. They are also one 

of the world’s most endangered 

ecosystems, and over 80 per cent 

of Canada's Prairie grasslands have 

already been lost. NCC’s Prairie 

Grasslands Action Plan is leading 

efforts to conserve more than 

500,000 hectares by 2030. 

In 2023, Wawanesa Insurance 

partnered with NCC to support 

two interns in Manitoba working 

to conserve Canada’s grasslands. 

Wawanesa’s partnership meant 

supporting interns working on 

the ground and collecting critical 

data that informs land stewardship 

and restoration practices, in an 

effort to conserve priority areas, 

like grasslands, today and for 

future generations. 

Wawanesa sees climate resiliency 

as a growing need in every 

community. That is why, as a 

Canadian-owned and operated 

mutual insurance company, they 

are supporting people on the 

front lines of climate change who 

are working to build more resilient 

communities through their new 

Wawanesa Climate Champions 

program. In addition to serving 

over 1.6 million members across 

Canada, the company invests over 

$3.5 million annually to support 

organizations that strengthen 

Canadian communities, with a focus 

on supporting organizations on the 

front lines of climate change. 

For more information, visit 

wawanesa.com/community-impact. 


FORCE FOR 

NATURE 

Visual 

impact 

Mike Dembeck connects 

our hearts to nature through 

his images of Canadian 

landscapes and the species 

that rely on them 

AARON MCKENZIE FRASER. 


Gazing across the expansive grassland 

landscape, Mike Dembeck observed 

the large herd of bison in front of him. 

It was calving season and newborns, with 

their fuzzy, light-brown coats, bleated while their 

mothers grunted and kept a watchful eye. 

MIKE DEMBECK. 

The stamps of the bison hooves sent a cloud of dust into the air. Dembeck 

remembers a strong, musky smell. He was enveloped by a symphony of 

animal noises, as he looked through his camera and clicked the shutter. 

It was 2016 and Dembeck was photographing the Nature Conservancy 

of Canada’s (NCC)’s Buffalo Valley property in southern Saskatchewan. 

He felt part of something unique. 

“Seeing the connection between these animals, it was an emotional 

moment, a storytelling moment,” says Dembeck. “Those are the times to 

capture something that people can relate to.” 

Dembeck often thinks about the emotional response to the photos and 

videos he creates. For the past 16 years, he has gifted his time and talent 

to NCC as a photographer and videographer, showing landscapes and 

species across the country. The East Coast features heavily in his work, 

as he is based in Halifax. 

Growing up with an interest in photography, Dembeck started out at 

a Halifax newspaper after university. From there, his career continued on 

to other news organizations and freelancing. 

In 2007, Dembeck was covering an NCC press conference featuring 

animals from a nearby wildlife rehabilitation clinic. While the cute 

animals caught his attention, he says the idea of collaborating with 

a national conservation organization captured his imagination. 

“I remember thinking this was a chance to work in the big leagues, 

making an impact for the environment,” he says. Since then, Dembeck’s 

stunning visuals of wildlife, habitat and people on the land have been an 

invaluable gift to NCC. 

Bringing awareness to wider audiences is a driving force behind 

Dembeck’s work. “People don’t realize what is out there, what is being 

lost,” he says. 

PATIENCE REQUIRED 

Few people see animals like Canada lynx, moose and wolves in the wild. 

Dembeck’s visuals of species like these over the years remind him of 

time spent, the effort and payoff. 

“When you do get a chance to take that picture you’re looking for, it 

is so rewarding,” he says. “I think about how it will connect with people 

who usually never get to see that animal.” 

To photograph a creature as elusive as Canada lynx, planning and tenacity 

are required. Dembeck consults local experts and sets up in a position 

that respects the animal’s space and is not threatening. “Animals are 

so aware; if you’re in their environment, they are probably already paying 

attention to you,” he says. “You need patience.” 

In some cases, he’s left empty-handed or spends multiple days returning 

to the same area. Dembeck also deals with pesky insects and 

challenging weather while he patiently waits. These excursions are always 

worth it, though. “It’s made me visit all of these different places, walk 

through the woods and really pay attention,” he adds. 

As a repeat visitor to many NCC projects, Dembeck sees the benefits 

of conservation and stewardship. “You can see in an area, because it’s 

been nurtured and protected, that it has stabilized,” he says. 

“Sometimes, in the area nearby, you can see 

a contrast, that it has been hurt or been prevented 

from healing.” 

Dembeck has developed a special relationship 

with staff on the ground at NCC through 

his longstanding volunteer work. “Conservation 

work is a collaborative effort,” he says, reflecting 

on the success of places like Buffalo Valley. 

“It’s invigorating to be able to contribute.” 

The bison Dembeck photographed are part 

of a managed herd of livestock that grazes the 

Prairie grasslands at Buffalo Valley. At over 

1,600 hectares, it is part of the Missouri Coteau 

Natural Area and provides habitat for songbirds, 

waterfowl, deer and many other species. 

Closer to home than the rolling plains of 

Saskatchewan, Dembeck has canoed and photographed 

the Tusket River in southern Nova Scotia. 

It’s linked to the Silver River Nature Reserve, 

and he feels a special connection to the area. 

“You’re there on the ground floor when 

it [a conservation project] comes together, so 

you get emotionally invested,” says Dembeck of 

the conservation work along the Tusket River. 

“Seeing a project succeed is deeply rewarding. 

These projects are like our kids.” 

Dembeck is committed to his conservation 

involvement. “It’s become fundamental to me as 

a person,” he says. “The amount that I get back 

is exponentially greater than what I produce.”1 



CLOSE 

ENCOUNTERS 

Weaving nature into art 

By Raechel Wastesicoot, NCC’s manager, internal communications & culture 

When I close my eyes, I’m on the land. I can 

hear the wind wrestle its way through thickets 

of dense trees, their leaves resting on 

the snow blanketing the ground I am walking on. The sun 

pierces its way through cottony clouds, adorning a sky so 

blue, it looks almost painted. Sunbeams light up a pathway 

through a forest bursting with colours from plants and the 

small critters that stay awake during the winter months. 

I can see it so clearly, almost feeling winter’s cold prickling 

my skin as I close the invisible mental diary in my mind. 

When I open my eyes, I’m at my work desk — a mess 

of beads, leather, fur and antler scattered in front of me. 

Where some may see chaos, I see nature. I see the chlorophyll 

swirling across the table in the form of glass and 

dyed porcupine quills. There’s a rush of water as soft, 

white fur from rabbits and blue beads scatter across 

my beading mat. My thread is strung, rich with colours 

reminiscent of what I see when I’m out in nature. 

My work follows a teaching passed down to me 

when I first learned how to bead: from the land, for the 

land and by the land. Informed by that teaching, my 

work is composed of a mix of contemporary pieces with 

upcycled, vintage and harvested materials. With the 

land and sustainability at the centre of my approach to 

beadwork, the pieces I create aim to have minimal impact 

on the environment. Vintage, found and natural 

materials that are gifts from the land, such as antlers, 

fur, hides and porcupine quills, are instrumental in how 

my work comes together. 

I find inspiration in nature. As an Indigenous person, 

who I am, the land my ancestors come from, the language 

we speak and our community is grounded within 

Mother Earth. I take this with me when I’m out in nature, 

surrounded by everything the land has given us, 

and when I’m at home, beading at my weathered wooden 

desk.1 

BEADWORK AND PHOTO: RAECHEL WASTESICOOT/NCC STAFF. 


LET YOUR 

PASSION 

DEFINE 

YOUR 

LEGACY 

Your passion for Canada’s natural spaces defines your life; now it can define 

your legacy. With a gift in your Will to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, 

no matter the size, you can help protect our most vulnerable habitats and the 

wildlife that live there. For today, for tomorrow and for generations to come. 

Order your Free Legacy Information Booklet today! 

Call Jackie at 1-877-231-3552 x2275 or visit DefineYourLegacy.ca

YOUR 

IMPACT 

Sustaining 

species and 

community 

The Stoco Karst Forest property 

near Napanee, Ontario, has now 

been protected, thanks to your 

support. This 81-hectare property 

contains forests, wetlands and 

karst — a network of limestone 

caves and crevices beneath the 

surface. These features provide 

flood regulation and water purification 

services for downstream 

communities. This project creates 

a buffer for nearby Stoco Fen 

Provincial Park, a 350-hectare 

nature reserve class park. Together, 

protected lands in the Stoco 

Fen area sustain wide-ranging 

species such as black bear, 

moose and bobcat, which require 

large expanses of habitat. 

ELI DRUMMOND; NCC. 

Biodiversity 

protected 

in Quebec 

Thanks to your support, 200 

hectares of Baie-Saint-Paul’s 

flats and beaches in the 

St. Lawrence Estuary have 

been protected. The lands 

are recognized for both their 

cultural and natural beauty, 

attracting thousands of 

visitors each year, and are 

significant for aquatic birds 

and several at-risk species. 

We will work hand in hand 

with the city of Baie-Saint-Paul 

to conserve its fragile 

ecosystems and protect the 

region’s long-term biodiversity. 

Thank you for all you do for nature in Canada!

NCC Magazine Winter 2024

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