A photographer’s wetland journeyAs a professional photographer building a portfolio and looking to exhibit her work in galleries, Ilanna Sharon Mandel contacted Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), offering to take photographs of wetlands across southern Ontario.

“My hope is that these photographs will encourage people to visit wetlands by their homes and in their communities, and support their protection for centuries to come,” says Mandel.

Mandel was born and raised on the Can- adian prairies and currently makes Toronto her home. A self-trained photographer, she pursues an artistic life with passion ever since she first began publishing at the age of 16.

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“I doubt anyone hasn’t heard the word wetlands before, but I didn’t know how important they were until I became involved with Ducks Unlimited Canada.”– Ilanna Sharon Mandel, photographer

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Experiencing wetlands Read more, as Ilanna Mandel describes her photographic adventure at DUC’s Oshawa Second Marsh project at conservator.ca

Municipalities play a critical role in protecting wetlands. Their staff and councils work with landowners, developers, conservation agencies and the public to conserve wetlands through land-use planning. They can also encourage wetland stewardship through public education and community engagement.

Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) Municipal Extension Program works with municipalities in Ontario, providing technical assistance by way of strategic studies and input on draft land-use policies, developing resources and extension materials, and engaging staff and councillors directly through workshops and presentations. These efforts have helped to increase protection for over a half-million acres of wetlands.

Support is growing in the government. In fact, the need to engage municipalities in wetland conservation was highlighted in the Province’s recently adopted Great Lakes Strategy.

Municipalities also express their appreciation of DUC’s wetland expertise. “I was thoroughly delighted to receive a presentation from Ducks Unlimited”, says Steve Pellegrini, Mayor of King Township. “It helped council understand the critical services that wet- lands provide our residents.”

“(In Grey County) the input and information that Ducks Unlimited provided was very helpful in assisting with the review of our Official Plan,” says Randy Switzer, director of planning and development. “It led to further policy and mapping changes, which will help protect the natural heritage features.”

Helping municipalities protect wetlands

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Unprecedented commitment

DUC and the Ontario govern- ment just announced they’re continuing their partnership to conserve wetlands for the next 15 years. Read more in the next Conservator.

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In November, approximately 35 Wetland Centre of Excel- lence (WCE) students and their teachers from across Ontario came together at the Lake St. George Field Centre in Rich- mond Hill to share their experiences, inspire one another and network at a three-day workshop.

DUC’s WCE program facilitates student action projects around wetlands, allows more in-depth study of local wetlands and encourages students to share their wetland knowledge by mentoring elementary students.

During the workshop, students shared programs and activities they already completed and those they hope to undertake soon. With the enthusiasm these students and teachers showed in sharing their experiences, the future of Ontario’s WCEs is in good hands.

Caught on tape!See and hear first hand what WCE students and teachers say about their workshop experience at conservator.ca

Ontario students share wetland experiences

“I’m a duck hunter and have always loved birds. When I retired, I told myself I was going to give back to nature and what I harvest from

it,” says Gilles Dupont, a Ducks Unlim- ited Canada (DUC) volunteer

from the community of St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.

And that’s exactly what he’s been doing for the last decade. Dupont helps to

coordinate ticket sales for DUC fundraising dinners in St. Jean-

sur-Richelieu. He also donates one of his wood carvings to every auction, with the profits going towards conservation efforts. This is a big deal because Dupont is quite the accomplished carver. In fact, he’s a world champion.

Dupont started woodworking classes about 20 years ago and they’ve paid off. He has won several first-place ribbons in competitions held in Montreal and Ottawa, as well as at the Ward World Championship in Ocean City, Maryland. He is also the winner of the Expert Best of Show award for the second time at the 2011 Quebec Wildfowl Carving Contest in Montreal and was promoted to the rank of Master Carver.

“It’s a passion for me,” says Dupont. “I put on wood what I see in nature.”

DUC volunteer a world champion

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“Meeting so many other students interested in environmental sustainability was extremely encouraging! It was also fascinating to see each school presenting such a variety of wetland projects.”

– Andrea Curran, WCE student Timiskaming District Secondary School

Above: Students building wood duck nest boxes at a WCE workshop, that were later donated to the Toronto Region Conservation Authority.

Above: Gilles Dupont displaying his many awards at the 2011 Quebec Wildfowl Carving Contest.