Articles by Gord Vaadeland
Gord is the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Aside from that, he also owns and operates Sturgeon River Ranch, a horse based adventure tourism company on the Wild West Side of Prince Albert National Park. Gord and the Ranch have twice been featured on the popular OLN program, Mantracker and on Discovery World HD’s National Park’s Project. Gord is also the Executive Director of the Sturgeon River Plains Bison Stewards and serves as Watershed Awareness Initiative Coordinator for the Provincial Council of Agriculture Development and Diversification Boards.
Woodland Caribou - Chance for a Do-Over?
“If Mother Nature offered mankind a do-over in North America, reversing the eradication of the majestic plains bison might well be near the top of the list.” Edmonton Journal, January 28, 2012 This was the opening statement of the Edmonton Journal’s recent article regarding the wonderful announcement of consultations towards the reintroduction of plains bison to Banff National Park. And it caught my eye. I’ve been deeply involved in wild bison restoration and conservation for many years. The questions surrounding why or how our society could have endorsed the attempted eradication of this magnificent species are questions I ponder every day. But this statement caused me to think a bit deeper. What about this idea of a “do-over”? And then it hit me…perhaps Mother Nature has made this offer to us! I’m talking not just about all of the great work that is being done to restore bison. I’m talking about the chance to finally learn from that horrible mistake of 150 years ago and begin doing the right thing for all wildlife in Canada.
Caribou In Saskatchewan Need a Unique Protection Plan
Saskatchewan's boreal woodland caribou are in trouble. They have already disappeared from much of their original range, mainly the parkland areas in the southern boreal forest. Scientific evidence is strong that caribou populations dwindle when large, intact forests are fragmented by human disturbances, which historically have included logging, mining, hydroelectric corridors, seismic lines and agricultural conversion, as well as roads associated with these developments. Such disturbances are now spreading into even the most remote boreal areas.
CPAWS, the Hill, & a cowboy
A couple weeks ago, I’m sitting in a beautiful restaurant at the Mill in Wakefield, Quebec with some of my CPAWS friends from across the country. We’re having a great supper and the room is buzzing with excitement, as we are all heading to Parliament in a couple days for some meetings with MP’s and Senators from all of the Parties represented in the House. All told, there will be a few dozen of us meeting with about 80 of them, so needless to say, we were getting pretty pumped! The food was wonderful and the mood was light and happy. Now, I’m sure our National Executive Director wasn’t intentionally planning to dampen the mood, but this is kind of where the trouble started. Eric sits down beside me and says “So, just what are you planning on wearing to Parliament?”
