Entries tagged "bou"

Caribou in the Classroom

Jun 19, 2010

Did you know that students as young as grade 2 are learning about biodiversity? The other month, Jill Sturdy, CPAWS National Conservation Outreach Coordinator, and I visited a couple of grade 2 classes at Briargreen Public School. They invited us to talk about, you guessed it, Canada's threatened woodland caribou.

We talked about how to tell a caribou from a moose, the unique features of woodland caribou, their connection to Canada and the environment, why woodland caribou are at risk of disappearing forever, and what needs to be done to save them. It was a great meet-up. And what made it great was that it wasn't just Jill and I doing all the talking. The students had outstanding questions and even better answers. The whole thing was very interactive. We played a game with them to demonstrate the importance of Canada's magnificent boreal forest to woodland caribou. The students took on the part of the trees and helped me hide from my predator "Jill the wolf".

Given that children are the future, I am very glad we had the chance to meet with them to help secure a better future for my species, the ecosystem, and biodiversity. Below is a short video of our visit. Thank you to the teachers and students of Briargreen Public School for the awesome opportunity. We hope you'll invite us back next year!

Quarters for Caribou: "Small Change, Big Difference"

Jun 19, 2010

For Earth Day, help make Nááts'ihch'oh a protected national park

Apr 22, 2010

Olympics bring a caribou hockey nation together - Go Canada Go!

Feb 25, 2010

Since being in Ottawa, I have come to learn a few things about what Canada means to its people. Over the last two weeks, one of those things has been loud and clear: Hockey is Canada’s game.

To check this out, I brushed up on the basics of the game and then sat down to watch last night's much anticipated Olympic hockey event: Canada vs. Russia.

WOW! What a rush! Seeing the endless sea of red and white dressed fans and hearing them cheer “Go Canada Go!” from the rafters to the streets of Vancouver was contagious. I got chills experiencing the fan support. I was amazed by how it turned inspiration into action that silenced the critics and saved Team Canada’s iconic status for future hope.

After the game, I was filled with an even greater believe in the power of caribou caring Canadians to come together to save another of their Nation’s icons for future generations, Canada’s Woodland Caribou. Go Canada Go!

Volunteers needed in Ottawa to help a caribou

Feb 01, 2010

Do you want to help protect Canada's wild? Gain some volunteer experience? Channel your inner caribou?

CPAWS is looking for outgoing individuals to get out in the Ottawa community with me and help collect signatures to protect my species - Canada's woodland caribou.

As a member of the Bou Crew, you'll talk to people about protecting Canada's woodland caribou and their boreal forest habitat, help kids build their own antlers, and take photos of it all. CPAWS provides the training and tools. All you have to provide is the enthusiasm.

You are the ideal candidate if you're comfortable with:

• talking with lots of people
• working with kids
• using a digital camera

...and interested in conserving Canada's wilderness!

Want to be part of the fun? Please contact Jill Sturdy to sign up.

Nature's Danger Alert! When caribou meets politician.

Dec 09, 2009

I recently read Ontario's Woodland Caribou Conservation Plan. The plan acknowledges the negative impact that human development in my species' habitat has on our well being and that 40-50% of my Ontario boreal woodland caribou friends and family have disappeared.

The plan sets out the Provincial Government's intentions for woodland caribou conservation. They intend to do more studies and then take action. At this stage of the game, intentions are not enough. The Government needs to take action NOW to stop the decline of Ontario's woodland caribou. An immediate halt on the logging and road building that is pushing my Ontario cousins to extinction needs to be put in place while the Government undertakes further studies.

Please show your support for immediate action to save Ontario's woodland caribou by going to http://www.caribouandyou.ca/on and sending a letter to the Ontario Goverment.

My species thanks you :)

Year of the Caribou and You

Aug 25, 2009

Hi I’m Bou, a woodland caribou from the BC Boreal. I moved to Ottawa, Canada’s capital, in July to work with the CPAWS team for a year to save my family and friends (more details). While Ottawa is my new physical home, this blog will be my virtual one. A big thanks to the other woodland caribou from across Canada for starting this blog. I will endeavour to carry on the blog in a proud ungulate fashion. 

I get asked a lot “What can you do in one year?” At first, it seemed daunting. I mean, how can I, an out-of-town woodland caribou help change decades old practices and beliefs in just 300 and some odd days?

But then I thought about my move to Ottawa. At the time, it seemed like such a hard decision to make. I was born and raised in BC’s Boreal. I had food, family, friends and no worries about money. Moving to Ottawa, living with another species, would be a big change with unknown consequences. Mou, my Cow, and I talked about it a lot. We knew we had to do something. Our family, friends – heck our entire species is at risk. We couldn’t just sit around, do nothing, and expect others to do it all. We decided I had to go to Ottawa.

Once the decision was made, I got down to business. I organized, packed, and was on the road in less than a week. As I made my way across this awesome country, I felt totally energized and upon entering Medicine Hat, it struck me “Hey, even though I really miss Mou, this was a lot easier than I thought it would be”.

I realized at that moment that the hardest part of making a change for me is in my head - to make the decision and commitment to do it. Once that’s done, the actions just seem to follow naturally and I get in the flow. So, whether it’s 100,000 individuals signing a petition to save Canada’s boreal forests or a single politician signing a law to protect woodland caribou, it all starts with their decision and commitment to do it.

What can I, an out-of-town woodland caribou do in one year? I can decide and commit to work with CPAWS to save my family and friends – DONE. Now let the flow of actions and changes begin :)

I would love to hear how others ignite change and what you will make your year about.

-Bou
a woodland caribou living in Ottawa

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