New Leader Takes the Reins of CPAWS Calgary/Banff Chapter
The Calgary/Banff Chapter of CPAWS announces that Greg Belland has joined the organization in the capacity of Executive Director, effective August 5, 2008.
The Calgary/Banff CPAWS Chapter strives to be a leader in conservation, to protect Alberta’s natural ecosystems in parks and other wilderness areas, and to ensure that the voice of the grassroots constituents is heard and effectively represented.
The Board is pleased to welcome Greg, who arrives with a passion for wilderness, an excellent reputation as an innovative leader, and extensive experience in managing collaborative projects. As a Board we are excited about working with Greg and that Greg will build upon the Chapter’s past successes, leading us into a new era of conservation wins for Alberta’s wilderness and wildlife.
Greg has accepted his CPAWS appointment with enthusiasm, stating: “It is an honour to be chosen to lead the Calgary/Banff Chapter of CPAWS, which is one of the most credible voices for the protection of parks and wilderness in Alberta and Canada. The Calgary/Banff Chapter is a keystone chapter demonstrating national leadership in the conservation and protection of wilderness. Personally and professionally, I view this as great opportunity to continue the tremendous work that has been done, and I look forward to working with the board, staff, funders and other partners in moving forward to achieving the CPAWS mission.”
Born in Edmonton, Greg attended the University of Alberta where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He began his professional career as a planner with Parks Canada and worked in many National Parks, including Banff, Prince Albert, Elk Island and Kluane. Between 1983 and 1986, he managed the National Parks Centennial Project for the National Parks in Alberta and British Columbia.
Greg has a consistent record of not only meeting – but exceeding – the objectives set for the projects he undertakes. For example, as Manager of Partnerships for the G8 Legacy project (which commemorated the 2004 G8 summit held in Kananaskis), Greg worked with a collaboration of conservationists, corporations, and the Federal and Provincial Governments to expand the project vision to include two wildlife underpasses rather than the one that was originally proposed. Through such efforts, Greg has won the respect of colleagues, staff and funders alike. More recently, Greg was the Project Manager for the development and construction of the Centre de Santé Communautaire Saint Thomas, a community health centre serving the francophone community in Edmonton.
CPAWS is one of Canada’s most respected not-for-profit conservation groups. Grounded in conservation biology, CPAWS strives to set an inspiring new standard for the integrity of the Canadian wilderness. Since its founding in 1963, CPAWS has led in the protection of over 40 million hectares of Canada’s threatened wild lands, and has engaged more than 20,000 members in 13 grassroots chapters across Canada. CPAWS has publicly stated its intention to keep 50 percent of all Crown or public lands across Canada permanently wild. Prosperity and growth in Alberta have brought major changes, and public consensus indicates that economic development has been accomplished at the loss of environmental values. Known for its pragmatic and effective support for conservation and protection of Alberta's Parks and Public lands, the Calgary/Banff CPAWS Chapter has built a solid foundation on the policy and conservation front – these values and commitments will remain the touchstone of our policy moving forward.
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For more information or interviews, contact:
Gordon W. James, CA, Chairman of the Board
Direct Line: (403) 547-6466
E-mail: gwjames@shaw.ca
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