[separator headline=”h3″ title=”Six months ago…”]

…I had the enormous honour of being named as Nature Canada’s new Executive Director. Before I started I knew Nature Canada was an amazing organization making a big difference in protecting and conserving nature in Canada. I was so excited to come into a role where I could combine my passion for nature, my education in biodiversity, and my experience in the not-for-profit sector.

I can honestly say that so far it has proved to be my dream job. There is a steep learning curve and lots of challenges, but I love coming to work every day and knowing that the work that I, my colleagues, and Nature Canada’s volunteers across the country are doing is making Canada a better place.

In reflecting on the past six months, here are six reasons I enjoy working at Nature Canada:

[separator headline=”h5″ title=”1. Our members and donors”]
Nature Canada wouldn’t exist without the thousands of individual Canadians who stand up for nature and give each month, or to support specific projects. I have had a chance to meet or speak with hundreds of donors through events such as our photo contest unveiling, the telephone townhall with members, Women for Nature events, and individual meetings, phonecalls or emails. The passion of Nature Canada supporters is so inspiring and knowing that there are people counting on us to protect nature makes me work even harder.

[separator headline=”h5″ title=”2. Being your voice for nature”]
As Executive Director for Nature Canada I meet frequently with MPs from all parties, Ministers and their staff, senior government officials, and industry representatives to urge action on crucial issues affecting nature, such as ensuring protection for endangered species through the Species at Risk Act (SARA), working to strengthen the Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA), and intervening in pipeline hearings with the National Energy Board. There is a long way to go with this work and we work on a shoestring versus the expensive lobbying efforts of industry, but we continue to speak loud and clear on issues.

[separator headline=”h5″ title=”3. Protecting endangered species and habitats”]
There has been so much work to protect species and habitats since I began at Nature Canada that it is hard to pick examples of what has impressed me most. Three important and very different examples were Stephen Hazell, Director of Conservation and General Counsel, standing up for the endangered Blandings Turtle at the Ontario Court of Appeal; the Nature Canada organized international workshop to develop a conservation plan for the Canada Warbler; and our work to protect critical grassland habitat. Every day we are working to protect species and their habitats.

[separator headline=”h5″ title=”4. Connecting thousands of people to nature”]
As a mother, I love exploring nature with my kids, and seeing them grow their own love for nature. We don’t go far, just a five minute walk to the greenspace at the end of our city street but that’s enough to connect with nature: climbing trees is exciting, watching a spider spin its web is wondrous, recognizing a bird species is empowering, tumbling in the mud is plain old fun! That’s why I think NatureHood, Nature Canada’s program to connect children and their families is so great, and why this year we will be expanding NatureHood to even more sites across Canada – details coming soon!

[separator headline=”h5″ title=”5. Working collaboratively with other ENGOs”]
Nature Canada has a special niche as the voice for nature and connecting people to nature. But collaboration is important to me and I am so pleased that Nature Canada works collaboratively with other environmental organizations to achieve common goals. For example, we founded and host the Green Budget Coalition – a group of 14 environmental groups who jointly develop recommendations for the Federal Budget. Working together allows us to have a louder voice feeding into budget discussions and really affect the budget process.

[separator headline=”h5″ title=”6. Nature Canada’s staff”]
We are a small team at Nature Canada, but everyone is united in passion for nature and in our desire to dedicate ourselves to engage Canadians in protecting and standing up for nature. Meet us here.

[separator headline=”h3″ title=”When my kids ask what I did at work…”]…I love being able to tell them about how the work of Nature Canada will make Canada better for them and for their children – what more can anyone wish for in a job? I am so proud to be part of Nature Canada.