As I was reflecting on the coming new year here at Nature Canada, I was thinking about all the amazing successes of the past year thanks to our members’ support.  The celebration of the newest nature reserve in Ontario – the Monarch Point Conservation Reserve and Tang.ɢwan — ḥačxwiqak — Tsigis Marine Protected Area off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Thank you so much to all our members and supporters who have rallied around protection of these important areas for years!

It reminds me how important it is to protect Canada’s precious habitats. And brought back amazing memories of time spent in national parks whether at a past annual general meeting or personal trip.

I have been blessed to have walked the beaches and hiked through the coastal rainforest of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve near Tofino, BC.  Seen the fjord at Western Brook Pond, “walked on the moon” hiking Tablelands and seen Caribou in the distance from the top of Newfoundland’s Gros Morne Mountain. Amazing memories to cherish indeed. And more parks to dream of visiting some day too!

There are 37 national parks and 10 national reserves all across Canada which protect over 336,000 square kilometres of Canada’s lands. From boreal forests, coastal rainforests, prairies grasslands, majestic mountains and tranquil lakes, you can find so many special wild spaces. This coming year, Nature Canada will be hard at work on your behalf to secure even more protection for the lands, waters and wildlife in Canada. We will continue to press the federal government on their pledge to protect 25% of lands and water by 2025; and 30% by 2030.

And we’ll continue to connect youth and families to nature bringing joy and happiness to their lives. Research shows that time spent in nature has physical and mental health benefits. We all need access to green spaces and nature to restore ourselves and be reminded how important our environment is for us to survive and thrive.

When times have been tough over the past little while, I’d seek solace and refresh in nature, but I also got inspired by our Young Nature Leaders. These young people showed initiative to take action in their local communities, they did not despair at the world times or depressing news but decided to act and become change makers instead.

From planting pollinator gardens, distributing wildflower and pollinator kits, building bee hotels, leading beach cleanups and nature education workshops, these Young Nature Leaders are helping and healing nature, creating a cleaner and brighter tomorrow.  We hope to expand the wonderful work of Young Nature Leaders in 2024 which also marks Nature Canada’s 85^th anniversary.

It is amazing to think that Mabel Frances Whittemore’s own initiative back in 1939 taking children out into nature to mentor them about its importance all those years ago has blossomed into the community of nature-lovers that Nature Canada is today – 250,000 members and supporters strong and in partnership with 1,200 nature groups from all corners of Canada.

One of our newest partnerships is with Wondery Outdoors, a women-led company that produces hiking attire for women, and supports projects that empower women and all people to discover and explore the outdoors. We are partnering with them around their National Parks and Reserves of Canada Bucket List Water Bottle. A portion of proceeds from these special water bottles will be gifted to Nature Canada’s efforts to break down barriers for marginalized youth to connect with nature, our youth internships in the conservation sector and our women for nature mentorship efforts this coming year.  Check out this cool gift idea here.

Happy holidays to all and my personal hopes and wishes to you that Nature’s beauty will bring you Joy in 2024!