The Big Wild

Landmark announcement protects half of Ontario's Boreal Forest

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Ontario government announced today that it will protect at least half (225,000 sq km or 22.5 million hectares) of Ontario's Boreal Forest in the Far North from industrial development. Ontario's Boreal Forest (encompassing nearly 45% of the province) is home to hundreds of wildlife species including the threatened Woodland Caribou, wolverine, billions of migrating birds, and Lake Sturgeon. It is also one of the world's largest terrestrial carbon storehouses and this announcement will help offset the impacts of climate change by protecting the carbon-rich Boreal peatland.

The province says that a network of connected protected areas will be determined through an innovative Land Use Planning initiative developed with First Nations over the next 10-15 years. The announcement includes a commitment to work with First Nations to ensure their consent is given before any industrial projects go forward and resource benefit sharing.

For more information visit the Ontario government website.

The Big Wild spokespersons meet with the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks.

Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Quebec, Tuesday May 12 - Public support for the The Big Wild social movement continues to grow since its launch on May 5th. The Big WildTM spokespersons are meeting today at lunch with Line Beauchamp, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks to present her with the population's concerns for wilderness conservation. Already, more than 9 000 people have added their voice to support the vision of keeping at least half of Canada's public land and water wild forever.

Founded by Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), The Big Wild offers citizens the possibility to share their interests, photos, stories and videos of Canada's wilderness. It is also an opportunity for citizens to learn and act, either by adding their voice of support, by taking a Big Wild challenge this summer, or by wearing a symbolic green shoelace.

Ms. Beauchamp is the first Canadian provincial and federal Environment Minister to meet with The Big Wild spokespersons in order to hear concerned citizens' interests firsthand.

What: Presentation of the Big Wild initiative to Line Beauchamp, Qu�bec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks.

Where: in front of the National Assembly, Qu�bec city

When: Tuesday May 13, 12h30.

Who: Line Beauchamp, Quebec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Marie-�ve Marchand, Executive director, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-Qu�bec) et Yves Leduc, Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC) Quebec store Manager.

The Big Wild Fact Sheet

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Which one Canadian asset is irreplaceably "Canadian", an intrinsic part of our culture, that most
people would agree should last forever?
... Canada's wilderness.
The Big Wild refers to those parts of Canada that are still in their natural state - vast
undeveloped areas that are pristine and roadless from coastal temperate rainforests to the wild
arctic, where diverse ecosystems are largely still in tact. Just how impactful are these great
wild spaces to this country and the world? Read on to find out more. Did you know:
� Unlike many countries around the world, over 90 per cent of Canada's wilderness and all of
our oceans and freshwater lakes are publicly-owned - belonging to each and every citizen
of this country. Yet under our watch, less than 10 per cent of that land, and one per cent of
our waters are protected from industrial development
� Tourism generated by Canada's national parks and historic sites contributes $1.5 billion in
direct spending annually to the Canadian economy; that is five times the amount invested by
the government to operate these areas
� In Canada, we are stewards of 20 per cent of the earth's remaining intact wilderness spaces
� Canada is home to the world's longest coastline and its Boreal is one of the world's last
three great frontier forests, accounting for over 20 per cent of what's left on the planet. This
forest is actually one of the most important regulators of climate change in the world;
destruction of Canada's intact Boreal forest contributes to global warming by releasing
carbon stored in its soils
� In a year, over 2 million acres of Canadian forests are logged due to the rapid pace of
human development
� Canada's wilderness is home to 24 per cent of the planet's wild forests, 20 per cent of the
world's fresh water and 24 per cent of the world's wetlands; it's also home to over 500
endangered species including wildlife plant and animal species like the North Atlantic right
whale, the monarch butterfly and the blue ash tree
� Woodland caribou, one of Canada's most recognized emblems have already disappeared
from over half of their original territory.� Most provinces and territories still allow some industrial activity in "wilderness" parks,
including Ontario's famous Algonquin Park
� As of today, 1/5 of the Northwest Territories is staked for mining and fossil fuel exploration,
while in Alberta an area that is larger than the size of Vancouver Island has already been
leased for oil sands production
- 30 -

The Big Wild Backgrounder

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Big Wild
Backgrounder
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is Canada's only non-government
organization devoted solely to large-landscape wilderness protection, and Mountain Equipment
Co-Op (MEC) is Canada's largest retail cooperative for self-propelled outdoor recreational
clothing and equipment. Together these two organizations, alongside many passionate
Canadians from coast to coast share a common goal of protecting and conserving Canada's
great wilderness.
The exponential pace of human development and its inevitable detrimental impact on the
undeveloped parts of Canada prompted CPAWS and MEC to create The Big Wild, a new way
for Canadians to voice their support collectively for protecting our wilderness. The Big Wild is a
social movement that is designed to help every citizen become more educated on the issues, be
inspired by their peers, and get involved in conservation initiatives.
Canada is one of the most prosperous countries in the world. We simply have no excuse
for inaction.
Canada's great wild is one of the last remaining on Earth. How much of it should be protected?
Scientists say we must preserve at least half of our land and water to maintain a healthy
ecosystem. Currently, under our watch, less than 10 per cent of our publicly-owned land and
one per cent of our water are protected. It's time for all Canadians who love our wilderness to
speak up for its protection.
The Big Wild makes it possible for small voices to create big change.
Whether it is two minutes, or two months, every citizen and every business can get involved in
their own way:
� Add your voice to The Big Wild declaration online at www.thebigwild.org
� The green shoelace: wear one, share one. Green shoelaces are available from Mountain
Equipment Co-op for a small donation to The Big Wild fund. Wear one and spread the word
by passing the other lace onto a friend
� Share experiences of Canada's great wilderness at www.thebigwild.org by creating
profiles, uploading stories, photos and videos of your personal experiences to inspire others
� Take a trip into Canada's wilderness. Join the conservation efforts and raise funds to
support important wilderness campaigns
- 30 -
Media requiring further information/interviews, please contact:
Penny Savoie / Sonia Gallo
DDB Public Relations
(416) 963-4532 / (416) 963-4270
penny.savoie@can.ddbpr.com / sonia.gallo@can.ddbpr.com

Canadians Hear Their Call From the Wild

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Across Canada, over the next two weeks major city dwellers from Victoria to St. John's will see their urban streets literally going wild. With rooftop parking lot campsites, people rappelling from downtown buildings, and morning canoe commutes to work, a spectacle of kayak and paddle toting wilderness lovers will be inviting passersby to add their voice to The Big Wild - a new social movement founded by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and Mountain Equipment Co-op to advance large-scale wilderness protection in Canada.

"The Big Wild movement is a new way for everyone who cares about our country's wilderness to voice their support for protecting it. We are encouraging every citizen to participate in this new vehicle that promotes leadership in wilderness conservation. Through The Big Wild we want Canadians to create a collective voice that is so strong, that we can convince our country's leaders - at all levels - to make a difference that will ultimately have global impact," says David Labistour, CEO of Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Canada is home to one-fifth of the world's remaining wilderness, but we have protected less than 10 per cent of our lands and less than one per cent of our waters from industrial activity.

"Every Canadian is a landlord to our wilderness and it's on our watch that Canada will decide whether we set a new global standard for our planet's health," says Anne Levesque, CPAWS' national executive director.

The Big Wild vision is that Canada will protect at least half of its wilderness. The vision is based on a growing body of science that supports protecting large-scale wilderness to prevent ecosystems from collapsing. Canadians can participate in this movement by giving as little as two minutes or as much as two months of their time.

To read the full release, please download the PDF below.

Big Wild activities across the country

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Come out and learn more about how you can help ensure at least half of Canada's wilderness is protected forever!

Together we can create big change.

Upcoming Big Wild events:

Whitehorse, YT
May 24, 7:30pm
Yukon Arts Centre (450)
Celebrate the Yukon's Big Wild
Stunning audio visual of images from across the Yukon, audience participation, children's art, local award winning film and more!
Contact: Theresa Gulliver--tgulliver@cpawsyukon.org 867-393-8080 ext 8
Contact: Jill Pangman--jpangman@yukon.net

Yellowknife, NT
May 23, 7:30-9:30pm
Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
Big Wild Launch and Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
COST: $10 adults, $8 youth
Contact: Jennifer Morin--Jennifer@cpaws.org

Vancouver, BC
May 8, 4pm onwards, 7pm presentation
Mountain Equipment Co-op store
Activities and Big Wild presentation taking place in-store and in front of the store on Broadway.
Contact: Megan Baker--megan@cpawsbc.org

Victoria, BC
TBA

Edmonton, AB
May 23, 7-9pm
Royal Alberta Museum, 12845-102 Avenue
Experience Alberta's Big Wild!
Contact: Cathy Shier--cshier@cpaws.org

Calgary, AB
May 17, 10am - 4pm
Mountain Equipment Co-op store
All day event in store with activities, presentations, shoe lace give-aways and a DJ!
Contact: Stephanie Ferguson--sferguson@cpawscalgary.org

Saskatoon, SK
Land of the Loon Resort and Conference Center, Anglin Lake, SK
Contact: Gord Vaadeland--vaadeland@sasktel.net

Winnipeg, MB
TBA

Toronto
May 13, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
MEC Store, 400 King St West, Toronto
Join CPAWS and MEC to learn more about how you can help ensure at least half of Canada's wilderness is protected forever! Together we can create big change.
Contact: Jennifer Berney (CPAWS) jennifer@wildlandsleague.org 416 971 9453

Ottawa, ON
May 5, 7:30-9:30pm
Heart and Crown, Preston St.
BW presentation, video, sign up for the challenge
Contact: Jill Sturdy--jsturdy@cpaws.org

Montreal, QC
May 17
Mountain Equipment Co-op store
All day event in store with activities, presentations, shoe lace give-aways
Contact: Marie-Eve Marchand--memarchand@snapqc.org
Contact: Sophie Paradis--sparadis@snapqc.org

Quebec City, QC
May 10
Mountain Equipment Co-op store
All day event in store with activities, presentations, shoe lace give-aways
Contact: Marie-Eve Marchand--memarchand@snapqc.org
Contact: Sophie Paradis--sparadis@snapqc.org

St. John's, NL
May 5, Time TBA
University
Evening Event, guest speaker, presentations, networking, CPAWS NL Annual General Meeting
Contact: Julie Huntingon--nlcoordinator@cpaws.org

Fredericton, NB
May 3, 7 to 9 pm
Centre Communautaire Ste.Anne, 715 Priestman St.
Local folk singer, Brent Mason; Big Wild slide shows, door prizes
Contact: Roberta Clowater--cpawsnb@nb.sympatico.ca--Ph. 506-452-9902
www.cpawsnb.org

Welcome to the Big Wild

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the brand new Big Wild website. To grow our community in the best way possible, we would love to hear your opinion of how to make it better. Send us your comments to the address below.