WWF announces Go Wild winners: Community-based conservation projects span Canada

WWF

Toronto, ON – June 15, 2015 – WWF-Canada is pleased to announce the winning ideas for Go Wild, a new program designed for Canadians to inspire and lead projects in their communities to help protect and restore nature. WWF is encouraging people to connect with nature through daily activities and by nurturing nature closer to home.

“Nature is a key part of the Canadian identity, but it is too often thought of in the context of a weekend trip to a national or provincial park. Nature is right here, in our backyards and nearby river and streams, and we can all play a role in protecting and restoring nature in our own communities,” says David Miller, President and CEO, WWF-Canada. “WWF’s Go Wild program invited Canadians to tell us their idea for helping nature locally, and we got over 100 incredibly creative applications. Congratulations to all of this year’s Go Wild winners.”

Go Wild is WWF-Canada’s newest campaign that challenges Canadians to get their communities more involved in helping nature thrive. The top six ideas were selected from across the country and will each receive up to $1,000. They will each be implemented over the summer.

Go Wild 2015 Winners:

  • North Sydney, NS: Clifford Street Youth Centre’s Earth Superhero Squad Project to engage youth in connecting their community to environmental issues and solutions to protect nature.
  • Laval, QC: Fleurs sauvages du Quebec et Eco-Nature’s Bioblitz Project to track and monitor native species.
  • Ingersoll, ON: Ingersoll Public Library’s Guerilla Gardening Project to increase pollinator plants in the community.
  • Medicine Hat, AB: Society of Grasslands Naturalists’ Naturalizing Neighbourhoods Project to increase native species in backyards.
  • Edmonton, AB: Edmonton and Area Land Trust’s Geocaching Project uses an innovative and fun approach to engaging people in ways they can protect and restore nature.
  • Tofino, BC: Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society’s Citizen Science Project to monitor sea stars.

Winning ideas were selected by WWF-Canada and a panel of external, nature-loving judges. Ziya Tong, host and producer of Canada’s only daily science program, Daily Planet, Les Stroud, creator and star of the original survival TV show, Survivorman, Matthew Blackett, founder and publisher of Canada’s urban magazine, Spacing, and Arthur L’Aventurier, explorer and youth entertainer. 

For more information on Go Wild, please visit: wwf.ca/gowild
 

For more information contact:
Rebecca Spring
Communications Specialist, WWF-Canada
c: 647 338 6274
e: [email protected]

WWF-Canada is part of WWF (World Wildlife Fund), one of the world’s largest and most respected conservation organizations. WWF-Canada has close to 50 years of experience implementing science-based knowledge and research into on-the-ground projects. WWF is creating solutions to the most serious conservation challenges facing our planet, helping people and nature thrive. Visit wwf.ca for more information.