The Big Wild

    

Please join us in Banff, Alberta, November 1-3, to prepare for the launch of The Big Wild: Canada’s Wilderness Protection Movement.  The Big Wild is an initiative founded by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) to enlist large numbers of Canadians in a movement to protect Canada's Big Wild places.  Canada's irreplaceable wilderness represents 20% of all that is left in the world.  The Big Wild will enable Canadians to express their passion and commitment to these wild places, and demand urgent action from decision-makers to conserve them.

We will gather as key members of each founding organization from across Canada with selected resource people to learn more, and to collaborate on strategies and plans for the 2008 roll-out and implementation of this exciting initiative.

If you are ready to Register for the workshop, click here to proceed to the online registration form.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this invitational meeting is to bring together the people within CPAWS and MEC who will be centrally involved in the cross-Canada launch of The Big Wild to learn more about it and some related large-scale conservation initiatives, clarify roles, build relationships, solidify plans and begin building the excitement connected with this extraordinary initiative.  Attendees will be given the opportunity to share their views on a multi-media presentation on the case for protecting Canada’s Big Wild, to fine-tune plans for launching The Big Wild in Spring 2008 at the national and regional level, and discuss longer term plans for The Big Wild.  

The objectives of our meeting are:

1. To inspire and inform attendees by sharing knowledge from resource people and allies about Canada’s Big Wild conservation opportunity, and other relevant big-picture conservation initiatives;
2. To build a shared commitment and engage early champions among regional and national staff within CPAWS and MEC for The Big Wild initiative;
3. To plan the implementation of Big Wild at a national and regional scale with CPAWS and MEC staff;
4. To build strategic links between The Big Wild and other relevant big-picture conservation initiatives (namely: Freedom to Roam, Yellowstone to Yukon, Canadian Boreal Initiative, Two Countries One Forest).
   

REGISTER BY OCTOBER 15

There is no fee for the meeting, but advance registration is required.  If you have questions about registering, please contact Dave Peterson, Workshop Registrar, at dave@devonknight.com, or 604-677-2759. Please register as soon as possible, but not later than October 15. Proceed to the online registration form.

ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS

The cost of your accommodation and meals at the Banff Centre will be covered directly by Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC).  The meeting organizers will make reservations on your behalf, based on the dates and accommodations preferences you specify in the online registration form.

TRAVEL

Meeting participants will be asked to make and pay for their own travel arrangements.  If required, MEC will reimburse participants, based on receipt of a claim form and receipts.  Your registration confirmation will provide more details about this process.

WORKSHOP LOCATION

The Banff Centre
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Banff, Alberta
Canada
T1L 1H5

BACKGROUND

In 2005, CPAWS and MEC agreed to jointly launch a social marketing initiative to promote a movement for Canadian wilderness protection. With the assistance of some of Canada's leading social marketers, the two founding organizations have developed a bold and ambitious marketing plan, intended to rally thousands of Canadians to express their support for big wilderness protection. 
This meeting is made possible by the vendor partnership between MEC and Patagonia Inc. MEC sets aside 2% of all sales of Patagonia Inc. product to support joint environmental initiatives.  This year, funds from that stream have supported the development of the Big Wild project.  A significant portion of those funds are being dedicated to covering the costs of this meeting. 

FROM CANADIAN TO CONTINENTAL

For decades, national parks, wilderness areas and refuges preserved valuable natural lands and ensured a home for the bounty of wildlife that once flourished across much of North America. However, many species cannot be sustained solely by remaining inside the boundaries of existing protected areas.  Large protected areas are losing native species, especially carnivores and large mammals.  The science of Conservation Biology has identified two elements that must form the foundation for meaningful conservation.  These are the protection of large core areas, and ensuring connectivity between core protected areas.

Informed by the science, collaborating organizations have developed The Big Wild and Freedom To Roam initiatives to advance a compelling vision of connectivity and large-scale protection, to safeguard North America's biodiversity. 

The Big Wild in Canada, founded by CPAWS and MEC, calls for action to ensure that at least 50% of our country remains permanently wild, though creation of large, representative parks and other protected areas which are connected via corridors.  Freedom To Roam, led by Patagonia, Inc. and partners in the United States, will call for the legal protection of continental corridors and the protection of remaining undeveloped roadless areas. The parties involved are committed to linking approaches and strategies within North America, because maintaining ecological connectivity will require collaboration across geo-political boundaries.
 
In 2009, The Big Wild and Freedom To Roam will begin to collaborate more formally on strategies.  The purpose of the Banff meeting is to prepare for the launch of the Big Wild movement in Canada, and ensure that key players in Freedom to Roam, and other important Canadian conservation initiatives, are included as the project moves forward.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

November 1 (Thursday)

• 7:00 am – 9:00 am
  Breakfast (optional)
• 9:00 am – 12:00 pm   
  Morning activities and Pre-Meetings (optional)
• 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm   
  Registration and Lunch
• 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm        
  Meeting Begins/Afternoon Session
• 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm       
  Dinner
• 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm       
  Evening Session

November 2 (Friday)

• 7:30 am – 8:30 am       
  Breakfast
• 8:30 am – 12:00 pm   
  Morning Session
• 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm    
  Lunch
• 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm       
  Afternoon Session
• 5:30 pm           
  Dinner (on your own)
• Evening
  VIP Reception for the Grand Opening of the 2007 Mountain Film Festival (ticket provided)      
  
  

November 3 (Saturday)

• 7:30 am – 8:30 am       
  Breakfast
• 8:30 am – 12:00 pm       
  Morning Session
  
  

BANFF MOUNTAIN FESTIVALS

All meeting participants will receive a free VIP ticket for the film festival opening reception on Friday, Nov. 2.  The ticket covers only the reception and informal dinner, not that evening's film showings.

The Banff Mountain Book and Film Festival is taking place at the Banff Centre from October 27 - Nov 4.  If you are interested in attending, visit the festival Web site to reserve tickets.  If you need accommodation for nights other than the Big Wild Meeting nights (Oct 31-Nov 2), you must book your own accommodation through the festival site.  This is a very popular event, so be sure to book early.

GETTING TO THE BANFF CENTRE

For detailed information about getting to the Banff Centre, visit: www.banffcentre.ca/about/location/directions.asp
This link has good maps of the town of Banff and the Banff Centre.

We anticipate that most participants will take the Banff Airporter from the Calgary Airport to the Banff Centre.  Reservations are recommended.  For more details:  www.banffairporter.com, or tel:  1-888-449-2901.


CANCELLATION

If you need to cancel or make changes to your registration, please advise Dave Peterson, as soon as possible, by phone at 604-677-2759 or by email at dave@devonknight.com.

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions or need additional information please contact Dave Peterson by phone at 604-677-2759 or email.

REGISTER NOW!