After helping Fredericton homeowners during the floods, the newest recruits in the Canadian Conservation Corps are planning additional community service and conservation projects across Canada.
“I’m very proud of the young adults who are building a better Canada by giving back through our new Canadian Conservation Corps program,” said Rick Bates, CEO of the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF). “These youth are part of an innovative nine-month education program that includes wilderness training, conservation field work and community service projects, but to begin on day one with flood relief goes above and beyond our expectations.”
The new program was developed by the Canadian Wildlife Federation and is funded by the federal government as part of the Canada Service Corps.
Over the next two years, the Canadian Conservation Corps will recruit participants, aged 18-30, half from underserved parts of the nation.
The first group of recruits began training in February and have spent the past few months in Saskatchewan, Ontario and Alberta helping with turtles, snakes, fish and other wildlife and habitat conservation projects. The second group of recruits met in Fredericton May 8 and was scheduled for orientation at a base camp but immediately adjusted those plans to support local flood relief efforts.
These young adults then set off for two weeks of wilderness training and is now back at base camp near Fredericton for wildlife education workshops and project planning. The participants will be helping with conservation projects across Canada as well as in their home communities as the program unfolds.
“It’s really wonderful to see young people take immediate action to address the needs of Canadians by supporting local flood relief efforts,” said The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour. “That’s what Canada Service Corps is all about: bringing the notion of service to life by getting people together to make a positive difference in our communities and the lives of others.”
To learn more, visit CanadianConservationCorps.ca.
Release: Canadian Wildlife Federation
