Embracing Winter in Manitoba
Dear Supporter,
The snow is finally here to stay! I hope you’ve been getting outside and enjoying the brisk weather. Winter is a part of our identity here in Manitoba, whether we like it or not, so we might as well embrace it!
A number of brave souls joined us for a hike on the Pinawa Suspension Bridge two days after the season’s first big snowstorm. We were rewarded by spectacular views, the satisfying crunch of snow under our boots, and deliciously crisp fresh air. We have more winter hikes coming up, including at La Barriére Park and Bois-des-Esprits. We hope to see you there!
For those who want a cozy indoor nature event, join us on Thursday, December 2, at 7 p.m. for a fundraiser to celebrate the launch of Polar Beer, a beverage sure to warm you up. It will be a fun-filled evening with games, prizes, and live music. Tickets are limited, so get yours today at this link!
We also hope to see you (virtually) on December 10 at noon for our upcoming webinar about the Defend Manitoba Parks campaign, which will serve as our Annual General Meeting. Click here to register for the webinar, and take 30 seconds to add your name to the Defend Manitoba Parks campaign.
Though winter is a time to hibernate for some, the team at CPAWS Manitoba is as busy as ever, connecting people to nature and standing up for conservation in the province. I hope to see you at one of our many upcoming events!
Yours in Conservation,
Ron Thiessen
Executive Director
CPAWS Manitoba
Announcing the Fall Colours Photo Contest Winners
After going through hundreds of submissions, we are pleased to announce the winners of our fall photo contest! Congratulations to Mary Lou Milhausen (first place animal category), Tara Kurtenbach (first place nature category), and Tayler Kittle (first place people category), and thanks to everyone who entered. In this blog post, learn how the photographers captured their award-winning photos and see some honourable mentions.
Polar Bears in a Warming Arctic: Why Manitoba's Melting Sea Ice Matters
Polar Bear International’s Dr. Andrew Derocher reveals the stark reality of how a warming arctic is impacting polar bears in Manitoba. Read about it in this blog post, or view the webinar.
Celebrate the Launch of Polar Beer
CPAWS Manitoba teamed up with Torque Brewing to brew a limited seasonal ale made with Manitoba ingredients. Polar Beer is a classic American pale ale made with foraged Manitoba spruce tips. It’s a beer brewed for both nature lovers and beer buffs.
What better way to launch our Polar Beer than with a party at Torque? Join us for a fun-filled evening with games, prizes, live music, and a chance to hang out with CPAWS staff, supporters, and fellow conservationists. Get your ticket today.
Find Out What You Can Do to Defend Manitoba Parks
Manitoba has a new premier. How will this impact the government’s direction on privatizing park services, increasing user fees, and potentially decommissioning some parks?
Join CPAWS Manitoba to learn more about the Defend Manitoba Parks Campaign at noon on Friday, December 10, 2021. We will also learn how Albertans managed to save 175 parks from being removed from the Alberta Parks system. This webinar will serve as our Annual General Meeting, so we are offering door prizes to people who attend! Click here to register today.
Winter Hiking and Webinars: Sign Up for Upcoming Events
We’ve had such a great time connecting with you during our group hikes! We loved all the costumes for our Halloween hike at Birds Hill, and we had lots of fun in the snow during our first winter hike at the Pinawa Suspension Bridge. We have more weekend hikes coming up, plus we have our nature webinars for a cozy lunch hour during the week!
Friday, Nov. 26: Geocaching 101: How to Hunt for Treasure in Manitoba Webinar || Free on Zoom || 12–1 p.m. || Click to register
Saturday, Nov. 27: Free Group Hike || Bois-des-Espirits in the Seine River Greenway || Click to register for 12 p.m. || Click to register for 2 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 10: Defend Manitoba Parks Webinar and AGM || Free on Zoom || 12–1:30 p.m. || Click to register
Saturday, Dec. 11: Free Group Hike || La Barrière Park || Click to register for 12 p.m. || Click to register for 2 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 17: Caring for Manitoba’s Wildlife: How to Be a Good Neighbour in Nature || Free on Zoom || 12–1 p.m. || Click to register
Friday, April 22: Monarchs in Manitoba: How to Protect Our Butterflies || Free on Zoom || 12–1 p.m. || Click to register
Help Protect Hudson Bay
Western Hudson Bay is home to around 800 polar bears: one of the largest concentrations found anywhere in the world. Maintaining the health of the marine environment is critical to supporting polar bears already stressed by climate change. Establishing a National Marine Conservation Area in Western Hudson Bay would minimize environmental impacts of shipping and other commercial activities.
Help protect Hudson Bay by telling the Prime Minister it is past time to get moving on the Western Hudson Bay National Marine Conservation Area. Click here to use our simple letter-writing tool to have your voice heard.
Show Your Support for Connecting People to Nature
Nearly 7,000 people have participated in CPAWS Manitoba Nature Club activities like webinars, hikes, paddle nights, nature photo contests, and programming at schools and daycares in 2021. In support of Giving Tuesday on November 30, please help us continue to connect people to nature. Any amount is appreciated. Tax credit receipts are issued for gifts of $20 or more. Click here to donate today.
Need-to-Know Nature News
Here are some of the articles that have caught our attention recently:
- Dr. Diana Bizecki Robson, Curator of Botany at The Manitoba Museum, led a webinar focused on rare and endangered plants in Manitoba. Listen to her interview with CBC Manitoba.
- The polar bear has been recognized as an official emblem of Manitoba, and in this letter to the editor published in the Winnipeg Free Press, CPAWS Manitoba Executive Director Ron Thiessen stresses the importance of protecting polar bear habitats.
- A new study finds that birders heard and saw many more birds than usual in urban areas of Canada and the United States during the pandemic lockdowns in the spring of 2020. Learn more by watching this webinar we recently hosted on the topic and listening to this interview with webinar speaker Dr. Michael Schrimpf.
- If you want to hike but you don't want to go alone, our free group hikes are a great way to help you hit the trail. Director of Communications and Public Programs Mira Oberman talked to Stephanie Cram on CBC Manitoba's Weekend Morning Show.
- The Winnipeg Free Press featured Polar Beer, an American pale ale we created with Torque Brewing, in this roundup of new brews from the local craft beer scene.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date with all the latest happenings in nature news! And sign up for our weekly event listings newsletter so you don’t miss out on upcoming Nature Club events.
