Doug Clarke Memorial Award

SASKATOON, NOVEMBER 2022

At this weekend-long summit for women in the conservation workforce from across Canada and diverse work environments (from various levels of government to NGOs, educational institutions and industry), women came together to develop solutions to the barriers, challenges and discrimination they face in the conservation field.

Women often go unrepresented at a leadership level when it comes to the management of our natural resources. Despite enjoying the outdoors as hunters, anglers and trappers, women are often a minority in most rooms where conservation decisions are being made.

The goal of the summit was to highlight women’s unique challenges and contributions to conservation action planning, provide opportunities for skill building and create a space where women working and volunteering in the conservation and environmental sectors could build networks of support.

This summit engaged 98 women from six provinces. Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive, particularly about the opportunities to connect with other women in the sector and build their skills and connections.

The next Advancing Women in Conservation Summit is being planned for October 2023 in Moncton, New Brunswick.

This award was founded in 1982 in memory of C.H.D. Clarke, who devoted his career to the philosophy, science and art of wildlife management. At the time of his death in 1981, he was a director of the Canadian Wildlife Federation. This award is presented to a CWF affiliate for the most outstanding conservation project completed by its clubs or members during the previous year.