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Ducks Unlimited Canada Appoints New Executive Vice President 
Oak Hammock Marsh, Manitoba, September 26, 2002 — With 26 years invested in Canada’s leading wetland conservation company, Gordon K. Edwards is now stepping into the position of executive vice-president with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). Edwards replaces Rod Fowler who retired earlier this year.
According to DUC president, Mel F. Belich, Q.C., Edwards has earned the respect of DUC’s members, volunteers, supporters and staff. He has also developed extensive relationships within the Canadian conservation community.
“Gord embodies the many qualities that made DUC successful in Canada. He’s a proven leader and he’s shown exceptional capacity to unite people, from all walks of life, who have a commitment to conservation and who want to put that commitment into action,” Belich said.
Edwards’ first position with DUC in 1976 was at his home town of Hanna, Alberta. At the age of 23, he became DUC’s local area manager. In this position he oversaw DUC’s first water development projects designed to provide local landowners and waterfowl with secure water sources. He also prepared the habitat strategy for DUC’s second largest program area at the time. As his responsibilities grew with his promotions to provincial manager and regional director, so did the accomplishments of the programs he oversaw. He leaves his position of director of revenue and membership programs in DUC’s Edmonton office for his new senior staff position at DUC’s head office at Oak Hammock Marsh near Winnipeg, Manitoba.
“During my years with Ducks Unlimited Canada, I’ve contributed to fund-raising efforts with our volunteers, arranged conservation agreements with landowners and worked on the ground to get our projects up and running,” Edwards said. “I’ve also had the privilege of working with DUC staff and volunteers in many regions and in many capacities of the organization.”
Edwards' conservation background includes a solid understanding of the ecological and economic values that wetlands and other natural habitats offer society. When combined with his leadership abilities, Edwards' extensive knowledge of wetlands and their associated benefits will bode well for all DUC conservation efforts, including a national conservation cover incentive program (CCIP) that would provide farmers with paid incentives to convert marginal cropland to grassland. Senior DUC conservation and policy staff have been working diligently for a conservation cover program in Canada as these grasslands would provide societal benefits, such as improved water and soil resources, and could also serve as forage reserves in times of drought.
In his position, Edwards will oversee DUC’s 350 staff members located in offices across the country. He will also supervise relations with DUC’s 150,000 supporters and guide the activities of 7,700 volunteers who hold over 800 fund-raising events annually in Canadian communities and major centres in support of Ducks Unlimited Canada’s conservation efforts.
Ducks Unlimited Canada conserves, manages and restores wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats — nature’s water filters — also benefit wildlife and people. In its 64-year-history, DUC has positively influenced over 18 million acres (over 7 million hectares) of Canadian habitat. DUC is an affiliate of the Ducks Unlimited organization that also has representation in the United States, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia. With more than one million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is North America’s premier wetland and waterfowl conservation group.
