Ducks Unlimited Canada Elects New President

DUC National Office, Oak Hammock Marsh, Man., June 24, 2003—Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is pleased to announce that at its national board of directors meeting this past weekend in St. John’s, Nfld., John R. Messer was elected as the organization’s 36th president.

Messer has served on the volunteer board of the wetland conservation organization since 1997. He was elected vice-president in 2000 and senior director for Saskatchewan in 2001. With extensive leadership experience in both government and private industry, Messer brings a potent combination of political and business acumen to his new position.

Before joining DUC he served as president and chief executive officer of SaskPower. Prior to taking on the leadership of the Crown corporation in 1991, Messer carried three portfolios during nine years as a minister in the Saskatchewan government – minister of agriculture, minister of industry and commerce and minister of mineral resources. He has served in senior executive capacities as well as a board member for a number of major Canadian corporations in the mining, oil, utility and investment fields. Messer currently owns and manages a large diversified grain farm in the Tisdale area.

In its 65-year history, DUC has conserved and protected more than 24.8 million acres (over 10 million hectares) of wetland and upland habitat for the benefit of waterfowl, other wildlife and people. DUC’s work in habitat conservation, research, education and fundraising employs 350 staff across Canada. The organization has 8,000 active volunteers and 150,000 supporters countrywide.