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Calgary painter named Ducks Unlimited Canada’s 2009 Artist of the Year 
Artwork raises much-needed funds for wetland conservation
Oak Hammock Marsh, Man., March 9, 2009 – Darren Haley of Calgary, Alta. has been named Ducks Unlimited Canada’s 2009 National Artist of the Year for his painting Alpine Hunter. As such, he joins some of Canada’s foremost nature artists by donating his artwork to help Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) raise much-needed funds for wetland conservation.
Of the hundreds of artists who submit their artwork in hope of being chosen for DUC’s National Art Portfolio (NAP), only one is selected as the National Artist of the Year. The selected NAP artists have their artwork made into high-quality prints and are given national exposure through DUC fundraising initiatives. The money raised through the NAP supports DUC’s on-the-ground wetland conservation work, scientific research and education programs.
“The National Art Portfolio is a unique program that not only promotes our country’s outstanding nature artists, but the growing need to conserve the natural areas that inspire their work. The NAP artists are an extremely talented group and their popular prints are powerful fundraising tools for DUC,” says Ken Bailey, DUC director of revenue and membership. “As National Artist of the Year, Darren Haley’s painting Alpine Hunter is a great addition to our 2009 NAP, and I’m sure it will be very successful in helping us raise the money we need to continue our wetland conservation work.”
Haley is an internationally shown artist who spends hours observing the habitat and behavior of his wildlife subjects. This commitment to capturing wildlife in its natural state is apparent in the fine details of Alpine Hunter, where a stately grey wolf peruses the wilderness terrain of the great Canadian Rockies. Through his work, Haley hopes to raise public awareness and emphasize the need to conserve natural resources such as wetlands.
Ducks Unlimited Canada is a national, private, non-profit organization that has been committed to wetland conservation for over 70 years. DUC conserves wetlands and their associated habitat for waterfowl, other wildlife and people. For more than 25 years, artists have donated their artwork to help DUC conserve vanishing wetland habitats. DUC’s spring event fundraising season is now underway and people are encouraged to attend events to see artwork by Haley and other great Canadian artists. For information on upcoming DUC events in your community, visit www.ducks.ca/event.
A high-quality image of Darren Haley's artwork is available. For more information, please contact:
Leigh Patterson
Corporate Media Relations Specialist
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Phone: (204) 467-3306
E-mail: l_patterson@ducks.ca
