Laura Dean – Volunteering with DUC – Commitment to Community

When Laura Dean moved to Yorkton, Sask. seven years ago, she was looking for ways to meet people in her new community. This was how she came across Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). Volunteering with DUC has been a great way for her to contribute to wetland conservation efforts and also to get to know like-minded people. Dean has been an active supporter of DUC ever since.

At 33, Dean is one of the younger members of the Yorkton DUC ladies’ committee. The committee organizes an annual fundraising luncheon for women of all ages from the Yorkton community. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about the important role that women play in conserving wetland habitat. Dean also volunteers her time on the annual DUC Yorkton fundraising dinner – one of the largest events in the province.

“Being involved with DUC has been a great experience for me,” says Dean. “Not only have I met a terrific group of people, I am helping to conserve Canada’s wetlands.”

“Laura’s passion and enthusiasm for DUC is a huge benefit to the Yorkton ladies’ chapter, which organizes one of the best DUC women’s events in Saskatchewan,” says Todd Holmquist, DUC fundraising manager in Saskatchewan. “She is a great example of how young volunteers can bring new ideas to DUC as well as help and encourage other young people to become involved in important issues like wetland conservation.”

“National Volunteer Week is our chance to honour our nearly 7,000 volunteers across Canada, and in particular, our young volunteers who are introducing a whole new generation to DUC,” says Loraine Nyokong, DUC national director of fundraising and membership. “Volunteers like them are the ‘rising stars’ of our organization. The fact that they recognize the importance of wetland conservation and are spreading the word is fantastic, not only for DUC, but for all Canadians.”

“I was raised to spend a lot of time in the outdoors. Canada is one of the best places in the world for that,” says Dean. “Having lived abroad, I believe that we Canadians are incredibly fortunate to have such ecological diversity. DUC is one organization that helps secure that diversity for future generations.”

With the support of volunteers like Dean, DUC recently completed its Wetlands for Tomorrow campaign – the largest conservation fundraising campaign ever undertaken in North America. Working alongside Ducks Unlimited, Inc. in the United States and Ducks Unlimited Mexico, DUC contributed to waterfowl and wetland habitat conservation, water quality as well as recreational and learning opportunities for people of all ages.

DUC could have not achieved these conservation goals without the generous support of its volunteers and supporters. Dean and other conservation-minded individuals like her from across Canada will continue to be the driving force behind ongoing efforts to stop wetland loss.