Erick Landry – Volunteering with DUC – A Leader in Action

Erick Landry,40, of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec has witnessed a dramatic decline in local wetlands over the past few years on his daily commute to Montreal. Because of this, he takes his volunteer role at Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) very seriously. Landry is a keen birder whose DUC volunteer efforts are all the more important to him knowing that he is making a difference to wetland conservation in his community.

Landry was introduced to DUC in 2000 through friends who were hoping to
re-invigorate one of Canada’s oldest DUC fundraising dinners. Without enough volunteers at its helm, the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield fundraising committee had faded. Landry, along with several other volunteers, dove in to help. Landry is now the committee chair, and has been since 2005 – playing a role wherever it is needed – from selling and printing tickets to setting up for the dinner. In 2010 he helped organize the 25th anniversary event. Every year, Landry challenges himself to do better than the last, and consequently, his work at DUC has been outstanding. He has instilled the same conservation ethic in his daughter Maxime.

“The main reason that I am involved with DUC is because of the direct benefits I see happening for habitat and wildlife,” says Landry. “When I look up at the sky and see a flock of waterfowl, I take pride in knowing that there is a little bit of our committee in that flock.”

“The future of conservation depends on people like Erick,” says Jocelyn Landry, DUC fundraising manager in Quebec, and no relation to Erick. “Erick is not only dedicated, he has great ideas. Volunteers like him are needed across Canada to ensure that we have a strong future in preserving our wildlife and their habitats.”

“National Volunteer Week is our chance to honour our nearly 7,000 volunteers across Canada, and in particular, 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 understand the need for development and conservation,” says Landry. “As a volunteer with DUC I like being part of the challenge to ensure that our wetlands will remain a crucial component of the Canadian landscape for future generations and for wildlife.”

With the support of volunteers like Landry, 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. Landry and other conservation-minded individuals like him from across Canada will continue to be the driving force behind ongoing efforts to stop wetland loss.