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Committed to ensuring these valuable areas remain for generations to come, Claude became a Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) volunteer and is helping make wetland conservation another one of northern Ontario’s claims to fame.

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Claude Roy – Kapuskasing, Ont.

Volunteer keeps conservation a focus in Kapuskasing

Northern Ontario is known for the beauty of its boreal forests and its great diversity of wildlife. Moose, black bears and a wide variety of waterfowl including goldeneye, mallards and mergansers are just some of the creatures that attract nature lovers to the region year after year. Claude Roy makes his home in Kapuskasing – right in the heart of this natural wonderland. Committed to ensuring these valuable areas remain for generations to come, Claude became a Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) volunteer and is helping make wetland conservation another one of northern Ontario’s claims to fame.

“Some of my favourite hobbies are fishing, waterfowling, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing,” he says. “As someone who enjoys the outdoors as much as I do, it’s important to protect and conserve it. Being a DUC volunteer is my way of giving back.”

Nine years ago, Claude was introduced to the DUC cause when a volunteer from the Kapuskasing chapter asked him to help sell tickets to their local fundraising event. Seeing how easy it was to lend a hand – and how much fun the event was – he decided to join the committee. He’s been an instrumental part of the chapter ever since. Last fall, the committee needed some new energy to boost its profile and continue its fundraising efforts to support DUC’s wetland conservation work. Claude stepped up and helped breathe new life into the chapter’s annual fundraising dinner. Taking on the role of committee chair, he helped make the banquet one of the best the community has seen in years.

“The community of Kapuskasing has always been a strong supporter of DUC and its wetland conservation mission,” says Steven Stinkowji, a DUC fundraising manager in Ontario. “But, Claude’s leadership and involvement on the local chapter has really helped take it to new heights. His star volunteer qualities really shone through last year – his enthusiasm and organization played a major role in the event’s outstanding success.”

National volunteer week, April 19-25, is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the work of volunteers like Claude. Perry McCormick, DUC’s national manager of events, says evidence of the outstanding work of volunteers can be seen across the country.

“We have volunteers to thank for the waterfowl flying overhead and the healthy wetland areas below our feet,” McCormick says. “I’d like to personally thank every one of our 7,400 volunteers. It’s your efforts that make DUC’s wetland conservation work possible.”

The positive results of Claude and the Kapuskasing chapter’s work can be seen throughout the community – both on the smiling, happy faces of event attendees and on the landscape all around them. Claude says it’s satisfying to see everyone having such a great time in support of such a great cause.

“DUC has done a lot of work in the area, and that’s something I’m proud to be part of,” he says “We’re extremely lucky to have some of the most beautiful natural wetland areas in the country all around us. And, it’s our responsibility to keep them that way. I’d encourage anyone to get involved with DUC – you won’t regret it.”