Oak Hammock Marsh, Man., April 12, 2010 — Russ and Pat Bolitho of Quesnel, British Columbia are a husband and wife team for Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) conservation efforts. Russ is retired from the refrigeration business and Pat owns and operates a large grocery store in town. Russ chairs the Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) Quesnel committee and Pat is a volunteer on the committee. The prominent Quesnel duo are avid DUC supporters and have instilled that same conservation ethic in their children – something they hope continues through the generations.

Four years ago when Russ and Pat were approached about volunteering for DUC, the couple considered the idea carefully. They liked DUC’s track record and the organization’s philosophy. It also meant a great deal for them to know that dollars raised go directly toward on-the-ground conservation projects at the local level. The rest is history. As well as being active on the committee, Russ and Pat also distribute Sealed Bid Auction easels around town and attend DUC volunteer conventions held at various locations throughout the province annually.

“We give our time and energy to DUC because we strongly believe in what they are doing for wetlands, not just for wildlife, but also for water quality and water conservation,” says Russ. “The Quesnel community is outdoor-minded so it is a natural fit for us to support DUC’s important conservation work.”

Russ and Pat have both benefited and improved practical skills from their volunteer work with DUC. However, the best part for the couple has been the conservation knowledge they gain at the annual volunteer convention. From guest speakers to interacting with like-minded people to rubbing elbows with representatives from forestry and livestock associations, the annual conventions are like going back to school for the couple. They appreciate being given the opportunity to expand their knowledge while improving their community.

“I approached Russ to set up the Sealed Bid Auction easels in the community and he jumped in with both feet and last year he and Pat sold nearly 60 prints,” says Ken Ferris, DUC’s fundraising manager in British Columbia. “Russ and Pat are both very well known and respected in the community and they are always enthusiastic about promoting DUC and its conservation work.”

“National Volunteer Week, April 18-24, is our opportunity to celebrate DUC’s team of 7,400 dedicated volunteers like Russ and Pat,” says Loraine Nyokong, DUC director of event and retail fundraising. “DUC volunteers are continually giving freely of themselves to organize fundraising events across Canada for the benefit of wetland conservation. They are the driving force behind our success.”

“We believe in what DUC is doing and we get a lot out of volunteering with them,” says Russ. “This year the annual convention is in Cranbrook and we are really looking forward to it partly because we learn so much but also because we have a really good time – it’s a real inspiration for us.”

Funds raised by volunteers like Russ and Pat directly support DUC’s Wetlands for Tomorrow campaign – the largest conservation fundraising campaign in the history of North America. It spans three countries as DUC works alongside Ducks Unlimited, Inc. in the United States and Ducks Unlimited Mexico to conserve wetlands for waterfowl, other wildlife and people.

For more information, contact:

Ashley Lewis, a_lewis@ducks.ca
Communications Coordinator, Fundraising
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Phone: 204-467-3252