Hand-me-down nature

The best times are outdoor times

Chris grew up with three older brothers outside of Timmins, where the best times were outdoor times. Chris was part of DUC’s former Greenwing Program and one of his early memories is being out banding ducks with DUC volunteers. He also recalls doing many school projects about wetlands or waterfowl, including a grade four animal project about Canada geese.

“We spent a lot of time fishing, hunting and at the cottage,” he says. “My dad’s quite the naturalist and instilling that in his boys was important to him. He continues to share his appreciation for nature with his grandkids.”

Chris’s father is Robert Sharp, a 35-year DUC volunteer and founding member of the Timmins chapter. Fellow volunteer, Lynne Grenon, can’t say enough about him. “We’re the longest-standing committee members,” she notes with pride. “For as long as I can remember, Mr. Sharp has taken care of our live auctions.”

They’ve worked together on the Timmins fundraising banquet for more than two decades but it’s just natural to call him Mr. Sharp, she explains. “I can’t call him Rob. Everyone on the committee has so much respect for him.”

Lynne sees his father’s influence in Chris. “All his boys love the outdoors. They all have a bit of Mr. Sharp in them.”

Chris is handing down that awareness of nature to the next generation beside a new pair pond where two little girls are learning about wildlife—and probably quite a bit about mud too.

This pair pond was funded in part by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act for habitat projects in Canada that restore and enhance vital waterfowl habitats.