Setting records and opening eyes to the wonders of nature

Anyone who has volunteered knows that it’s not always easy. Sometimes, there are hard days, long nights, event clean-up, heavy lifting and problems to solve along the way. For Chuck MacInnes, a 35-year Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) volunteer veteran in Nova Scotia, the challenge is the point.

“The reward is in the work,” he says. “It’s not all fun and games but when you can see what you’ve helped bring to fruition, giving youth opportunities to learn or meeting people at a volunteer dinner, that’s gratifying. That’s worth it.”

MacInnes has spent the last three-and-half decades making sure that indeed, the work is worth it. In that time, he has been a driving force behind the Amherst DUC fundraising committee, recruiting new members, setting fundraising and event attendance records in the Maritimes, launching and leading new education programs and bringing in more gift-in-kind donations than most other committees in Atlantic Canada.

All of this (and much more) is why we are so pleased to announce that Chuck MacInnes is DUC’s National Volunteer of the Year.

Like many DUC volunteers, MacInnes’ journey began at a DUC dinner. “I started going to some of the events in the area. I didn’t even know the DUC mission, but I wanted to be involved and to give back for all they’ve done for Atlantic Canada. I was inspired by a great group of volunteers and it became a way to help look after the land, help look after nature.”

MacInnes has a special affinity for the Missaquash Marsh, the largest DUC-managed wetland in Atlantic Canada, and one of his greatest passions is teaching elementary students about the benefits of these natural spaces.

“One of the highlights is definitely the kids,” he says. “I was asked to do retriever demonstrations and the youngsters were astounded by how a dog can help with hunting. Seeing that made me really proud.”

He was prouder still when, after the event, he received numerous hand-written cards from the students, each describing what they learned and the great time they had. “I was quite moved by that,” he smiles.