Nature Babes: A Gentle Stroll for Moms and Babes in Fish Creek Provincial Park
2019-07-25 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Edmonton) | Friends of Fish Creek – The Cookhouse
Mothers with babies in strollers will join instructor Carina Huggins for a gentle stroll and a brief topic of discussion centered around positivity and thriving in early motherhood. Carina will share coaching insights and tools designed to support new moms at this sometimes challenging stage of life.. The group will be provided with a question/topic to explore as they walk and connect with each other, stopping along the way for mindfulness and nature reconnection exercises.
Thursday mornings, 9-10am from July 4-25
$10/session – Register through Eventbrite

Alien Invasions
2019-07-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
They come from afar, infiltrating our landscapes and squeezing out the local inhabitants. Many of us are complicit in facilitating their spread, but few understand the impact that a a seemingly harmless garden sprout can have on our beloved local ecosystems. Come learn about the importance of native plants, how their existence is threatened by the continued spread of invasive plants, and what we can do about it. Starting from the Cookhouse at the Bow Valley Ranch, this walking tour will be on primarily flat ground and is approximately 3.5 km in total.
Free. To Register, Visit Eventbrite

Yoga in the Park
2019-07-30 19:00 - 20:30, 2019-08-20 19:00 - 20:30, 2019-08-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Friends of Fish Creek – The Cookhouse
Join the Friends of Fish Creek to relax, revitalize and restore body and mind while connecting with the earth in the beautiful setting of Fish Creek Provincial Park. Raja yoga incorporates all eight limbs of yoga and emaphasizes the connection between the union of body, energy and mind through postures, meditation and breathing techniques. Instructors Gwen and Naomi return for their 7th year of teaching for the Friends!
Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30pm from June 18 to August 27
$10/session – Register Through Eventbrite

Success Without Stress! A Special Meditation Series
2019-08-01 19:00 - 20:00, 2019-08-08 19:00 - 20:00, 2019-08-15 19:00 - 20:00, 2019-08-22 19:00 - 20:00, 2019-08-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Friends of Fish Creek – The Cookhouse
This series will explore one unique topic per week over five weeks to help us better understand our stress triggers and learn simple yet effective coping mechanisms to manage stress and anxiety on the go. Participants will have the opportunity to equip themselves with strategies and tools to bring in balance and happiness in their lives. The pleasant backdrop of Fish Creek Provincial Park will offer an added dimension of calm and connection with nature. Sign up for one session or all five!
Thursday evenings, 7-8pm, from August 1-29
$10/session – Register through Eventbrite

Whats the Word on Thesium?
2019-08-06 09:00 - 12:00 | Friends of Fish Creek – The Cookhouse
Educational Tour and Invasive Weed Pull
August 6th, 2019: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Along the Banks of Fish Creek in the Bow Valley Ranch Area

Invasive plants, creeping into local ecosystems along waterways and out of gardens, out compete native plant species for sunlight and resources, leaving less forage for native wildlife. The Friends of Fish Creek Weed Whackers program brings volunteers together to actively engage in pulling these “weeds”, giving our native plants a better chance at survival.

This year we have a new and somewhat mysterious Invasive nemisis: Thesium. No one knows for sure how it came to be in Fish Creek Provincial Park, but it has been spreading rapidly. Join us on August 6th for our first ever Thesium tackling volunteer event!

The event will kick off with a guided tour about Fish Creek invasive species ecology and Thesium arvense as the focus for local field research. After the tour we will turn our attention to the Thesium plants that grow along the banks of Fish Creek, removing them as part of our ongoing riparian stewardship efforts.
Sign up on Eventbrite

A Park Is Born Minibus Tour
2019-08-07 13:00 - 15:00, 2019-08-21 10:00 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
As one of the largest urban parks in North America, Fish Creek Provincial Park has a long and fascinating history that includes First Nations groups, North West Mounted Police, homesteading and ranching. Take a spin back in time on our electric minibus and learn about the dance hall days of the area – long before the city joined the landscape – and about the creation of this beautiful urban park.
$20 per person. To Register, Visit Eventbrite

Filter and Flow: The Engineered Wetlands Tour of Fish Creek Provincial Park
2019-08-08 18:00 - 20:00, 2019-08-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
When the rain pours down and flows through streets, sweeping along any detritus left in its way, do you know where it goes? Take a 2-hour spin on the open air electric minibus through the heart of Fish Creek Provincial Park! Learn about the park’s engineered wetlands, which were constructed as a way of minimizing the level of pollutants running into the creek and have benefited both vegetation and wildlife in the park.
$20 per person. To Register, Visit Eventbrite

Wander with Wayne
2019-08-14 19:00 - 20:30 | 13931 Woodpath RD SW Calgary Alberta T2W 5R6, 13931 Woodpath RD SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2W 5R6, Canada
Join Friends of Fish Creek founding member, Wayne Meikle, on a wandering walking tour through the westernmost area of Fish Creek Provincial Park. Learn some of the parks fascinating and little known history, from the creation of its Engineered wetlands to its resilience through times of extreme flooding. Experience the beauty of the creek and surrounding forests with this treasured local expert as your guide.
Register today! $5 per person.

Going Batty in Fish Creek Provincial Park
2019-08-16 20:30 - 22:30 | Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Centre, 15979 Bow Bottom Trail
The Friends are teaming up with the Alberta Community Bat Program to offer this rare opportunity to learn about one of our favorite animals that frequents Fish Creek Provincial park – Bats!!! We’ll take a short walk around the the Visitor Centre area with bat detectors so you can listen for bats echolocating. A short presentation before bats are active at sunset will give you an opportunity to learn lots of interesting bat facts, and hopefully see some bats in action!
Meet at the Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Center. Bat talk between 8:30 and sunset (around 9:30pm) and then a chance to walk and listen for bats until 10:30pm. Families welcome!
This is a free event, fun for the whole family!
Photo courtesy of Joanna Coleman
We’re Sorry, but tickets for this event are Sold Out

ReWilding Through Restoration
2019-08-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Many areas within Fish Creek Provincial Park suffer from the intensity of human use; this is particularly the case along the banks of Fish Creek where human activity can contribute significantly to an overall decline in ecosystem health. Join the Friends of Fish Creek to learn about how this happens and how we work to engage the community at large to “ReWild” the park through hands-on stewardship work. Starting from Cookhouse at the Bow Valley Ranch, this is a gently 2 hour stroll on flat paved pathways.
$5 per person. To Register, Visit Eventbrite

Introduction to Photography Tour in Fish Creek Provincial Park
2019-08-22 18:00 - 20:00, 2019-09-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Come capture the beauty of Fish Creek under an experienced guiding hand. This introductory level photography class is for people who need help or ideas with photographic composition and camera operation. Any camera will do, DSLR, Film, mirrorless, point and shoot or camera phone. The class will tour the park in an open-air minibus, and we’ll make a few stops along the way so that you can take some pictures, try out technique, and ask questions.
$20 per person. To Register, Visit Eventbrite

Leave It To Beaver Minibus Tour
2019-08-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Ecosystem engineer most excellent, or tree feller most voracious, the activities of the North American Beaver have given it a polarized and controversial reputation. We call them nature’s engineers for good reason. No species other than humans has the potential to terraform the landscape as much as beavers do. Climb aboard the minibus and learn about Canada’s famous (or infamous) national animal, its role in ecosystems, and the possibilities for peaceful coexistence on site in the habitat of Fish Creek Provincial Park.
$20 per person. To Register, Visit Eventbrite

A Taste of Autumn - Wine & Beer Tasting and Silent Auction Fundraiser
2019-09-20 18:30 - 21:30 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Friday, September 20, 2019
Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club, 12501 14th Street SW, Calgary AB
Featuring Keynote Speaker Don Hladiuk – Starman on CBC Radio Eyeopener
The Friends of Fish Creek were pleased to welcome one hundred members of the Fish Creek Community to A Taste of Autumn Wine & Beer Tasting and Silent Auction Fundraiser on Friday, September 20. The Friends raised over $8,500 towards our conservation efforts in Fish Creek Provincial Park through ticket sales, the auction and event sponsorship.
We would like to thank Community Action Team (CAT) volunteers Bob Bowman, Ron Deshayes, Ian Richardson and Angel Spasoff for their assistance with this event. This event would not have been as successful without the support and involvement of the Community Action Team.
Keynote Speaker, Don Hladiuk, Astronomy Enthusiast and Starman on the CBC Radio Eyeopener, presented We Are Stardust and during this fascinating slideshow he discussed dynamic cosmic phenomena taking place in our galaxy.
Six local producers provided samples and discussed their beverages with guests at A Taste of Autumn, and we would like to thank Burwood Distillery, Eau Claire Distillery, Zero Issue Brewing, Spirit Hills Honey Winery, Sunny Cider, and Field Stone Fruit Wines for their participation.
All of the auction and prize draw items were generously donated by local businesses and individuals. Thank you to Anytime Fitness, Avenida Pet Clinic, Katie Bakken, Calaway Park, Calgary Cycle, Calgary Flames, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp, Calgary Stampeders, Calgary Women Fly Fishers Club, Canyon Meadows Cinemas, Capture Nature participants, Deer Valley Co-op, Deerfoot Carpet, Eau Claire Distillery, Filos, Fish Tales Fly Shop, Friends of Fish Creek Minibus Drivers, Bonnie Fulford, Doreen Fulton, Highwood Golf and Country Club, Richard Gotfried MLA, Great Events Catering, Holistic Institute of Health and Fertility, Whitney Issik MLA, Kensington Art Supply, Premier Jason Kenney, Korth Group, McKenzie Meadows Golf, Method Fitness, Mikko Photography, Bob Morrin, Pensak Houghton Dentistry, Jim Pescott, Pumphouse Theatre Society, RMB Photography, Robin Read, Deana and Ward Sanderson, Kathy Seaman, Soffrito, Jennifer Solem, Peter Spear, Strides Running Store, Sunny Cider, Time is Money Executive Concierge, The Venturer’s Society, Wild Bird Store, Yoga Dot Calm and Zero Issue Brewing.
Special thanks to Dave Arnott for helping to organize A Taste of Autumn and to MI DJ & Sound for providing sound and technical services throughout the evening. We would also like to express our sincere thanks to Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club for generously providing us with the venue. Thank you also to First Calgary Financial for sponsoring this event with a contribution of $2000.
Thank you to the volunteers who helped in a variety of positions to ensure that A Taste of Autumn ran smoothly, to everyone who sold tickets and thank you to those who attended. We are looking forward to seeing you at next year’s A Taste of Autumn!
August 22 – Media Release
Photos courtesy of Steve Bulman and Don Hladiuk

Check out these pics from A Taste of Autumn 2019 at Canyon Meadows – Click to Enlarge
Photos courtesy of David Mitchell and Bob Bakker

Zero Issue Brewing

Burwood Distillery

Sunny Cider

Eau Claire Distillery

Field Stone Fruit Wines

Spirit Hills Honey Winery

Volunteer

A Taste of Autumn Volunteers

Prize Draw Table
​

Keynote Speaker, Don Hladiuk

Auction Table and Artwork

Auction Bidder

Welcome to Night
2019-09-25 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Welcome to Night – An Introduction to the Wonders of Nighttime and the Night Sky
Wednesday, September 25, 2019 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Provincial Park
Presented by Doug Saul – Educator, Writer and Outdoor Guide
Explore how night happens, the wonders to be discovered at night and an introduction to the night sky. Topics include biological life at night, night on other planets, wonders of the night sky and ways to explore and protect the natural night here on Earth. The presentation includes music, questions and curiosity. Doug Saul is also the author of children’s book, Wild Alley Night. Doug find’s everything interesting and his career has included providing workshops about the night sky, visiting the Dene communities living along the Mackenzie River, teaching special education in downtown Calgary, and directing outdoor education teams and summer camps in the Bow Valley.
Registration Is Required.
Free for Friends Members and $10.00 for Non-Members.
Free for Youth 16 Years of Age and Younger with Registered Adult.
Register through Eventbrite
Refunds are possible up to 7 days before the event, but Eventbrite service fee will not be refunded.
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com

Riparian Restoration - October 15 and 16
2019-10-15 12:30 - 16:30 | Bow Valley Ranch, Fish Creek Provincial Park 15975 Bow Bottom Tr. SE Calgary, AB T2P 2M7, 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
The Friends’ Riparian Stewardship Program is part of our larger, overarching Watershed Stewardship Project that provides a wide range of opportunities for people to lend a hand in the care of Fish Creek Provincial Park. ReWilding supports the overall health and functioning of the watershed while contributing to increased resiliency and flood mitigation.

Volunteers are needed each year to take on the role of Riparian Steward; this role entails a variety of tasks that may include native tree and shrub planting, general digging and site preparation, spreading mulch and native seeds and installing temporary fencing. Site monitoring, watering and maintenance throughout the season may also be involved in this role. Click here to view Volunteer Job Description.

We are currently seeking volunteers to help us complete our 2019 Riparian Restoration Project on October 15 & October 16.
Advance registration required. Click here to sign up.

For more information on our Riparian Stewardship Program or questions about volunteer opportunities, please contact Katie Bakken, Program Coordinator, at katie@friendsoffishcreek.org or call our office at 403-238-3841.

*A Riparian area is the area of vegetated land next to a water resource which provides numerous essential ecological services. Acting as a natural buffer, it protects water from negative impacts associated with pollution, provides shoreline stability to prevent erosion, protects water quality and offers a movement corridor and wildlife habitat to the rich diversity of species who use it for parts or all of their life cycle. At times, however, these areas can become so impacted by human activity that they lose their ability to provide these services, and the “health” of the riparian area becomes compromised. To learn more, visit the Cows and Fish Website.

Riparian Restoration - October 15 and 16
2019-10-16 10:00 - 16:00 | Bow Valley Ranch, Fish Creek Provincial Park 15975 Bow Bottom Tr. SE Calgary, AB T2P 2M7, 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
The Friends’ Riparian Stewardship Program is part of our larger, overarching Watershed Stewardship Project that provides a wide range of opportunities for people to lend a hand in the care of Fish Creek Provincial Park. ReWilding supports the overall health and functioning of the watershed while contributing to increased resiliency and flood mitigation.

Volunteers are needed each year to take on the role of Riparian Steward; this role entails a variety of tasks that may include native tree and shrub planting, general digging and site preparation, spreading mulch and native seeds and installing temporary fencing. Site monitoring, watering and maintenance throughout the season may also be involved in this role. Click here to view Volunteer Job Description.

We are currently seeking volunteers to lend a hand for our 2019 Riparian Restoration Project, taking place October 15 and October 16.

Sign up now through My Volunteer Page

For more information on our Riparian Stewardship Program or questions about volunteer opportunities, please contact Katie Bakken, Program Coordinator, at katie@friendsoffishcreek.org or call our office at 403-238-3841.

*A Riparian area is the area of vegetated land next to a water resource which provides numerous essential ecological services. Acting as a natural buffer, it protects water from negative impacts associated with pollution, provides shoreline stability to prevent erosion, protects water quality and offers a movement corridor and wildlife habitat to the rich diversity of species who use it for parts or all of their life cycle. At times, however, these areas can become so impacted by human activity that they lose their ability to provide these services, and the “health” of the riparian area becomes compromised. To learn more, visit the Cows and Fish Website.

Rock Dams in Fish Creek
2019-10-24 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Rock Dams – The Effects of Recreational Rock Dams on Water Quality and Stream Measurements in Fish Creek
Thursday, October 24, 2019 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Provincial Park
Presented by Jenny Atamanik – Master of Science Student at Royal Roads University
Fish Creek Provincial Park has a large number of park visitors and some visitors enjoy constructing rock dams (recreational rock dams) across the creek. These rock dams are arranged in order to provide a walkway to cross the creek or to create a swimming hole, and can be seen throughout Fish Creek Provincial Park. Jenny Atamanik has been studying the effects of these dams throughout the summer months and will share her findings at this presentation. The talk will focus on the inventory and categorizing of rock dams in Fish Creek as well as the results of weekly monitoring of water quality and stream measurements upstream and downstream of recreational rock dams.
Jenny currently works at an environmental consulting company as a Risk Assessment Scientist, and has worked in a variety of environmental positions including bird studies in the Northwest Territories, construction monitoring in northern Alberta, and her work currently focuses on environmental site assessments and human health risk assessments.
Registration Is Required.
Free for Friends Members and $10.00 for Non-Members.
Free for Youth 16 Years of Age and Younger with Registered Adult.
Register through Eventbrite
Refunds are possible up to 7 days before the event, but Eventbrite service fee will not be refunded.
Photo courtesy of Jenny Atamanik

Ghosts of Fish Creek Walking Tour
2019-10-28 18:30 - 19:30, 2019-10-29 18:30 - 19:30, 2019-10-30 18:30 - 19:30 | Friends of Fish Creek – The Cookhouse
Join us, if you dare!!! You never know what you’re going to see! Mwahahahahaaaaa!
Tour the historic Bow Valley Ranch area of Fish Creek Provincial Park to learn about the ghosts that are rumored to haunt here! Hot chocolate will be served to keep you warm and toasty (please remember to bring a travel mug). And don’t forget to wear your scariest Hallowe’en costume (possibly with layers, as this is an outdoor program) and good walking shoes.
Great for all ages (although it may be a bit scary for younger listeners). This walk is also good for most levels of mobility; it is mainly on paved pathways, flat ground and less than a total of 1km.
$7 per person. Funds raised will go directly towards the Friends of Fish Creek conservation and stewardship activities in the park.
Register early, space is limited! And don’t forget to wear your scariest Hallowe’en costume!
Resister through Eventbrite

Exploring the Ice Age across Alberta
2019-11-21 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Exploring the Ice Age across Alberta
Thursday, November 21, 2019 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Provincial Park
Presented by Dr. Chris Jass – Curator of Quaternary Palaeontology at the Royal Alberta Museum
Alberta is rich in fossils, and over the past 10 years, Dr. Chris Jass, has visited sites around the province exploring the Ice Age fossil record found in caves, gravel pits, lakes, and river drainages. Fossil remains recovered from those field projects reveal tantalizing hints of landscapes occupied by both extinct and extant (living) animals, highlighting the link between the ancient and modern biota. In his presentation, Dr. Jass will take you to different palaeontological sites around the province, highlight what those sites tell us about the Ice Age history of Alberta, and discuss how that information is relevant to our world today.
Dr. Chris Jass is the Curator of Quaternary Palaeontology at the Royal Alberta Museum. He has been exploring and studying Alberta’s Ice Age history for the past 10 years in that role. He received an M.S. in Quaternary Studies (Northern Arizona University) and a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences (The University of Texas at Austin). Prior to moving to Alberta, he worked extensively across the western U.S., studying Ice Age deposits in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota and Texas.
Registration Is Required.
Free for Friends Members and $10.00 for Non-Members.
Free for Youth 16 Years of Age and Younger with Registered Adult.
Register through Eventbrite
Refunds are possible up to 7 days before the event, but Eventbrite service fee will not be refunded.
Photo courtesy of Chris Jass
