Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society

Pedalling Park Potpourri Cycling Tour
2022-09-17 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Edmonton) | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Pedalling Park Potpourri Cycling Tour

Saturday, September 17 at 2:00-4:00pm hosted by Rose & Will Ratliffe, Friends of Fish Creek Volunteers
A potpourri of information about Fish Creek Provincial Park touching on the plants and animals that live in the park, the many ways humans have left their mark over the years, and the ways that Alberta Parks and the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society are working to conserve and protect Canada’s largest urban provincial park.
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Get to Know Birds & Bees FREE Event
2022-09-24 13:00 - 15:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Get to Know Birds & Bees

Join us for an afternoon in the park where your family or group can enjoy a wide variety of interactive, guided and self-directed activities based around the theme of Birds & Bees.
Autumn is a great time of year to learn about bird migration and insect overwintering. Discover how you and your family can do to support migrating and overwintering wildlife at this time of year – like leaving some fallen leaves on the ground to provide insect overwintering habitat, and not feeding birds so as not to interfere with their migration patterns.
Here are some examples of the kinds of activities that will be on offer this month:

listen to a story by the campfire (weather dependent)
try your hand at birding, binoculars available for loan
enjoy a self-guided walking tour where you can learn how to protect Fish Creek’s ecosystems when you visit
learn about bird migration and how you can support birds at this critical time of year
discover easy ways you can protect important insects and pollinators in the fall
take a close look at a microhabitat
learn how you can have safe and responsible campfires
try your hand at nature sketching and colouring for all ages
listen to a story
enjoy a free drink
meet Wildsmart Ambassadors to learn how you can coexist with wildlife
discover how you can protect nature when you visit parks and protected areas
and much more!

The following local organizations will be attending, offering some fun and exciting activities for you and your family:

Bow Habitat Station
City of Calgary – Bees/Pollinators
Jim Pescott, Artist
Weaselhead Glenmore Park Preservation Society
Biosphere Institute/Wildsmart Ambassadors
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation
Youth Central

There are two more Get to Know Nature events planned for this fall:
Get to Know the Night Sky on Saturday, October 29th where the Royal Astronomical Society will be setting up telescopes for the public to check out cool things happening in the sky, and
Get to Know the Changing Seasons on Saturday, November 26th, where (if there’s snow) you can try snowshoeing and sledding!
*NOTE: Event details are subject to change due to weather, facility access or other unforeseen circumstances, so please check this website to confirm event location and time before attending. Drop-ins welcome, registration not required, but helpful for planning.
View 2022 Dates and Themes
Register to Attend
A big thank you to long-time Friends of Fish Creek supporters, the Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation, for funding our 2022 Get to Know Nature events so these experiences can be offered to the public at no charge!

Thank you to all who supported our efforts to facilitate family nature experiences on GivingTuesday! Together we raised over $2,800. Show your support for connecting children and families with nature by donating online or by visiting the Friends of Fish Creek office in the Bow Valley Ranch. Proceeds support the purchase of equipment and resources to be used at these events and also covers staff time to coordinate volunteers and partners to bring these events to life. With your support, we can remove barriers so more families can get connected outdoors!
Photo, Alberta Native Bee Council

Speaker Series: Gauging Stewardship Success
2022-10-13 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Gauging Success of Environmental Stewardship Projects
Thursday, October 13, 2022 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
In-person at the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre AND broadcast virtually over Zoom

Facilitated by Brooke Kapeller, Bow River Basin Council
Environmental stewardship is increasingly important as human actions threaten the natural world. Now, more than ever, it is necessary to understand what makes stewardship initiatives successful. Join us as Brooke Kapeller, Program Coordinator at the Bow River Basin Council, shares with us the findings from her recent study that explores the important factors in determining the success of environmental stewardship projects.1
Although this study examines stewardship success in Ontario, it will be interesting to see if the lessons learned are applicable to an Alberta context, and specifically to an urban park context, to shed light on how we might increase the effectiveness of Friends of Fish Creek stewardship efforts right here in Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Register through Eventbrite
Photo courtesy Alan Lam
1 Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35650409/

The Fish Creek Speaker Series is returning to in-person programming for the 2022/2023 season! For most Speaker Series events, all registrants will have the option of choosing whether to attend in-person or tune in remotely. Some presentations will be online only to accommodate geographically-distant presenters.
In an effort to remove barriers to participation, the Speaker Series registration form now includes questions geared toward accessibility. If you have ideas regarding how we can make these events more inclusive, please contact katie@friendsoffishcreek.org.

Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss
2022-10-26 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-11-02 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-11-09 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-11-16 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-11-23 13:00 - 14:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss
Thanks to a long-standing partnership with Mount Royal Professor Sonya Jakubec, Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss will be back this fall. This program is aimed at providing support to those experiencing grief, loss or major life transition.
This six-week program simply provides an opportunity to participants to connect with nature while connecting with others who share similar experiences. Although not a grief therapy program, Good Grief may provide valuable connection and healing for both participants and volunteer companions. Companions are not providing counselling or therapy; they simply share a common goal of connecting with nature as a place of refuge in acceptance of our journeys of life transition.
Regardless of the transition you are experiencing – be it the loss of a loved one, job or relationship, a significant change in health or mobility, or other deep changes in your life – spending time in nature with people who are on a similar journey might be just the support you need.
Wednesday afternoons from 1:00-2:00pm, running from October 26 to November 30, with December 7 reserved as replacement in the event of previous outing cancellation due to weather.
Each outing will begin with a reading or a shared experience, followed by a walk on a fairly easy 1.5-2 km route. Each of the three routes will be repeated once during the six-week program – a chance to reflect on the changes in the landscape and ourselves over time. Time, nature and low pressure companionship can be our best supports.
The Friends of Fish Creek strive to create accessible opportunities for community members to engage and connect. If you have accessibility concerns, please contact Katie Bakken, Friends of Fish Creek Community Engagement Coordinator, at 403-238-3841 (ext. 6).
If you would like to learn more about the Good Grief program goals and discoveries from previous Good Grief programs, please feel free to contact Sonya Jakubec, our partner at Mount Royal at sjakubec@mtroyal.ca.

The 2022 Good Grief program is sold out. To hear about future Friends of Fish Creek Wellness programs including Yoga, Mediation and Good Grief, please provide your contact information below so we can reach out once registration is ready.

Wellness Programs Contact List
Please share your name, phone number and email address if you are interested in hearing about future Wellness programs such as Yoga, Meditation and Good Grief programs.

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Wild rose photo credit: Shelley Rutledge

Ghosts of Fish Creek Walking Tour
2022-10-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Bow Valley Ranch Fish Creek Provincial Park, 15979 Bow Bottom Tr. SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2J 5E8
Ghosts of Fish Creek Walking Tour
Wednesday, October 26 at 6:00-8:00pm
Hosted by Wayne Meikle, Founding Member of the Friends of Fish Creek and former Alberta Parks Staff. Meet at the Bow Valley Ranch.
The fascinating history of Fish Creek Provincial Park lends itself to a myriad of mysterious happenings! Learn about it all on this fun and freaky night time walking tour of the Bow Valley Ranch area. Dress warm, and dress up if you wish, for this fun dark walk in the park. If you bring a flashlight, please cover the light with red cellophane so as not to interfere with fellow walkers’ night vision.
Distance: 2km, mostly paved trails, small amount off-trail walking/standing
Group size: 25

Register through Eventbrite

Ghosts of Fish Creek Walking Tour
2022-10-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Bow Valley Ranch Fish Creek, 15975 Bow Bottom Tr. SE, Calgary, T2P 2M7
Ghosts of Fish Creek Walking Tour
Thursday, October 27 at 6:00-8:00pm
Hosted by Wayne Meikle, Founding Member of the Friends of Fish Creek and former Alberta Parks Staff. Meet at the Bow Valley Ranch.
The fascinating history of Fish Creek Provincial Park lends itself to a myriad of mysterious happenings! Learn about it all on this fun and freaky night time walking tour of the Bow Valley Ranch area. Dress warm, and dress up if you wish, for this fun dark walk in the park. If you bring a flashlight, please cover the light with red cellophane so as not to interfere with fellow walkers’ night vision.
Distance: 2km, mostly paved trails, small amount off-trail walking/standing
Group size: 25
Register through Eventbrite

Get to Know the Night Sky FREE Event
2022-10-29 19:00 - 22:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Get to Know the Night Sky

Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 7:00-10:00pm
Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre at Shannon Terrace (map)
Thanks to a collaborative partnership between the Friends of Fish Creek, Alberta Parks and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, this month’s Get to Know Nature event will be larger, and will feature free activities taking place both indoors and outdoors at the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre and Shannon Terrace in the west end of the park. Example activities include:

gaze at the stars, and get a close up look at planets and stars through real telescopes
watch presentations about celestial happenings
warm up by the fire and roast marshmallows
learn about the birds and wildlife that are most active at dusk and at night
join in a short guided walk about Fish Creek’s night life
find out why dark skies are important and learn what you can to do protect our dark skies
discover ways you can help keep wildlife wild
make your own flappy bat and learn all about bats
enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or hot apple cider

This event is part of the 2022 series of Get to Know Nature events, happening monthly from February to November, 2022. Event themes, dates, times and locations vary throughout the year. *Event details are subject to change due to weather, facility access or other unforeseen circumstances, so please check this website to confirm event location and time before attending. Drop-ins welcome, registration not required.
View 2022 Dates and Themes
A big thank you to long-time Friends of Fish Creek supporters, the Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation, for funding our 2022 Get to Know Nature events so these experiences can be offered at no charge to the public!

Thank you to all who supported our efforts to facilitate family nature experiences on GivingTuesday! Together we raised over $2,800. Show your support for connecting children and families with nature by donating online or by visiting the Friends of Fish Creek office in the Bow Valley Ranch. Proceeds support the purchase of equipment and resources to be used at these events and also covers staff time to coordinate volunteers and partners to bring these events to life. With your support, we can remove barriers so more families can get connected outdoors!

Speaker Series: Greater Sage-Grouse
2022-11-10 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Greater Sage-Grouse: The canary in the sagebrush
Thursday, November 10, 2022 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Broadcast virtually over Zoom
Facilitated by Kelly Hazen, Retired Wildlife Biologist, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Like canaries in the coal mine, greater sage-grouse are indicators of the health of the sagebrush environment and its plant and animal inhabitants. Retired wildlife biologist Kelly Hazen will share stories and findings about the greater sage-grouse natural history and the State of Oregon Adopt-A-Lek Program, which she coordinated from 2013 to 2017.

The northern range of the greater sage-grouse, listed as endangered in the Province of Alberta, includes the far southeastern corner of Alberta. Join us to learn about this fascinating bird, and about a citizen science volunteer program south of the border aimed at monitoring populations to support species conservation.

Register through Eventbrite

This month’s Fish Creek Speaker Series event will take place online, with no option to attend in-person as the presenter is tuning in remotely from Oregon. Upon registering, all will receive the Zoom link. Inquiries can be directed to katie@friendsoffishcreek.org

Get to Know Nature FREE Event
2022-11-26 13:00 - 15:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Get to Know the Changing Seasons & Grand Opening of the Beaver Tales Loop

Join us for an afternoon in the park where your family or group can enjoy a wide variety of interactive, guided and self-directed activities on a variety of themes from winter and snow to beavers and wetlands:

take a stroll on the new, 2km paved Beaver Tales interpretive trail
pick up a Conservation Passport, get it stamped at each station, then enter to win a prize!
warm up by the campfire and roast marshmallows (Halal marshmallows available)
take in a short guided walk led by Wayne Meikle, Founder of the Friends of Fish Creek – Meet at the campfire at 1:30pm
try snowshoeing, sledding, birding and other outdoor activities (weather dependent)
learn about beavers and debunk common myths about them and their behavior
learn how Friends of Fish Creek are working to coexist with these furry ecosystem engineers
discover which bird species live here year-round and what you can to do protect them
find out how you can protect nature when you visit parks
learn how to stay warm in winter
make your own paper beaver hat
test your knowledge about responsible firekeeping
dress up like a beaver with Urban Wild and discover the beaver’s amazing adaptations!
learn how you can help keep wildlife wild with the Biosphere Institute’s Wildsmart Ambassadors
and more!

This is the final event in the 2022 Get to Know Nature series of monthly events which started in February. *Event details are subject to change due to weather, facility access or other unforeseen circumstances, so please check this website to confirm event location and time before attending. Drop-ins welcome, registration not required.
View 2022 Dates and Themes
A big thank you to long-time Friends of Fish Creek supporters, the Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation, for funding our 2022 Get to Know Nature events so these experiences can be offered at no charge to the public!

Thank you to all who supported our efforts to facilitate family nature experiences on GivingTuesday! Together we raised over $2,800. Show your support for connecting children and families with nature by donating online or by visiting the Friends of Fish Creek office in the Bow Valley Ranch. Proceeds support the purchase of equipment and resources to be used at these events and also covers staff time to coordinate volunteers and partners to bring these events to life. With your support, we can remove barriers so more families can get connected outdoors!

January Speaker Series: Don't Let It Loose!
2023-01-12 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Don’t Let It Loose: Encouraging Albertans to C.A.R.E. about their aquarium plants and pets
Thursday, January 12, 7:00-8:00pm
Broadcast virtually over Zoom
Facilitated by Megan Evans, Executive Director of the Alberta Invasive Species Council

In Alberta, invasive species continue to threaten our economy and environment as new species are introduced every year. Intentional release and accidental transportation are the two main methods of invasive species introduction. We see examples of this through over 100 locations of goldfish in the province through intentional release and the discovery of zebra mussels in moss balls through accidental transportation.

Aquatic invasive species have been found in storm water and natural wetlands in Fish Creek Provincial Park. Pictured above, a wetland that is known to contain Prussian carp, an aquatic invasive species likely introduced intentionally by park visitors. Photo credit the Ratliffe Family.

The objective of the “Don’t Let it Loose” Project is to encourage Albertans to C.A.R.E. about their aquarium species:

Contact
Act responsibly
Report
End ownership

Everyone has a role to play to help protect our wild spaces from invasive species and their effects. Join us for an online talk to learn how you can lend a hand in the battle against invasive species, particularly in our efforts to prevent new introductions to the province.

Register through Eventbrite

Good Grief Nature Walking
2023-01-20 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-02-17 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-03-10 13:00 - 14:30 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss
Thanks to a long-standing partnership with Mount Royal University Professor Sonya Jakubec, Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss will be offered in winter 2023. This program is aimed at providing support to those experiencing grief, loss or major life transition.
This eight-week program simply provides an opportunity for participants to connect with nature while connecting with others who share similar experiences. Although not a grief therapy program, Good Grief may provide valuable connection and healing for both participants and volunteer companions. Companions are not providing counseling or therapy; they simply share a common goal of connecting with nature as a place of refuge in acceptance of our journeys of life transition.
Regardless of the transition you are experiencing – be it the loss of a loved one, job or relationship, a significant change in health or mobility, or other deep changes in your life – spending time in nature with people who are on a similar journey might be just the support you need.
We invite you to come walk with us on Friday afternoons from 1:00-2:30pm, running from January 20 to March 10, 2023, with March 17 reserved as replacement in the event of previous outing cancellation. Registration required. Outings will run in a variety of weather conditions, but may be canceled if temperatures are too cold or if severe weather is in the forecast. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly and in layers. Ice cleats are strongly recommended.
Each outing will begin with a reading or a shared experience, followed by a walk on a fairly easy 1.5-2 km route. Each of the four routes will be repeated once during the eight-week program – a chance to reflect on the changes in the landscape and ourselves over time. Time, nature and low pressure companionship can be our best supports.
If you would like to learn more about the Good Grief program or discuss the program goals and discoveries from previous Good Grief programs, please feel free to contact Sonya Jakubec, our partner at Mount Royal at sjakubec@mtroyal.ca. Inquiries regarding program accessibility can be directed to Rose Ratliffe, Friends of Fish Creek Volunteer Good Grief Companion at ratliffe@shaw.ca.
Thank you to our Partners and Volunteers for keeping the Good Grief program going! Proceeds support the Friends of Fish Creek’s ongoing efforts to engage the public in responsible stewardship of Fish Creek Provincial Park.

Registration for the 2023 Good Grief program is full. Thank you for your interest.

Photo Courtesy of Alan Lam

Wild Wolf Watching in Yellowstone National Park
2023-02-09 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Wild Wolf Watching in Yellowstone National Park
Thursday, February 9, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Broadcast virtually over Zoom

Presented by Bruce and Kelly Hazen, Yellowstone Citizen Science Group – Wolf Behaviour Observations

Yellowstone National Park is known as the best place in the world to see wolves in the wild. Over the past 16 years, Bruce and Kelly Hazen have watched wolves in Yellowstone during their twice a year visits. Learn the insider tips and tricks to making the most of your wolf watching adventure. Topics include: where, when, and how to comfortably observe wild wolf behaviour. Safe wolf watching etiquette along with essential equipment and supply needs. You will learn what to expect during a typical day in the life of a wolf watcher. Hint: Be crepuscular.

Over the last 16 years, Bruce and Kelly Hazen have contributed their wolf behavior observations to a Yellowstone citizen scientist group. Kelly has a degree in Exotic Animal Training and trained a captive Gray Wolf. In addition, Kelly worked as a wildlife biologist for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and appeared in 2 Oregon Field Guide Television programs. She published her citizen scientist studies and gives talks about Arctic White Geese, Greater Sage-Grouse, and Snowy Owls. She currently volunteers at the High Desert Museum in Bend Oregon, where she leads Nature Walks, Carnivore Talks, and narrates the Raptors of the Desert Sky program.

Register through Eventbrite

Photo courtesy of Kelly Hazen

Exploring the Impacts of Effluent Release in the Little Bow River Watershed
2023-03-09 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Exploring the Impacts of Effluent Release in the Little Bow River Watershed
Thursday, March 9, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Broadcast virtually over Zoom
Presented by Matthew Bogard, Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Environments
The release of municipal and industrial effluents in watersheds is a global issue with complex and somewhat undefined impacts on aquatic ecosystems and public health. The Frank Lake wetland in the Upper Little Bow River watershed in southern Alberta represents a complex management scenario. Despite its ecological, economic, and cultural importance, this watershed is faced with degradation of habitat and water quality due to its long history of intensive land-use, and inputs of agro-industrial and municipal effluent to Frank Lake, initiated in the late 1980s.
The impacts of effluent on the wetland and downstream river and multi-use reservoir are uncertain. This talk will introduce a new, multidisciplinary research program that explores organism- to-ecosystem scale responses to effluent loading in this model watershed. Our partnership brings together academic, industrial, and municipal stakeholders to generate novel research findings on effluent fate and impacts, while providing stakeholders with guidance in local water resource management.
Matthew is an Assistant professor and Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Environments at the University of Lethbridge. He has studied the ecology of lakes, rivers, wetlands, and coastal environments across North America, and is currently Associate Editor at Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Matthew’s research focuses on understanding how human activities impact our precious water resources in southern Alberta.

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Photos courtesy of Matthew Bogard

A Tour of Stewardship 2022
2023-04-13 19:00 - 20:30
A Tour of Stewardship in 2022
Thursday, April 13, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Provincial Park 13931 Woodpath Rd. SW
We also offer online zoom session as well.
Presented by Friends of Fish Creek Staff: Emma Stroud, Team Lead – Ecology & Conservation, and Dylan Barnes, Citizen Science & Stewardship Coordinator (Poplar Forest Stewardship)

Have you been wondering what the stewardship volunteers were up to last year? Are you interested in participating in stewardship and wondering how you could help out in the park? Maybe you would like to find out what we did with 2 km worth of stucco wire. The Friends of Fish Creek stewardship staff are proud to present an interactive evening of questions answered about our efforts to protect and preserve the environmentally sustainability of Fish Creek Provincial Park. Meet with Friends Stewardship and Conservation Staff members Dylan Barnes and Emma Stroud to learn about their efforts last year and enjoy a look at what the Friends did, what we learned, and what we hope to accomplish this year.
This presentation is free to all. Registration is required.

Register through Eventbrite

Gift of Flight
2023-05-01 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Friends of Fish Creek Spring Fundraiser – WestJet Gift of Flight

Congratulations to Melinda May McLauchlin – Winner of the WestJet Gift of Flight Prize Package!
Contest Runs May 1 – July 3, 2023
All funds raised will support the Friends of Fish Creek and our conservation efforts here in Fish Creek Provincial Park. As a small but far-reaching registered charity based in Fish Creek Provincial Park, we do not receive regular direct funding. For over thirty years the Friends of Fish Creek have been supported by a diverse combination of grants, sponsorships, membership fees, program fees, fundraisers, and especially donations from community members like you. Volunteers also play a key role in all of our activities and make it possible for us continue our essential stewardship and community engagement activities.
All bookings and travel must be completed within one year from the date of the event.
All funds raised though this exciting campaign will be used right here in Fish Creek Provincial Park. Enter to win one round trip flight for two guests to any regularly scheduled and marketed WestJet destination! (No cash value, fees, taxes, surcharges not included, blackout dates and restrictions apply).
Raffle Closed – thank you to everyone who entered

View Raffle Rules

The Buzz on Calgary Bumble Bees
2023-05-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Online, Canada
The Buzz on Calgary Bumble Bees
Thursday, May 11, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Broadcast virtually over Zoom
Presented by Syd Cannings, Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service, Prairie Region Environment and Climate Change Canada
Bumble bee populations pose a conservation concern these days, and several species from the Calgary area have been assessed as at risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. This talk will provide an introduction to bumble bees and their basic biology, examine bees whose numbers have declined, the reasons for the decline, and what we can do about the situation.

Syd Cannings is a Species at Risk Biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service in Whitehorse, Yukon. He is a member of COSEWIC, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, and has led the development of the national recovery strategies and management plans for four species of bumble bees. He has also written several books, including British Columbia: a Natural History, and The New BC Roadside Naturalist.

Register through Eventbrite

Gypsy Cuckoo Bumble Bee photo courtesy of Syd Cannings

Friends of Fish Creek - Annual General Meeting
2023-05-24 18:30 - 20:30 | 13931 Woodpath RD SW Calgary Alberta T2W 5R6, 13931 Woodpath RD SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2W 5R6, Canada
Friends of Fish Creek – Annual General Meeting
Have Your Voice Heard! Attend the AGM!
Monday, June 24, 2024
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Registration opens at 6:30 pm
Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, Shannon Terrace (13931 Woodpath Road Southwest, Calgary, AB, T2W 5R4)
The Friends would like to thank all of our members, volunteers, donors, community partners and other supporters for helping to make 2023 a fantastic year. We trust that you have enjoyed some of our programs, courses and activities that we organize in and around the park. As a member of the the Fish Creek community, you share our vision of a sustainable Fish Creek Provincial Park and would like to see it preserved for future generations. The Friends of Fish Creek are honoured to help community members like you maximize your enjoyment of this unique natural urban park. The Annual General Meeting presents an opportunity to meet with Friends staff, Board of Directors, members, and volunteers as well as learn about the year that has come to a close and hear about our exciting plans for 2024, already underway.
This event is free to all community members, however only current 2024 members are eligible to vote.
Current 2023 Friends of Fish Creek members will be sent AGM documents.
Register for AGM
Renew your Membership
ELC painting by Sylvia Prochownik

Calgary Connect: Maintaining Ecological Connectivity
2023-06-08 19:00 - 20:30 | 13931 Woodpath RD SW Calgary Alberta T2W 5R6, 13931 Woodpath RD SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2W 5R6, Canada
Calgary Connect: Maintaining Ecological Connectivity
Thursday, June 8, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Provincial Park 13931 Woodpath Rd. SW
Presented by Nicole Kahal, Conservation Analyst with the Miistakis Institute
What is ecological connectivity and why is it important? What are the challenges to maintaining ecological connectivity in our region? The City of Calgary, in partnership with Miistakis Institute, launched Calgary Captured in 2017, and through this program, Friends volunteers help with wildlife camera monitoring here in Fish Creek Provincial Park. This multi-year wildlife monitoring and citizen science based program is intended to study urban wildlife populations, their movement and behaviour, and enable informed conservation and management decisions that support healthy wildlife populations in our city. Join Nicole Kahal, Conservation Analyst with the Miistakis Institute to learn how Miistakis and partners are using wildlife camera-traps, spatial modeling, and municipal planning to understand how we can protect what’s left of the natural connections in the Calgary metropolitan region.

Nicole Kahal is a Conservation Analyst with the Miistakis Institute, a not-for-profit applied conservation research institute. At Miistakis, Nicole focuses on the research areas of ecological connectivity, biodiversity, and ecosystem-based climate adaptation. Nicole holds a Master of Environmental Science and Management from University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona. Nicole has enjoyed living in Calgary for just over six years.

Register through Eventbrite

Photo courtesy of Nicole Kahal

Gift of Flight
2023-07-03 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Friends of Fish Creek Spring Fundraiser – WestJet Gift of Flight

Congratulations to Melinda May McLauchlin – winner of the WestJet Gift Flight prize package!
Contest Runs May 1 – July 3, 2023
All funds raised will support the Friends of Fish Creek and our conservation efforts here in Fish Creek Provincial Park. As a small but far-reaching registered charity based in Fish Creek Provincial Park, we do not receive regular direct funding. For over thirty years the Friends of Fish Creek have been supported by a diverse combination of grants, sponsorships, membership fees, program fees, fundraisers, and especially donations from community members like you. Volunteers also play a key role in all of our activities and make it possible for us continue our essential stewardship and community engagement activities.
All bookings and travel must be completed within one year from the date of the event.
All funds raised though this exciting campaign will be used right here in Fish Creek Provincial Park. Enter to win one round trip flight for two guests to any regularly scheduled and marketed WestJet destination! (No cash value, fees, taxes, surcharges not included, blackout dates and restrictions apply).
Raffle Closed – thank you to everyone who entered

View Raffle Rules

Park Watch Day
2023-08-29 10:00 - 15:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Park User Awareness
Tuesday, August 29, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Bow Valley Ranch, Fish Creek Provincial Park, 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE
The Friends’ Park Watch Stewardship Program has been in existence since 2001, and since then, Volunteer Stewards have actively taken on the role of helping to foster a safe, beautiful and enjoyable natural environment for park users.
Park Watch Stewards provide a visible presence that encourages responsible park use while providing user education and the reporting of important observations via a new mobile Park Watch app to Fish Creek Provincial Park staff and the Friends. Providing assistance and information to park visitors, especially those who may be new to Fish Creek or the city, is one of the most rewarding ways to create awareness and encourage environmental stewardship.

The theme for this Park Watch Day is Trail Etiquette. The Friends and our community of volunteers will be at Bow Valley Ranch to provide information to park users. In addition to hosting an information booth, we will be offering free tours.

Natural History and the Evolution of Pathways in Fish Creek

Walking Tour
11:00am – 12:00pm
As a founding member of the Friends, Wayne Meikle will lead a guided walk through the stream changes loop and share his 30+ years of experience in Fish Creek.

Friends in Action

Minibus Minitour
1:00pm – 3:00pm (Each ride is about 30 minutes)
Learn about our watershed stewardship initiatives and how community donations are being used to conserve a truly unique naturalized urban park.

Our goal for the day is to provide the public with an opportunity to build a meaningful connection with nature and to learn about Fish Creek through unique experiences and stories. Both the walking and minibus tours are great options for all ages and abilities.
Should you find yourself in Fish Creek on this day, please stop by and say hello!
Please contact our Visitor Services Coordinator, Kumiko Kamiike, for more information at kumiko@friendsoffishcreek.org.

Park Watch Day
2023-09-09 10:00 - 15:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Park User Awareness
Saturday, September 9, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Bebo Grove, Fish Creek Provincial Park, 13610 24 St SW
The Friends’ Park Watch Stewardship Program has been in existence since 2001, and since then, Volunteer Stewards have actively taken on the role of helping to foster a safe, beautiful and enjoyable natural environment for park users.
Park Watch Stewards provide a visible presence that encourages responsible park use while providing user education and the reporting of important observations via a new mobile Park Watch app to Fish Creek Provincial Park staff and the Friends. Providing assistance and information to park visitors, especially those who may be new to Fish Creek or the city, is one of the most rewarding ways to create awareness and encourage environmental stewardship.

The theme for this Park Watch Day is Recreational Rock Dams. The Friends and our community of volunteers will be at Bebo Grove to provide information to park users. In addition to hosting an information booth, we will be offering a free tour.

Natural History and Park Management Philosophy for Fish Creek

Walking Tour
11:00am – 12:00pm
As a founding member of the Friends, Wayne Meikle will lead a guided walk to the lookout point and share his 30+ years of experience in Fish Creek.

Our goal for the day is to provide the public with an opportunity to build a meaningful connection with nature and to learn about Fish Creek through unique experiences and stories. The walking tour is a great options for all ages and less suited for those with limited mobility.
Should you find yourself in Fish Creek on this day, please stop by and say hello!
Please contact our Visitor Services Coordinator, Kumiko Kamiike, for more information at kumiko@friendsoffishcreek.org.

Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss
2023-09-13 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-09-20 18:00 - 19:30 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Good Grief – Fall 2023
Wednesday, September 13, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Bow Valley Ranch, Fish Creek Provincial Park, 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE
Being outdoors provides many healing benefits – it allows us to breathe, reflect and connect with our natural surroundings. While we may not even be aware of it in the moment, the benefits are there. In fact, research has shown the healing benefits of nature for people experiencing significant loss or transitions in life.
As a way of supporting people who may be on this journey, the Friends of Fish Creek have created Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss. Good Grief is an eight-week series of gentle walks that brings together people moving through the shared experience of loss with the intent that they will find support from each other, their community, and their time in nature. All walks are between 1.5 to 2.0km round trip on relatively flat, paved pathways in Fish Creek Provincial Park, and include time for reflection and discussion with other participants and Friends of Fish Creek Volunteer Companions who guide the group.

Register Here

Photo courtesy of Stan Kwasniowski

Bats of Alberta
2023-09-14 19:00 - 20:30 | 13931 Woodpath RD SW Calgary Alberta T2W 5R6, 13931 Woodpath RD SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2W 5R6, Canada
Bats of Alberta
Thursday, September 14, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Online and in person, Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, Shannon Terrace, 13931 Woodpath Rd. SE
Presented by Susan Holroyd MSc, Calgary Regional Coordinator, Alberta Community Bat Program
The Alberta Community Bat Program’s mission is to raise awareness of bat conservation issues, help local residents manage bats in buildings, and to collect data needed to monitor and better understand bats in the province. Susan Holroyd of the Alberta Community Bat Program will discuss this province’s bat species, the threats bats face, the ecological services they provide and how Albertans can help with bat conservation. At this presentation you can also learn about what to do if you find a bat, how to construct a bat house and have your questions answered about these fascinating flying mammals.

Register through Eventbrite

Hoary Bat, photo courtesy of Jason Headley
