Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society

Good Grief - Summer 2024
2024-08-21 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton) | Bow Valley Ranch Fish Creek Provincial Park, 15979 Bow Bottom Tr. SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2J 5E8
Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss in Fall — Summer 2024
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 Fall 2024. 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. We are going to have two separate sessions this Fall.

Wednesday Evening: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, From July 3 to August 21

Registration required. Outings will run in a variety of weather conditions, but may be canceled if severe weather is in the forecast. Participants are encouraged to dress in layers.
Register Here

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.

Photo courtesy of Sandi Riemersma.

Good Grief - Winter 2025
2025-01-08 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-01-12 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-01-15 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-01-19 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-01-22 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-01-26 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-01-29 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-02-02 13:00 - 14:30 and 8 more dates | Bow Valley Ranch Fish Creek Provincial Park, 15979 Bow Bottom Tr. SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2J 5E8
Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss — Winter 2025
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 2025. 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.
The Winter 2024 edition of Good Grief will take place in two separate sessions: on Wednesdays and on Sundays:

Wednesday: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm, From January 8 to February 26, 2025.
Sunday: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm, From January 12 to March 2, 2025.

Registration required. Outings will run in a variety of weather conditions, but may be canceled if severe weather is in the forecast. Participants are encouraged to dress in layers.
Feel free to choose the session that works best for you.
Friends’ Member price: $20 for 8 weeks session
Non-Member price: $30 for 8 weeks session
Register Here
To become a member, please click here.
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.
Space is limited to 15 people per session.
Please note that we may cancel the session if registrations are less than 7 people.
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.

Photo courtesy of Stan Kwasniowski.

Speaker Series - Calgary Connect: Understanding Who’s Using Calgary’s Ecological Network
2025-01-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, Shannon Terrace, 15931 Woodpath Rd SW, 15931 Woodpath Rd SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2W 5R6, Canada
Speaker Series – Calgary Connect: Understanding Who’s Using Calgary’s Ecological Network
Welcome to: Calgary Connect: Understanding Who’s Using Calgary’s Ecological Network!
Learn more about Calgary Connect, a long-term study in Calgary and the surrounding area, investigates wildlife movement between parks, and into/out of the city. You may have seen one of the project’s remote cameras in Fish Creek PP – these cameras are part of a network of 128 cameras that has helped us learn which species use our parks, how human activity impacts them, and how important it is to protect ecological corridors.
Located at the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre 13931 Woodpath Road SW; this event is perfect for nature enthusiasts of all ages.
The presentation will also be made available online via Zoom.
Nicole Kahal is a Conservation Analyst at the Miistakis Institute, where she provides research and management support to projects focused on ecological connectivity and biodiversity. Miistakis is a not for profit, applied conservation research organization. Nicole holds a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at University of California, Santa Barbara, and a B.S. from the University of Arizona.
Don’t miss this educational opportunity to learn about how Calgary’s ecological network and how it is used!

Thursday, January 16, 2025 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Environmental Learning Centre (Shannon Terrace)
Presented by Nicole Kahal with the Miistakis Institute.
Tickets are free for Friends members and $10 for non-members. Registration required.

Register through Eventbrite

Learn more about the Miistakis Institute here!

Speaker Series - Working Together Promoting Stewardship with the BRBC
2025-02-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, Shannon Terrace, 15931 Woodpath Rd SW, 15931 Woodpath Rd SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2W 5R6, Canada
Speaker Series – Working Together Promoting Stewardship with the Bow River Basin Council
Welcome to: Working Together Promoting Stewardship with the Bow River Basin Council
Learn more about the incredible people, partnerships, and programs that collaborate with the Bow River Basin Council to nurture, share, and protect the waters of the Bow River Basin. There are many different ways to take care of the Bow River Basin. Whether you are a student, a scientist, or just interested in the water, the Bow River Basin Council has something for you!
Located at the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre 13931 Woodpath Road SW; this event is perfect for nature enthusiasts of all ages.
The presentation will also be made available online via Zoom.

Joe Fowler is the Watershed Stewardship Coordinator with the Bow River Basin Council. His role with the organization allows him to explore the Bow River Basin and connect with the people, communities, and organizations that are working together to protect the Bow River. He loves to craft and play with paint, and he is always looking for opportunities to blend art and science. In his spare time, Joe loves exploring the land – whether hiking a mountain, or frolicking through wildflowers, he is incredibly grateful for the beautiful landscapes of the Treaty 7 area.
Don’t miss this educational opportunity to learn about how we can work together to promote stewardship!

Thursday, February 13, 2025 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Environmental Learning Centre (Shannon Terrace)
Presented by Joe Fowler with the Bow River Basin Council (BRBC).
Tickets are free for Friends members and $10 for non-members. Registration required.

Register through Eventbrite

Speaker Series - Air Quality 101 with the Calgary Region Airshed Zone
2025-03-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, Shannon Terrace, 15931 Woodpath Rd SW, 15931 Woodpath Rd SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2W 5R6, Canada
Speaker Series – Air Quality 101 with the Calgary Region Airshed Zone
Welcome to: Air Quality 101 with the Calgary Region Airshed Zone

Have you ever wondered how air quality is monitored? The Calgary Region Airshed Zone monitors air quality in the region, join us in learning how and why we do it. Join us and learn more about the health risks of poor air quality and how you can protect yourself in poor air quality events.
Located at the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre 13931 Woodpath Road SW; this event is perfect for nature enthusiasts of all ages.
The presentation will also be made available online via Zoom.
This presentation will be hosted by Jill Bloor and Mandeep Dhaliwal.
Jill Bloor has been the Executive Director of CRAZ since April 2008. She came to the organization after many years in the social service sector, all with non-profit organizations. She has a B.A. from York University and a Masters of Non-Profit Administration (M.N.A.) from North Park University in Chicago. Jill brings her experience in program development, conflict resolution and organizational development, to name a few, to CRAZ.
Mandeep Dhaliwal, B.SC., P.CHEM, is an atmospheric scientist with over 15 years of experience in monitoring air quality (ambient and indoor), meteorology, and noise. Mandeep is experienced in monitoring data collection and data validation protocols, as per provincial and national air monitoring reporting protocols. In previous positions, Mandeep has developed, implemented, and maintained various monitoring programs related to mining and oil & gas operations throughout Canada.

Don’t miss this educational opportunity to learn about Calgary’s airshed!

Thursday, March 13, 2025 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Environmental Learning Centre (Shannon Terrace)

Tickets are free for Friends members and $10 for non-members. Registration required.

Register through Eventbrite

Good Grief - Spring 2025
2025-04-02 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-09 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-16 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-23 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-30 13:00 - 14:30 | Bow Valley Ranch Fish Creek Provincial Park, 15979 Bow Bottom Tr. SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2J 5E8
Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss — Spring 2025
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 Spring 2025 again. 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.
The Spring 2025 edition of Good Grief will take place in two separate sessions: on Wednesdays Morning and Evening:
Wednesdays from April 2 to May 21, 2025

Morning: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Evening : 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Registration required. Outings will run in a variety of weather conditions, but may be canceled if severe weather is in the forecast. Participants are encouraged to dress in layers.
Feel free to choose the session that works best for you.
Friends’ Member price: $20 for 8 weeks session
Non-Member price: $30 for 8 weeks session
Register Here
To become a member, please click here.
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.
Space is limited to 15 people per session.
Please note that we may cancel the session if registrations are less than 7 people.
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 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.

Photo courtesy of Stan Kwasniowski.

Good Grief - Spring 2025 Evening
2025-04-02 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-04-09 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-04-16 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-04-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Bow Valley Ranch Fish Creek Provincial Park, 15979 Bow Bottom Tr. SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2J 5E8

Speaker Series - Nature Based Solutions: Adapting to Climate Change
2025-04-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, Shannon Terrace, 15931 Woodpath Rd SW, 15931 Woodpath Rd SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2W 5R6, Canada
Speaker Series – Nature Based Solutions: Adapting to Climate Change
Welcome to: Nature Based Solutions: Adapting to Climate Change
Learn more about how Freshwater Conservation Canada is using nature-based solutions to restore watershed function and resilience and recover native biodiversity. This talk will explore the use of bioengineering and low-tech process-based restoration along small streams, and the role this plays in buffering the impacts of disturbance like flood, drought, and fire while also helping to recover native trout.
Located at the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre 13931 Woodpath Road SW; this event is perfect for nature enthusiasts of all ages.
The presentation will also be made available online via Zoom.
Lesley Peterson is the Director of Conservation with Freshwater Conservation Canada (formerly known as Trout Unlimited Canada) and is based in Calgary. Lesley has been with the organization for nearly 17 years, holding various positions in that time. Her current role involves overseeing and guiding the organization’s conservation and restoration programming and policy development, participating in regional and national advisory panels and working groups, and getting out in the field to support her field crews with restoration projects whenever she can.
Don’t miss this educational opportunity to learn about how Freshwater Conservation Canada is using nature-based solutions to restore watershed function and resilience and recover native biodiversity!

Thursday, April 17, 2025 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Environmental Learning Centre (Shannon Terrace)
Presented by Lesley Peterson with the Freshwater Conservation Canada.
Tickets are free for Friends members and $10 for non-members. Registration required.

Register through Eventbrite
