February 2020
Photo by Heather Facette.

Happy February!

Have you been procrastinating registering for the Native Prairie Restoration and Reclamation Workshop and Transboundary Grassland Partnership Workshop?! Well you're in luck - there is still time to register! However, space is limited. If I were you, I'd register today!   NPRRW/TGPW 2020 has so much to offer, including a poster session, a trade show, and numerous networking opportunities. The program is excellent and has something for everyone! You can find the most updated version here.

Nominations are being accepted for the Native Prairie Restoration /Reclamation Award and the Native Prairie Stewardship Award until February 7th, 2020! The criteria can be found at the links above.

The last webinar was Shirley Bartz from Nature Saskatchewan, discussing how landowners are helping Piping Plovers.  Shirley's presentation on plovers, as well as all past webinars, are on our YouTube Channel . 

The February webinar will be Jeannine Randall, PhD Candidate in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia, discussing how alternative grazing practices affect grassland birds. We're all looking forward to it, make sure to register early!

Caitlin has also started working on the webinar line-up for the Prairie's Got the Goods Week, March 16-20, 2020. It's looking good and you can start registering today! More information can be found here. 

And finally, we would like to thank the generous support from our sponsors: Crescent Point Energy, Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association, SaskPower, SaskEnergy, SaskTel, SaskWater,  The Mosaic Company, Enbridge, EcoFriendly Sask, Wildlife Habitat Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, as well as the continuous support of all the PCAP's  Partners . 

 Have a wonderful week everyone. See you at NPRRW!

  Carolyn Gaudet, SK PCAP Manager 
Ph. 306 352 0472 
pcap@sasktel.net
Prairie's Got the Goods Week is coming up next month!


There are presentations listed on the  Prairie's Got the Goods Week webpage  and you can start registering for them today!
PCAP Partner Spotlight... 
Saskatchewan Bison Association, PCAP's newest partner
Submitted by Merek Wigness, Saskatchewan Bison Association
T he bison industry in Saskatchewan is still relatively young. The Saskatchewan Bison Association (SBA) was founded in 1991.  The last census in 2016 showed there were 303 farmers and ranchers who produce bison, with about 200 who are members of the SBA. The numbers of bison in the province have been growing, from 7,006 animals in 1996, up to 40,418 bison in 2016. 

Many producers today are passionate about bison.  About 15 years ago there were several bad years in the bison industry due to border issues related to the BSE crisis.  The producers who stuck through those hard times did it largely out of a love for the animal.  Since then the industry has grown excellent meat marketing companies that have developed a profitable niche market for the lean and delicious meat.  Much of the bison meat produced is exported to the US and Europe.

There are a variety of sizes and styles of bison operations in Saskatchewan.  Herd sizes range from smaller herds up to large herds such as the Chinook Bison Ranch north east of the Cypress Hills that has 1350 bison cows grazing on 19,000 acres.  Our mid-sized family owned bison ranch has 180 cows grazing on 3,200 acres south of Swift Current. 

Bison are amazing in lots of different ways, but one strength of theirs is that they are designed for winter in the prairies. Bison seem as happy at -30C as during a summer day.  It helps that they have the second warmest hair of any North American animal, next only to the muskox.  Many winter mornings you can see the bison covered with snow or frost, a sure sign that their winter coat is very well insulated.

7th Native Prairie Restoration/ Reclamation and 5th Transboundary Grassland Workshops   

Registration is approaching capacity!!! There's only 20 spots remaining!   Register online NOW!

Plan to attend this unique prairie restoration event on February 25-27, 2020 in Regina.    The workshop will include  plenary sessions, break-out sessions, case studies as well as a trade show, awards ceremony, poster session, panel discussions and silent auction. Visit our site for all the details!

We are still looking for Table Leaders for the 'Speed Dating Case Study'!  Do you have a scenario, a project or a program that you could use some feedback or help solving? Or get some new ideas and perspectives?  "Table Leaders" will quickly describe a real-life case to a group of 8 participants, about 6-8 times. It's an opportunity to get a lot  of information and perspectives in a short amount of time! Sign up today by contacting Caitlin: caitlinmroz@hotmail.com!

NPRRW Awards

Do you know of a deserving individual or group who should be nominated for the  Native Prairie Restoration and Reclamation Award? How about someone worthy of the  Native Prairie Stewardship Award?    View the award criteria here and consider nominating someone! We know there's many worthy nominees out there, doing fantastic work conserving native prairie!  Nomination deadline is FEBRUARY 7th, 2020! Send your nominations to  Carolyn Gaudet at pcap@sasktel.net.
7th Native Prairie Restoration/ Reclamation and 5th Transboundary Grassland Workshops 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Platinum


Gold




Silver




Bronze
CN 
Faculty of Science, University of Regina
North American Helium
Peavey Industries LP
The Mosaic Company
Tourism Saskatchewan
Truax Company

Friend
Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company
North Shore Environmental Consultants
Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association
Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority
SaskTel
Volume 12 Issue 2
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SK PCAP Native Prairie Speaker Series

Plan to attend our January Native Prairie Speaker Series webinar! 



Save the date!
Prairie Butterflies At Risk
Presenter: Medea Curteanu, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Friday March 20th, 2020 at 12:00pm MST 

We will also have one in-person presentation in March:


Visit our  Native Prairie Speaker Series webpage   for more topics, dates, and registration details.
Upcoming Events!

Academics for Climate Community Series: Towards a Better Understanding of Climate Change in Saskatchewan -
Dr. Kerri Finlay
CB 139, College Avenue Campus
Regina, SK
February 6th, 2020 @ 7 PM


Dr. Margot Hurlbert
CB 139, College Avenue Campus
February 13th, 2020 @ 7 PM

Dr. Gordon Pennycook
CB 139, College Avenue Campus
February 19th, 2020 @ 7 PM

Celebrating Rural Ranching Women
Moose Jaw Shrine Club 
1767 Main St North, Moose Jaw, SK
February 27-28, 2020

3200 McCallum Ave 
Regina, SK
February 29, 2020 @ 1 PM


March 4, 2020
McCord Hall
McCord, SK at 7 PM

March 16-20, 2020
Career and Volunteer Opportunities
CanNorth has a few positions available including a Botanist and an Archaeologist, more information is available here. 

Nature Conservancy of Canada has two Stewardship Coordinator positions available in Saskatoon and Regina, more information can be found here.

Birds Canada is hiring Avian Field Technicians. More information can be found here.

Meewasin Valley Authority has a few summer jobs available including Conservation Labourer and Resource Management Assistant, more information can be found here.


 
  
2019 Education Programs:
Presenting Sponsors:


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2019 Education Programs 
Supporting Sponsors:

 


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Carolyn Gaudet, Editor, Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan Newsletter
306-352-0472
SK PCAP gratefully acknowledges financial support in 2019-2020 from:
Crescent Point Energy, Ducks Unlimited Canada, EcoFriendlySask.ca, Enbridge Inc., The Mosaic Company, Parks Canada - Grasslands National Park of Canada,  Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association,  Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment - Fish and Wildlife Development Fund,  SaskEnergy,  SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskWater, University of Saskatchewan - College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Water Security Agency and Wildlife Habitat Canada.

SK PCAP gratefully acknowledges in-kind support for 2019-20 from: 
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Science and Technology Branch, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Association, Canadian Western Agribition, Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service,  Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Friends of Wascana Marsh, Meewasin Valley Authority, Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan, Nature Conservancy Canada, Nature Saskatchewan, Parks Canada - Grasslands National Park, Prairie Wind & Silver Sage, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Inc., Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds, Saskatchewan Bison Association, Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre, Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association, Saskatchewan Environmental Society, Saskatchewan Forage Council, Saskatchewan Forage Industry Network, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Saskatchewan Science Centre, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation,  Saskatoon Nature Society, SaskEnergy, SaskOutdoors, SaskPower, Society for Range Management - Prairie Parkland Chapter, South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc., University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan - College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Wild About Saskatoon-Nature City Festival.