The Southern Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s mission is to conserve the vital ecological functions of Southern Alberta’s public lands and waters, including our parks and protected areas, in collaboration with Albertans, and in a way that advances reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
CPAWS Southern Alberta is unique amongst non-profits and strongly positioned with a healthy range of diverse funding sources to match our range of programming. With support from industry, foundations, government, and individuals we have been able to build a healthy operating reserve.
Having a reserve helps us to weather storms like the Covid-19 pandemic, while maintaining program quality, delivery, and campaign initiatives. A reserve allows us to be nimble and able to react to needs and opportunities as they arise, rather than being completely dependent on project specific funding. If there’s work that needs doing, we can do it.
2025
To You, the Stewards of Alberta.
Highlights of the year include pushing for sustainable forest management via our forestry field work, maintaining resilience as we continue to fight for a coal-free Alberta, launching the Youth Conservation Collective, and collaborating on grasslands education with the University of Calgary.
2024
The Headwaters of Hope
Highlights of the year include advancing native trout recovery, championing sustainable land use planning and forestry practices, spreading the news about our vanishing headwaters with our film "Dry Horizons: Stewarding a Future for Alberta's Water," and continuing to promote inclusivity and decolonization in conservation and environmental education.
2023
Conservation is Collaboration
Highlights of the year include pushing for government accountability in forestry decision-making, working with the Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council and others to explore the development of a new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA), and celebrating our Executive Director Katie Morrison's 10 year anniversary at CPAWS Southern Alberta.
2022
A Voice for Wilderness
Highlights of the year include pushing the Government of Alberta to implement a moratorium on any new coal activity in the province, working with the Alberta Native Trout Collaborative to advance native trout recovery via community education and engagement, and celebrating 25 years of environmental education.
2021
The Connections that Bring us Together
Highlights of the year include helping to prevent 175 parks and protected areas from being removed from the system, celebrating the provincial and federal decision to deny Grassy Mountain Coal Project due it not being in the public's best interest, and working with our Indigenous partners to host 9 Indigenous-led land-based learning walks in honour of Truth and Reconciliation.
2020
Looking at Tomorrow; Giving Back Today
Highlights of the year include the launch of the Defend Alberta Parks campaign with nearly 10k letters sent to stop the delisting of 175 parks, raising awareness about the threat of coal to Alberta's Eastern Slopes, and reaching almost 9k participants with our award winning environmental education.
