History

CPAWS Southern Alberta Chapter staff and volunteers have been champions of southern Alberta's wild places since 1967. Here are some highlights:

• 2009: Completed Planning Connections: Priorities for the South Saskatchewan Region (the southern third of Alberta). Made it available to government planners, accompanied by interactive web-based map detailing areas of environmental significance in Southern Alberta
• 2009: Renamed CPAWS Calgary/Banff to CPAWS Southern Alberta Chapter
• 2008: Pressed the Alberta government to make significant changes to parks policy, adding several key points in favour of conservation
• 2008: Received prestigious 2008 Alberta Emerald Award for CPAWS Calgary/Banff Chapter Education Program
• 2007: Produced Shooting the Gap: Wildlife and the TransCanada Highway in Banff National Park documentary
• 2006: Pressured the government of Alberta to end the Grizzly Bear hunt until current research on their population status is completed
• 2005: Completed Selected Ecological Resources of Alberta’s Castle Carbondale: A Synopsis of Current Knowledge in partnership with Shell Canada and Martin Jalkotzy of ARC Wildlife Services
• 2004: Expanded the Spray Valley Provincial Park and Bow Valley Wildland Park through a finalized Management Plan for the Evan Thomas Provincial Recreation Area
• 2003: Twinning approved for 12.5km of the TransCanada Highway lying east of Lake Louise with significant input from CPAWS and other ENGOs
• 2003: Advised federal officials on environmental mitigation for G8 Summit Legacy wildlife crossing structures in the Bow Valley
• 2000: Established Spray Valley Provincial Park and disallowed a major resort development in the Spray Valley.
• 1999: Defeated the flawed Alberta Natural Heritage Act
• 1999: Pressured for the Kananaskis Country Recreational Development Policy
• 1999: Established the Whaleback Protected Area
• 1998: Established the Bow Valley Protected Area
• 1997: Founded the CPAWS Southern Alberta Education Program
• 1996: Completed the Banff/Bow Valley Study on Ecological Integrity
• 1995: Established the Elbow-Sheep Protected Area
• 1994: Pressured for an Environmental Assessment to be required for Bow Valley RV Park
• 1992-3: Saved Wind Valley from development
• 1967-1993: CPAWS Calgary/Banff Chapter entirely volunteer-driven
• 1967: CPAWS Calgary/Banff Chapter founded
• 1963: CPAWS National founded