News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

April 22, 2019

Province Extends Long-term Support to Oak Hammock Marsh

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Continued Commitment to Wetland Protection Highlighted on Earth Day: Squires

The Manitoba government has finalized a long-term funding agreement for the award-winning Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre, under the guidance of Ducks Unlimited Canada, that will provide stable funding for the next five years, Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires announced today.

“What better time than Earth Day to announce our continued support for the facility and the work being done at Oak Hammock Marsh,” Squires said.  “One of the core values of our Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan is the enhanced protection and preservation of wetlands, and the work Ducks Unlimited Canada is doing at Oak Hammock Marsh is a model we are proud to support.”

Manitoba has committed to a new, five-year $1.125-million funding agreement that will ensure the Oak Hammock Marsh has the ability to better plan its operational and educational budgets. The Province will provide $225,000 per year for the next five years.  Oak Hammock Marsh is a 36-square-kilometre Wildlife Management Area showcasing a restored prairie marsh, aspen-oak bluff, artesian springs and some of the last remaining patches of tall-grass prairie habitat in Manitoba.  Its world-class interpretive centre welcomes close to 100,000 students, tourists and environmental professionals annually.

“Continuing to educate the public about the value of wetlands is critical to a sustainable future,” said Karla Guyn, chief executive officer, Ducks Unlimited Canada.  “We are pleased the strong partnership between the province and Oak Hammock Marsh will continue.  This long-term commitment is essential to effectively planning our year-to-year operations that will engage more Canadians with the power and importance of wetland conservation in their lives.”

The theme of this year’s Earth Day is a call to ‘Protect our Species’.  This means educating the public about the accelerating rate of extinction of millions of species around the world.  Manitoba demonstrated its ongoing commitment to that sentiment with the recently announced first wave of projects to receive funding under the province’s $102-million Conservation Trust.  More than 40 projects received approval, and a share of more than $2.2 million in provincial funding for work in four distinct program areas:  watersheds, habitat and wildlife, connecting people to nature, and innovation and conservation planning.

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