Friends of Fish Creek
Media Release #02-6
Date of release: June 10, 2002 (for immediate release)
Re: PURGE THE SPURGE!
Please include the following information in stories, community bulletins, PSA’s,calendars of coming events, website event postings or list-serves. Thank you.
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Friends MOVE PURGE DATE UP
The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society hosts its Fourth Annual Purge the Spurge on Saturday, June 22.
That sets the event about three weeks earlier than it has been the past three years.
Euphorbia esula, more commonly known as leafy spurge, is a non-native noxious weed that drives out competing plants, affecting wildlife browse and habitat negatively. Some areas of the park cannot be exposed to herbicides, and in those areas, the weed needs to be pulled by hand.
Greg Fredeen, the Purge project co-ordinator, says there are several reasons for changing the date.
"We have moved the date this year to try to involve more people in the program," he says. "The first three years, the event took place on the middle weekend of July, around the 14h or 15th – and it always coincided with the last weekend of the Stampede.
"We also thought that we might generate more volunteers during the school year, before families head off for out-of-town holidays. We have a large core of volunteers already committed to this date, and we will see how it turns out."
Registration for this year’s event will begin at 9 a.m. in the parking lot directly east of the Friends’ office and park visitor centre. As volunteers arrive, they will be assigned to groups and sent out to specified areas of the park to pull leafy spurge.
At noon, volunteers are invited to wrap up their work and head back to the registration area for a barbecue. Following a feast of hamburgers and hot dogs, the afternoon portion of the event will begin: a butterfly hike, guided by Fredeen. This event - which can also involve gathering data for a North American-wide butterfly census - will run until approximately 2:30 p.m.
The Friends encourage everyone to come to the park and lend Nature a helping hand. This is a great family event for people of all ages. Participants need to bring a sturdy set of work gloves for pulling spurge, as well as a water bottle and snack. Dress appropriately for the weather - the event will go rain or shine.
What: Purge the Spurge IV
Who: The Friends of Fish Creek and an army of volunteers
When: Saturday, June 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Parking lot just east of the Bow Valley Visitor Centre, east end of Fish Creek Provincial Park, access via the Bow Bottom Trail.
For information about getting involved in Purge IV, contact:
Kristin Dyer, our director of volunteers, at our office in the park, 238-3841
OR ...
email us at ffcppsoc@iul.net
You can also visit our site on the world wide web:
Media Release #02-2
Date of release: Feb. 1, 2002 (for immediate release)
Re: Friends of Fish Creek 2002 Speaker Series, February presentation
Please include the following information in stories, community bulletins, PSA’s,calendars of coming events, website event postings or list-serves. Thank you.
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The Friends of Fish Creek &
Rockyview Wildlife Recovery
present
Conservation through Rehabilitation
Helping wildlife recover from injury
What: Friends of Fish Creek February 2002 speaker series presentation
Who: Deb Fettig, president, Rockyview Wildlife
When: Thursday, February 28, 2002 ... doors open at 7 p.m., meeting starts at 7:15, presentation at 7:30
Where: Bow Valley Visitor Centre, east end of Fish Creek Provincial Park; access via the Bow Bottom Trail
The increasing urban sprawl and human population in the Calgary area, coupled with decreasing habitat, means the services of wildlife rehabilitation organizations like Rockyview Wildlife Recovery are even more crucial if we are to save dwindling wildlife populations.
Come and learn what this organization does to try to help maintain wildlife populations in our area. (You may even get a chance to "get up close and personal" with Blackjack, RWR's Swainson's hawk.)
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For more info about the Friends and our programs:
-
call our office in the park, 238-3841
-
Email us ffcppsoc@iul.net
- visit our Website: www.friendsoffishcreek.org
Media Release #02-1
Date of release: January 16, 2001 (for immediate release)
Re: Friends of Fish Creek 2002 Speaker Series, January presentation
Please include the following information in stories, community bulletins, PSA’s,calendars of coming events, website event postings or list-serves. Thank you.
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The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society and Trout Unlimited present ...
The Fishery Resources of
Fish Creek
Who: Dean Baayens, the Trout Unlimited provincial projects manager
When: Thursday, Jan. 24/02; doors open at 7 p.m., meeting starts at 7:15, presentation at 7:30
Where: Bow Valley Visitor Centre, east end Fish Creek Provincial Park; access via Bow Bottom Trail
During the 1990's, Trout Unlimited conducted an inventory to determine the status of fish populations in Fish Creek. Dean Baayens, the TU provincial projects manager, will talk about that study, and update us on the current status of the fishery resources in Fish Creek.
Please join us for what will be an informative and entertaining presentation. All are welcome - members and non-members!
For more information about this program or about the Friends, call:
Kristin Dyer at 238-3841
or
John Geary at 201-0530
Or, check out the Friends' website at its NEW url:
http://www.friendsoffishcreek.org
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Media Release #01-7
Date of release: September 11, 2001 (for immediate release)
Re: Friends of Fish Creek 2000-2001 Speaker Series, September presentation
Please include the following information in stories, community bulletins, PSA’s,calendars of coming events, website event postings or list-serves. Thank you.
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The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society present ...
The Nature Conservancy:
Building Partnerships for
Preservation
Who: Helen Goedemondt, development co-ordinator for the Nature Conservancy of Canada
When: Thursday, Sept. 27; doors open at 7 p.m., meeting starts at 7:15, pres'n at 7:30
Where: Bow Valley Visitor Centre, east end Fish Creek Provincial Park; access via Bow Bottom Trail
For more than 40 years, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has worked
to protect Canada’s most threatened natural habitats and the endangered
species that call them home.
NCC is Canada’s only national charity dedicated to preserving ecologically significant areas through outright purchase, donations and conservation easements. The organization does this by building partnerships and forging creative agreements with any individual, corporation, community group, conservation group or government body that shares our passion.
Since 1962 the NCC has secured a long-term future for more than 1000 properties, comprising 1.67 million acres of magnificent woodlands and seashores, internationally significant wetlands, threatened prairies, and a host of other precious natural places.
To find out about the NCC’s latest projects, come to our September meeting, as Helen Goedemondt, the development coordinator for the NCC’s Alberta region, explains the organization, how it works and how you can get involved in NCC projects.
For more information about this program or about the Friends, call Kristin Dyer at 238-3841
or John G. at 201-0530
Or, check out the Friends' website at
The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society present ...
Media Release #01-6
Date of release: June 26, 2001 (for immediate release)
Please include the following information in stories, community bulletins, PSA’s,
calendars of coming events, website event postings or list-serves. Thank you.
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The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society present ...
Purge the Spurge III
What: the Friends' annual July stewardship event
Date: Saturday, July 14, 2001
Place: The Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Centre, in the East end of Fish Creek Provincial Park; access to the centre is from the Bow Bottom Trail
Time: 9 a.m.
You are invited to join the third annual “Purge the Spurge!” event in Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Please come out and learn about the noxious weed Euphorbia esula, better known as leafy spurge, by helping the Friends hand pull and dispose of the plant.
We concentrate on pulling it in areas along the Bow River and Fish Creek where it is inappropriate to use other means to eradicate this non-native plant that threatens native plants and wildlife habitat.
Volunteers will meet at the Bow Valley Ranch parking lot, at 9 a.m. and “purge the spurge” until 1 p.m. The Friends will serve up a barbecue lunch and 1999 Emerald Award- winning environmental entertainer Peter Puffin will entertain us with his songs and skits.
Be sure to bring gloves, a sun hat and/or raingear, water bottle and snack. Also bring a hearty appetite for our "Thank-you" barbecue that follows the purge.
For more information about getting involved with Purge III, contact Greg Fredeen at 225-0826; email ces1@telusplanet.net ; or, T. O. Whenham, director of volunteers, at 238-3841
For more information about this project or about the Friends, call:
T. O. Whenham at 238-3841
or
John Geary at 201-0530
Or, check out the Friends' website at
Friends of Fish Creek
Media Release #01-5
Date of release: June 5, 2001 (for immediate release)
Please include the following information in stories, community bulletins, PSA’s,calendars of coming events, website event postings or list-serves. Thank you.
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The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society present ...
Second Annual
Butterfly Hike & Census
Who: Dr.Ted Pike, entomologist
When: Saturday, June 23; 10 a.m.
Where: meet at Bow Valley Visitor Centre, east end Fish Creek Provincial Park; access via the Bow Bottom Trail
Each year near the first of July, a North American butterfly census is undertaken. Fish Creek is home to many species of butterflies but many people have not had the chance to “get to know them”. Here is that opportunity; bring your family down to the Bow Valley Ranch for an educational and enjoyable guided butterfly hike. We will learn about butterflies and actually contribute to a North American census.
Bring a lunch, something to drink and a keen eye for observation and spend the day with professional entomologist Ted Pike.
For more information about this program or about the Friends, call:
T. O. Whenham at 238-3841
or
John Geary at 201-0530
Or, check out the Friends' website at
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Friends of Fish Creek
Media Release #01-4
Date of release: May 16, 2001 (for immediate release)
Re: Friends of Fish Creek 2000-2001 Speaker Series, May presentation
Please include the following information in stories, community bulletins, PSA’s,
calendars of coming events, website event postings or list-serves. Thank you.
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Take a Walk on the
Wild Side
Who: Susan Arlidge, Calgary Zoo master gardener and freelance naturescaper
When: Thursday, May 24; doors open at 7 p.m., meeting starts at 7:15, pres'n/walk at 7:30
Where: Bow Valley Visitor Centre, east end Fish Creek Provincial Park; access via Bow Bottom Trail
This guided walk around the east end of Fish Creek Provincial Park offers an introduction to plants. So grab your Bishop's Cap, and join Brown-Eyed Susan Arlidge for a Prairie Pussytoes trip through the Tufted White Prairie. Avoid the Gumweed, watch for Thyme-Leafed Dragonheads and be careful to not get caught in the Stinkweed. This field session will discuss plant diversity and identification while exploring their role in the ecosystem.
For more information about this program or about the Friends, call T. O. Whenham at 238-3841
or John G. at 201-0530
Or, check out the Friends' website at