Why We Exist
Around a kitchen table at a home near Pincher Creek, a group of concerned friends gathered and the conversation brought them to the last backpacking trip they were on, the day they were out looking through their scope for Bighorn sheep and the changes they were seeing on the landscape. The changes that were affecting wildlife, the quiet they once knew, the dust in the air, the growing logging and oil and gas activity and the changes in how they could enjoy the wilderness they had always known. Feisty and part of the 60’s revolution, this group of formidable people with the vision to realize something must be done to protect wild spaces sought the help of government and other organizations that they thought would be concerned too. In the end, they were the ones who would advocate and speak up for wildlife and wilderness and they formed the Alberta Wilderness Association. More than 50 years later, almost certainly they had no idea their concerns would be
felt as strongly today as it was in the beginning.
While Alberta Wilderness Association works throughout Alberta, it is an especially crucial time now for the Castle Wilderness of southeast Alberta. The long overdue protection needed for the Castle Wilderness is as close as it has ever been. This wilderness is often referred to as restoration wilderness, largely because of the overuse and abuse it has suffered from multiple competing interests. It is time to let nature take its course and help restore vital headwater security and
habitat for threatened and endangered species like native trout, grizzly bears and truly rare plants and trees.
That the vision and determination the founding members of Alberta Wilderness Association had has helped so many become aware and speak up for wildlife and wilderness is a priceless legacy; one well beyond their imaginings. Today with more than 7000 members and supporters, we are dependent on the vision and determination of people throughout the province to help us be strong and to make a difference in the legacy we will leave generations to come.