DIANE GRIFFIN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF 
     
     CANADIAN NAIURE FEDERATION 
     
    
   
   
    
     by 
     
     Kathy Martin 
     
    
   
   
    
     Diane Griffin, a native of Traveller's Rest, Prince Edward Island was 
     
     elected president of the Canadian Nature Federation at its annual meeting 
     
     which was held from May 28 to June 3, 1979. This meeting was held at 
     
     MacDonald College in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec. The Canadian Nature 
     
     Federation (GNP) has approximately 20,000 members and represents 
     
     individuals and naturalists' groups across Canada. It produces the only 
     
     national nature magazine, "Nature Canada", and has a strong voice in 
     
     national and local environmental issues. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Diane has been a director of the Canadian Nature Federation since 1973. 
     
     She has served on the executive for three years, and for one of those 
     
     was a vice-president of the federation. As a director, Diane initiated 
     
     CNP involvement in many issues and served on a number of committees, 
     
     notably the youth and protected areas committees. Largely due to her 
     
     efforts, the Canadian Nature Federation has taken an active interest in 
     
     environmental affairs on Prince Edward Island. It supported stands taken 
     
     by the Natural History Society of P. E. I. for the protection of Oulton's 
     
     Island and DeRoche Point. In 1978 the ON? held its annual conference in 
     
     Charlottetown, the first national nature meeting ever held on Prince 
     
     Edward Island. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Diane graduated from Saint Dunstan's University in 1969 with a Bachelor 
     
     of Science degree. In 1973 she received a Masters of Science Degree in 
     
     botany from Acadia University. Diane did her research on plant ecology 
     
     on Prince Edward Island sand dunes. In late summer 1973, she joined the 
     
     Prince Edward Island Department of Tourism, Parks and Conservation as a 
     
     provincial naturalist. 
     
    
   
   
    
     From 1973 to 1977, Diane became actively involved in almost every conser- 
     
     vation and natural history group in the Province. She was instrumental in 
     
     establishing a course on Island plants and wildlife which was offered in 
     
    

    
     a number of community schools. She also assisted in the production of 
     
    

    
     two books about Island nature, "Our Adventures at Warren Grove" and "Winds 
     
    

    
     of Sea and Wood". Many briefs concerning the Island environment were 
     
    

    
     written by her on behalf of the Environmental Advisory Council of P.E.I., 3.0; 
     
     The National History Society of P.E.I. and the Canadian Nature Federation. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Diane was most actively involved with the Natural History Society of 
     
     Prince Edward Island and served as its president for two years. Under her 
     
     dynamic and energetic leadership, the society grew in membership and 
     
     stature. She was responsible for arranging financing for the society 
     
     newsletter and distributing it to schools in Unit 3. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Diane is married to Kevin Griffin of Emyvale, Prince Edward Island and 
     
     they have one child, Sharleen. In September 1977, the Griffin's moved 
     
    

    
     to Edmonton, Alberta, where Diane is presently working as the Natural 
     
     Areas Coordinator with the Alberta Energy and Natural Resources Department. 
     
     She is responsible for setting up a system of ecological reserves to 
     
     preserve representative habitat types in Alberta. 
     
    
   
   
    
     In her new capacity as President of the Canadian Nature Federation, Diane 
     
     will undoubtedly keep the environmental concerns of Prince Edward Island 
     
     firmly in mind.