vD LI 43‘ Q» .d’dfifixx- Gaining Momentum 19 Un nouvel essor W, W ,1?" ‘34 U§$ Wildlife '87, a celebration of efforts past, a continuation of ongoing events, and a beginning of new initiatives for wildlife conservatiOn is gaining momentum. It will start with the Christmas Bird counts in mid- December, 1986 and end on December 3lst, 1987. Why 1987? On June 8th, 1887 a truly Canadian event took place. Sir John A. MacDonald designated 2,534 acres at Last Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan "to be set apart as breeding grounds for wild fowl". This was the first sanctuary designation by a government in Canada and it occurred 30 years before the passing of the Migratory Birds Convention Act. In 1982 Last Mountain Lake was recognized as a "Wetland of Internation Significance" under the RAMSAR convention. ’ People all across Canada are joining the celebration. Wildlife '87 is a joint effort by naturalists, wildlife conservation groups, businesses, other interested individuals & groups, the Canadian Wildlife Service and various governments. Anyone interested in wildlife conservation can be involved. The objectives are threefold, namely: to encourage inividuals to parti- cipate in new wildlife conservation efforts; to increase public awareness of current and past efforts to conserve wildlife; and to promote networking between wildlife conservation groups and agencies working in Canada. Participation can take many forms, e.g. you could set aside some pro— perty for wildlife, you could take part in one of the locally planned events, you could work with your municipality to encourage the creation and enhance- ment of wildlife areas, you could plant a tree or bush with high wildlife food value, or you could research and write about local wildlife conservation efforts. For further information on Wildlife '87 events in your area, contact your local Wildlife '87 Committee or write the National Steering Committee, P.O. Box 8644, Station "L", Edmonton, Alberta T6C 4J4. Dan McAskill is the chairman of the P.E.I. Wildlife '87 Committee, P.O. Box 265, Charlottetown, ClA 7K4. (W) 892-2055, (H) 569-4351. ******************** An advisory committee of 8 members has been appointed for the proposed Prince Edward Island Natural History Museum. The Natural History Society has two representatives on it; Rosemary Curley and Geoff Hogan. They will act .as liason between the society and the Planning and Development Committee of the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation. As such, they will frequently report to society meetings and are seeking your input. - 9 -