President’s Message, November 2008
We have been going through old files this past week and reminiscing about what has happened in the last 20 years. November 14, 2008 is our twentieth anniversary. Looking back, we can see what worked and where we need to go in the future to ensure that Burns Bog stays safe for future generations.
Some of the lessons learned.
What saved Burns Bog in 1988 was a well-educated community. The developers banked on people not knowing how important Burns Bog is to us.
But they were wrong!
The Burns Bog Protection Society (the original organization) successfully saved the Delta Nature Reserve in the 1970s from becoming a sewage treatment area. Instead it became an outdoor classroom—and it continues to be one today.
It was the young people, taught by the dedicated teachers who had saved the edge of Burns Bog from destruction, who in turn successfully led the fight to save Burns Bog in 1988.
One young fellow was so committed to saving Burns Bog that he got his friends to drive him from house to house dropping off leaflets—leaflets written by Seaquam Secondary students! He couldn’t drive due to an injury.
Another former student used the leaflet as test copy for his company’s copying machines. Then he dropped them off at my house and volunteers folded them ready for distribution. That is the power of knowledge!
This past few weeks, one of our amazing volunteers, has been calling you and thanking you for your past support. She discovered that some of you think that Burns Bog is safe now that four levels of government purchased 5025 acres in 2004.
Nothing could be further from the truth! We need to continue to tell our children, our friends and family just how important Burns Bog is to our health and our quality of life in the Lower Mainland.
Right now the South Fraser Perimeter Road is threatening it. It has the potential of destroying the Bog and the Fraser River along with it. This is because of the relationship between bogs and rivers. They need each other for survival.
According to a United Nations report, Bogs only cover 3% of the earth’s surface, yet their destruction contributes 10% (3 billion tonnes) of greenhouse gases to our atmosphere. (UN Dec. 7, 2007)—that is a lot!
Shortly after the purchase of the 5025 acres (about half of the original Bog), we sent letters to every household in Delta asking people how they saw the role of the Society. Here is one comment:
There needs to be more public education regarding the disrespect of nature and its consequences. D.R.
We honoured these requests by building two miles of boardwalk in the Delta Nature Reserve and we continue to use the Reserve as an outdoor classroom for field trips and summer day camps.
Last year 2000 children went on field trips. This year 2482 school children have already gone on a field trip in the Delta Nature Reserve and more are pre-booked. Here is what one teacher had to say about our field trips.
Wow! Extremely knowledgeable and able to provide information at an appropriate (age) level. Great to know about an important ecosystem in our backyard. L.M. teacher
There were 115 children in our summer day camps this summer. Again up from last year. We even had to turn some children away because the day camp was full. This is what one mother said about her son’s summer day camp experience.
I thought the counsellors were fabulous, but more importantly, my son loved them. I think they did a great job. D.R. parent
When you are planning your Christmas shopping list this year, please think about sending a gift to the Society. It can be in honour of that special friend or relative who has everything but loves nature. Or like me, doesn’t want anything that has to be “dusted, watered or polished.”
These gifts are invested in our education programs and our summer day camps. Parents and teachers resources are limited and your contributions help to keep the costs down.
You can contact the Society directly at 604.572.0373 or 1.888.850.6264. We take VISA, MasterCard and American Express. We’ll arrange for a special certificate to be sent to your friend or family member.
If you choose, you can go directly to the www.canadahelps.org button on the left and you will receive your tax receipt in a few hours.
It’s just that simple. And it reduces your carbon footprint at the same time.
Sincerely,
Eliza Olson
President
P.S. If you live near the office and you would like something more tangible, drop in and look at the artwork and other items we have for sale. We are open Tuesdays to Saturdays.
Happy holidays.
Burns Bog Conservation Society
4-7953 120 Street, Delta, BC V4C 6P6
Tel: 604.572.0373 Fax: 604.572.0374 TF 1.888.850.6264
www.burnsbog.org |
