[April 30, 2008]
The 2008 SALTS Annual General Meeting was held at Chain Lakes. After a fine lunch, Craig Smith welcomed members and chaired the meeting. Reports on the past year's activities and financial status were presented by the President, Craig Smith, the treasurer, David Shaw, and the executive director, Alan Gardner. Two new directors were elected to the Board: Kelly Hall and Mike Robinson. SALTS has a full slate of activities planned for the coming year which will undoubtedly be both a challenge and a success for the Board and staff.
[March 31, 2008]
The Alberta Land Trust Alliance (www.landtrusts-alberta.ca) held a very successful workshop for members on March 27 and 28 in Nisku, Alberta. Under the management of Laurel Murphy, the ALTA is poised to become a strong voice for land trusts and conservation in Alberta. ALTA was formally incorporated this month. Watch the ALTA website for the unveiling of their new logo.
[March 1, 2008]
SALTS is working on a new video which will be a companion to the Pekisko Rangeland video. This new 22 minute production will focus on the importance of the foothills and Eastern Slopes as a watershed. It is aimed at the young urban audience. The screenplay is under development and filming will occur this summer. Look for it in the fall of 2008.
[January 10, 2008]
The SALTS Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held this year on April 30, 2008, at the MD of Ranchland administration building, at Chain Lakes. All members, or people who are interested in membership, are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP by email.
[December 31, 2007]
The Board of SALTS would like to wish people a very happy and prosperous New Year, and to extend a thanks to all the people who supported SALTS during 2007 through donations of money as well as their valuable time. It is your support and energy that keeps SALTS going. Thank you!
[December 5, 2007]
SALTS in cooperation with Action for Agriculture and the Foothills Land Trust held a Landowner Seminar on conservation easements at the Memorial Centre in High River. More than 125 people attended the all-day seminar to learn about the conceptual, legal and financial aspects of easements, as well as to learn about the threat of invasive alien plants. We would like to extend our thanks to the speakers and volunteers who kindly donated their time to help, and share their knowledge with us. To learn more click here.
[October 23, 2007]
The Manning Centre and SALTS are cooperating on an initiative to promote market-oriented approaches to environmental conservation. A group of people gathered on October 23, 2007, at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary to discuss the challenge, the gaps in knowledge, and the need for research. The excellent discussion produced a number of ideas which will be used to develop concepts for one or more pilot research projects. A meeting in the spring will further investigate and develop these ideas.
[October 1, 2007]
SALTS in cooperation with Action for Agriculture, the Foothills Land Trust, and other organizations are holding a Conservation Easement seminar in High River on December 5, 2007. Come and learn about how this tool can help the landowner with succession and estate planning, and why it is a good method of protecting our landscapes and watershed. This is a full-day information-packed seminar aimed at landowners. Lunch is provided and there is a registration fee of $20. Registration by November 30th required.
Click here for more information and seminar registration.
[August 18, 2007]
SALTS held an Appreciation BBQ for its easement donors, supporters, friends and their families at the MD of Ranchland Building at Chain Lakes. The weather was wonderfully warm and sunny. Everyone had a great time. People visited with old friends and made a few new ones. A few played horseshoes on the lawn. President Craig Smith presented past president Francis Gardner with a 3/4-length jacket embroidered with the SALTS logo. The BBQ of sliced beef with salad and beans was terrific. Thanks again to all our easements donors, supporters and friends.
[July 30, 2007]
The Alberta Land Trust Alliance (ALTA) has a new manager. Laurel Murphy has a BSc (Geography), and a MSc (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences) from the University of Alberta. In the past she has run her own consulting company and worked for the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Most recently she worked for Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture.
Laurel will be working out of Edmonton to get the fledgling ALTA off the ground. She has a passion for the Alberta natural landscapes and will be a terrific asset. Congratulations Laurel, and welcome. And thanks to Guy Greenaway, Avelyn Nicol, and Alberta Environment for getting things rolling.
[July 16, 2007]
The report for the Southern Foothills Study, Phases 1 and 2, is available in paper booklet and as a download. It is titled "The Changing Landscape of the Southern Alberta Foothills." Details on the SFS Website.
[July 11, 2007]
The very successful weed bus tour took two busloads of people into the Crowsnest Pass to view and discuss serious weed infestations. (Read report here) Almost 80 participants were lectured on the threats to the ecosystem from invasive alien plant species. The tour was organized by a committee of SALTS and the Municipal Districts of Willow Creek, Pincher Creek and Ranchland. Lectures included weed descriptions, threats, control methods including biological control on Leafy Spurge, and ongoing programs..
The weed day completed with an excellent BBQ at Heritage Acres near Pincher Creek. Alberta Parks had a display and information at the BBQ. Media attending the event included Farm TV and the Lethbridge Herald. All participants received a handout including information on weeds and control, and a weed identification booklet. Thanks to all the participants and organizers for a great (although hot) day! You can view the SALTS webpage on weeds here.
[May 2, 2007]
President Craig Smith presented Norm Simmons with a special jacket embroidered with the SALTS logo. The jacket was presented to Norm in recognition of the fourth conservation easement on his property west of Pincher Creek. Norm and his wife, Hilah, were one of the charter members of SALTS.
[April 23, 2007]
The Southern Foothills Study (SFS) was chosen as a finalist for an Emerald Award. The Emerald Award is a prestigious recognition for environmental excellence. While the initiative didn't win the award, it was an honour simply to be chosen as a finalist. View the SFS Website here.
[April 10, 2007]
SALTS held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Chain Lakes on April 10th. President Craig Smith chaired the meeting and gave a report of the year's activities. The last year has been challenging but very successful. Treasurer David Shaw presented the audited financial statements that showed a positive improvement over the preceding year. You can download a copy of the Annual Report here. (pdf:112 Kb)
[March 30, 2007]
The Alberta Landa Trust Alliance (ALTA) is meeting at the end of May, 2007, to formally organize. We are looking forward to having a provincial body to represent the interests of land trusts.
[March 30, 2007]
The Southern Foothills Study is entering Phase 3, or the 'Best Management Practice" phase. The last meeting on March 28th was attended by Hon. Ted Morton. It featured presentations by A.D.M. Morris Seiferling on the Land Use Framework and Ian Dyson from Alberta Environment.
[March 27, 2007]
Environment Canada has provided SALTS with funding for a program of invasive alien plant species (weed) education and prevention. These invasive plants are a serious threat to the native fescue grassland. We will be running the program over the summer 2007. Call the office if you'd like to participate. Also check out our new website section here.
[December, 8, 2007]
The Alberta Land Trust Alliance is off the starting blocks. On November 22nd Guy Boutilier announced a three-year funding commitment from Alberta Environment. The steering committee headed by Guy Greenaway is in the process of creating an initial organization. We are looking forward to working with the new Environment Minister and his staff on this important project.
The public meetings to show the results of the Southern Foothills Study wrapped up with a great meeting at High River on November 16th. Over 150 people packed the banquet hall at the Memorial Centre. Discussion after the presentation was lively. We will be posting the results on the SFS website as they are available. Visit the website later to see what's next.
Representatives of Land Trusts from all over Alberta met on October 18-19 near Sherwood Park to discuss the forming of an Alberta Land Trust Alliance. A steering committee was formed chaired by Guy Greenaway of the Miistakis Institute to put a preliminary plan forward. Guy Boutilier, the Minister of the Environment, will reportedly be making an announcement on November 22nd.
On July 18, 2006, Alberta Environment sponsored a Land Trust Leadership Advisory Committee meeting in Calgary. Alberta Environment was looking for recommendations on how to promote conservation easements as an environmental protection tool, and to how to support existing land trusts. The key recommendation from the meeting was to provide financial support to create an Alberta Land Trust Alliance organization.
Jim Smith of the Mancroft Group attended a meeting in Newfoundland where a new Canadian Land Trust Alliance (CLTA) was inaugurated. You can read their press release here.
The new federal budget (May 2006) has a provision to reduce the capital gains to zero on property qualifying as an ecological gift. This measure has long been sought by organizations promoting conservation easements. Click here for the text from the budget.
The Board and Staff of SALTS wishes to thank all those people who made contributions to the work of SALTS in the name of Ken Stiles for maintaining the integrity of the Eastern Slopes. Ken was a great friend of SALTS and the ranching community, and he will be fondly remembered.
There is a Video on the Pekisko Rangeland available to view over the web. It is 16 minutes long and available in broadband or dial-up mode. Click here to view it.
The SALTS office is located at the MD of Ranchland office at the south end of Chain Lakes. This locates SALTS closer to its geographical center of interest in a location with a spectacular setting. The building is also very well suited to meetings and seminars. Our thanks to the MD of Ranchland for allowing us to rent this space.
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