Enewsletter

On four very special evenings last month, Nature Canada joined award-winning author – and Canadian icon – Margaret Atwood on her worldwide book tour to promote her latest novel, The Year of the Flood (McClelland & Stewart).

Ms. Atwood's unique performances - part book reading, part dramatic interpretation, part hymnal singing - have been drawing crowds and glowing reviews across the country, and at four of her Canadian stops she used the spotlight to raise awareness about Nature Canada and our regional partners in bird conservation. In Ottawa (her Canadian premiere), Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, volunteers from Nature Canada and our partners Bird Studies Canada, B.C. Nature and Beaverhill Bird Observatory were on hand to distribute fact sheets about the Important Bird Areas Program and to staff information tables.

Ms. Atwood, who began each performance by singling out Nature Canada from the stage, also personally inserted a brochure and bookmark into every copy of her book during her book-signings.

"The Year of the Flood performances have been a terrific opportunity to raise awareness about Nature Canada and our partners engaged in bird conservation," said Ian Davidson, Nature Canada's executive director. "It's a tremendous honor to have support from as tireless and dedicated an advocate for nature as Margaret Atwood."

Donations made to Nature Canada at Margaret Atwood's Year of the Flood performances have gone directly to support conservation work at Important Bird Areas in Canada.

"Conserving our precious migratory birds requires a united international effort," said Margaret Atwood in a statement used on an information sheet produced for the event. "With partners like Nature Canada located along the world's many bird flyways, BirdLife is providing a safer journey for our endangered globetrotters, but it needs more support."

Nature Canada is the Canadian co-partner, with Bird Studies Canada, of BirdLife International, a global alliance of conservation organizations working together for the world's birds and people. As BirdLife in Canada, we deliver the Important Bird Areas Program, which aims to identify, conserve and monitor a network of sites that provides essential habitat for bird populations. Margaret Atwood is the Joint Honorary President of BirdLife's Rare Bird Club with her husband, Graeme Gibson.

Margaret's final performance will take place in Sudbury, Ontario on November 19. Tickets are on sale; come visit Nature Canada's table!