Darrell Crabbe looks back on his 20 years as executive director of the Sask Wildlife Federation

After more than 20 years as executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, Darrell Crabbe is preparing to step down from his post this fall. His retirement marks the end of a transformative period for one of Canada’s most influential provincial conservation organizations.

Crabbe, who first joined the SWF board in the early 1990s, officially took on the executive director role in 2002. Under his leadership, the federation expanded its educational programming, and took over management of the provincial fish hatchery in Fort Qu’Appelle. It also grew its land stewardship to include more than 167,000 acres originally acquired through the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, among other initiatives.

“We wanted to become the undisputed leaders in habitat, education and fisheries,” Crabbe says. “And we made bold moves to get there.” One such move was the 2007 purchase of the SWF’s now-permanent headquarters in Moose Jaw, ending decades of renting. “It showed we were embracing change,” he says. “We were growing our capacity to do more.”

Under Crabbe, the SWF secured major agreements with the province to manage habitat lands, monitor fisheries enhancement projects, and maintain community trout ponds—work typically handled by government biologists. “Governments began recognizing that NGOs like ours could deliver these programs more efficiently,” he says.

Throughout his tenure, Crabbe also pushed the province to prioritize resident hunting and angling over outfitted tourism. “Resident anglers and hunters generate more than $500 million annually, yet little of that is reflected in government funding,” he says.

By all accounts, Crabbe’s leadership helped position the SWF as a trusted government partner in managing fisheries, conservation lands and public education. For that, he credits a willingness to challenge assumptions, and a belief that “just because something’s always been done one way, doesn’t mean it’s the best way.”

Although his contract ends on October 31 this year, Crabbe will remain involved in select SWF projects, including development of a self-funded insurance model for conservation organizations. On a personal level, he says he’s looking forward to spending more time at his lakefront home—and finally making more use of his boat. “I’ve got a backlog of dates with my fishing rods.”

Learn more about the SWF at www.swf.sk.ca.