Manitoba Wildlife Federation receiving crucial support from member clubs for its Access for All campaign

The Manitoba Wildlife Federation is enjoying a groundswell of crucial support from member clubs for its Access for All campaign, an ongoing initiative to protect public access to Manitoba’s wild spaces. Originally launched in July 2024 following deep cuts to provincial moose tag allocations, the campaign has since grown to also tackle numerous other access issues. Chief among them are the expansion of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, as well as ecological corridors.

Owing to legal action, town hall meetings, an expansive media presence and lobbying at all levels of government, however, the Access for All campaign has become costly. That led the MWF earlier this year to ask its network of clubs to help raise $100,000 toward the projected budget of $590,000. What followed was nothing short of extraordinary, says the federation’s managing director, Carly Deacon.

At the MWF’s AGM in April, the clubs presented their donations in a show of solidarity, parading forward with cheques totalling an impressive $60,000. “These clubs are run entirely by volunteers, some with 2,000 members, some with just a dozen,” Deacon says. “Every dollar they contributed, whether $50 or $10,000, meant the world to us.”

According to Deacon, the contributions will help the MWF pay for legal fees and grow the Access for All campaign into a province-wide movement. “It’s mind blowing to me because this was the first time we’ve seen this kind of financial support from our clubs, and it went a long way,” Deacon says. “It was a contribution to show that they were part of the fight and part of the team, and standing behind us on this.”

As the Access for All campaign enters its second year, the MWF continues advocating, litigating and expanding its reach. For example, the campaign now has a dedicated landing page on the federation website, offering updates and ways to get involved. And beyond financial support, clubs have also opened their doors to host town halls, while connecting the MWF to key stakeholders and galvanizing community momentum around the access issue.

Says Deacon: “Although these threats are daunting, it’s been very positive to see how our organization has rallied together around it all.”

Learn more about the MWF’s programs and positions at www.mwf.mb.ca.