Becoming a Wildlife Ambassador: Why It Matters to Me

Earlier this month I officially became a Volunteer Wildlife Ambassador through the Bow Valley Wildsmart program! 🫎🌿 This has been a personal goal of mine for the past few years, and I’m incredibly grateful to Nick De Ruyter, Derek Ryder, and Karen from the WildSmart program for their support and encouragement along the way.

Since moving to Canada, I’ve developed a deep passion for learning about wildlife and the environment we share with them. This land gave me hope and a new beginning, and I’ve always felt a strong responsibility to protect and respect it. Becoming a Wildlife Ambassador is more than a title for me — it’s a commitment to supporting coexistence between humans and the wild animals that call this valley home.

Through my work with immigrant communities, I’ve had the chance to create educational experiences about outdoor safety and wildlife awareness. Now, I’m excited to take this even further. In this new role, I’ll be helping to spread important messages about recreating safely, respecting wildlife space, and understanding how our actions impact the natural world around us.

Wildlife need room to roam — and as community members, we all share the responsibility to make sure they can. Whether it's sticking to designated trails, keeping dogs leashed, or properly storing food, small choices make a big difference. These aren't just rules; they’re acts of respect for the land and its original inhabitants.

As someone who spends a lot of time outdoors with my adventure cat Joy 🐾, I know firsthand how enriching and healing nature can be. But I also know how quickly things can go wrong when we aren’t prepared or mindful. That’s why education is so important — and why I’m committed to continuing this work, especially with newcomers who may be unfamiliar with wildlife practices in Canada.

I hope to see many of you out on the trails or at local events. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever want to learn more about the Wildlife Ambassador program or how we can all recreate more safely and responsibly. You can find more information about the Wildsmart program here.

Let’s continue to make the Bow Valley a place where wildlife and people thrive — together.