Saskatchewan Environmental Society
For more than 34 years, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES) has advocated and supported sustainable living and sustainable resource use in Saskatchewan.
Since its incorporation in 1970 as the Saskatoon Environmental Society, a charitable, non-profit organization, SES has helped shape environmental policy at national, provincial, and local levels and demonstrated the power of committed action.
One of its first activities was the preparation of a general brief outlining important environmental issues of the day. Some items included were:
- recommending the creation of a Saskatoon environmental advisory board (the Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Council came into being in 1973, with SES as the prime mover);
- making a pitch for planning procedures better geared to producing a good urban environment; and
- reflecting the general public concern for the city's riveredge areas (SES contributed later to the protection of the area that is now Meewasin Park and to the public participation process in 1976 that ultimately resulted in the creation of the Meewasin Valley Authority).
The brief was sent to candidates in the upcoming municipal elections, making environmental issues into campaign issues for the first time, and positioning the topic of the environment for media attention.
Beginning in 1972, SES became involved in energy issues by playing a key role in creating a sub-group to oppose the damming of the Churchill River. This campaign was ultimately successful. SES also initiated a successful campaign for heritage preservation that resulted in the provincial Heritage Act of 1975 and in heritage identification and protection in Saskatoon.
In 1981, The Saskatoon Environmental Society became the Saskatchewan Environmental Society to reflect the fact that both the membership and the issues the Society was involved in extended beyond Saskatoon.
During the 1980s, SES published two highly-acclaimed teaching units on understanding ecosystems, the Guide to Environmentally Friendly Living in Saskatoon, information packages on a variety of issues, and numerous briefs for various government panels and advisory committees.
The Society also worked closely with other environmental organizations, playing a major role in the formation and leadership of the Saskatchewan Eco-Network (SEN) and the Canadian Eco-Network (CEN).
During this time, the media increasingly called upon SES for its response to issues and SES members became more and more frequent participants on government-appointed panels and advisory committees.
In the 1990s, SES began its ongoing work on forestry issues by collaborating with the Saskatchewan Forest Conservation Network. It also participated in developing the province's Clean Air Strategy. The Destination Conservation program was launched, an activity that continues to help school divisions throughout Saskatchewan realize substantial energy cost savings. This period also saw the first annual Hike and Bike campaign, which continues to this day.
Today, SES is a key prairie organization working with national coalitions on issues such as climate change and protection of the boreal forest.
Across the province, thousands of young people learn about energy conservation through SES's educational programs in the schools. The Society promotes more environment-friendly practices in urban transportation, garden and lawn care, water use, energy production, and management of hazardous materials.
In partnership with local and provincial champions, SES is currently adapting the Destination Conservation model to help non-profit organizations and small businesses save money by improving their energy efficiency.
SES, with a very small core staff and a few part-time project workers, relies heavily on volunteers to accomplish its objectives. Currently SES has volunteer committees focusing on water, alternatives to pesticides, and alternative transportation. Individual volunteers are addressing a variety of other issues including land use planning, wildlife habitat protection, and a wide range of energy concerns.
For more information visit http://www.environmentalsociety.ca.