Students Open Bow Habitat Station
Bow Habitat Station Now Open for School Bookings!
On October 2, grade five and six students from Calgary’s University School officially
opened Bow Habitat Station. Students acted as the Master of Ceremonies to a crowd
of facility sponsors, guests, media and government officials, including Minister
of Sustainable Resource Development Ted Morton and MLA Wayne Cao (Calgary-Fort).
Through hands-on learning, new interactive exhibits, and programming that aligns
with the Alberta Education science curriculum, students will learn to become environmental
stewards now and in the future. Exhibits showcasing Alberta’s aquatic habitats will
also show students the interconnections between the province’s biodiversity and
many ecosystems.
"Bow Habitat Station will help young people understand how every turn of the tap,
every drain of the sink, and every flush down the gutter affects fish, their habitat
and our own water supply,” said Minister of Sustainable Resource Development Ted
Morton. "With our sponsors, we have provided a learning experience that will help
students to make informed lifestyle decisions for the health of Alberta’s environment
and communities for years to come."
Alberta’s Future Environmental Stewards
The opening ceremony was jam-packed with several activities. Students kicked off
the ceremony with a snappy rap about Bow Habitat Station, which was followed by
the unveiling of a plaque recognizing Bow Habitat Station as a Centennial Legacies
Program project. The ceremony finished with the crowd taking an oath to be environmental
stewards followed by Minister Morton, MLA Cao, the students, and sponsors cutting
the ribbon to officially open the facility. The students then hosted tours of the
new exhibits where they acted as experts providing information to visitors at various
stations throughout the facility.
BP Canada provided $225,000 for the facility’s Nature Theatre. "BP Canada is very
proud to be involved in the Bow Habitat Station," said Randy McLeod, Chief Operating
Officer of BP Canada. "The BP Nature Theatre will provide a great venue for students
to learn about the importance of Alberta's aquatic ecosystems for many years to
come."
HSBC Canada provided $100,000 for the Discovery Room, a specialized learning area.
In 2003, Ducks Unlimited Canada provided $450,000 to construct the Pearce Estate
Park Interpretive Wetland and is also finalizing plans to build sampling docks for
the interpretive wetland’s outdoor programming.
"Ducks Unlimited Canada believes that wetlands are a fundamental part of every community,
and we are proud to partner with the Bow Habitat Station to foster the benefits
of wetland conservation in a unique urban setting," said Jack H. Hole, President
of Ducks Unlimited Canada.
The Bow Habitat Station Volunteer Society continues to support the facility’s fish
hatchery operations, educational programs and fundraising. "I am excited that we
have begun to use the education potential of this facility," said Lloyd Horn, President
of the Bow Habitat Station Volunteer Society. “Education is the key to responsible
environmental choices, and the place to start is with our youth.”
Bow Habitat Station Now Open for School Bookings
Bow Habitat Station’s exhibits and programs are open to schools and organizations
that register for programs. Bow Habitat Station also consists of the Sam Livingston
Fish Hatchery and Pearce Estate Park Interpretive Wetland. The interpretive wetland
is open to the public.
Posted: October 22, 2009
Updated: November 6, 2009