Nature Calgary
Presentation:
Nature Calgary: The Quiet Force Behind Calgary’s Wild Spaces
Before Fish Creek was protected. Before Nose Hill became a park. Before citizen science was a movement. There were volunteers working behind the scenes.
For nearly 70 years, Nature Calgary has quietly shaped the conservation landscape of our city. From publishing the foundational “Green Book” on local biodiversity to stewarding Frank Lake and leading citizen science initiatives like the City Nature Challenge, we continue to connect Calgarians with nature and protect the places that define our region.
Join us to learn how a small volunteer organization helped protect some of Calgary’s most treasured landscapes and what comes next.
Kaya Konopnicki is the President of Nature Calgary and a long-time advocate for local conservation. She has been involved with the organization for nearly a decade, first joining when her mom encouraged her to step in as secretary. What began as a volunteer role quickly grew into a lasting commitment to protecting Calgary’s natural spaces.
Kaya holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Calgary and works as a Naturalist and Program Coordinator for the Invasive Plant Program with the Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society. She is especially passionate about birds, and finds that birding keeps her grounded, curious, and continually learning. Through birds, she has built community, deepened her connection to place, and discovered countless opportunities to engage others in nature.