Community Visionaries: Wainwright Wildlife Society

"We need these places and these things. They're right here for free, and in most cases, we can just go see them."

By four in the morning, a small group gathers in a Wainwright parking lot, bundled against the spring chill and ready to head into the dark.

They’re on their way to a patch of native grassland where, as the sun rises, male Sharp-tailed Grouse will gather to dance. Tails raised, feet stomping, feathers rattling and purple air sacs inflated, the birds perform an ancient mating ritual that draws visitors from across Canada and around the world.

For the volunteers of the Wainwright Wildlife Society, these early mornings not only showcase a rare wildlife spectacle, but more importantly, the trip helps people discover the natural wonders that exist right here in rural Alberta.

"We've got some people that have come a long way to see these birds," says Wainwright Wildlife Society President, Sheldon Frissell. "Some have travelled from New Zealand and Tokyo just to see the birds mating dance!"

For nearly 40 years, the Wainwright Wildlife Society has been helping people connect with wildlife and the natural landscapes that surround them. Founded in 1987 by a group of volunteers from Wainwright and neighbouring communities, the Society was created with a simple purpose: to help people appreciate and value the wildlife and wild spaces that make the region unique. 

Beyond its popular grouse tours, the Society supports conservation and outdoor education through school programs, public events, field trips, wildlife projects and an annual wildlife calendar featuring local photographers. Volunteers also maintain approximately 15 kilometres of nature trails in the Battle River Valley, creating opportunities for people of all ages to experience the outdoors and connect with nature year-round.

The value of those spaces became especially apparent during the pandemic.

"We noticed that the number of youth on our hiking trails skyrocketed," says Sheldon. "People were coming out for both short and long visits just to have some peace and enjoy some beauty and forget about some of the challenges that we were facing."

"People are getting less contact with the land. So, to bring town kids and city kids out to see wild birds dancing, that’s something that they’ve never done before and might never have had the opportunity to do in their lifetime."

For Sheldon, who spent his career as a teacher and outdoor educator, helping people reconnect with nature remains one of the most rewarding aspects of the Society's work. He has been involved with the organization for nearly two decades and has served as president for the past 7 years.

He believes that opportunities to experience wildlife firsthand are becoming increasingly important as fewer people spend time on the land.

"People are getting less contact with the land," he says. "So, to bring town kids and city kids out to see wild birds dancing, that’s something that they’ve never done before and might never have had the opportunity to do in their lifetime."

The Society's famous grouse tours are often the first step in creating that connection. Visitors leave with a greater appreciation for the birds themselves, but also for the native grasslands they depend on. In a region where significant amounts of natural grassland have disappeared over the past several decades, building awareness has become an important part of conservation.



"Most are absolutely blown away by the different sounds that these males make as they dance," says Sheldon. "They were shocked that the wildlife live so close to us, on natural land right here."

Like many volunteer organizations, the Wainwright Wildlife Society relies heavily on community support to continue its work. Earlier this year, the Society received a Vision Credit Union Helping Hand Grant, which was used to purchase electric trail maintenance equipment, including a chainsaw and pole saws that will help volunteers keep the trail system safe and accessible.

The equipment will make trail maintenance easier, but Sheldon says the grant's impact went much further.

"It made us feel like the work that we do was getting noticed, it was getting valued and seen as an importance to the community," he says.

As the Wainwright Wildlife Society continues to grow and lead the charge on conservation in the area, its volunteers continue to create opportunities for people to experience wildlife, learn about the natural world, and enjoy the landscapes that make rural Alberta special.

For Sheldon, the value of that work comes down to a simple truth: "We need these places and these things. They're right here for free, and in most cases, we can just go see them."