SALT SPRING ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA — (Marketwired) — 09/26/13 — Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is thanking long-time supporter and nationally beloved artist Robert Bateman by dedicating the Ford Lake project on Salt Spring Island to him.
“Robert has been an amazing supporter of DUC for so many years, and in honour of his work and support, we are honoured to dedicate this project to him,” says Les Bogdan, director of regional operations for DUC.
During a dedication event held yesterday, a special cairn was unveiled commemorating the day and truly set the dedication in stone.
Bateman has been supporting of DUC for decades, supplying prints for the fundraising program. Bateman–s yearly print partnership with DUC officially began in 2006 with the painting Salmon Watch – Spirit Bear. Since then he has provided many other works of art, including most notably DUC–s 75th anniversary signature piece, Tranquility. Bateman–s prints have sold over 31,000 copies at DUC dinners in the last seven years.
“Beyond the fact that Ford Lake is our home, it is a special place of precious aspects which are of great value,” says Bateman. “These include forests, wetlands and meadows. Of course this rich variety of habitat is the home of much wildlife. DUC–s work is of great value. The habitat their work has protected is home to wildlife, large and small.”
The area is home to several different species, including some at risk such as Barn Swallow, Double-crested Cormorant,Olive-sided Flycatcher, Peregrine Falcon anatum, and Red-legged Frog.
Robert Bateman and his wife, Birgit, have owned property at Ford Lake since the 1980s and have lived there since 2005. DUC, in partnership with Pacific Estuary Conservation Program, acquired the adjacent side in 1999. This project will now be dedicated to Robert Bateman.
Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is the leader in wetland conservation. A registered charity, DUC partners with government, industry, non-profit organizations and landowners to conserve wetlands that are critical to waterfowl, wildlife and the environment. Learn more at ducks.ca.
Contacts:
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Jill Mooney
Communications Specialist
Office: 403-476-1879