2026 Birds Canada Annual Public Meeting

A Red Knot walks on the shore — ©Red KnotPhoto: Jack Belleghem

Turning the Tide, Together

The People and Stories Behind the Impact

What does it take to create real conservation impact for birds?

Join Birds Canada for a special conversation inspired by this year's Annual Impact Report. You'll hear directly from the staff panelists behind some of our most impactful work, from uncovering how birds use the Chignecto Isthmus ecological corridor on Canada's east coast, to protecting bird habitat across working landscapes on the Prairies, and through the power of collective action as we engage thousands of volunteers across the country. This hour is all about coming together to connect with the people on staff and within our community who care so much about protecting the birds we all love.

This event will have both an English and French audio stream available.

Join us! Together, we'll celebrate a year of impact as we turn the tide for birds.

Meet our Panelists

Director, Atlantic and Québec

Kelsey Butler

Sikniktewaq (Chignecto Isthmus) is one of those places that you feel lucky to be able to work in, whether it's watching the fall migration of thousands of shorebirds or exploring salt marshes, it's clear that this place is special. The ecological corridor project is the perfect example of what the power of collaboration and passion to protect vital habitats can achieve, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!

Grassland Conservation Manager

Ian Cook

I grew up on a mixed farm in western Manitoba where I spent many hours in our pastures exploring nature and being captivated by the birds, bugs and mammals that we shared our land with. Agriculture has such an important role to play in the biodiversity and climate crises we find ourselves in, and I am passionate about finding solutions that are mutually beneficial for wildlife, the environment, farmers and ranchers, and society at large. As the Grassland Conservation Manager for Birds Canada I get to work at the interface of agriculture and conservation to find solutions to conserve grassland ecosystems and the birds that make their home there.

Outreach & Content Specialist

Yousif Attia

The year after year devotion of thousands of CBC volunteers is truly inspirational and reinforces how important birds and the natural world are to Canadians. This is what keeps me optimistic that both birds and people have a bright future together.

Some of my fondest birding memories were during my formative years spent Christmas Bird Counting around my hometown of Calgary, Alberta. To engage in an activity that was fun, educational, and contributed to conservation ticked all the boxes for me. Encouraged by the naturalist community, I participated in as many volunteer monitoring programs as I could, including up to five Christmas Bird Counts per season! Now, as national lead for the program in Canada, I am fortunate to be able to support an initiative that laid the foundation for my career path.