Environmental Sciences

In addition to the material on environmental science created by individuals and organizations associated with the University of Calgary itself; Archives and Special collections has archival collections and fonds from community members and organization situated in and around Calgary!

Below are a few highlights from the fonds and collections of community organizations and individuals who were involved areas of Environmental Science such as lobbying for the preservation and conservation of mountain parks and wilderness areas in Southern Alberta.

Alberta Wilderness Association fonds

Dates of Creation, 1970-2000

The Alberta Wilderness Association was established in 1968 to lobby for the preservation and conservation of wilderness areas in the province. The association has developed an aggressive program of public education as well as a campaign of lobbying elected representatives. It is a member of the Calgary Area Outdoor Council. The fonds consists of newsletters (1970-2000), financial records (1971-1972), and various published items.

Sierra Club of Alberta fonds

Dates of creation, 1973-1993

The Sierra Club of Alberta fonds consists of administrative records including membership files, financial statements, project files, newsletters, and recorded interviews and transcripts of early guides, outfitters and pioneers.
The Sierra Club of Alberta was established in 1969 as a branch of the Sierra Club based in San Francisco, California, USA. Its aims were to preserve mountain parks and wilderness areas and to encourage the wise use of energy resources. It became a group in the Western Canada chapter when the latter was established in 1970, and the club was incorporated in Alberta in 1973. In 1980 the Sierra Club of Alberta interviewed early guides, outfitters and pioneers regarding the history of trails and their activities in the foothills and mountains.

Nose Hill Park Communities Board fonds

Dates of creation, [ca. 1960-2010]

The Nose Hill Park Communities Board fonds consists of material including historical information, briefs, plans, proposals, reports, submissions, copies of legal papers and maps relating to the preservation and development of Nose Hill Park. The fonds also consists of executive papers including minutes, membership lists, financial statement, newsletters, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and photographs relating to the Nose Hill Park Communities Board and various other groups with an interest in Nose Hill, including the Nose Hill Park Management Advisory Committee and the Friends of Nose Hill Society.

Calgary Eco-Centre Society fonds

Dates of Creation, 1970-1983

The Calgary Eco-Centre Society fonds consists of incorporation documents and bylaws, minutes, annual reports, correspondence, requests for information, logbook of activities, publications, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and photographs of environmental damage in Calgary and Alberta. Motivated by the 1970 declaration of "Earth Day" in the USA, university students in Calgary decided to form an ecology group. To promote "Earth Day", the group gathered environmentally related information and made it accessible to the public in a downtown office paid for by a grant from Labatt's Brewery. Interest in ecological matters increased, and in 1971 the Eco-Centre was incorporated as a society. With a grant provided by Alberta Fish and Game Association and Dome Petroleum, the Eco-Centre compiled "EcoGuides" and "Ecology Education Kits" to provide information to the public and schools on pollution and other environmental issues, and gave talks to schools, youth groups and community meetings.