Ducks Unlimited will spend summer in Glenorchy by Dominik Kurek Oakville Beaver Staff 9 | Wednesday, June 12, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has been helping conserve wetlands across the country -- including those in Oakville -- for 75 years. It will be hard at work in the Glenorchy Conservation Area this summer. And while the national charity is celebrating its 75th anniversary, a group of local DUC volunteers is helping it continue its work for years to come. DUC's Oakville chapter is hosting its third annual dinner-and-auction fundraiser tomorrow (Thursday, June 13) at the Oakville Golf Club, 1154 Sixth Line. "They're a conservation organization," said organizing committee member Mike Heys. "They basically raise the money and then put the money back into the ground. They do work for nesting areas for ducks, habitat restoration, all of that sort of work." DUC partners with local groups to do habitat projects in communities across Canada. "We don't have any of our own equipment. We hire local contractors. All the labour is done through whatever community we decide to de- This summer, the project will actually be constructed. There are two large wetlands that will be restored. Conservation Programs Specialist, Ducks Unlimited Jeff Krete velop," Heys said. One of those communities is Oakville. DUC has completed small restoration projects in the area in partnership with Conservation Halton and the Hamilton Conservation Authority under the Hamilton-Halton Watershed Stewardship Program. DUC has also teamed up to deliver workshops for landowners with information about raising awareness of the value of wetlands, or building nesting boxes for wood ducks. The organization is also currently working with Conservation Halton on a wetland project in Oakville's Glenorchy Conservation Area, said Jeff Krete, conservation programs specialist with DUC. "This summer, the project will actually be constructed. There are two large wetlands that will be restored," he said. Krete said some native grass restoration and tree planting has already happened on the wetlands and more will continue. DUC's participation in the project is in design of the wetland restoration project and helping to fund it. Krete said DUC also provides education. "We do certainly work in the urban areas to try to educate people about the value of wetlands, why they're important, why we need to protect what we've got and why we need to restore the wetlands that have been lost." Tickets to the dinner cost $75 per person. This includes a multi-course prime rib dinner, complimentary bar, a one-year Ducks Unlimited Canada membership, a one-year magazine subscription and a ticket for the door raffle prize. There will be a silent and live auction as well. All proceeds go to Ducks Unlimited Canada. The event starts at 6 p.m. For tickets, visit www.ducks.ca. THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO DESIGN YOUR DREAM AYA KITCHEN Available at your local Oakville Tim Hortons/ Cold Stone Restaurant AYA KITCHENS OF OAKVILLE · 1195 North Service Road West AyAoakville.com · 905.847.1522 228 Wyecroft Rd. 2355 Trafalgar Rd. 2303 Lakeshore Rd. W. SERVICE SPECIALS AUTOMOTIVE HEADLIGHT RESTORATION $5500 DETAILING SPECIAL FREE TIRE TOTES $ $ from FOR EVERY CAR SOLD, OAKVILLE HONDA WILL DONATE IN YOUR NAME TO THE OAKVILLE HOSPITAL $200 5995 - 12995 WITH PURCHASE OF 4 ALL SEASON TIRES $200 Oakville Hospital Cheque Cash Discount -or- Receive a off your purchase 500 Iroquois Shore Rd., Oakville 905-844-9831 www.oakvillehonda.com