How two friends used a milestone birthday to make a monumental gift to Y2Y
Twenty-six years ago, Brenda Davison sat in a dark auditorium in Banff, Alberta, tears streaming down her face.
She was listening to Karsten Heuer, a young biologist and adventurer, share stories from his epic journey hiking from Yellowstone to the Yukon. He spoke of the shrinking ranges of grizzly bears, wolves, and cougars. Of roadways blocking migration routes. Of wildlife struggling to survive.
When the presentation ended, the crowd erupted in applause. Brenda joined in and gave Karsten a four-minute standing ovation. That night, Brenda walked away with a renewed commitment to protect wildlife corridors in the Bow Valley, around her hometown of Canmore, Alberta.
Since then, Brenda has been involved in many community conservation projects. As a junior high teacher, she and her colleague, Wendy Allsopp, helped students raise awareness for a wildlife crossing over a large hydro canal near Canmore.
Their efforts paid off. In 2002, the Canadian federal government committed $3 million to build the crossing, ensuring safe passage for wildlife between Banff National Park and Kananaskis.
Two decades later, Brenda’s passion for conservation remains just as strong. To celebrate their seventieth birthdays, she and Wendy turned their joint birthday bash into a Y2Y fundraiser, with live music, a raffle, and a room full of friends.
The result? A night of fun that raised close to $5,000 to protect the wildlife corridors they care so much about! When they turned 71, they did it again, and donated another $1,200 to fund critical conservation work.
When we asked Brenda why protecting wildlife corridors is so important, she shared: “These are the last places wildlife can live in southern Alberta. Only a sliver of habitat remains. Yet, so much activity goes on in these areas: quading, biking, hiking, fishing, forestry, mining… in such a tiny space. These small corridors of wilderness are all the animals have. They can’t go anywhere else. They can’t survive unless we do something to protect them.”
Brenda’s words remind us why this work matters and how every action counts. From the classroom to the dance floor, Brenda shows how passion and action go hand in hand.
Whether you host a gathering, inspire students, or celebrate a milestone like Brenda and Wendy, there’s a way for everyone to make a difference.
