Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is proud to have been part of a milestone for conservation in Canada and beyond with the first-ever Canadian Ecological Connectivity Conference, held in Banff, Alberta in April 2025.
More than 200 people came from across the continent to share expertise on and emphasize the urgent importance of wildlife connectivity.
Sessions and workshops focused on wildlife crossings, fencing, road ecology, and large landscape conservation — all important components in the health of both natural and human communities.
Wildlife connectivity has always been at the core of Y2Y’s mission. By supporting the work of 177 wildlife crossings and fencing projects and counting in the Yellowstone to Yukon region, Y2Y’s efforts have become a globally recognized large scale model for connectivity conservation.
This conference reaffirms the momentum needed to continue building those connections into the future. Our staff and leadership team were active throughout the conference by moderating sessions, guiding the field trip to connectivity sights in Banff National Park, and uplifting community-based solutions that weave people and nature closer together.
We are grateful for the partners, Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and organizations whose leadership is propelling connectivity conservation forward. Relationships with each other and with the land are the foundation for a thriving future, and this gathering of professionals helps to strengthen those bonds.
The conference opened with powerful reflections from Kainai (Blood Tribe) Elders, whose stories and prayers reminded us that stewardship of the land is ancient and ongoing.
“We have been here as long as the stars, rivers, trees,” they shared. Their wisdom set the tone that ecological connectivity is not only a scientific or policy issue, but a lived, intergenerational practice rooted deeply in place.
Throughout the week, Canadian and American conservationists presented the multifaceted work needed to restore and maintain ecological connections across Canada and beyond, because ultimately wildlife do not know borders.
Highlights included:
- Dr. Jodi Hilty, Y2Y’s president and chief scientist opened the evening plenary session at the conference by telling the story of Pluie the wolf who inspired the Y2Y vision with her travels across the Yellowstone to Yukon region. Hilty introduced Elders from the Blood Tribe and welcomed attendees to Banff.
- Perry Bellegarde, former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations and member of Little Black Bear First Nation, Treaty 4 Territory, reminding us that connectivity flows through all relations in all directions — the four-legged, the flyers, the swimmers, the crawlers, and humans. “Think with seven generations in mind,” he said. “One sector cannot solve climate change, and instead we all need to come together.”
- Dr. Andrew Gonzalez of McGill University emphasized that Canada has an opportunity to lead the world in implementing ecological connectivity as part of the Global Biodiversity Framework. His call to action for the group was to prioritize strategies, monitor rigorously, and build connections beyond political boundaries.
- Meredith Brown of Canadian Geographic introduced Right of Passage, a new ecological corridor initiative in Canada with tools for public storytelling about corridors, showing how stories, maps, and art inspire the public to care and act for connectivity.
- Nina-Marie Lister from Harvard Graduate School of Design presented about how showcasing wildlife crossings can not only serve ecological purposes but also inspire wonder and public support. Good design, she emphasized, is intuitive, elegant, and powerful in telling the story of nature’s needs.
Several sessions dove into the critical role of governance in maintaining ecological corridors across all types of land: public, private, non-Indigenous and Indigenous, and municipal.
A special session hosted by Y2Y and the Miistakis Institute explored new strategies for coordinated corridor governance — essential for achieving Canada’s conservation goals.
Conservation leaders also emphasized the power of private land conservation. Though private lands make up only about 10 per cent of Canada’s land base, they are disproportionately important for biodiversity.
As Harvey Locke, Y2Y cofounder, said, “Connectivity raises different priorities than biodiversity hotspots. If nature doesn’t continue to thrive, humans won’t either.”
Field trip: Key connectivity sites
Conference attendees took a field trip to see the wildlife crossings near Banff, Alta. Credit: T. McEnroe
A field trip was one of the conference highlights. Attendees visited key connectivity sites on and around Highway 1,. showcasing the region’s natural history and wildlife.
Experts, including Harvey Locke; Jeremy Guth, steering committee member of ARC Solutions and trustee of the Woodcock Foundation; Terry McGuire, civil engineer and principal of McGuire Consulting; and Dr. Tony Clevenger, wildlife scientist, shared insights on ecological corridors and the landscape, discussing conservation efforts, habitat restoration, and challenges posed by development.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the week was based on the meaning of connection itself. Indigenous stewardship practices offer essential lessons for conservation today. Bill Snow, acting director of consultation for Stoney Nakoda Nation, highlighted the Banff bison reintroduction.
These efforts show how Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western science together can create reciprocal and more resilient landscapes.
Snow emphasized the bison’s role in maintaining healthy landscapes spiritual connection to the land.
“We are not just reintroducing a species; we are reconnecting a people and a land long separated,” he said.
The Canadian Ecological Connectivity Conference was able to highlight that connectivity conservation is becoming more widespread and is central to safeguarding our environment and our communities.
Together, we are working towards a future where wildlife can roam freely, ecosystems remain whole, and people and nature thrive side by side. We look forward to continuing to build on this momentum — for today, the future and for all our relations across this vast, interconnected landscape.
This landmark gathering represents the power of partnership and shared vision. Our heartfelt appreciation extends to Parks Canada, ARC Solutions, Alberta Conservation Association, and the Miistakis Institute, whose leadership and dedication made this pivotal event possible.
Together, we’re forging a path toward more connected landscapes and a more harmonious relationship between wildlife and transportation infrastructure.
