SAPAA is evolving through its SAPAA 2.0 initiative, focusing on functions previously handled by the Alberta Government. This multi-year effort aims to ensure an Occupational Health and Safety compliant volunteer program by 2025. Challenges include funding and volunteer availability, but the board remains optimistic about progress and community support.

SAPAA has been using this 2×2 graphic for the past two years. Introduced in “Should I Stay or Should I Go?“, it laid out 4 futures for the organization. The left 2 quadrants are the status quo or inevitable. All organizations die and the status quo option is just a holding pattern before the inevitable. 

SAPAA tried the merger option, but most peer organizations are facing similar struggles. Thus SAPAA 2.0 was born and the focus of the board’s recent efforts.

1. SAPAA 2.0 – Thank You Board!
2. SAPAA 2.0 – Overview
3. The High Cost of Doing the Right Thing
4. How is that 2.0 Working Out for You?
5. Planning to Climb Mount Safety
6. Stratified Safety
7. How Much is SAPAA 2.0 Going to Cost?
8. SAPAA 2.0: Reality, Options and Opportunities

SAPAA 2.0 – Thank You Board!

Speaking of the board, a huge thank you to them over the past six months for their work on SAPAA 2.0! It is a privilege to work with these smart and passionate people. They are not pushovers and we are following different paths because they had better ideas. Hubert, Patsy, Myrna, David, Tony, Madeline, and Tyler – THANK YOU.

SAPAA 2.0 – Overview

What exactly is SAPAA 2.0? In a nutshell, it is about taking on the functions originally done by the Alberta Government. This is a multi-year effort with 2025 focusing on infrastructure, 2026 an occupational health and safety (OHS) compliant volunteer experience, and 2027 confirming the parts are working together.

The 2025 program priorities were encapsulated in ten priorities (see Newsletter No. 52). The most important of these is the implementation of an Occupational Health and Safety compliant volunteer program.

The High Cost of Doing the Right Thing

In our topsy turvy world, the cost of doing the right thing goes up and the benefits of doing the wrong thing are rewarded. An example of this is visiting a protected area or being the land steward for one – versus abusing the same land.

The cost of complying with safety requirements increases while resources from the province is shrinking to a vanishing point. At the same time, running a social media channel that shows one churning up wetlands on a high-powered ATV can make the channel owner money. As an influencer, they may even be able to quit their day job and ‘mudding’ full time.

It is in this social context SAPAA 2.0 is being developed.

How is that 2.0 Working Out for You?

Returning to the 2×2 matrix, we knew that the 2.0 option would be challenging. In essence, with volunteer labour and freely available tools, we are recreating provincial staff and structures. Nevertheless, we are making progress.

The Site Inspection process is relatively stable. The questions are solid and are of value (thank you Tony). We are expanding the information available about the sites by integrating iNaturalist (thank you David, Tony, Hubert, and Patsy). We have a cordial relationship with Ministry officials (although their resources and freedom of action is constrained at best). We are running our first Community of Practice for Organizational Stewards (thank you BLESS and David) which is increasing the value for our members.

Planning to Climb Mount Safety

By the end of 2025 we need to conquer our biggest challenge, implementing an OHS compliant volunteer safety program. 20 to 30-years ago, suggesting that a volunteer drive to a site by themself seemed reasonable; now it seems untenable. Fortunately, the safety problem is solvable – but it will take Time, Talent, and Treasure.

To start, volunteers will need to attend and pass a Safety/Volunteer program. Likely online, this will involve reading material, watching videos, and then taking an exam. Annually, volunteers must recertify and attend a health and safety committee meeting. A valid first aid certificate may also be required for volunteers in a leadership role.

Stratified Safety

More than likely there will be different certification levels. At the top will be an elite cadre of individuals who are approved to go to sites on their own. A Lone Volunteer represents a high-risk activity. As a result, when this person heads out, they will go with SAPAA issued equipment. On their belt – bear spray, in their pack a first aid kit and satellite radio, in their hand a tablet pre-loaded with software to gather information.

This may all seem excessive, but it is also what is issued to staff members of a peer-organization who visit sites in and around Edmonton. If they needed it close to the city, how much more important is it when the site is hours away from the nearest cell reception?

How Much is SAPAA 2.0 Going to Cost?

SAPAA 2.0 is pricey but the alternatives are worse. The organization and volunteers cannot afford to be non-compliant. Beyond the material costs there will be organizational costs. Someone needs to ship the bear spray, inventory the satellite phones, and consolidate the submissions from the tablets. How much will this cost, stay tuned.

SAPAA 2.0: Reality, Options and Opportunities

While money is tight, granting agencies are stringent, and willing individuals are few and far between, I am cautiously optimistic. Money can be found, volunteers trained, and systems established. I consistently hear strong support for the principles of what we are creating.

However, if sending volunteers proves too onerous, costly, or impractical there are other roles for SAPAA. For example, education, encouraging site visits, and supporting organizational stewards (such as Wagner or Riverlot 56). There is also a role consolidating information from a variety of sources to report on the state of Alberta’s Protected Areas.

To use a catch phrase from the American TV show Mythbusters: ‘Failure is Always an Option‘. In the show’s context, it is critical to learn from both successes and failures to ultimately achieve your objective (in the Mythbusters case, this usually involved an explosion – something not recommended for SAPAA). By the end of 2025 SAPAA may come to the conclusion that sending volunteers into the field is beyond the resources of a small nonprofit. If that is the case, let’s start talking about SAPAA 2.1.

Wish us luck and let me know if you want to help!