Amanda Vaughan
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Ecology North has been operating in the North for 35 years, and they are once again a proper charity.

"We are celebrating being a charitable organization after 10 years of not having the status, and filling out Canada Revenue forms," Karley Ziegler said at the group's picnic on Sunday afternoon.

Sophie Jackson with 19-month-old Rose on the left, and Karley Ziegler at the picnic on Sunday to celebrate Ecology North's status as a charity. - Amanda Vaughan/NNSL photo

Many people braved a chilly wind to partake in the new charity's spread of homemade chowder, cake and coffee, and later in the event, a live show by the Dawg Woods.

Ziegler is on the board of directors for Ecology North, and she explained what the biggest difference was for them.

"It means we can give tax receipts for donations," she said.

The group relies on donations and right now is functioning only by the grace of many volunteers like Ziegler. She hopes that the lure of a tax receipt will bring more donations, so that Ecology North could perhaps hire a staff member, and provide more help for projects.

"The public are always looking for resources from us," said Ziegler, noting that Ecology North is asked by citizens and other organizations to provide an eco-friendly opinion on current issues. However, there's a lot of research involved in that.

"We've been asked to get involved with the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline, but we just don't have the capacity to do anything with it right now," said fellow board member Craig Scott.

Ziegler said the group has been asked to provide comment on the issues surrounding water and caribou as well.

"But right now we are all volunteers with full-time jobs," she added.

Full-time staff would also be able to help keep events running. The group has seen some popular events run out of steam due to lack of resources.

"We had our youth ecology club, which has been faltering in the last six months," Ziegler said. She also mentioned an eco theatre group that was once organized through Ecology North.

As well as high hopes for the future, a staff member would also help the organization keep on top of the paperwork that is necessary just to maintain their charitable status.

"We have to report everything, all our assets and activities," Ziegler said. The group lost its status after volunteers lost track of the paperwork.

"We found a lawyer who specialized in charity groups, who was very helpful," Ziegler said.