EnviRONmental Executive: Meet Ron

Introducing the Team at CPAWS Manitoba

Ron Thiessen is the inspiring Executive Director of CPAWS Manitoba. He has been instrumental in establishing 23 parks and protected areas in Manitoba with CPAWS, which is nearly three million hectares of healthy lands and waters conserved for future generations.

Before CPAWS, Ron began his conservation career 30 years ago by knocking on doors for Greenpeace. These face-to-face interactions taught Ron what it takes to get people interested in environmental issues and how to empower and motivate them to take action. Ron’s leadership skills were swiftly recognized as he moved from leading teams in the Winnipeg office to helping Greenpeace launch campaigns across the country.

Ron recognized the need for a more collaborative approach to conservation in the province and convinced the Western Canada Wilderness Committee to launch a chapter in Manitoba. As Manitoba campaign director, Ron built relationships with Indigenous Nations, provincial government staff and political leadership, as well as industry representatives and other stakeholders to find collaborative solutions. 

One such instance is when Ron worked successfully with Tembec Forestry Company to identify critical caribou habitats and negotiated a 50-year harvesting deferral in those areas. The relationships he built with Hollow Water First Nation and the community of Manigotagan led to the establishment of Manigotagan River Provincial Park. He also worked with many Indigenous Nations and the provincial government in expanding protection for many areas such as provincial park reserves.

In 2006, Ron was recruited by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society to lead its Manitoba Chapter. His consensus-seeking approach made CPAWS a vital player in multi-stakeholder negotiations. Ron has been a trusted advisor to ministers from many political parties, who rely upon his balanced approach and deep knowledge of the province. 

Ron played a significant role in supporting the Indigenous Nations on the Pimachiowin Aki initiative, which resulted in large protected areas and eventually, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ron helped raise public support for the project to help soften a backlash aimed at the provincial government for its support of Pimachiowin Aki.

Ron has spent many years on individual campaigns working with Indigenous Nations and all involved to secure new protected areas such as Fisher Bay and Little Limestone Lake provincial parks. His leadership together with the CPAWS team has resulted in tens of thousands of letters to the provincial government from citizens in support of protecting wild spaces for nature in Manitoba.

Outside of work Ron likes to walk, cycle, make music, and spend time with his daughter.

Q+A with Executive Director Ron Thiessen

1. What Is Your Main Role with CPAWS Manitoba?

I am responsible for establishing our vision and our conservation goals and objectives. I work with the CPAWS team to implement our work plans.

2. What Do You Hope to Achieve with Your Work?

My ultimate goal is to ensure Manitoba’s wild places and wild species are abundant and healthy for future generations of people and wildlife. This means protecting 30% of Manitoba’s landscapes by 2030 and at least 50% in total, all through supporting and partnering with Indigenous Nations to ensure that conservation is done right. 

3. What is your favourite part of your job?

Working with the smart and talented CPAWS team, crafting and implementing effective strategies, and producing communications with rightsholders, stakeholders, and Manitobans-at-large.

4. What Inspires You to Protect and Be an Advocate for Nature?

Nature is endlessly inspiring. I feel innately connected to it. It brings me joy when I’m out for a walk or paddling a canoe. Also, as nature provides all the life-giving services people and wildlife need to survive and thrive, we need to ensure we keep enough of it healthy for the benefit of all. Reversing mass wildlife declines and curbing climate are among the most pressing issues of our times. I feel compelled and inspired to fight for a better world.  

5. What are you working on right now in CPAWS?

A huge focus is working with Indigenous Nations by supporting their efforts to establish Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. In tandem, working to ensure crown governments and stakeholders are supportive and aligned with these conservation efforts. As always, we are working to inspire Manitobans to know the values of nature conservation and be supportive of our efforts.

Fast Facts:

1. How would you describe yourself in 5 words?

Determined, adventurous, curious, outdoorsy, fun-loving.

2. Fav outdoor activity?

Walking

3. Fav Manitoba Vacation spot?

Nopiming provincial park

4. Fav Provincial Park?

Little Limestone Lake Provincial Park

5. Fav Winnipeg Park?

Assiniboine Forest

6. Fav nature book or documentary?

Planet Earth with David Attenborough.