Written by Canadian Conservation Corps Alum Colin Starkevich

As an artist, so much of my work involves networking, thinking outside the box and making the best of situations that don’t always unfold as planned.

I first became involved with the Canadian Wildlife Federation in 2011 when they sponsored me to attend a youth conference in Jasper, Alberta. The conference was about connecting youth to nature and celebrating it through the arts. It was a very memorable and rewarding event for me which kept fueling the fire in me to do my very best as an artist.

In 2020, I became involved with the CWF once again and participated in the Canadian Conservation Corps program.

Learning How to Change Course

Colin’s cohort with CCC.
Phase 3 project on nest boxes.
A close up of the nest box.

My CCC experience took place during the first six months of 2020 when COVID-19 first came to the world’s attention and changed things for many of us — including my CCC experience. In a program where Phase 1 normally included a lot of social interactions, the CCC staff, my cohort and myself were all working together to make the most of a “no social contact” situation. The CCC community became a great support for me. In the end, we did persevere.

Although my Stage 2 placement was cut short because of the impacts of COVID-19, I successfully complete a Stage 3 project by creating and giving away nest boxes for Northern Saw-whet Owls while educating the public about the benefits of these nest boxes and the CCC program.

How Art Imitated Life

Colin’s The Grassland Series at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Museum in Medicine Hat, AB
A wall displaying Colin’s art.

Since my involvement and experiences from CCC, I have been more courageous in putting myself out there with my work as an artist. It has recently led to an exhibition of my work of The Grassland Series at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Museum in Medicine Hat, AB. I’m very pleased with this exhibition. It shows some of my best work to date and is reaching out to a very broad audience. Ultimately, my work is again raising awareness of Canada’s Grasslands region while inspiring many others to utilize their unique abilities to make a positive difference in our natural world.

Pushing myself out of my comfort zone again, and taking the experience I learned from the CCC about creating public events, I am now happy to say that I have been working with the program directors at the Esplanade Centre in Medicine Hat to host a public event to go in conjunction with my exhibition on October 9, 2025! I’ve always seen my artwork as a celebration of the work of so many other passionate people, and have wanted to share this in some way. On October 9, we are planning on having three to four speakers from different professions within the Canadian grasslands to come in and have a discussion about their work and passions in the region with a public audience. I’m very satisfied with this as I believe this is an example of making the work we do with our passions, about something bigger than ourselves, while showing that we are all connected.

Colin in the field.

My involvement with CCC re-ignited the fire to really pursue what is meaningful to me and to not be afraid to think outside the box and be willing to reach out to people I do not know. CCC made me realize that most people are willing to lend a hand and support one another in any way they can. My biggest take-away from CCC is knowing that although things may not always go to plan, if you make the most of what you have in front of you and maintain a positive mindset, things can unfold perhaps even better than expected, and to never be afraid to think outside the box. I will always be grateful for my overall experience with the CCC and for the group of young people I was able to meet who share a passion for our country’s wild spaces.

Author

Colin Starkevich is an Alberta-based artist who portrays the Canadian Natural Grasslands region in his artwork in an ongoing series (16 years and counting), called The Grassland Series. His intent with this series is to raise the awareness of the Canadian Grasslands region while celebrating the conservation efforts of the past and present that give us the region we can all experience today. Ultimately, Colin hopes his artwork will inspire many others to combine their unique abilities and passions to make a positive difference in the natural world we live in.