This past year marked both an ending and a beginning.
In April 2025, I had the immense honour of stepping into the role of Executive Director for Exposed Wildlife Conservancy. As we celebrate a decade of impact, I want to begin by acknowledging the incredible foundation built by those who came before me. What started as a bold vision, giving wildlife a voice, has grown into a movement rooted in integrity, passion, and purpose.
Over the last ten years, EWC has evolved from a grassroots nonprofit into a respected charity. This transition reflects more than an administrative milestone; it signals a renewed commitment to deepening our impact, broadening our reach, and solidifying our role as a leader in wildlife advocacy.
This year, we stood on the frontlines of critical conversations about how Canada treats its apex predators. We spoke out when a cougar was killed in Canmore, orphaning her two cubs. We mourned Nakoda, the beloved white grizzly bear, and demanded better infrastructure to prevent future tragedies. We launched Trapped in the Past, a hard-hitting documentary series exposing the brutal truths of neck snare trapping in Canada. And we equipped communities with the tools they need to live alongside apex predators through the launch of our Knowledge Base.
At the heart of all this work is a belief that wildlife deserves more than passive protection; it deserves active, informed, and ethical representation. It deserves science. It deserves compassion. It deserves all of us.
As we move forward, we do so with clarity, courage, and conviction. Our priorities are sharp: strengthen coexistence frameworks, advocate for data-driven policy, and ensure that the next generation inherits not just stories of loss, but stories of recovery, respect, and resilience.
To our supporters, partners, and volunteers, thank you. Your belief in our work makes it possible to dream bigger, speak louder, and act bolder.
The path ahead is challenging. But it is also full of possibilities. To me, that’s where the inspiration lives. And I invite you to walk it with us.
Happy trails,
Maggie Spizzirri
Executive Director, Exposed Wildlife Conservancy
