MOOSE JAW, Sask. — The Joyce Gemmell Jessen Habitat Conservation Fund is offering a new challenge matching grant of up to $45,000 for the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Eligible donations toward the Buffalo Pound 7 project received by NCC between Sept. 1 and Dec. 15, will be matched by the fund, up to a total of $45,000. This challenge provides an opportunity to double the impact of donations and help advance conservation efforts across Saskatchewan in Jessen’s memory, says NCC.
Joyce Gemmell Jessen created a lasting legacy for the province she called home through the Joyce Gemmell Jessen Habitat Conservation Fund at the Saskatchewan Community Foundation. Established during her lifetime, the endowed fund continues to carry forward her passion for Saskatchewan’s natural landscapes following her passing in spring 2025.
Since 2019, the fund has awarded nearly $140,000 to the NCC, including a recent $70,000 award, supporting conservation projects across the province.
The fund has helped support the conservation of NCC’s Buffalo Pound property, 1,075 hectares (2,655 acres) of native grasslands along the north shore of Buffalo Pound Lake. Buffalo Pound Lake plays a critical role in supporting the health and well-being of Saskatchewan residents. The surrounding native grasslands help filter drinking water for approximately one-quarter of the province’s population, including the cities of Regina, Moose Jaw and several surrounding communities.
The fund also helped secure 389 hectares (962 acres) across the Parker and Parker Coulee properties in the Cypress Uplands. These landscapes include native prairie grasslands, wetlands and wooded coulees that provide important habitat for wildlife, including species at risk such as burrowing owl, chestnut-collared longspur and ferruginous hawk.
For Jessen, protecting Saskatchewan’s natural heritage was deeply personal, according to NCC, Prairie Region.
Raised in Saskatchewan, she developed a lasting connection to the province’s prairie landscapes. After completing her medical technologist training in Moose Jaw, she moved to Chicago but carried her love of Saskatchewan with her throughout her life, the conservancy says.
“The prairies are just a part of who I am – I’m a prairie girl,” Jessen once said.
“Mom had a deep appreciation for the beauty and character of Saskatchewan, and that connection stayed with her throughout her life,” says Julie Jessen, Jessen’s daughter.
“She would be so proud to know that something she created is helping ensure these landscapes remain here for future generations. For our family, it is incredibly meaningful to see her love of Saskatchewan live on in such a lasting way.”
“Joyce understood that conserving Saskatchewan’s natural heritage is about more than protecting land, it’s about ensuring the places that shape our lives and our connection to this province endure,” says Vanessa Headford, senior development officer, NCC, Prairie Region
“We are incredibly grateful to Joyce and her family for creating a legacy that continues to translate her love of Saskatchewan into conservation on the ground.”
According to NCC, Prairie grasslands are one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world and play a vital role in our health and well-being. These landscapes provide essential natural services, filtering air by storing billions of tonnes of carbon, filtering water and helping to mitigate the impacts of floods and drought. Safeguarding these remaining grasslands is essential to maintaining healthy, resilient landscapes for people and wildlife, the NCC explains.
