Animal Sanctuaries in Labrador: An Address Presented by Lt.-Colonel William Wood, F.R.S.C. Before the Second Annual Meeting of the Commission of Conservation at Quebec, January, 1911

Delivered in Quebec in January 1911, this address captures a remarkable moment when industrial expansion began to threaten the wilderness of Labrador and its wildlife. Lt.-Colonel William Wood stands before the Commission of Conservation and makes an urgent plea: the reckless destruction of animal populations through overhunting, unsustainable fishing, and careless tourism cannot continue unchecked. What makes this historical document extraordinary is its prescience. Wood argues that economic prosperity and environmental preservation are not opposed but intertwined, proposing legal protections, public education, and international cooperation on migratory species. He writes with the conviction of a man who sees the cliff's edge and wants future generations to avoid the fall. This is not merely a historical curiosity but a window into the birth of modern conservation consciousness, revealing that the debates we continue to have about wildlife protection were already being articulated over a century ago. For readers interested in environmental history, early advocacy literature, or the roots of the conservation movement, this brief address offers surprising relevance and clarity.