EcoSask News, July 16, 2019

Upcoming Events
Change the Debate on CBC, July 17 (Regina, Saskatoon) 
Regina and Saskatoon are joining a nation-wide rally to urge the CBC to host a debate on climate issues during the upcoming federal election. Meet in front of the CBC studio at 6 pm, July 17, in both Regina and Saskatoon.

YXE Talks Trash, July 23 (Saskatoon) 
City of Saskatoon is inviting businesses and organizations to share their ideas on recycling and organics policies and programs from 7 am-8 pm, July 23.

Farmland Drainage, July 24 (Saskatoon) 
Jeff Olson will speak on Farmland Drainage: A Looming Environmental Crisis at 7 pm, July 24, as part of the National Farmers Union Region 6 convention. The public is welcome.

Busy Bees, Please!, July 24 (Gravelbourg) 
Kids are invited to build a bee bath from 3-4 pm, July 24, at Gravelbourg Public Library.

Go Science Program, July 25 (Springside) 
Join the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Springside for a nature/science program for kids from 1-4 pm, July 25.

Snakes, July 26 (Cypress Hills) 
Join bull snake researcher, Noah Johnson, for a presentation on Saskatchewan snakes at 7:30 pm, July 26, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.

Looking Ahead
Putting Beavers to Work, Oct. 23 & 24 (Calgary) 
A two-day seminar in Calgary on Oct. 23 & 24 will look at beavers’ role in watershed resiliency and restoration through both talks and a coexistence tools demonstration.

Agricultural Drainage & the Environment, Nov. 6 (Regina) 
The Citizens Environmental Alliance and its partners are hosting a one-day conference on agricultural drainage and the environment on Nov. 6 in Regina. Topics include carbon and habitat loss, enforcement and compliance, and water quality. For more information, contact Jeff Olson at cea.sask.2018@gmail.com

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

In the News
Do you live in the Saskatoon neighbourhoods of Aspen Ridge, Silverspring, or Evergreen? If so, help the City of Saskatoon in its land use planning by completing a survey on the value of the Northeast Swale.

“People can’t see noise, but if you were to kind of visualize it, it’s like if everybody was throwing candy wrappers out here as they were driving by with those modified mufflers.”

What if we could heat our home by burning our trash?

“We organised a conference for 570 people without using plastic. Here’s how it went.”

Pop-up parks can increase biodiversity, especially if you include organic materials and lots of plants.

San Francisco's coyote families: a wildlife soap opera.

San Francisco residents have launched a campaign to install 1000 drinking fountains.

An online course explores the captivating behaviour and creative genius of crows.

The UK’s Food Forest Project has been established to help communities to plant food forests – growing food for the local community and providing food and habitats for wildlife.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, June 4, 2019

Upcoming Events
Green New Deal Town Hall, June 5 (Prince Albert)
Prince Albert Council of Canadians is hosting a Green New Deal Town Hall at 7 pm, June 5.

North Sask River Basin Council AGM, June 5 (Cochin)
The North Saskatchewan River Basin Council is holding its annual general meeting from 9:30 am-2 pm, June 5, in Battlefords Provincial Park. There will be speakers on agricultural water management and stream flow response to anthropogenic change.

Will Carbon Pricing Cause a Recession in SK, June 6 (Regina)
There will be a presentation on the impact of carbon pricing on Saskatchewan’s economy at noon, June 6, in the Multipurpose Hall, CB 139, College Avenue Campus, University of Regina.

School Climate Strike, June 7, 14, 21, 28 (Regina)
School Climate Strikes are ongoing in Regina with events planned on June 7, 14, 21, and 28.

Planting Summer, June 8 (North Battleford)
Kids ages 5-12 are invited to help plant the children’s garden at North Battleford Library starting at 2 pm, June 8.

Snakes in Saskatchewan, June 11 (webinar) 
Christopher Somers will discuss snakes in Saskatchewan in a noon-hour webinar on June 11.

Hug a Tree and Survive, June 13 (Prince Albert)
Prince Albert North Search and Rescue is offering an Adventure Smart program that helps kids lost in the woods at 7 pm, June 13, in Prince Albert.

Looking Ahead 
Sask Summer Star Party, Aug. 28-Sept. 2 (Cypress Hills) 
The annual Saskatchewan summer star party will be held Aug. 28-Sept. 2 at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

In the News
If you see a bullsnake (dead or alive) during your summer travels, especially in southwest Saskatchewan, email the Royal Saskatchewan Museum at snakes@royalsaskmuseum.ca to contribute to a current research project.

Recycling successes and failures in Regina and Saskatoon.

It’s taken 8 years, but a settlement in a long-running drainage dispute in east-central Saskatchewan is finally in the works.

First Nations Power Authority has entered into an agreement with SaskPower to add 20 megawatts of solar power to the grid in the next 20 years through 2 projects: a solar farm to be constructed by the George Gordon and Starblanket First Nations near Weyburn and a partnership with Cowessess First Nation.

Alberta and Saskatchewan's ever-rising share of Canada's climate pollution is making it increasingly impossible for Canada to meet its climate obligations.

Whistles and cameras could prevent bats and birds from running into wind turbines.

“The Center for Biological Diversity today launched a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program for killing California beavers: ‘Our federal government needs to stop shooting and trapping native beavers whose ponds are safe havens for other wildlife.’ Last year, in response to a similar litigation threat, Wildlife Services agreed to stop killing beavers, river otter, muskrat and mink in Oregon.”

Waitrose, a major supermarket chain in the UK, is trialling package-free shopping.

10 tips to help you save money and reduce vehicle pollution.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, May 7, 2019

Upcoming Events
Hort Week, May 8-12 (Saskatoon) 
Hort Week workshops include The Magic of Moths, May 8; Identifying Insects in Your Yard, May 9; and Bears and Botany, May 12.

Bat Release, May 8 (Regina) 
Help release the bats that have been overwintering at the Sask Science Centre from 8:30-9 pm, May 8.

Bats, May 14 (webinar) 
Craig Willis, University of Winnipeg, is offering a noon-hour webinar on white-nose syndrome in bats on May 14.

Wascana Solar Co-op, May 15 (Regina)
There will be a presentation on the Wascana Solar Co-op at noon, May 15, at Innovation Place Regina.

Bike to Work Day YXE, May 15 (Saskatoon) 
May 15 is Bike to Work Day in Saskatoon.

Looking Ahead
Chaplin Lake Shorebird Festival, May 31-June 1 (Chaplin) 
Take a tour of the Chaplin Nature Centre during their Shorebird Festival, May 31 to June 1.

Generating Momentum, June 2/Aug 17/Aug 18 (Regina/Saskatoon/Prince Albert) 
In honour of its 10th anniversary, the Regina Public Interest Research Group is hosting 3 one-day activist leadership training camps for 18-35 year olds this summer:
June 2 – Regina
August 17 – Saskatoon
August 18 – Prince Albert

Lodgepoles Under Living Skies, June 21-23 (Cypress Hills) 
Connect with plant enthusiasts from Montana, Alberta, and Saskatchewan at an event planned by the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, June 21-23.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

Wildlife Champion 
Thank you Jan Shadick for speaking up for jackrabbits who lighten our days and pigeons who grace our skies. As Jan says, “A healthy wildlife population is an indicator of a healthy city.”

In the News
Proposed federal regulations would exempt major oil and gas projects from environmental assessment while discouraging renewables.

Meet the new generation of climate change activists: the teenagers who are marching in the streets, putting adults to shame and demanding action (Rolling Stone)

This is what conservation looks like: safe passage for pronghorns in Wyoming thanks to a wildlife overpass (short video).

Flushable wipes aren’t flushable and are blocking sewage systems and waterways.

Dragonflies fly up to 1500 miles over the course of 3 generations, but changes in temperature could foil their itineraries.

Here’s how to identify different sorts of bees.

À 14 ans, il ferait tout pour sauver la biodiversité.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, June 26, 2018

What a fabulous tail!

Upcoming Events 
Repair Café Prince Albert, July 7 (Prince Albert) 
Share and learn skills to fix personal and household items at Repair Café Prince Albert from 1-4 pm, July 7.

Hort Week, July 7-13 (Saskatoon) 
Take in talks and workshops on insects, weeds, alternatives to pesticides, composting, and more during Hort Week, July 7-13, at the University of Saskatchewan.

Go! Science, July 10 (North Battleford) 
Kids in grades 1-6 are invited to attend interactive science activities presented by the Saskatchewan Science Centre from 1-4 pm, July 10, at the North Battleford Library.

Looking Ahead 
Beyond the Big Dipper, July 14 (Grasslands National Park) 
View the stars and learn more about them from Royal Astronomical Society volunteers at Grasslands National Park on July 14 and Aug. 11.

Cypress Hills Photography Workshop, Sept. 21-23 (Cypress Hills) 
Join Branimir Gjetvaj for a photography workshop in the Cypress Hills, Sept. 21-23.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

In the News 
Tracking wildlife roadkills can confirm the need for wildlife crossings. The Northeast Swale Watchers are looking for citizen scientists to track roadkills in and around Saskatoon’s Northeast Swale. What other areas could benefit from a similar project?

The oil and gas industry’s methane pollution makes it as harmful to the climate as coal burning's carbon dioxide pollution.

An Ontario First Nation is launching an electric school bus.

Varennes, Quebec’s, new public library is net zero energy.

Over 50% of new cars in Norway are electric slowing demand for petroleum.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner). 

Look at those legs!

EcoSask News, August 1, 2017

Upcoming Events
Build a Compost Tumbler, Aug. 12 (Saskatoon) 
The Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre is hosting a workshop on building a compost tumbler from 12:30-2 pm, Aug. 12, at the Garden Patch.

Disruption, Aug. 16 (Regina) 
Cinema Politica is screening the film Disruption at 7 pm, Aug. 16. Disruption explores why we do so little about climate change when we know so much.

Summer Star Party, Aug. 23-27 (Cypress Hills) 
Observe the sun and the stars during the Royal Astronomical Society’s annual Summer Star Party at Cypress Hills Provincial Park’s dark-sky campground and observatory from Aug. 23-27.

Looking Ahead 
Nature Saskatchewan Fall Meet, Sept 29-Oct. 1 (Elbow) 
Nature Saskatchewan is holding its Fall Meet in Elbow from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. There will be a tour of the Gardiner Dam and a Sand Dunes Hike.

U of S Sustainability Networking Fair, Oct. 12 (Saskatoon) 
The U of S Office of Sustainability is hosting a networking fair from 4:30-6:30 pm, Oct. 12, so students can meet businesses and organizations involved in sustainability initiatives. The event is being held in conjunction with the UN Sustainable Development Goals Youth Training Workshop.

UN Sustainable Development Goals, Oct. 12 (Saskatoon)
The USSU Sustainability Committee and the Office of Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, are hosting a UN Sustainable Development Goals training seminar from 6:30-9:30 pm, Oct. 12.

Waste Reduction Week, Oct. 16-22 (Canada) 
The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council urges individuals and groups to plan a Waste Reduction Week (Oct. 16-22) activity.

Nature Regina Field Trips
Aug. 19, 9 am-12 pm – Wandering Wascana Looking for Warblers
Check Nature Regina’s website for full details and updated information.

Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips 
Golden Eagles 
Aug. 10, 7:30 am – Shore Birds
Aug. 17, 7:30 am – Ferries on the South Saskatchewan north of Saskatoon
Retirees and partners who are interested in birds and the natural world are invited to participate in Golden Eagle field trips.

Other Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips 
Aug. 10, 6:30-8 pm – Botany Walk, MVA Trail
Check the Saskatoon Nature Society’s website for full details and updated information.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

In the News
"we are financing growth, in part, by irreversibly liquidating natural resources essential to our own long-term survival"

“If we can’t see the stars, how will we know our place in the universe?” Five tips for stargazing with children.

Canadians need better protection from oilsands cleanup liabilities by accounting for the costs now.

In the Netherlands, kids can borrow skates, skateboards, and bicycles.

“Peer-reviewed research shows Canada’s methane emissions are as much as 250 per cent higher than reported by industry and government,” said David Suzuki Foundation science and policy director Ian Bruce. “The responsible course is to move urgently and enact strong regulations to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector and accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy.” 

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).