EcoSask News, January 26, 2021

Upcoming Events 

Graduate Program Overviews, Jan. 27, Feb. 11, Mar. 2 (online) 

The School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, is offering online overviews of their programs on Jan. 27 (7:30 pm), Feb. 11 (1:30 pm), or Mar. 2 (7:30 am). 

Get Outside! Kids’ Club, Feb. 3/10 (Regina) 

Children ages 6-12 are invited to register for the Get Outside! Kids’ Club at 10 am, Feb. 3 or 10. 

Looking Ahead 

Outdoor Experience (North Battleford, Prince Albert, Rosthern)

Enjoy an all ages-friendly, outdoor event with your bubble hosted by SaskOutdoors and Wildernook Fresh Air Learning: 

Feb. 21 - Rosthern 

Feb. 28 - North Battleford 

Mar. 7 - Prince Albert 

Native Plant Society AGM, Feb. 27 (online) 

The Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan will be hosting an online annual general meeting on Feb. 27. This year’s theme is Nature to the Rescue and will discuss how we can be more involved with nature on a local scale. 

A full list of upcoming events (online and in person) can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

Local News 

Local groups are asking for support on three petitions. You can: 

Show your opposition to a Loraas landfill in the RM of Caledonia 

Demonstrate your support for members of Regina City Council who have promised climate action; and 

Ban the use of Avitrol, a neurotoxin that causes a slow, painful death, by pest control operators in Saskatoon 

CPAWS SK reminds us that our water systems are all connected. The Saskatchewan River Delta will be greatly impacted by the Lake Diefenbaker irrigation plan.

 

Educational Resources 

Earth Rangers School Clubs are a new program for elementary students and their teachers. Environmental-based lessons, activities, and worksheets are available free of charge. 

The Alberta WaterPortal Society provides online games and videos for water learning at home. 

Check out a role-playing board game about Arctic research, politics, and environment for high school students.

From Information to Action 

Canadians drive the most polluting cars in the world – participate in a Feb 17 webinar on fixing Canada's car conundrum. 

Your Zoom work conferences, Netflix binging, and video chats with friends are all adding up in your carbon footprint.

“Creating a new, renewable electricity grid is going to require substantial new transmission capacity. In terms of direct impacts, there isn’t necessarily much difference between siting a pipeline and siting a transmission line.” 

The lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles carry a huge environmental burden and could cause a health and environmental crisis. 

A Finnish hockey team has gone carbon neutral. 

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).

Check out EcoFriendly Sask’s Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces 

EcoSask News, November 24, 2020

"Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky." Kahlil Gibran

Upcoming Events 

Droughtproofing, Dec. 1 (online) 

Rob Gardner will talk about droughtproofing your land at noon, Dec. 1, as part of the Native Prairie Speaker Series. 

Waste to Energy, Dec. 3 (online) 

The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council is offering a full-day workshop on waste to energy technologies on Dec. 3. 

Canadian Bat Project, Dec. 4 (online) 

Learn about the work done by the Canadian Bat Project at the WildEcol Seminar at 3:30 pm, Dec. 4. 

Guided Hike, Dec. 5 (Regina) 

Nature Regina is offering a guided hike of A E Wilson Park starting at 10:15, 10:30, 10:45, and 11 am, Dec. 5. RSVP as registration is limited. 

A full list of upcoming events (online and in person) can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

Local News 

For Our Kids Saskatchewan (formerly Parent Climate Challenge) is part of a national network of parents and grandparents working on climate issues. They held an initial meeting on Nov. 23. 

Nature Regina has published its first winter edition of the Wandering Wednesdays outdoor adventure guides. All the guides are available and can be downloaded from their website. 

Over 500 people have joined a Facebook group opposing a proposed peat moss harvesting operation in northern Saskatchewan. 

Energy Bites 

An Indigenous-owned solar farm will supply a quarter of Fort Chipewyan’s electricity needs, helping to reduce the need for almost a million litres of diesel each year. 

A comparison of the climate action objectives of Canadian, US, and European oil and gas companies. 

The transition to renewable energy relies on mining. Can it be done responsibly? 

From Information to Action 

A new paper by Miistakis Institute shows a multi-species approach to prioritizing road mitigation efforts across an 84,000 square kilometer region. 

A French court ruling holds the national government accountable for insufficient action in addressing climate change targets.

An international research study determines that greener farming methods don’t compromise yields. 

Passive and net-zero housing can cut carbon emissions and energy bills. 

Plants provide a cheaper, more environmentally sustainable way to clean contaminated industrial sites and bodies of water.

“The great thing about natural restoration of forests is that it often requires nothing more than human inaction.” And it’s more effective than tree planting. 

Renewable energy from rotting vegetables – a prize-winning invention. 

We were given so much – it’s our duty to protect Mother Nature [award-winning 4-minute film]

 

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). 

Bushes play such an important role in winter by providing shelter and food for small birds and animals (Nature Companion - a free nature app for the 4 western provinces) 

EcoSask News, February 25, 2020

Upcoming Events
Wildlife Health Co-operative, Feb. 28 (Saskatoon)
Find out about the work of the Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative at 3:30 pm, Feb. 28, at the U of S.

Cougars, Feb. 29 (Fort Qu’Appelle)
Tanya Lawson will discuss Saskatchewan cougars at the 7 pm, Feb. 29, meeting of the Fort Qu’Appelle Nature Society.

100% Renewable, Feb. 29 (Regina)
Collectively imagine your community’s future at the 100% Renewable Regina Forum, to be held from 1-4:30 pm, Feb. 29. Register youth participants for facilitated groups for 6-10 and 11-15 year olds.

Public Pastures AGM, Feb. 29 (Regina)
Public Pastures – Public Interest will host its annual meeting from 1-5 pm, Feb. 29.

Greater Sage-Grouse, Mar. 4 (McCord)
Maggi Sliwinski, Grasslands National Park, will discuss greater sage-grouse at 7 pm, Mar. 4, in McCord.

Resilient Land & Water, Mar. 4 (Regina)
There will be a forum exploring the impacts and relationships between weather and climate variations from 5:30-7:30 pm, March 4.

Losing Faith in Science, Mar. 4 (Saskatoon)
Peggy Schmeiser will discuss how beliefs and uncertainty impact the use of evidence in decision-making from 12-1 pm, Mar. 4, at the U of S.

Water Conservation, Mar. 4 (Saskatoon) 
Darin Qualman will discuss the City of Saskatoon’s water conservation strategy at the Mar. 4 breakfast meeting of the Saskatchewan Energy Management Task Force.

Looking Ahead
SaskOutdoors AGM, Mar. 14 (Redberry Lake)
SaskOutdoors is holding its annual general meeting including outdoor family play time from 10 am-3 pm, Mar. 14.

Youth Songwriting for Nature, May 28-31 (Last Mountain Lake)
Grade 9-12 students who love nature and music are invited to sign up for Songwriting for Nature, May 28-31. Register early as the camp will probably fill up quickly.

Invasive Species Workshop, Mar. 24 (Saskatoon)
The Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council is hosting a Mar. 24 workshop to discuss invasive insects, animals, and plants.

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

Saskatchewan News Stories
The U of S and the City of Saskatoon are collaborating on a number of research projects, including one measuring pharmaceuticals in wastewater.

A Grasslands National Park bat inventory has confirmed the presence of seven bat species, four of which breed in the park.

The City of Saskatoon has undertaken a comprehensive review and redesign of its Official Community Plan.

From Information to Action
Living less than 50 metres from a major road or less than 150 metres from a highway is associated with a 14% increased risk for non-Alzheimer’s dementia and a 7% increased risk for Parkinson’s disease.

What if we as a society “prioritized care over consumption, repair over disposal, experience over efficiency?”

Four steps to help parents raise climate-resilient kids.

Time to Act: A Resource Book from the Christians in Extinction Rebellion reflects on Christian traditions of direct action and its relevance to the climate crisis.

Extinction Rebellion UK’s 2020 strategy pivots from protest to collaboration and building the alternative.

Good News Stories
A new Indigenous Guardians program will monitor six at-risk caribou herds in BC leading to the eventual creation of a new provincial park.

Cleaner engines and minor changes to the flight paths of just a few airplanes could cut the climate impact of flying immediately.

Dozens of public libraries have incorporated Libraries of Things, which “reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing and transporting underused goods” into their catalogues.

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 12, 2018

Upcoming Events 
The Taxing Issue of Climate Change, June 16 (Vanscoy) 
Join Rosetown Elrose NDP for a panel discussion on climate change from 2-5 pm, June 16.

Butterfly Count, June 16 (Fort Qu’Appelle) 
The Fort Qu’Appelle Nature Society is holding its annual butterfly count on June 16. Call Keith Stephens for additional information.

Mapping Sustainable Development, June 16 (Regina) 
SK Council for International Cooperation will discuss what organizations are doing to meet the UN’s sustainable development goals from 1-4:30 pm, June 16.

Natural Pest Control, June 16 (Saskatoon) 
Find out how to manage pests without using pesticides from 1-3 pm, June 16, at the Garden Patch.

Birds, Flowers, Butterflies at Buffalo Pound, June 16 (Regina) 
Nature Regina will be looking for birds, flowers, and butterflies from 8 am-4 pm, June 16.

Wildlife Rehab Volunteer Orientation, June 16 (Regina) 
Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan (WRSOS) is holding a volunteer orientation session at 10 am, June 16, in Regina.

Household Hazardous Waste Day, June 16 (Saskatoon) 
Dispose of household hazardous waste in Saskatoon from 8 am – 2:30 pm, June 16.

Native Prairie Appreciation Week, June 17-23 (Regina, Saskatoon, Swift Current) 
Join Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan in celebrating Native Prairie Appreciation Week.
June 17, 10 am-3 pm – Saskatoon Farmers’ Market
June 20, 9 am-1 pm – Regina Farmers’ Market
June 21, 9 am-3 pm – National Aboriginal Day, Regina
June 23, 9:30 am-2:30 pm – Swift Current Market Square

North Saskatchewan River Basin AGM, June 19 (North Battleford) 
RSVP by June 15 for the North Saskatchewan River Basin Council AGM on June 19.

Saving Rainwater, June 20 (Saskatoon) 
Learn how to save rainwater for your garden from 6-8 pm, June 20, at the Garden Patch.

Wilderness First Aid Training, June 21/22 (Lumsden) 
Register by June 15 for Wilderness First Aid Training, June 21 & 22.

Nature Regina AGM, June 21 
Nature Regina is holding a strawberry shortcake social and AGM from 7-9 pm, June 21.

Partners for the SK River Basin AGM, June 22 (Saskatoon) 
Partners for the Saskatchewan River Basin will hold their AGM at 12 noon, June 22.

Pop Up Nature Play Family Event, June 23 (Saskatoon) 
Join SaskOutdoors and Place for Wonder for family nature play from 10 am-12 pm, June 23.

Build Your Own Rain Barrel, June 23 (Herbert) 
Register with Swift Current Creek Watershed Stewards by June 18 to make your own rain barrel from 10-11 am, June 23, in Herbert.

What’s that Critter?, June 23 (Saskatoon)
Learn to identify good and bad bugs from 1-3 pm, June 23, at the Garden Patch.

Native Plant Society Field Tours 
Join the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan for the following tours of Nature Conservancy of Canada properties:
Reed Lake - 8:45-11:45 am, June 16 
Dundurn - 8 am-12 pm, June 23 
Fairy Hill - 8:30 am-12:30 pm, June 24

Native Prairie Appreciation Week Field Trips
Nature Saskatchewan and its local societies, Nature Conservancy of Canada, and Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan are celebrating Native Prairie Appreciation Week with a series of field trips: 
Reed Lake - 8:45 am, June 16
Dundurn - 8 am, June 23
Fairy Hill - 8:30 am, June 24

Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips 
Saskatoon Young Naturalists 
July 19, 1:30 pm – Butterflies & Other Insects
Sept. 22, 9:30 am – Sandhill Crane Field Trip
Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment.
Golden Eagles 
June 21, 8 am – Heritage & Lakewood Parks
June 28, 9:30 am – Diefenbaker Centre
Other Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips 
June 17, 1:30-5 pm – Butterfly Walk
June 24, 8-11 am – Lakewood & Heritage Parks
July 1, 9:15 am-2 pm – Wild Orchids Field Trip
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 
Mixing solar power and agriculture - from pollinator-friendly native plants to crops.

Should our cities provide a refuge for endangered plants and animals?

Finding a compromise to the pipeline debate - is financial support for retraining + diversification the answer?

Clean-up costs make all Saskatchewan's oil and gas wells an eventual liability.

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).