EcoSask News, March 9, 2021

This Week’s Highlights 

Let’s Talk About Water is offering a free virtual filmmaking workshop from noon-2 pm, Mar. 11, for scientists who are interested in sharing their scientific work through film. 

The National Farmers’ Union has published a report on Tackling the Farm Crisis and the Climate Crisis: A Transformative Strategy for Canadian Farms and Food Systems. 

Watch a single cell grow into a salamander.

Upcoming Events 

Regina Public Library is hosting an online talk on the benefits of including prairie grasses in your garden at 7 pm, Mar. 10. 

The Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy is offering a noon-hour online presentation regarding water policy and the contention which arises between individual goals and social group pressures for water management on Mar. 11. 

All ages are welcome on an outing to explore the Wascana Waterfowl Display Ponds area with Nature Regina on Mar. 12 (various time slots). Register in advance. 

Meewasin Valley Authority is hosting self-directed eco-scavenger hunts to help track wildlife at Beaver Creek Conservation Area on Mar. 13 and 27. 

Saskatoon Public Library is offering an online workshop on basic camping skills from 7-8 pm, Mar. 15. 

Join Nature Regina online at 7 pm, Mar. 15, for a discussion on the mandate of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan. 

Enjoy noon-hour presentations on wetlands, grasslands, and prairie biodiversity as well as a 3 pm, Mar. 16, presentation of an Indigenous perspective of the goods and services provided by the prairie ecosystem and wetlands during the virtual Prairie’s Got the Goods Week organized by SK-PCAP. 

Create a poem or spoken word piece to honour World Water Day during this online workshop from 7-9 pm, Mar. 18. 

The Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy is offering an online presentation on decarbonizing agriculture from 10:30 am-noon, Mar. 18. 

Nature Saskatchewan is offering a multi-species management and conservation awareness online workshop at 7 pm, Mar. 18. 

Saskatoon Public Library is hosting an online discussion for teens about making our community more sustainable from 6-7 pm, Mar. 18. 

Global Water Futures is offering an online lecture series on women and water with a 12:30 pm, Mar. 18, talk on valuing water. 

Saskatoon Nature Society members are invited to share their photographs at the online annual general meeting of the Society at 7:30 pm, Mar. 18. 

Regina’s EnviroCollective will be meeting online from 7-10 pm, Mar. 18. 

Local News 

The Government of Saskatchewan is reviewing the Multi-Material Recycling Program. You’re invited to read a discussion paper and complete a survey. 

Research at the Canadian Light Source has demonstrated that key proteins protect wildlife when temperatures drop below freezing. 

You can borrow a birding backpack from the Saskatoon Public Library. Are any other Saskatchewan libraries doing this? 

From Information to Action 

The David Suzuki Foundation has released a guide to help you work with your local government on addressing climate change. 

Bird migration is underway – here’s what property managers and owners can do to protect birds. 

EcoFriendly Sask supports Saskatchewan environmental initiatives through an online publication, an events calendar, small grants, and the Nature Companion website/app. 

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, 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 6, 2017

Upcoming Events
Migratory Bird Sanctuary Open House, June 8 (Last Mountain Lake)
Last Mountain Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary is celebrating its 130th anniversary from 2-6 pm at the Last Mountain Lake headquarters. There will be games and activities for kids, tours, and birthday cake.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Volunteer Orientation, June 9 (Regina)
Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan is holding a volunteer orientation session in Regina from 6-7:30 pm, June 9, at Cabela’s. Register with Sean at shonersquid20@yahoo.ca.

Campus Master Plan Community Engagement, June 13 (Saskatoon)
The University of Saskatchewan is developing a new master plan and is asking for input on topics such as natural areas, building design, transportation, outdoor landscapes. They’re holding a come and go at Amigos from 5-7 pm, June 13.

Butcher Birds and the Stewards of Saskatchewan, June 14 (Val Marie)
Ashley Vass, Nature Saskatchewan, will be talking about butcher birds and the Stewards of Saskatchewan at 7:30 pm, June 14, in Val Marie.

Small Space/Container Gardening, June 14 (Saskatoon)
The Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre is hosting a workshop on small space/container gardening from 6-8:30 pm, June 14, at the Garden Patch.

The Pisim Project, June 14 (Saskatoon)
Watch The Pisim Project about high school students building an energy-efficient house at 1 pm, June 14, at the Frances Morrison Library.

Introduction to Beekeeping, June 15 (Regina)
Find out about beekeeping and how to start a honey bee colony at 7 pm, June 15, at Regina’s Central Adult Library.

Cycling Advocacy Task Force, June 15 (Regina)
Bike Regina is holding a public meeting at 7 pm, June 15, at the Artful Dodger Café, to discuss establishing an advocacy task force to help Regina become a world-class cycling city.

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

Looking Ahead
The City of Edmonton will be hosting the global Cities & Climate Change Conference in March 2018.

Awards & Submissions
Rob Dumont Energy Management Awards (Saskatoon)
Nominations are now open for the 2017 Rob Dumont Energy Management Awards. Nominations for the lifetime achievement and education awards are due June 30. Nominations for the remaining award categories are due Sept. 7.

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening magazine is inviting contributions for a special issue on Urban Food Forests – a potential contributor to increased livelihood in urban areas. Deadline is February 2018.

In the News
Toronto's Best Practices for Effective Lighting is a companion book to Bird-Friendly Development Guidelines

“Urban wildlife photography has the power to reconnect people with nature by reminding them that we can and do coexist with it, even in the heart of the city”

An abandoned factory in Rome is now an urban wilderness and home to 62 species of birds

Calgary Zoo gives young burrowing owls a head start - back in the wild, they've mated and laid eggs

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 16, 2017

Upcoming Events
Queen of the Sun, May 17 (Regina) 
Watch Queen of the Sun: What are the bees telling us? at Cinema Politica, 7 pm, May 17.

Tree ID, May 23 (Moose Jaw)
Take a walk through Crescent Park at 5:30 pm, May 23, and learn how to identify and understand the importance of the most common trees (Moose Jaw Public Library).

NatureCity Festival, May 23-28 (Saskatoon) 
EcoFriendly Sask is a proud sponsor of Wild about Saskatoon’s NatureCity Festival. You’ll find a full list of over 50 activities on the Festival Events Calendar.

Seed Starting Party, May 24 (Saskatoon)
Kids are invited to a seed starting party at 6 pm, May 24, at the Dr. Freda Ahenakew Branch Library.

Looking Ahead
Petroglyphs Lifeways & Land Festival, June 2/3 (St. Victor)
There will be tours of the petroglyphs and Missouri Couteau Escarpment, a Monarch butterfly release, speakers, displays, and a supper at the Petroglyphs Lifeways and Land Festival, June 2-3, in St. Victor.

Wilderness Navigation & Orienteering Course, June 4 (Saskatoon) 
CanoeSki is offering a one-day wilderness navigation and orienteering course on June 4.

Compost Day, June 8 (Saskatoon) 
Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council is holding a compost field day on June 8 in Saskatoon.

Saskatoon Nature Society
Golden Eagles 
May 18, 7:30 am – Warblers in the Borden Area
May 25, 7:30 am – Shorebirds in Perdue Area
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 
May 18, 5-7 pm – Spring Picnic at Meewasin Park
May 23, 12:15-1:15 pm – Mendel Riverbank Bird Walk
May 23 & 30, 7-9:15 pm – Birdwatching for Beginners
May 26 & June 15, 7-9:15 pm – Wildflower Identification 101
May 28, 10 am- 4 pm – Shorebird Driving Trip to Radisson Lake
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

Urban Forestry
SOS Elms Coalition is supporting Ifeanyi Chiedo, a Master’s Student in the School of Environment and Sustainability, who is studying how the City of Saskatoon can better protect its urban forest.

If you’re interested in urban trees, you may want to follow Urban Forestry & Urban Greening on Facebook. And take a look at the City of Vancouver’s Urban Forest Strategy with its goal of planting 150,000 trees by 2020. The City of Coquitlam’s tree management bylaw covers residential trees and takes into consideration the size of the tree, where it’s located (e.g. slope or protected riparian area), and replacement trees. We published an article about Saskatoon's urban forest in 2016.

In the News 
Bears and coyotes are now our neighbours. They're adapting to their new environment - so must humans.

When trees die, so do people.

When did birds start migrating? How have their routes evolved? The evolution of bird migration.

Surface parking lots represent an extraordinary opportunity - to lower the heat, encourage families to live downtown, and increase real estate values. 

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, July 28, 2015

Ferrets at the Library, July 29
The Saskatoon Zoo Society’s ferrets and educators will be at the Alice Turner Library from 10:30 -11:30 am, July 29. Admission is free but enrolment is limited, so register right away.

Field Trips
Golden Eagles 
Aug. 6, 7:30 am – Shorebirds
Aug. 13, 7:30 am – Warblers and Organic Market Garden Veggies
Aug. 20, 7:30 am – Acreage of Sherrill Miller and the late Courtney Milne

Other Nature Society Field Trips 
Aug. 3, 1:30-4:30 pm – Cranberry Flats Botany Walk
Aug. 8, 1:30-4 pm – Turkey Vulture Wing Tagging
Aug. 9, 1:30-4:30 pm – Butterflies V

Check the Saskatoon Nature Society’s website for full details (e.g. some trips require rubber boots, others will be cancelled if the weather is bad).

Saskatoon’s Growth Plan
The City of Saskatoon has recently released a summary of long-term possibilities and an overview of community feedback to date on the City’s Growth Plan to Half a Million.

Water & Industry 
A proposed potash mine near Earl Grey, Saskatchewan, would use substantial amounts of water.

Water & Parks 
Wascana Centre in Regina is planning to overhaul its irrigation system and is considering planting more natural habitats that are better acclimatized to Saskatchewan and require less water.

Chaplin Wind Energy Project 
A wind energy project proposed for the Chaplin Lake area raises concerns about risks to native habitat and migratory birds (article by Trevor Herriot). Are the results of the environmental survey reliable, and is compensation adequate for such a valuable natural habitat?

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. Additional upcoming events can be found on our Calendar.



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