EcoSask News, November 9, 2021

Upcoming Events 

There will be a climate rally in Saskatoon in support of COP26 from 11:30 am-1 pm, Nov.12. 

Nature Regina is holding an online presentation on the Prussian Carp from 7:30-9 pm, Nov. 15. 

Saskatchewan Environmental Society/Saskatoon Public Library are hosting an online presentation from 7-8:30 pm, Nov. 16, on the future of climate action in Saskatchewan following the Supreme Court of Canada’s carbon pricing decision. 

Learn about stewardship initiatives in the North and South Saskatchewan River Watersheds online at 11 am, Nov. 17. 

Kai Chan, UBC, will be presenting an online lecture on confronting the climate and ecological crisis with intention: what path to genuine policy solutions? from 7-8:30 pm, Nov. 17. 

SK-PCAP is hosting a noon-hour webinar on a prairie grasslands initiative on Nov. 17. 

Dale Eisler will be presenting an online talk on addressing climate change and economic growth: are they compatible? from 12-12:55 pm, Nov. 18. 

Saskatoon Nature Society is hosting an online presentation on fungi, how and where they grow, what they offer mankind at 7:30 pm, Nov. 18. 

Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin is hosting a webinar from 12-1 pm, Nov. 18, on the Bow River reservoir options. 

SaskOutdoors is offering a virtual Below Zero workshop from Nov. 22-29. 

Details about all upcoming events are available on the EcoSask Calendar

 

Local News 

The Citizens Environmental Alliance is a volunteer group addressing water drainage issues in Saskatchewan. Their current newsletter contains important information on the ongoing problems in the Quill Lakes Watershed, which could lead to problems in Last Mountain Lake. It also contains links to articles about the cumulative effects of farmland drainage, a First Nation study on toxicity levels in Pasqua Lake, and much more. [Citizens Environmental Alliance] 

A recent article assembles current Western scientific knowledge on what is known and not known about wetland drainage on the Prairies. [Canadian Water Resources Journal] 

Friends of Wascana Marsh are looking for volunteers for their board of directors. 

A 2-megawatt solar farm project in Saskatoon “would power roughly 330 homes and reduce greenhouse gases by an average of 450 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent each year.” [CBC]

 

Spotlight on Manitoba 

Winnipeg-based Bison, one of Canada’s largest trucking companies, is making an effort to go green. It’s currently testing two of only 40 pre-production battery electric Freightliner tractors in North America. "For a trucking company to jump on to a new technology that has different performance capacity, like shorter range and maybe the ability to hold less freight… the economies of the entire industry need to be adjusted. And the economics is not dependant on the individual corporate budget. It is dependant on the expectations of the entire supply chain." [Winnipeg Free Press] 

Great signage from Climate Change Connection – Winnipeg 

Local climate activists say change is too slow in Winnipeg – “We do need political champions at city hall.” [CBC] 

In Other News

The Netherlands has had a near-total dependence on natural gas heating. Natural gas-free districts are piloting alternative low-carbon technologies. Heat pumps, bio gas, solar-powered hydrogen electrolysers, and geothermal are some of the ideas municipalities are investigating. [BBC] 

“Making democracy work better for the climate doesn’t just mean hearing more from people. It means hearing less from those economic interests, such as oil majors and airlines, that have a stake in the high-carbon status quo … What is necessary, then, is not to dispense with democracy, but to double down on it. Seeing climate change not as something that can be solved by experts, nor through individual sacrifices – but by the negotiation of a new sort of social contract between people and the state.” [The Guardian] 

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 subscribing by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, August 24, 2021

Upcoming Events 

City of Moose Jaw residents can dispose of household hazardous waste from 9 am-3 pm, Aug. 28. 

SOS Trees is holding its annual general meeting at 7 pm, Aug. 30, outdoors in Saskatoon. 

Looking Ahead 

Register to help the Nature Conservancy of Canada remove old fencing, a barrier and hazard for wildlife, from their Asquith property from 9:30 am-3:30 pm, Sept. 11. 

SaskOutdoors is offering a canoe certification course in Regina on Sept. 18-19. 

Full event details are available on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar

 

Horsetail is one of the oldest plants on earth, reproducing by spore rather than seed. It can be found in or near wetland areas such as marshes, rivers, and streams throughout North America. [Nature Companion] 

Wetlands 

This could be the worst drought year ever in Saskatchewan, and wetland drainage has exacerbated the situation. “We have tax incentives for farmers to get as much land into production as possible, we need to put incentives in there to make it worthwhile financially for farmers to retain those wetlands,” says John Pomeroy, U of S hydrologist. [CKOM] 

One of our readers thought she had observed a decline in the number of Franklin’s Gulls. We did a little research and she’s quite correct. Franklin’s Gulls have declined by 95% in the United States between 1968 and 2015. A major factor has been the loss of wetlands where the gulls nest. [All About Birds] 

Climate Action 

Whether they are Canadian or US politicians, playing nice with the fossil fuel industry is climate denial. “It’s not that politicians in powerful countries have done nothing in the past two decades. The problem, rather, is that where they’ve done anything at all, it has tended to be the wrong thing, emphasizing subtle market tweaks and shiny new technologies instead of the core work of decarbonization: getting off fossil fuels as quickly as possible.” [The New Republic] 

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Sustainable Forest Management Standard “leaves it up to the logging companies to self-identify that their activities are sustainable. The result is akin to having the fox guard the henhouse”. [Ecojustice] 

How to Think About the Climate Crisis by Graham Parkes looks at how the way we think can either choke off climate solutions or lead us out of philosophical dead ends. There is a focus on Chinese ways of thinking such as feng shui and animism because “We can’t resolve the climate crisis without Chinese cooperation – and that requires a more open attitude to, and better acquaintance with, their ideas about politics.” [book review, The Earthbound Report] 

Appreciating Nature 

Meet 10 racialized female and non-binary trailblazers who are transforming our sense of who belongs in the natural world. They say nature is for everyone and are trying to make it more accessible. [The Narwhal] 

With their fancy colours, elaborate sex lives, and strong parenting instincts, there’s a lot we don’t know or appreciate about mosquitoes. [Smithsonian Magazine] 

Outdoor Education 

We published a list of nature and environmental educational programs for young people last year. There may be some changes, but it should still provide a solid starting point. 

Earlier this year, we did some digging on the internet and came up with some nature apps we think look great for families with kids. 

Cattails play an important role in purifying and removing pollutants from bodies of water. They also form an important habitat for birds, insects, amphibians, and fish. [Nature Companion] 

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 subscribing by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, April 27, 2021

This Week’s Highlights 

Ducks Unlimited Canada is hosting a webinar at 12 pm, Apr. 29, on natural climate solutions as part of its Wetland Knowledge Exchange. 

The recent federal budget “includes $200 million in new funding for increasing the adoption of climate-friendly practices like cover cropping, nitrogen management and rotational grazing. It also allocates $10 million over two years to facilitate a transition to clean energy from diesel-fueled farm equipment and earmarks another $60 million for the preservation of existing wetlands and trees on farmlands.” 

Upcoming Events 

Meewasin Valley Authority is inviting groups to participate in their clean-up campaign from April 22 to June 14. 

Regina’s Get Outside Kids’ Club has moved online for a few weeks. Join them for a webinar and self-guided scavenger hunt at 10 am, Apr. 28. 

Global Water Futures is launching a Virtual Water Gallery, a space for artists, water experts, knowledge keepers, and the public to co-explore water challenges from 10:30-11:30 am, April 29. Register to attend. 

Explore spring migration on the mid-continental and Atlantic flyways with the Nature Conservancy of Canada at 11:30 am, Apr. 29.

Participate in a City Nature Challenge by recording photos or sounds of plants and animals you see around Regina from Apr. 30 to May 3. 

Jane’s Walk Saskatoon is organizing virtual and/or self-directed walking tours for May 1. 

GreenPAC is hosting a full-day event exploring environmental leadership in Canada’s political landscape on May 1. 

City of Saskatoon residents can dispose of hazardous waste from 9 am to 3:30 pm on May 2. 

The University of Regina’s Centre for Continuing Education is offering a 4-week course on spring/summer stargazing from 7-9 pm, Wednesdays, from May 5 to 26. 

There will be a presentation on SaskPower’s net zero emissions plan at the May 5 virtual breakfast meeting of the Saskatchewan Energy Management Task Force. 

SaskOutdoors is offering weekly online workshops to train participants to become certified Growing Up WILD and Getting Little Feet WET Education facilitators from 7-9 pm, May 6, 13, and 20. 

The Saskatchewan Environmental Society is helping building operators to lower their utility bills and make their buildings more comfortable. Join them online from 9 am-noon, May 7 or 28, for a session on heating, ventilation, and cooling. 

Contribute your bird observations to eBird and Saskatchewan Breeding Birding Atlas in May 7, 14, and 15 indoor/outdoor workshops with Stan Shadick. 

There will be an orienteering fun day on May 8 on the River Ridge Trails near Langham.

 

Local News 

Prevent Irritable Sewer Syndrome, a free new educational program from Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin explores ways families can keep their sewer and river systems healthy. 

“In Western Canada, the glaciers in British Columbia and Alberta and the Yukon are disappearing. They could be gone in fifty years. The prairies are warming at three times the global rate. That’s a region that will experience much more variability from flooding and drought due to the change in the snowpack, because the water in the Saskatchewan River Basin comes from the Canadian Rockies. As that snowpack disappears, the availability of all that water will change.”

From Information to Action 

The Gitanyow of northwestern BC have released a fully Indigenous-led sustainability assessment of proposed projects on their land based on Indigenous laws and traditions, science, and reconciliation with Crown governments.  

“Gardening isn’t just about plants. It’s about the entire ecosystem those plants can support.” How and why to welcome insects into your yard. 

For $5 a month, Leadville, Colorado’s Get Outdoor Gear Library offers “mountain bikes, hiking boots, snow shoes, hiking poles, camp stoves, ski boots. . . . If you need it for camping or hiking or adventuring, they likely have it.” 

Books 

Nature Saskatchewan has published Backyard Bird Feeding: A Saskatchewan Guide by Trevor Herriot and Myrna Pearman. 

Bees, pesticides, and environmental protests are front and centre in William Deverell’s latest novel, Stung. 

Atlantic Book Rescue accepts lightly used books and finds a new home for them – either for sale online or by donating to seniors’ homes, daycares, teachers, or environmentally friendly recyclers. 

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). 

Did you know? Least Chipmunk are good climbers and may build nests high above the ground or climb up a tree in cooler weather to warm themselves in the sun. (Nature Companion)

EcoSask News, May 12, 2020

Upcoming Events
Reducing GHG Emissions in the Power Sector, May 19 (online) 
The Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy is presenting a panel discussion on reducing GHG emissions in the power sector from 1:30-3 pm, May 12.

Grassland Songbirds, May 19 (webinar) 
Jody Daniel will discuss the cumulative effects of oil and gas development in Alberta on grassland songbirds in a noon-hour webinar on May 19 sponsored by PCAP-SK.

Climate Law after Covid, May 26 (webinar)
Join West Coast’s Climate Lawyer Andrew Gage for a virtual dialogue about the future of climate change law and litigation and how we need to adapt in the context of COVID-19 from 1-2 pm (in Saskatchewan), May 26.

More and more events are going online. Be sure to check the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar for details. 

YouTube
Beginner Bird Id Workshop, Birds Canada

The Citizen’s Guide to Climate Success, Marc Jaccard

Local News
Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) in partnership with Retail Co-ops across Western Canada are working on the roll-out of an EV charging corridor along Highway 1. EV owners who are interested in testing the chargers should contact Sean Gault at 306-649-5333 or sean.gault@fcl.crs 

Saskatchewan should lay the foundation for a stronger future by setting aside a portion of its revenues from natural resources.

The Saskatchewan Environmental Society Solar Co-op will be building a nearly 1000-panel solar array at the CNH Industrial-New Holland site on 71st Street.

From Information to Action 
A national investment in climate-oriented upgrades to homes and buildings would improve efficiency and move us towards a low-carbon future.

“Don’t kill bats. They might actually be the key to learning how to fight these viruses in the future.”

Capitalism has been suspended during the coronavirus crisis, but have we changed the rules?

Need more public space to accommodate an indefinite period of social distancing – how about golf courses, cemeteries, parking lots, and university campuses?

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, October 1, 2019

Upcoming Events
Protect Our Boreal Forest, Oct. 2 (Prince Albert) 
Join the Council of Canadians in asking for a moratorium on logging in the boreal forest at 6:30 pm, Oct. 2.

100 Debates on the Environment, Oct. 3 (Saskatoon) 
Saskatoon University is hosting a debate on the environment at 7 pm, Oct. 3, during the federal election campaign.

90 Years of Conservation, Oct. 3 (Moose Jaw) 
Learn about the history and purpose of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation at 2:30 pm, Oct. 3.

Library of Things Fall Meeting, Oct. 3 (Saskatoon) 
Learn what’s happening at the Library of Things at 6 pm, Oct. 3.

100 Debates on the Environment, Oct. 4 (Fort Qu’Appelle) 
Regina Qu’Appelle is hosting a debate on the environment from 7-9 pm, Oct. 4, during the federal election campaign.

SaskOutdoors 50th Birthday Party, Oct. 4 (Echo Lake) 
Join SaskOutdoors in celebrating their 50th anniversary with outdoor activities from 5-10 pm, Oct. 4.

EcoHack, Oct. 4 & 5 (Saskatoon) 
EcoHack will bring together students from across the U of S campus to solve locally sourced environmental/sustainability-related problems.

Traditional Plant Walk, Oct. 6 (Saskatoon) 
The Saskatchewan Archaeological Society is hosting a traditional plant walk from 10:30 am-12:30 pm, Oct. 6.

Household Hazardous Waste, Oct. 6 (Saskatoon) 
You can dispose of household hazardous waste at City of Saskatoon’s Civic Operations Centre from 9 am – 3:30 pm, Oct. 6.

Wildlife Friendly Fencing, Oct. 6 & 8 (Saskatoon) 
Help Meewasin install wildlife friendly fencing around the Northeast Swale at 2 pm, Oct. 6, and 4 pm, Oct. 8. There will be more opportunities in October; register to stay informed.

The Importance of Grasslands, Oct. 7 (Saskatoon) 
Renny Grilz will discuss the importance of grasslands and show a film about Grasslands National Park at 7:30 pm, Oct. 7, at Grace-Westminster United Church.

Starlight at Sunrise, Oct. 8 (Regina) 
Explore the universe with the Royal Astronomical Society from 7-8:30 pm, Oct. 8.

Organic Waste Diversion, Oct. 9 (Saskatoon) 
Find out about the City of Saskatoon’s plans for organic waste diversion at noon, Oct. 9, at Innovation Place.

Hug a Tree and Survive, Oct. 10 (Prince Albert) 
Find out how children can stay safe in the woods at 7 pm, Oct. 10.

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.

Project Wet, Nov. 16 & 30 (Saskatoon, Regina) 
SaskOutdoors is hosting Project Wet workshops in Saskatoon on Nov. 16 and in Regina on Nov. 30.

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

In the News
Be sure to sign the petition to save Saskatoon’s Northeast Swale, which is currently under threat from the Saskatoon Freeway.

“Now is the time for climate change frames that question whether a finite planet can sustain eternal growth.”

Scenarios for a zero-waste future.

“If you see how cars, streetcars, bikes, and pedestrians use this street in Zürich, you can better understand what’s wrong with so many other urban thoroughfares.”

The 3 best eco-friendly toilet papers.

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, April 30, 2019

Upcoming Events
National School Climate Strike, May 3 (Regina)
Join Regina’s climate strike rally from 11 am-12 pm, May 3.

Fridays for Future Canada Strike, May 3 (Saskatoon) 
A Fridays for Future Canada Strike is being held in Saskatoon from 9 am-3 pm, May 3.

Yellowgrass Sloughs & Marshland, May 4 (Regina)
Nature Regina is hosting a field trip to the Yellowgrass area from 8 am-3 pm, May 4.

Household Hazardous Waste, May 4 (Lloydminster) 
Lloydminster’s 2019 household hazardous waste round-up is scheduled for May 4.

Repair Cafe, May 4 (Saskatoon)
There will be a Repair Café from 10 am-4 pm, May 4, in Saskatoon.

WRSOS AGM, May 4 (Saskatoon) 
The public is invited to attend the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan‘s annual general meeting at 2 pm, May 4, including a talk on the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas project.

Wildlife Rescue, May 5 (Regina) 
Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan is hosting a volunteer orientation from 1-2:30 pm, May 5, in Regina. Email volunteer@wrsos.org to save your seat.

Household Hazardous Waste, (Saskatoon) 
Dispose of household hazardous waste in Saskatoon from 9 am-3:30 pm, May 5.

Project Wet, May 6 (Gronlid) 
SaskOutdoors is offering a Project Wet workshop in Gronlid on May 6.

Advancing Sustainable/Responsible Consumption & Production, May 6 & 7 (Regina)
A conference on Advancing Sustainable/Responsible Consumption and Production in Higher Education is being held in Regina on May 6 & 7.

After-School Gardening, May 6-27 (Regina) 
Kids ages 8-13 can help plan and plant the Regina Prince of Wales Library garden from 3:30-5 pm, May 6-27.

Smarter Science, Better Buildings, May 6-24 (North Battleford) 
Grade 7 students and the general public are invited to view the Smarter Science, Better Buildings exhibit at North Battleford Western Development Museum from May 6 to 24.

Call of the Forest, May 7 (Moose Jaw) 
Watch the film Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees at 7 pm, May 7, at the Moose Jaw Public Library.

Education for Sustainable Development Awards, May 8 (Candle Lake) 
RCE Saskatchewan’s Sustainable Development Awards ceremony will be held on May 8 at Candle Lake.

Civilization Critical Book Launch, May 9 (Saskatoon)
Darrin Qualmann is hosting the launch of his book, Civilization Critical, at 7 pm, May 9.

World Migratory Bird Day Celebration, May 11 (Regina) 
Nature Regina is hosting a field trip to Buffalo Pound Park from 8 am-2:30 pm, May 11.

World Migratory Bird Day, May 11 (Last Mountain) 
Celebrate the return of migratory birds with family-friendly activities organized by Nature Saskatchewan from 8 am-4 pm, May 11, at Last Mountain Regional Park.

SaskOutdoors Birthday Party, May 11 (Saskatoon)
SaskOutdoors is hosting a 50th birthday party from 6:30-10:30 pm, May 11.

Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips
Saskatoon Young Naturalists 
May 4 – Pike Lake field trip
Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment.

Golden Eagles 
May 2, 8 am – Porter Lake, water and marsh birds
May 9, 8 am – Spring shorebirds at Perdue
Retirees and partners who are interested in birds and the natural world are invited to participate.

Other Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips
May 4, 9 am-2 pm – Waterfowl viewing trip to Porter Lake
May 5/12/19/26, 7-9:30 am – MVA trail bird walk (register in advance)
May 11, 9 am-3 pm – Waterfowl viewing trip to Brightwater Marsh and Blackstrap Lake
Everyone is welcome. 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
Qu’Appelle River Basin Land Use and Water Quality Report

Briarpatch magazine devoted its most recent issue to the concept of a just transition. Articles include:
Both residents of coal-producing communities and climate justice activists in Saskatchewan are fearful for the future and feel ignored by politicians and government representatives.

Confronting economic barriers to sustainability, including a reliance on non-renewable resources, will be deeply disruptive to Canada’s political and economic order.

The degrowth movement in Quebec is “a call to liberate ourselves from the capitalist growth imperative and build more sustainable, just, and democratic societies.”

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, November 7, 2017

Upcoming Events
Songwriting for Nature Wind-Up Show, Nov. 9 (Regina)
Enjoy songs inspired by Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area at 7 pm, Nov. 9, at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

Quartet for the End of Time, Nov. 12 (Saskatoon)
The Elixir Ensemble, with Margaret Wilson, clarinetist, will perform the Quartet for the End of Time at 2:30 pm, Nov. 12. This piece of music was the first attempt to compose music based on an analysis and adaptation of the structure and rhythms of birdsong.

Saskatoon Cycles AGM, Nov. 15 (Saskatoon)
Saskatoon Cycles is holding their annual general meeting from 7-9 pm, Nov. 15.

Water Management & Species at Risk, Nov. 16 (Saskatoon)
Michael Pollock, Saskatoon Water Security Agency, will discuss the responses of birds and other vertebrates to changing water levels and relate these to balancing the needs of wildlife, including endangered species, with the needs of farmers and municipalities at risk of flooding at the Nov. 16 meeting of the Saskatoon Nature Society.

Household Hazardous Waste Day, Nov. 18 (Saskatoon)
You can dispose of household hazardous waste in Saskatoon from 9 am–3:30 pm, Nov. 18.

Freeze Up Play Day, Nov. 19 (Great Blue Heron Provincial Park)
Join SaskOutdoors for an all-ages-friendly event exploring the boreal forest in the in-between season and meet a yard full of puppies at Sundog Excursions on Nov. 19.

Looking Ahead
Passive House Design & Construction, Nov. 23-26 (Saskatoon)
Passive House Design and Construction, a four-day course covering the technical, economic, and policy elements of Passive House buildings, is being offered in Saskatoon from Nov. 23-26.

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

Webinars
Elizabeth May discusses successful political policies and actions for going green on Defender Radio.

Mountaineers discuss the impacts of climate change on mountain communities.

In the News
If you find a bat in your home or office, call the WRSOS hotline. Or, if you’re in Regina, the Saskatchewan Science Centre will give them a cozy home for the winter.

“The breadth and depth of the climate change issue is such that no one policy instrument is sufficient to meet Canada’s 2030 GHG reduction target. There is no magic bullet,” said Dale Eisler, co-author of a new report on climate change in Saskatchewan.

Urbanization is reshaping and creating new species of microbes, plants, and animals.

Rethinking agriculture: Is it possible to use crops with lower water needs without affecting the level of production?

Biofuels from agricultural waste instead of food crops are finally reaching the market.

Walking is a man’s best medicine, Hippocrates declared. The 2017 Walking Summit outlined problems for pedestrians but also highlighted communities that are getting it right.

Climate change lawsuits: Global warming is increasingly being fought in the courtroom.

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).