EcoSask News, September 21, 2021

Upcoming Events 

There will be a School Strike for Climate from 11 am-1 pm, Sept. 24, in Regina. A similar event in Saskatoon has been postponed.

City of Regina residents can dispose of household hazardous waste from 9 am-4 pm, Saturday, Sept. 25. 

There will be an electric vehicle expo in Regina from 9 am-6 pm, Sept. 25 and in Saskatoon from 10 am-5 pm, Sept. 26. 

Looking Ahead 

SaskOutdoors is offering the following virtual workshops:

Growing Up Wild from 7-9 pm, Oct. 14

Flying Wild on Oct. 18 and 25 from 7-8:30 pm 

Getting Little Feet Wet from 7-9 pm, Oct. 28

Project Wet from Nov. 1-8. 

Full details for all events are found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar

SES Wants to Depave Saskatoon 

Saskatoon storm water flows into the South Saskatchewan River without being treated; most of this runs right off roads and sidewalks, picking up road salt, pet waste, litter, and other pollutants along the way. In an effort to help slow down, soak up, and clean storm water while also creating habitats and benefitting our community, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society will be holding a “Depave” event in Saskatoon in May 2022. Depave, a project of Green Communities Canada, aims to improve rain flow in urban centres by “depaving” (removing the asphalt) in a small area (~100 m2) and cultivating the site by planting native plants and trees. If you have an area in your school, or church yard, or at your business where SES can hold a Depave event and build a beautiful greenspace, email them at depave@environmentalsociety.ca or call the SES office at 306.665.1915.

 

Personal Choices 

Is your toilet paper sustainable? Several major brands are still relying on virgin forests for their products’ fibres. [NRDC] 

Community Initiatives 

ECOWATER, a SK startup company providing eco-friendly approaches for the removal of contaminants of emerging concern from water and wastewater, won third prize and $10,000 in seed funding in Water Canada’s Aqua Hacking Challenge, Western Canada. [AquaHacking 2021 Challenge] 

Gabriola Island Recycling Organization receives over 45,000 kg of donated clothing every year. Half of that goes into their thrift store. They plan to sell upcycled products to avoid sending the other half to the landfill. [CBC British Columbia] 

Policy Decisions 

Getting people to drive less is difficult because North American cities are designed for cars, but there are solutions. 1) Make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, 2) End single-family zoning to encourage mixed-use development, and 3) Make drivers pay the cost of driving. [Vox] 

“Connecting provincial grids is essential to make the best use of the clean electricity resources available in each province, allowing renewable energy to be developed in areas with the best conditions and distributed elsewhere.” [ report prepared by Pembina Institute] 

Public Awareness 

Species awareness days (e.g. Bat Appreciation Day, World Rhino Day) boost fundraising and media coverage, especially for lesser-known species. It pays to include specific calls to action (e.g. go to this webpage or share this information). [The Revelator] 

Using quilting to tell a story is “bringing in new audiences to engage and talk about science”. [Smithsonian Magazine]

Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada's four western provinces

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 17, 2021

Upcoming Events 

Help Meewasin protect wildlife in Saskatoon’s Northeast Swale by fence tabbing from 6-9 pm, Aug. 18. You can also protect birds during fall migration by applying stickers to the rink in downtown Saskatoon from 9-11 am, Aug. 21. 

Library of Things, Saskatoon, will be open for pick-ups by reservation from the back door in the alley from 1-4 pm, Aug. 21. 

Stan Shadick is offering 3 online workshops to assist with identifying warblers during fall migration from 7-8:30 pm, Aug. 22 & 29, and Sept. 6. There will be an optional field trip from 9-10:30 am, Aug. 29, in Saskatoon. Registration fees will support Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation. 

West Coast Environmental Law is offering a webinar on environmental justice in action at 1 pm, Aug. 26. 

Full event details are listed on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar

Local News 

The Citizens Environmental Alliance says the proposed Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project comes at colossal expense and high environmental consequences. [Citizens Environmental Alliance]

Indigenous land users, scientists, and youth are rallying to protect northern Saskatchewan’s peatlands from harvest. [CBC News]

City of Regina will be scanning blue carts to check for items that can’t be recycled. Their goal is to reduce the number of wrong items placed in the carts, which can lower the value of recyclable goods, harm recycling facility workers, and damage equipment. [CJME]

 

Energy Options 

Carbon capture and storage technology “has been under discussion and development for decades and governments are increasingly relying on it to meet their climate goals. But . . . by early 2021 there were only 26 CCS plants operating around the world, capturing 0.1 percent of global yearly CO2 emissions at most. And most of the CO2 captured to date has been used to dig up more oil through Enhanced Oil Recovery.”  [Desmog]

A new report from the Pembina Institute “shows that the climate benefits of blue hydrogen vary depending on the technology used to create it.” [Pembina Institute]

What Can We Do? 

“The key to fighting [climate] despair is to think beyond the individual and seek community support and solutions — especially those that put pressure on governments and companies to make the large-scale changes that are necessary to truly curtail emissions.” [Vox]

Fall bird migration is just around the corner and with it an increased risk of birds fatally colliding with buildings. Here are 5 tips for educating building tenants about bird-safe best practices. [FLAP Canada]

The Cheakamus community forest near Whistler, BC, “is charting new territory when it comes to sustainable timber harvest that outlaws clearcuts, respects Indigenous governance and combats the climate emergency.” [The Narwhal]

The Comox Valley Regional District in British Columbia is considering phasing out gas stations. “Existing gas stations wouldn't be forced to close, but would be considered ‘legally non-compliant’ — and wouldn't be able to add new pumps. New service stations would be allowed to open, but not to provide petroleum-based fuels.” [CBC News]

New Approaches 

“If we want robust and meaningful science to reach the courts, we need to start thinking about how science and the law operate together.” [Union of Concerned Scientists]

Presenting 4 novels that explore climate change and the Anthropocene. [Cool Green Science]

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, July 20, 2021

This Week’s Highlights 

One quarter of methane emissions on oil and gas sites come from tanks, which are designed to allow the methane to off-gas: that’s not a leak, that’s a design problem. [CBC]

Beavers are being reintroduced to Utah’s desert landscape. If they become established, “their impacts can be wide-reaching. Just one beaver dam can improve water quality, as well as acting as a firebreaker for the surrounding land.” [BBC] 

Upcoming Events 

Efficiency Canada is hosting a virtual energy efficiency networking event from 1-1:45 pm, July 22. 

Join a nation-wide backyard bioblitz coordinated by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, July 29-Aug. 2. 

City of Saskatoon residents can dispose of household hazardous waste from 9 am-3:30 pm, Aug. 8. 

All events are listed on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar

Local News 

SOS Trees is urging Saskatoon residents to ask City Council to eliminate landfill fees for the safe disposal of elm as a contribution to protecting the city’s urban forest. [SOS Trees] 

Global warming, urban growth, and spring run-off from farm fertilizers are degrading surface waters in southern Saskatchewan and creating poisonous toxins. [Regina Leader Post] 

The Wildlife Rescue Society of Saskatchewan and The Fur-Bearers address issues surrounding human-wildlife coexistence through local efforts to protect a family of foxes and to respond to the trapping and killing of coyotes in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. [WRSOS, The Fur-Bearers] 

Prince Albert's plastic bag ban will go into effect Oct. 12 after being delayed due to the pandemic. Saskatchewan produces the second-most waste per capita in Canada. [CBC]

 

Reuse & Repair

Some reusable kitchenware products have a greater environmental impact than single-use products. Silicone sandwich bags and beeswax wraps use too much water and energy to be beneficial. [Anthropocene] 

More and more products aren’t easily repairable – from laptop computers to farm machinery. Here's why we need the right to repair and what it should entail – information, parts and tools, legal unlocking, and accommodating repair in design. [New York Times Wirecutter] 

Retrofitting Our Homes & Cities 

“Pavement — comprising roads and parking lots — takes up roughly 30% of the city surface. . . Removing urban pavement would reduce stormwater run-off and treatment, rebuild natural climate buffers in cities, release soil from confinement, make space to plant trees, sequester carbon, and allow people to breathe fresh air, not asphalt.” [Next City] 

Home energy renovations (insulation, heat pumps, better windows) could create jobs and save on healthcare costs. [Pembina Institute report] 

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 subscribe by email (top right corner).

Did you know? Hawk Moth fly and move like hummingbirds and can be seen hovering in front of a flower while they unfurl their long tongue and insert it in the flower to sip the nectar.

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, March 2, 2021

Upcoming Events 

Let’s Talk About Water is showcasing two online films about food, water, migrant workers and farmers from now until Mar. 22. 

Join Wascana Solar Co-op’s Group Buy Director for a virtual question and answer around net billing and the Co-op’s group buy process at 7:30 pm, Mar. 4. 

Join the McDowell Foundation for an online discussion of the value of outdoor learning from 7-8:30 pm, Mar. 4. 

There will be an online presentation on geographic song and plumage variation in Willow Flycatchers at 3:30 pm, Mar. 5, as part of the WildEcol Seminar Series. 

Songs 4 Nature will host a virtual winter showcase of original songs at 7 pm, Mar. 5. 

Saskatoon Nature Society members will be birding at Pike Lake from 1:30-4:30 pm, Mar. 7. Advance registration is required. 

SaskOutdoors is holding an online annual general meeting from 7-8 pm, Mar. 8. 

Pick up some tips and tricks for reducing your waste in a virtual presentation in Regina from 7-8 pm, Mar. 9. 

For Peat’s Sake – Protecting Northern Saskatchewan Muskegs will be screening and discussing For Our Peat’s Sake documenting the fight to protect the Winnipeg watershed region wetlands at 7 pm, Mar. 10. 

Nature Regina’s Get Outside! Kids’ Club will meet from 10 am-12 pm, Mar. 10. Be sure to register in advance. 

Find out about the managing for bird species at risk and incentives guide with Nature Saskatchewan at 7 pm, Mar. 11. 

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

Waste Reduction 

If Regina’s organic waste pilot project went city-wide, it could divert 18,000 tonnes or 31% of waste annually. 

The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council has set up a Facebook group for people to connect about anything regarding repairing. 

Feed your moths and embellish your imperfections – the expert guide to making clothes last forever. [Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle: Tips for Decluttering Your Home and the Planet] 

France is tackling throwaway culture with a repairability index to be displayed at the point of sale. “If you’re in the market for a new device, the score out of ten will tell you how easy it will be to get it fixed.” 

The Circular Economy Global Sector Best Practices series engages Canadian firms and innovators in the journey towards a circular economy. This month’s episode looks at construction.

Local – Naturally 

The YXEWildlife project is now posting on Facebook to show us what is happening around us and when we’re asleep at night. [You Don’t Have to Leave the City to Connect with Wildlife] Dr. Ryan Fisher, Royal Saskatchewan Museum, has plans for Regina to join the Urban Wildlife Information Network by setting up an urban wildlife monitoring system similar to the one in Saskatoon.

Help Doug Clark, University of Saskatchewan, process photographs of Arctic bears. 

The Canadian government will invest $402,000 over 3 years to conserve and restore native prairie and shoreline habitat around Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve. 

Book Time 

In Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future Elizabeth Kolbert explores the unintended consequences of human initiatives to tame and control nature. 

Kathleen Dean Moore, author of Earth’s Wild Music: Celebrating and Defending the Songs of the Natural World, says, “The sounds of the natural world are beautiful and they make us happy.” If we lose them, “we lose joy.” 

Bird Play 

Bird jokes so bad they should be “ill-eagle” 

Play Crow Bingo - beginner & intermediate levels – on your next walk. 

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

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, February 16, 2021

Good day! We’ve made a few changes to the newsletter this week. If you’re looking for additional information about one of the events, you’ll find it on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar. We’ve also tried a new approach of grouping articles around a theme. We try very hard to find meaningful articles you might otherwise miss. Let us know what you think and have a good week. Andrew & Penny 

This Week’s Highlights 

Conscious consumerism: “Keep sustainability, love, and gratitude for the earth and all people at the centre of everything you do” 

The Let’s Talk About Water virtual film festival will be showing two films about groundwater (access, resource management, over-consumption) at 7:30 pm, Feb. 25, with a community discussion forum on Feb. 26. 

Upcoming Events 

EnviroCollective Regina will hold its monthly online meeting from 7-10 pm, Feb. 18. 

The WildEcol Seminar Series presents an online talk on tropical birds and forest fragmentation/restoration at 3:30 pm, Feb. 19. 

Join Saskatoon Nature Society on a birdwatching outing in City Park from 2-3 pm, Feb. 21. 

 

There will be an online panel discussion on creating a supportive policy environment for renewable energy co-operatives from 4-5:30 pm, Feb. 24. 

Children ages 6-12 are invited to register for Nature Regina's Get Outside! Kids’ Club at 10 am, Feb. 24 or Mar. 3. 

SaskOutdoors will train participants to become certified Growing Up WILD and Getting Little Feet WET Education facilitators from 7-9 pm, Feb. 25, Mar. 4, and Mar. 11 (online). 

Join Regina Public Library online to learn inexpensive strategies for building and living in an environmentally friendly way at 7 pm, Feb. 25. 

Find out all about burrowing owls in a Nature Saskatchewan webinar at 7 pm, Feb. 25. 

Explore Les Sherman Park with Nature Regina at 10, 11:15, 1, or 2:15 pm, Feb. 26. 

You’ll find information on these and other events on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar

The Urban Environment 

Bird-friendly urban design makes for healthier and more pleasant cities for humans and other animals [interview with Timothy Beatley, author of The Bird-Friendly City] 

Construction projects threaten the urban forest by displacing trees and by damaging them during the construction process [more information is available from SOS Trees] 

A sand-paint mixture may discourage beavers from chewing and felling trees [10 Surprising Facts about Beavers] 

Feeding pet cats meaty food and playing with them to simulate hunting stops them killing wildlife, according to a study 

“The reality is that we’re ‘wishcycling.’ In fact, less than 10 percent of plastics are recycled” [Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle: Tips for Decluttering Your Home and the Planet] 

Municipalities of Saskatchewan will lobby the provincial government for a water policy similar to Manitoba and Alberta and the publication of quarterly water test results [We’re Losing our Wetlands and That’s a Big Problem] 

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). 

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share it. Thank you! 

Thank goodness for our year-round avian friends who brighten our winter walks. One of our favorites is the magpie. [Nature Companion]

Reduce, Repair, Reuse, Recycle: Tips for Decluttering Your Home and the Planet

Here are a few tips to help you reduce, repair, reuse, and recycle in Saskatchewan. 

Reduce 

1. Pause before you buy to avoid purchases you’ll later regret. 

2. Get the most out of what you buy by checking for reliability and repairability. 

3. Buy in bulk or buy products with less packaging. 

4. Take advantage of or initiate a library of things that loans infrequently used objects at little or no charge (e.g. Library of Things YXE). 

5. Take advantage of Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore (Regina, Saskatoon) to purchase used home furnishings and construction materials. 

6. Obtain garden seeds from a seed library (Prince Albert, Saskatoon), at a Seedy Saturday event, or a garden exchange. 

Advocacy 

1. Write a letter to a manufacturer expressing your concern about the overpackaging of their products. 

2. Let your local member of parliament know that you believe manufacturers should be held physically and financially responsible for collecting, processing, and repurposing their materials after they’ve been used by consumers (additional information). 

Repair 

1. Take advantage of local repair cafés when they are open (Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Swift Current). The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council has been offering virtual repair cafés during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

2. iFixit provides step-by-step guides for fixing just about anything. 

Advocacy 

1. Push for right-to-repair legislation in Canada so that consumers can fix and modify their gadgets, appliances, and vehicles. 

Reuse 

1. Pass along your old stuff (e.g. phone, tablet). It might be out-of-date for you but perfectly fine for someone else. 

2. Food banks and thrift stores will often accept used clothing, kitchenware, and household furnishings. 

3. Hold a yard sale. 

4. Take advantage of a Little Free Library near you.

4. Upcycle fabric and art supplies (e.g. Regina's Art Supply Exchange, Yorkton's Art and Craft Supplies Exchange, Saskatoon's Nefilibata Arts and Crafts). 

Recycle 

1. The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council maintains a database listing what can be recycled and where for communities in Saskatchewan. 

2. Loraas provides a list of what can be recycled in Saskatoon. Here is what can be recycled in Lloydminster, Regina, and Swift Current. 

3. London Drugs accepts items (e.g. batteries, light bulbs, ink cartridges) that have been purchased at their stores. 

4. Staples accepts items such as ink and toner cartridges, rechargeable batteries, and electronics. 

5. SARCAN operates recycling depots in a number of Saskatchewan communities and accepts beverage containers, electronics, household paint, and batteries. 

6. BN Steel & Metals, Saskatoon, and TruGreen Metal Recycling, Regina, are two of the SK businesses recycling scrap metal. 

7. Start your own compost bin. 

Warning: Recycling information changes frequently. Check with local businesses for the most up-to-date information

Advocacy 

1. Encourage your municipality to start or expand an organics recycling program. 

Additional Resources 

Waste Not yxe Directory and Guide 

Waste Not yxe on Facebook 

Waste Not yqr on Facebook

Green Living (SWRC blog) 

Shareable: people-powered solutions for the common good

January 14, 2021

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

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

Graphics: iStock (000013321780, 000015889240)

EcoSask News, January 5, 2020

Upcoming Events 

Decentralized Energy in SK, Jan. 6 (online) 

Join the Energy Management Task Force of Saskatchewan for an online discussion of decentralized energy in Saskatchewan at 7:30 am, Jan. 6. 

Caribou & Wolf Monitoring, Jan. 8 (online) 

Ryan Brook will discuss minimally invasive caribou and wolf monitoring along Hudson Bay at 3:30 pm, Jan. 8, as part of the Wild Ecol Seminar Series. 

Songs 4 Nature, Jan. 8 (online) 

Songs 4 Nature, a Royal Saskatchewan Museum program helping musicians to connect with nature and hone their songwriting skills, will be accepting registrations from SK residents for its virtual winter camp starting Jan. 8. Registration will open to everyone on Jan. 12. 

Get Outside Nature Hike, Jan. 9 (Regina) 

Nature Regina is offering guided nature hikes at A E Wilson Park at 10, 10:30, and 11 am, Jan. 9. Register online. 

Farmland Drainage & the Environment, Jan. 11-15 (online) 

Don’t miss the second half of the online webinar series on farmland drainage and the environment. The first series of webinars are now available on YouTube. 

Get Your Kids Outside, Jan. 12 (online) 

Regina library card holders are invited to join a Zoom session on help and inspiration for parents who want to get their kids outdoors at 7 pm, Jan. 12. Spaces are limited; register online. 

Get Outside! Kids’ Club, Jan. 13/20 (Regina) 

Children ages 6-12 are invited to register for the Get Outside! Kids’ Club from 10 am-3 pm, Jan. 13 or 20. 

Prussian Carp, Jan. 14 (online) 

There will be a webinar on prussian carp at noon, Jan. 14, as part of the Native Prairie Speaker Series. 

Women & Water, Jan-Apr (online) 

Global Water Futures is offering an online lecture series on women and water: 

12:30 pm, Jan. 14 – Water Policy

Projet Wet, Jan. 14 (online) 

There will be an online workshop in French on Project Wet from 4-6 pm, Jan. 14. 

Going Outside, Jan. 14 (online, repeat) 

SaskOutdoors is repeating their 30-minute webinar with tips and tricks for teachers who want to move learning outdoors at 8 pm, Jan. 14. 

Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips 

Saskatoon Young Naturalists 

Jan. 16 – Pike Lake Nature Walk 

Feb. 6 – Chickadee Pishing 

Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment. 

Other Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips 

Jan. 16, 10-11:30 am – Chorney Acreage Bird Feeders 

Jan. 23, 9 am-3 pm – Snowy Owl Excursion 

Field trips are currently for members only, so sign up now. Advance registration is required. 

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

 

Local News 

A new battery recycling program will make it easier for people in various parts of Saskatchewan to dispose of household batteries responsibly. 

800 acres of mainly native prairie grassland near Weyburn have been donated to the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation’s Habitat Trust Fund.

An Alberta farmer is restoring wetlands, practising agroforestry, and planting cover crops for improved pollination.

Borealis, a new documentary about Canada’s boreal forest, reveals how much trouble it’s in. 

From Information to Action 

“If we bring down CO2 to net zero, the warming will level off. The climate will stabilize within a decade or two. There will be very little to no additional warming.” 

“The only thing a consumer can do to improve their laptop's ecological and economic sustainability is to use it for as long as possible.” 

Even after replacing gasoline vehicles with electric ones, particulate matter resulting from tire, brake, clutch, and road wear remains a significant source of hazardous pollution. 

This will be the world’s largest Passive House-certified office building. 

That’s Amazing! 

Dung beetles navigate by the sun, the moon, and the stars. 

From monkey-faced spiders to oil spill beetles and a candy corn leafhopper – the beauty and science of our planet's micro creatures.

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). 

Did you know? Pronghorn are the second-fastest animal in the world with amazing endurance thanks to long legs and a large heart and lungs. They can sprint up to 70 mph.

EcoSask News, September 8, 2020

Upcoming Events
Going Outside, Sept. 10 & 17 (online) 
SaskOutdoors is offering an introductory webinar for teachers on taking classes outdoors at either 8 pm, Sept. 10, or 4:30 pm, Sept. 17.

Nature Society AGM, Sept. 13 (Moose Jaw) 
The Moose Jaw Nature Society will be holding its annual general meeting at 2 pm, Sept. 13, in Wakamow Park.

Household Hazardous Waste, Sept. 13 (Saskatoon) 
You can dispose of household hazardous waste at City of Saskatoon’s Civic Operations Centre from 9 am-3:30 pm, Sept. 13.

Member Photos, Sept. 17 (online) 
Saskatoon Nature Society has moved online (Zoom) with their first fall meeting presenting members’ photographs at 7:30 pm, Sept. 17. Meetings are currently for members only, so sign up now.

Looking Ahead
Biodiversity Family Camp-In, Sept. 25 (online)
The Saskatchewan Science Centre is hosting a virtual family camp-in from 6:30-10 pm, Sept. 25, with special guest, Ripley’s Aquarium of Toronto.

Wildlife Rehab Orientation, Oct. 3 (online) 
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan is hosting an online volunteer orientation at 3 pm, Oct. 3. To apply, fill out an application.

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

Local News
Hundreds of people participated in a slow roll on Sept. 7 to honour Cathy Watts’ many contributions to making Saskatoon a great place to live. We interviewed her in 2018 about her efforts to get the whole city moving.

Saskatoon’s Library of Things is reopening on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 1-4 pm. Reserve a pick-up time on their website.

Why are provincial and federal governments endorsing the Lake Diefenbaker irrigation project before doing the studies and calculating the costs?

The Big River Recreation and Conservation Association wants to use a 1-year moratorium on logging around Nesslin Lake to study alternative activities.

Birds respond quickly to environmental stressors and habitat change – hence the importance of the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas project.

Future Majority aims to organize and unite youth voices across Canada and elect leaders who will stand up for young Canadians’ well-being.

From Information to Action
Environmental racism in Canada: what is it, what are the impacts, and what can we do about it?

The Arctic waters are loaded with little bits of jeans: “Special filters attached to washing machines can stop 90 percent of microfibers from flowing out to wastewater treatment plants. Those need to be standard on every new washing machine sold.”

Just one in 10 energy suppliers globally are prioritizing renewable energy over fossil fuel development, according to a new study of 3,000 power companies.

A pilot project to produce carbon-free steel got underway last week in Sweden. 7-9% of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions currently come from the production of steel.

Good News
A small study in Norway showed that painting one blade of a wind turbine black reduced bird mortality by over 70%.

An affordable DIY option to prevent birds from hitting windows.

Orange peels could help recycle old lithium batteries, “a low-cost, sustainable approach to recycling the growing heaps of batteries that end up in landfills every year.”

There are fun activities for kids of all ages on the Nature’s Wild Neighbors Society website.

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, August 25, 2020

Upcoming Events
Outdoor Family Adventure, Aug. 29 (Regina) 
Families can rotate through a variety of outdoor experiences organized by Nature Regina in McKell Wascana Conservation Park from 10 am-2 pm, Aug. 29. The event is limited to 40 families and registration is required.

Household Hazardous Waste Day, Aug. 29 (Moose Jaw) 
The City of Moose Jaw is holding a household hazardous waste day from 9 am-3 pm, Aug. 29.

Wildlife Corridor, Aug. 31 (webinar) 
Find out about the work Nature Conservancy of Canada – Alberta is doing to protect the wildlife corridor in the Crowsnest Pass at noon, Aug. 31.

Looking Ahead 
Curbside Swap, Sept. 19 (Saskatoon) 
The City of Saskatoon is hosting a city-wide curbside swap on Sept. 19.

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

Local News 
Lumsden has received federal funding to install solar panels on 4 municipal facilities, putting 3 of them on track to reach 100% net-zero emissions.

The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation hopes to turn the former Saskatoon police firing range into a multicultural interpretive centre focusing on the historical and future importance of areas like the Northeast Swale.

Life Outside Gear Exchange, opening in September in Saskatoon, will sell high-quality, gently used outdoor clothing and gear.

“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues. And I am asking you, sir, at the top of my lungs. Oh please do not cut down another one.”

The City of Saskatoon’s Trees on City Property policy prevents the removal of city-owned trees unless they are dead, dying, or diseased. The Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services is proposing an amendment that would permit the removal of public trees that individual residents perceive to be a nuisance (e.g. too much shade, too few leaves, “ugly”). The amendment would also place a greater financial burden on the City. SOS Trees Coalition is asking people who view trees as a public asset and value Saskatoon’s urban forest to email their City Councillor expressing their concerns.

From Information to Action
“We can only have pandas and eagles (and clean air and water, for that matter) if we also have the complex and interconnected ecosystems that support them. And yes, those ecosystems include bugs…”

Moths – easy to spot and endlessly fascinating.

Routine gas flaring is wasteful, polluting, and under-measured.

“Human beings cannot flourish and maintain health without healthy ecosystems to live within. That’ll be one of the biggest lessons of the twenty-first century, and I think COVID-19 points us in that direction.”

An Indigenous health care facility was built using rammed earth, and scientists have developed a method for 3-D printing greener buildings using local soil.

Solar panels are starting to die, leaving behind toxic trash – we need a recycling plan.

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, July 28, 2020

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

Photo Walk, Aug. 11 (Saskatoon)
Branimir Gjetvaj will be leading a nature-themed photo walk for the Saskatoon Camera Club from 6:30-9:30 pm, Aug. 11.

One School One Farm, Aug. 13 (Saskatoon) 
One School One Farm (OSOF) is holding its annual general meeting from 5-8 pm, Aug. 13, on an acreage just outside of Saskatoon. If you are interested in becoming active in OSOF, email for details. The pilot project is continuing with online/virtual farm visits. Teachers are invited to contact OSOF if they will be able to hold a field trip this fall.

Looking Ahead
Nature Saskatchewan Fall Meet, Sept. 19-20 (Last Mountain) 
Nature Saskatchewan will be holding its Fall Meet from Sept. 19-20 at Last Mountain Bird Observatory.

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

Local News
Women living near natural gas and oil wells that use flaring to burn off excess gas face a 50% greater risk of premature birth than women with no exposure

Saskatchewan has much to learn from Alberta and Manitoba in developing a wetlands drainage policy

Donations to help feed over 20 birds of prey at Salthaven West wildlife rehabilitation centre, Regina, would be greatly appreciated

While woodland caribou have evolved to live with forests disturbed by wildfire, they haven't fared well in forests disturbed by people

From Information to Action
“When countries put a price on carbon, their national emissions from fuel combustion grow at a rate 2 percentage points less than that of countries without a carbon price”

Calculating carbon emissions from our homes and buildings must include “emissions associated with the manufacturing, transportation, construction, and end-of-life phases of building materials, systems, and assemblies”

Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic – why recycling isn’t enough [infographic]

Adopting a nuanced approach when considering plants and animals that are relocating due to climate change

A hydrogen blending project in Fort Saskatchewan will lower the carbon intensity of the residential natural gas distribution network

“To my fellow white Zero Waste-ers, if your environmentalism is not intersectional, you’re not an environmentalist”

Nature’s Wonders
How do birds migrate thousands of miles every year without getting lost? 3 possible explanations involving a magnetic field

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). 

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

EcoSask News, June 9, 2020

Upcoming Events
Young Naturalists Bluebird Trail, June (Saskatoon) 
Sign up to participate in the Saskatoon Young Naturalists bluebird monitoring trail program on June 15, 17, 19, 22, 23, or 24. Register early as dates are filling up fast.

Plants of the Opimihaw Valley, June 11 (online) 
Find out about the plants of the Opimihaw Valley from 12-12:30 pm, June 11, as part of Wanuskewin’s Snax & Facts series.

Teacher/Outdoor Educator Forum, June 11/12 (online) 
SaskOutdoors is hosting a follow-up forum for teachers and outdoor educators on June 11 and 12 with various time slots for different age groups.

Wascana Marsh Tour, June 13 (Regina) 
Take a guided tour of Wascana Marsh at 11 am, June 13, by emailing friendsofwascanamarsh@gmail.com or download a self-guided tour pamphlet.

Native Prairie Appreciation Week, June 14-20 (online) 
Native Prairie Appreciation Week 2020 is online with a video, webinars (including one with Candace Savage), a plant Id presentation and quiz.

Woodland Caribou, June 16 (online) 
There will be a webinar on the efficacy of habitat restoration for woodland caribou at 2 pm, June 16. Email Caribou.Webinars@gmail.com to participate.

Navigating Risky Play, June 16 (online) 
SaskOutdoors is hosting a webinar on navigating risky outdoor play from 11 am-noon, June 16.

Overnight/Emergency Preparedness, June 17 (online) 
Join SaskOutdoors and Back40 Wilderness First Aid for a webinar about overnight/emergency preparedness from 7:30-8:30 pm, June 17.

Teacher/Outdoor Educator Discussion Panel, June 18 (online)
SaskOutdoors is hosting an online panel discussion with experienced environmental educators sharing their tips for taking learning outside from 11am-noon, June 18.

Wilderness First Aid, June 19-21 (Saskatoon) 
Back40 Wilderness First Aid Training is offering a 20-hour wilderness first aid training course in Saskatoon June 19-21.

Looking Ahead
Waste ReForum, July 14-16 (online) 
The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council has switched to an online format for this year's Waste ReForum from 10:30 am-3 pm, July 14-16.

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

Local News
Sign up for Nature Regina’s newsletter and receive information about self-directed family hikes, citizen science projects, and much more.

The University of Saskatchewan has been awarded a $2.5 million grant to increase climate change education, training and public awareness on a global scale.

University of Saskatchewan researchers have developed an app that shows the economic value of shelterbelts while helping landowners determine the best trees to grow.

Where you live in Saskatchewan has an impact on your attitudes towards power production sources.

Stories along the Qu’Appelle Valley offers land-based Indigenous wisdom from Treaty 4 territory, the land of the Saulteaux-Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, and Nakota peoples.

From Information to Action
The incredibly biodiverse world of soil and how it connects to the ground above that we as humans inhabit

Back Market is an online retail platform for secondhand electronics. “They sell refurbished goods through a network of partners, with careful vetting to ensure quality. That allows them to offer a warranty and to provide customer service.”

Rattlesnake populations are declining, and that’s a problem because they’re “key players in grassland food chains, acting as mid-level predators that control rodent populations and serve as a food source for larger predators.”

Manitoba’s Boreal Wetlands Conservation Codes of Practice are designed to “provide guidance on how to avoid, minimize, and offset impacts to boreal wetlands that result from resource roads, access roads, and crossings.”

Austin, TX, is keeping racial equity front and centre in revising its community climate plan.

Conservation planning should ensure a network of protected areas that plants and animals can retreat to as their habitats are altered due to climate change.

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).