EcoSask News, March 23, 2021

This Week’s Highlights 

The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council is hosting a virtual repair café from 11 am-2 pm, Apr. 10. There will be darning and sewing machine tutorials. Register to participate. 

10 climate podcasts that are worth a listen. 

Upcoming Events 

SaskOutdoors is hosting an online panel discussion on global citizenship education at 6:30 pm, Mar. 30. 

Wild About Saskatoon is hosting an online conversation from 7-10 pm, Mar. 31, regarding progress in the past year on the City of Saskatoon’s Green Strategy. 

An online event from 7-8:30 pm, Apr. 1, will look at how to leverage the National Climate League report card to support local climate action. 

All ages are welcome on an outing to explore the Habitat Conservation Area with Nature Regina on Apr. 2 (various time slots). Register in advance and confirm the event is going ahead. 

Looking Ahead 

SaskOutdoors and the Saskatchewan Orienteering Association are offering an Orienteering for Kids and Youth program in Saskatoon with six sessions (1 session/week) starting the week of April 12. 

SaskOutdoors is hosting a remote first aid workshop from Apr. 16-18 on White Butte Trails east of Regina. 

Local News 

The City of Saskatoon is developing a renewable energy strategy and would like your thoughts. 

The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce has published a report on Building the Low Carbon Economy: Exploring Opportunities and Challenges for Saskatchewan. 

Agriculture 

Food systems generate one third of global greenhouse gas emissions with a large chunk generated in the earliest stages of farming: “Land-use change, which involves the conversion of wild land into farms, made up the remaining 32% of the 71% figure, manifesting in carbon loss from deforestation and the destruction of organic and peatland soils to make way for farmland.”

A new report from the National Farmers Union, Imagine If . . . A Vision of a Near-Zero Emission Farm and Food System for Canada: “The report argues that a climate-friendly food system can be designed to increase farm income. Using, and paying for ever-larger quantities of fertilizers, fuels, chemicals, plastics, and other inputs have increased emissions and at the same time lowered farmers’ net incomes. . . . a low-emission food system will necessarily be a low-input food system that increases farm profitability.” 

Yard Work 

Some gas-powered leaf blowers “produce more than 100 decibels of low-frequency, wall-penetrating sound—or as much noise as a plane taking off—at levels that can cause tinnitus and hearing loss with long exposure. Beyond that, gas-powered lawn care of all kinds spews pollutants linked to cancers, heart disease, and asthma, and blowers blast air up to 280 miles per hour, eroding topsoil and sending pollen, fertilizers, and herbicides adrift. Workers who spend hours a day with equipment are most at risk.” 

Spring clean-up – 7 tips for a biodiverse yard. 

Last, But Not Least 

Our cultural discomfort with death has led us to overlook the environmental cost of funerals and burials. There are eco-friendly options, from embalming and the casket to burial and cremation. 

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 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]

Dragonfly Selfies & Powerful Discussions

Just for Laughs 

A pair of dragonflies offers lessons on the perfect Valentine’s Day selfie.

Upcoming Events 

Feb. 15 – role of small modular nuclear reactors in Saskatchewan

Feb. 18 – EnviroCollective Regina 

Feb. 19 – tropical birds & forest fragmentation/restoration 

Feb. 24 – support for renewable energy co-operatives 

Check the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar for full details 

Did you know? Dragonflies can only fly when it's warm, but some species can live for up to a year if they migrate away from the cold (Nature Companion)

EcoSask News, November 10, 2020

Upcoming Events 

Beaver Creek Tour, Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28 (Saskatoon) 

Enjoy a one-hour guided family or couples tour at Beaver Creek Conservation Area on Saturdays in November (fee ranges from $79-114). 

Beyond Pesticides, Nov. 10 (online) 

Christy Morrissey will discuss Beyond Pesticides: Challenging the Paradox of Agriculture and Environment in an online event from 3-4 pm, Nov. 10. 

Saskatoon Cycles AGM, Nov. 10 (online) 

Saskatoon Cycles is holding its annual general meeting at 7 pm, Nov. 10, on Zoom. 

Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, Nov. 11 (online) 

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas are holding an online annual general meeting at 7 pm, Nov. 11. 

Invasive Species in Sask River System, Nov. 12 (online) 

Renny Grilz will discuss invasive species and their potential impacts to the health of the Saskatchewan River system at noon, Nov. 12. 

Train the Trainer, Nov. 14 (Regina) 

Nature Regina members are invited to learn about birds, native plants, and wildlife from 10-11 am or 11 am-noon, Nov. 14, so that they can then help with the Get Outside! Kids Club and other upcoming events. 

Birding at City Park, Nov. 15 (Saskatoon) 

Saskatoon Nature Society will be birding at City Park from 2-3 pm, Nov. 15. Field trips are currently for members only, so sign up now. 

Contemporary Art & Climate Change, Nov. 16 (online) 

Adrian Stimson and Laurier St. Pierre will discuss The Black Snake & Secret Gardens: Contemporary Art and Climate Change online from 6-7:30 pm, Nov. 16. 

Discard Twitter Conference, Nov. 16 & 17 (online) 

If you’re concerned about waste, check out the Discard Studies Twitter conference schedule for Nov. 16 & 17. 

Climate Change & Forests, Nov. 17 (online) 

Mark Johnson will discuss Climate Change and its Impact on Canada’s Forests: How are we Adapting? in an online Café Sci presentation from 7:30-8:30 pm, Nov. 17. 

Recording Bird Sounds, Nov. 19 (online) 

John Patterson will discuss recording bird sounds and behaviours at the 7:30 pm, Nov. 19 online meeting of the Saskatoon Nature Society. Join the Society to participate. 

Looking Ahead 

Below Zero, Nov. 26 & Dec. 3 (online) 

SaskOutdoors is offering a virtual Below Zero workshop with classroom resources for teaching about wildlife in winter from 7-9 pm, November 26 and December 3.

 

Restoration & Reclamation in a Changing Environment, Feb. 1-5 (online) 

Registration is now open for the online Native Prairie Restoration/Reclamation Workshop from Feb. 1-5. 

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

Local News 

Wild about Saskatoon invites you to come and explore the Northeast Swale.

 

 

Wetlands can add economic and environmental benefits for farmers. 

The Nature Conservancy of Canada has established a new conservation site in the Milk River Basin Natural Area in southwestern Saskatchewan. 

Energy 

Is green hydrogen the next big thing in future energy? 

Gaining Steam: A Regulatory and Policy Framework for Geothermal Energy Development in Alberta (Environmental Law Centre) could prove useful in Saskatchewan when considering issues such as licensing and environmental assessment. 

Urban Life 

Fencing is an effective and realistic way to reduce roadkill. A step-by-step plan helps transportation managers decide on length and where to place them. 

“It’s past time to accept that lethal methods and relocation are neither effective, sustainable nor humane approaches to human-wildlife conflicts.” There are alternatives. 

Book Review 

“Narratives of eternal technological progress obscure the alternative of making do with what we already have. It closes our imagination to the possibility of choosing smaller and simpler over bigger and better.” [The Age of Low Tech: Towards a Technologically Sustainable Civilization] 

Thank you for reading EcoSask News. If you enjoyed it, please share it with someone – or many someones! 

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, 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, May 19, 2020

Upcoming Events
Genereux Park/Baker Area Eco-Quest (ongoing) 
Join a virtual eco-quest of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and/or the George Genereux Urban Park.

Gardening @ USask, May 19 & 26 (online)
The University of Saskatchewan is offering a variety of online gardening workshops: Compost 101: Scraps to Soil – May 19, 7 pm; The Growing Buzz (bees) – May 26, 7 pm.

Rubbish Roundup, May 20-24 (Saskatoon) 
Join Saskatoon's Rubbish Roundup, May 20-24, organized by Wildernook Fresh Air Learning. For each bag of garbage collected and reported, EcoFriendly Sask will donate $10 to the charity of your choice (Saskatoon Search and Rescue, Saskatoon Crisis Nursery, or One School One Farm.

TimberNook Family Sessions, May 20-June 27 (Saskatoon) 
TimberNook Saskatoon is hosting self-guided outdoor family experiences in May/June. Week-day, evening, and Saturday time slots are available.

Covid-19 & Energy Transition, May 20 (online) 
Martin Boucher will focus on the recent COVID-19 pandemic and its implications on climate change and the energy transition from 12-1 pm, May 20.

First Aid for Day Trips, May 21 (webinar) 
SaskOutdoors and Back40 Wilderness First Aid Training are offering a mini first aid webinar on how to prepare for day trips from 7:30-8:30 pm, May 21.

Candace Savage’s Prairie Live, May 27 (online) 
Join Candace Savage online at Cranberry Flats from 12-1 pm, May 27, for the launch of the revised edition of Prairie: A Natural History of the Heart of North America.

Forum for Educators, May 29 (online) 
SaskOutdoors is hosting an online forum from 10-11 am, May 29, to discuss how to bring outdoor and environmental education into remote teaching.

May Day Bird Count, May 30 (Saskatoon) 
The Saskatoon Nature Society is inviting experienced birds who are healthy and not in quarantine to participate in the May Bird Count. Different sectors (or sub-sectors) will be assigned to each individual or family to follow Covid-safe self-isolation steps. Email your name, phone number, and email address to trips@saskatoonnature.org if you wish to participate. If you have questions, call Stan Shadick at 306.652.5975.

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

Local News
EnviroCollective (Regina) has teamed up with Climate Reality Canada to form a climate hub. They’re looking for supporters and Climate Hub Captains.

From Information to Action
Cobalt is critical to the renewable energy transition. How can we minimize its social and environmental cost?

“We should be aiming to identify diseases in other animals as early as possible, when there’s still a chance of preventing them from spreading to humans.”

To ensure healthy bird populations, cities need to increase their insect populations by planting trees and incorporating good management practices in their green spaces.

Tips for helping trees and beavers to coexist side by side.

Energy
White River First Nation plans to construct the largest solar farm in the Yukon as well as a biomass plant and district heating system.

How can we promote a green recovery with renewables emerging stronger than ever?

Books
The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think by Jennifer Ackerman reveals that birds are “capable of nuanced, highly intelligent behavior that we once believed to be uniquely human.”

Entangled Life: How Fungi Make our Worlds, Change our Minds and Shape our Futures by Martin Sheldrake opens up “a vast unseen world that surrounds each one of us.”

Tearfund’s The World Rebooted – how can you, your church, and your network play a part in reshaping society?

Read an extract from Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty, a 16-year-old nature writer, who describes bats as origami taking flight.

Even successful scientists struggle – 14 books to motivate teens to study science.

Natural Wonders
“Ants use their numbers to overcome navigational challenges that are too large and disorienting to be tackled by any single individual.”

“Older barn owl chicks will share food with younger ones.”

The tenacity of trees: surviving – and thriving – in difficult circumstances.

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).

Clean Energy with Hydrogen?

The Tokyo Summer Olympics have been designed to showcase hydrogen as part of a clean energy future. The Olympic flame will be powered by hydrogen and 100 hydrogen-fuelled buses as well as 500 cars with hydrogen fuel cells will service the event.

In Europe, 13 countries and 31 regions have joined the European Hydrogen Valleys Partnership to support the development of fuel cell hydrogen projects. China has been rapidly increasing production of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and has started introducing hydrogen-powered buses. Japan has started using hydrogen fuel cells as a residential energy source.

As countries around the world explore opportunities to exploit hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, let’s take a look at what is involved.

Grey, Green, and Blue
Hydrogen is relatively cheap and easy to produce in a number of different ways. At the moment, the majority is produced from natural gas, which generates significant carbon emissions. This is known as grey hydrogen as it continues to rely on fossil fuels.

Blue hydrogen is considered cleaner as it employs carbon capture to store or reuse the CO2 emissions. However, carbon capture has had mixed results to date and is technically unproven on a large scale.

The cleanest of all, although by far the least common, is green hydrogen, which is produced from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

Heavy Industry
Hydrogen is currently being used on-site by industry, particularly for the production of the ammonia in nitrogen fertilizer and in oil refining where it’s added to heavier oil for transport fuel production.

Expanded use of hydrogen by fertilizer and petrochemical industries could help develop a business case for further development of hydrogen’s role in producing green energy. “In the highly cost-focused heavy industry, the requirement is thus for a cheap power source with a high capacity factor – typically baseload production at or below spot market prices. This could come from hydro power plants” or offshore wind.

Transportation
There has been some experience with hydrogen fuel cells for powering cars and larger vehicles. “A fuel cell is an electrochemical power generation device that combines hydrogen fuel, with oxygen from air, to produce electricity, with water and heat as the only by-products.”

British Columbia is a world leader in hydrogen fuel cell technology. The province currently has 2 fuelling stations with plans for 4 more by the end of 2020.

Various projects are underway in Europe, including hydrogen boats, buses, tractors, and bicycles. Communities are experimenting with hybrid buses combining hydrogen fuel cells and batteries/capacitors. “All the energy required for the bus to operate is provided by hydrogen stored on board. Hydrogen offers higher energy density compared to electrical storage systems such as batteries, this enables a longer range compared to systems where the batteries are used as stores of energy.”

Long-Term Plans
In the short term, British Columbia plans to take advantage of the province’s natural gas industry to produce blue hydrogen. “The longer-term goal is to use B.C.’s abundant water and electricity to produce ‘green hydrogen’ through electrolysis for export, mainly to Asia, where the biggest market is.”

Japan has plans to ship hydrogen produced from brown coal via carbon capture in Australia to Japan where they hope to develop a nation-wide network of filling stations. “Get it right and hydrogen offers a way to fully decarbonise Japan’s transport sector, using fuel from a reliable strategic ally, while providing the automotive industry with a fresh source of competitive advantage over international rivals. The only problem is that this visionary infrastructure does not yet exist.”

The Benefits and Disadvantages of Hydrogen Energy
Energy from hydrogen has the potential to improve air quality and increase energy security. Using hydrogen to store large quantities of electricity from wind and solar appears promising and could address concerns about peaks and lows in renewable energy production. Hydrogen could also help to decarbonize sectors such as heavy industry, long-haul transport, chemicals, iron, and steel, which have found it difficult to reduce carbon emissions.

There are, however, a number of disadvantages to using hydrogen in green energy production.

Green hydrogen produced through electrolysis from excess electricity has the potential to be an effective way of storing excess electricity. However, this isn’t feasible until there is sufficient renewable energy to make a green hydrogen plant cost-effective.

Although hydrogen pipeline systems are already in place in some regions, that is not the case world-wide and changes to the current infrastructure could be expensive. Hydrogen’s low density increases transportation costs and experience with hydrogen refuelling stations has been mixed with serious incidents at stations in Norway, South Korea, and California.

Hydrogen cannot always compete with other energy sources on the basis of energy efficiency. “For example, hydrogen boilers for residential heating and hydrogen fuel cell cars are considerably less energy efficient than their electricity based competitors such as heat pumps and electric vehicles.”

Hydrogen has limited applicability in combustion technologies. Many see hydrogen as an intermediary in Power-to-X type of technologies where the hydrogen is further synthesized to generate carbon-neutral synthetic methane, which can be used as a direct replacement for fossil natural gas.

See Also
Geothermal Energy in Saskatchewan
Energy-Saving Options in Europe
The Transition to Renewable Energy in Saskatchewan
The Future of Renewable Energy in Indigenous and Remote Communities
Renewable Energy Success Stories from Indigenous and Remote Communities in Alaska
Wind Energy in Saskatchewan: Opportunities and Challenges
First Nations Power Authority
Saskatoon Solar Power Co-operative

EcoSask News, January 28, 2020

Upcoming Events
Green Parenting, Jan. 28 (Regina) 
There will be a talk on minimizing single-use plastics at 7:30 pm, Jan. 28, as part of a Green Parenting discussion series.

Fantastic Fungi, Jan. 29 (Saskatoon) 
The Saskatoon premiere of Fantastic Fungi is at 7 pm, Jan. 29.

Plovers on Shore, Jan. 29 (webinar) 
Shirley Barz, Nature Saskatchewan, will discuss how landowners are helping to conserve piping plovers in a noon-hour webinar on Jan. 29.

Gone Wild for Wildlife, Feb. 1 (Saskatoon) 
Take the whole family to Gone Wild for Wildlife from 11 am-5 pm, Feb. 1, for nature activities, science experiments, lectures, and live wildlife.

Winter Twigs & Buds, Feb. 1 (Saskatoon) 
Learn to identify native trees at Beaver Creek Conservation Area from 1-3 pm, Feb. 1.

Beginner Bird Id, Feb. 2 (Shellbrook) 
The Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas is offering a free 2-hour workshop on the basics of bird identification from 3-5 pm, Feb. 2.

Kalium Observatory, Feb. 3 (Regina) 
Sign up before Feb. 1 to visit the Kalium Observatory with Nature Regina from 7-8:30 pm, Feb. 3.

House on Fire, Feb. 3-14 (Regina) 
Riddell Gallery is hosting an exhibit exploring issues surrounding climate change from Feb. 3-14. The opening reception is Feb. 6 from 4-6 pm.

REM & SaskEv, Feb. 5 (Saskatoon)
Tyler Krause and Jason Cruickshank will provide an overview of EVs’ functionality, types, environmental considerations, and the growing market at the Feb. 5 breakfast meeting of the Saskatchewan Energy Management Task Force.

Water in a Dry Land, Feb. 6 (Regina) 
Kerri Finlay will discuss adaptation and mitigation of prairie aquatic ecosystems under a changing climate from 7-9 pm, Feb. 6.

Regenerative Agriculture, Feb. 7 (Saskatoon) 
Slow Food Saskatoon is sponsoring a workshop on regenerative agriculture in Saskatoon on Feb. 7.

Looking Ahead
Building Operator Training, Feb. 28 (Saskatoon)
The Environmental Society is hosting a workshop to introduce custodians and building operators to energy conservation principles, new technologies, and facility retrofits that will save energy and money on Feb. 28.

Wascana Junior Naturalists, Mar-May (Regina)
Registration is now open for the spring session of the Wascana Junior Naturalists from 6-8 pm, Mar. 3, 17, 31; Apr. 7, 21; and May 5 & 12.

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

Sask News
Extinction Rebellion Saskatchewan is looking for team members to organize protests and actions.

You’re invited to submit a short film (up to 2 minutes) educating and inspiring people about our need for water. The winning films will be featured at the Let's Talk About Water Film Festival,June 13-19, in Saskatoon.

FoodRenew has been selected as one of 8 startups for the upcoming Co.Labs tech incubator. If you or someone you know can help answer some questions about food waste problems in the food service and retail industry, get in touch at foodrenew@gmail.com

A proposed oil project in northwest Saskatchewan will use nearly 5 million litres of water a day. Is this a good use of our province’s finite freshwater supplies? Why will there be no environmental review?

Ideas & Resources 
Planning to Connect: A Guide to Incorporating Ecological Connectivity into Municipal Planning, provides practical guidance for integrating ecological connectivity into the structures and practical realities of municipal planning.

Imagination is the ability to look at things as if they could be otherwise. From What Is to What If by Rob Hopkins, cofounder of the Transition movement, is a call to action to reclaim and unleash our collective imagination and create the future we want.

Ghent’s zone-centred traffic circulation plan improved the local economy, producing more restaurants and bars, shorter journeys, cleaner air, and a cycling explosion.

A recent report looks at ways of reducing local opposition to renewables.

Climate change is a political crisis, not a reproductive one. “Population growth in the U.S. isn’t being driven by high-income, high carbon-emitting families having more children.”

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 2, 2019

E. O. Wilson’s most fervent dream: “That somehow we have as a value, a human value, that we not destroy but we protect and study and understand and love the environment that was our birthplace.”

Upcoming Events
Seeds & Plants, July 3 (Churchbridge) 
Learn how to plant seeds plus reading and activities from 2-3 pm, July 3, at Churchbridge Public Library.

Pasqua Nature Conservancy Hike, July 4 (Fort Qu’Appelle) 
The Fort Qu’Appelle Nature Society is planning a nature hike in the Nature Conservancy Pasqua land on July 4. Meet at the train station at 7:30 am to car pool. The hike will last from 8-11 am.

The Natural World, July 6 (Prince Albert) 
Join the Saskatchewan Science Centre for a nature/science program for kids from 9 am-12 pm, July 6.

Hidden Valley Wildflowers, July 6 (Regina) 
Join Nature Regina in looking for wildflowers from 8 am-12 pm, July 6, as they hike their Hidden Valley sanctuary.

Household Hazardous Waste, July 7 (Saskatoon) 
You can dispose of household hazardous waste at City of Saskatoon’s Civic Operations Centre from 9 am–3:30 pm, July 7.

AB Greater Sage-grouse Recovery Program, July 9 (webinar) 
Joel Nicholson, Senior Wildlife Biologist with AB Environment and Parks, will discuss Alberta’s greater sage-grouse recovery program in a noon-hour webinar on July 9.

Composting Workshop, July 11 (Saskatoon) 
Join Saskatoon’s compost coaches for a workshop on composting and low-waste strategies from 7-9 pm, July 11.

Looking Ahead
Wanted – Volunteers, Aug. 25 (Regina) 
Friends of Wascana Marsh are looking for volunteers with a nature/biology background to help them set up a booth, host activities such as pond dipping, and offer guided tours at Harbour Landing’s Summer Bash on Aug. 25. Email friendsofwascanamarsh@gmail.com if you’re interested.

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.

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

In the News
The Endangered Grasslands Alliance has made it easy to express your concerns about the perimeter highway running through the Northeast Swale by emailing your letter to local and provincial politicians directly from their website.

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities will be working with First Nations Power Authority and the U of S School of Environment and Sustainability to develop better wind and solar power systems for rural communities.

Federal and provincial government funding will support transition away from coal in Saskatchewan’s mining communities.

Local theatre group tries to promote hope and change in all-ages play about climate change.

Take your car to a self-service car wash – you’ll save water and avoid runoff pollution.

Raymond, AB plans to go solar for all its municipal energy needs – from heating buildings to streetlights.

Growth is pointless in a mature economy. We should be looking for “qualitative improvement rather than economic enlargement.”

A female Arctic fox travelled more than 3500 km from Norway to Canada in just 76 days.

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 9, 2019

Upcoming Events
Climate Reality in SK, Apr. 12 (Swift Current)
Margaret Asmuss will discuss how climate change is affecting Saskatchewan from 6:30-9:30 pm, Apr. 12, at First United Church.

Survey Study Designs, Apr. 12 (Saskatoon)
Jean-Michel DeVink is tentatively scheduled to talk about survey study designs: why details matter to the question being asked at 3:30 pm, Apr. 12, as part of the WildEcol seminar series at the U of S.

Hidden Valley, Crocuses & Bluebirds, Apr. 13 (Regina)
Join Nature Regina on their field trip along the Qu’Appelle Valley as they look for bluebirds and other signs of spring from 9:30 am-1 pm, Apr. 13.

Wildlife Rescue Info Session, Apr. 13 (Saskatoon)
A wildlife rescue orientation session is being held at 1 pm, Apr. 13, in Saskatoon. There will be rescue training after the orientation from 2-3 pm. Email volunteer@wrsos.org to save your spot.

Native Plants, Apr. 14 (Regina)
Join Chet Neufeld, NPSS, to find out how to bring biodiversity into your yard with native plants from 2:30-3:30 pm, Apr. 14, at the Prince of Wales branch of the Regina Public Library.

Ferruginous Hawk Ecology, Apr. 15 (Regina)
Janet Ng will summarize her research on ferruginous hawk ecology from 7:30-9:30 pm, at the Apr. 15 meeting of Nature Regina.

90th Birthday Celebrations, Apr. 15 (Saskatoon)
A public event is being held at 7:30 pm, Apr. 15, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the University of Saskatchewan Observatory. Speakers will discuss The Observatory’s history and the history of astronomy. A walk to The Observatory and cake will follow.

Beginner Bird Id Workshop, Apr. 16 (Yorkton) 
The Breeding Bird Atlas project is offering a free workshop on beginner bird identification from 7-9 pm, Apr. 16, in Yorkton.

Post-Industrial Consumerism, Apr. 16 (Saskatoon)
Darrin Qualman will explore sustainability and make a case for restructuring the core processes of industrial civilization from 7-8:30 pm, Apr. 16.

Breeding Bird Atlas, Apr. 17 (Preeceville)
Find out more about the Breeding Bird Atlas project at the 7 pm, Apr. 17, meeting of the Kelsey Ecological Society.

Outdoor/Environmental Ed Conversation, Apr. 17 (Swift Current)
SaskOutdoors is hosting an outdoor and environmental education community conversation from 7-8:30 pm, Apr. 17, in Swift Current.

Climate Crisis & its Solutions, Apr. 17 (Regina)
Join Jared Clarke to discuss the climate crisis and its solutions from 7-8:30 pm, Apr. 17, at the Sunrise branch of the Regina Public Library.

SK Environmental Society AGM, Apr. 17 (Saskatoon)
Dr. Irena Creed, Executive Director, School of Environment & Sustainability, U of S, will be the guest speaker at the Saskatchewan Environmental Society’s annual general meeting starting at 6 pm, Apr. 17.

Composting 101, Apr. 18 (Moose Jaw)
Find out how to choose, set up, and maintain a compost bin at 2:30 pm, Apr. 18, at the Moose Jaw Public Library.

Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change, Apr. 18 (Saskatoon)
Branimir Gjetvaj will discuss nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation at the 7:30 pm, Apr. 18, meeting of the Saskatoon Nature Society.

Life off Grid, Apr. 18 (Saskatoon)
Watch a film about people who have built their lives around renewable energy from 2-3 pm, Apr. 18, at the Mayfair branch of the Saskatoon Public Library.

Saskatoon Nature Society - Golden Eagles
Apr. 11, 9 am-1 pm – Crocuses & bluebirds at Beaver Creek
Apr. 18, 8 am – Bluebirds in the Pike Lake area
Apr. 25, 8 am – Brightwater Marsh and area
Retirees and partners who are interested in birds and the natural world are invited to participate.

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

In the News
Gravelbourg Green/Vert Initiatives is brand new! Let’s wish them well in their goal to inspire, facilitate, and promote sustainability in Gravelbourg and surrounding areas.

Prince Albert National Park’s healthy wolf population is a good indicator of a healthy ecological area. Wolves are typically scared of humans so there’s no reason to fear them.

The City of Swift Current is killing crows because they’re too noisy.

The U of S Arts Building is now using 50% less water following replacement of 75% of its toilets and urinals and the addition of aerators on 85% of the faucets.

Saskatchewan needs to change how it designs and builds communities and infrastructure in response to climate change, says John Pomeroy, Canada Research Chair in Water Resources and Climate Change. “We already had an extreme climate and to make it more extreme really pushes the viability of our agriculture, our cities, communities and our transportation networks.”

Moving freight or moving people – trains are far more energy efficient and less polluting than cars or airplanes.

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, March 12, 2019

Upcoming Events
Ferruginous Hawks, Mar. 13 (webinar)
Janet Ng will offer a noon-hour webinar on ferruginous hawks on Mar. 13 as part of SK-PCAP’s Native Prairie Speaker Series.

Standing Rock vs Dakota Access Pipeline, Mar. 13 (Saskatoon) & Mar. 14 (Regina)
Nick Estes, author of Our History is the Future: Standing Rock vs the Dakota Access Pipeline & the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistance, will be speaking in Saskatoon at 12:30 and 7 pm, Mar. 13, and in Regina at 7 pm, Mar. 14.

Care & Pruning of Trees, Mar. 14 (Regina)
Find out how to care for your trees at the Regent Place branch of the Regina Public Library from 7:30-8:30 pm, Mar. 14.

Essence, Mar. 14 (Saskatoon)
Essence, a film about Ness Creek, is premiering at 7 pm, Mar. 14, in Saskatoon.

Repair Café, Mar. 16 (Prince Albert) 
Share and learn skills to repair things at Repair Café Prince Albert from 1-4 pm, Mar. 16.

Project Wet, Mar. 16 (Regina)
SaskOutdoors is hosting a Project Wet workshop for K-12 teachers in Regina from 9:30 am-3:30 pm, Mar. 16.

Ecological Literacy for Adults, Mar. 16 (Saskatoon)
Lichen Nature is offering an ecological literacy event to help people connect with nature from 10 am-2:30 pm, Mar. 16.

Flying Ambassador, Mar. 16 (Saskatoon) 
USask’s Wild and Exotic Animal Medicine Society will be bringing one of their animals to Wild Birds Unlimited from 1-3 pm, Mar. 16.

Prairie’s Got the Goods Week, Mar. 17-23 (Saskatchewan)
Enjoy daily webinars during PCAP-SK’s Prairie’s Got the Goods Week from Mar. 17-23. Topics include Prairie Wetlands: A Case Study of the Smith Creek Drainage Basin and Native Grassland and its Importance to Grassland Songbirds.

Bumble Bee Pathogens, Mar. 18 (Regina)
Kirsten Palmier will discuss bumble bee pathogens from 7:30-9:30 pm, at the Mar. 18 meeting of Nature Regina.

Bird ID for Novice Birders, Mar. 18 (Saskatoon)
The Saskatoon Nature Society and the SK Breeding Bird Atlas are offering a free two-hour workshop on the basics of bird identification from 7-9 pm, Mar. 18.

Indigenous Renewable Connections, Mar. 20 (Saskatoon)
Indigenous employees, students and businesses along with renewable energy employers and industry are invited to make connections and build relationships at the Workforce Connex event at the U of S, Mar. 20 from 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

Looking Ahead
Basic Wildlife Rehab. Course, Apr. 6-7 (Saskatoon)
Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation is hosting a two-day introduction to wildlife rehabilitation on Apr. 6 & 7 in Saskatoon.

Passive House Planning Package, Apr. 11-13 (Saskatoon)
This course, being offered in Saskatoon from Apr. 11-13, provides step-by-step instruction for using the PHPP energy modelling software, which is essential for designing a Passive House building.

Birding with Jared, May 26 (Regina) 
Join Jared Clarke on a birding bus tour with experienced guides from 8 am-4 pm, May 26. Pickups in Regina and Balgonie. Proceeds to the Milestone NDP Constituency Association.

Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips 
Mar. 16, 7:45-10 pm – Saw-whet owling near Pike Lake
Mar. 30, 9:15 am-2 pm – Bluebird trip
Everyone is welcome. Check the Saskatoon Nature Society’s NEW website for full details and updated information.

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

In the News
Environment Canada and the Department of Defence are working together to protect natural areas on military bases.

"It’s not about how old the trees are, it’s about how long there’s been a forest on that site. Studying lichen that can only be found in a particular site will help determine the age and biodiversity of a forest."

We are the Ark - “it’s up to each of us to re-wild our world, piece by piece until we have a patchwork quilt of sanctuaries that wraps its way around the globe.”

Vancouver Park Board looks into more humane pest control methods.

4 pairs of lovely legs - 9 of the world's most beautiful spiders.

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 19, 2019

Upcoming Events
Wildlife Photographs, Feb. 21 (Saskatoon) 
Kosala Rajapaksha will share his Saskatchewan and Sri Lankan wildlife photographs at the 7:30 pm, Feb. 21, meeting of the Saskatoon Nature Society.

Climate Change: The Facts, Feb. 22 (Moose Jaw) 
Jim Elliott, Council of Canadians, will discuss provincial action on climate change at the 7 pm, Feb. 22, meeting of the Moose Jaw Nature Society.

Wascana Cross-Country Ski Family Weekend, Feb. 23, 24 (Regina)
Enjoy a weekend of cross-country skiing at Wascana Centre with rented equipment from 11 am-3:30 pm, Feb. 23 & 24.

Birds of Saskatchewan Book Launch, Feb. 26 (Regina) 
Nature Saskatchewan will celebrate the launch of Birds of Saskatchewan at 7 pm, Feb. 26, at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

Jewelry Swap, Feb. 26 (Regina) 
Swap jewelry or accessories from 7-8 pm, Feb. 26, at the Connaught Branch Library.

Saskatchewan Adventures, Feb. 27 (Saskatoon) 
Kit and Julene will share their cross-country skiing adventures in Saskatchewan and there will be help with boot fitting at an event sponsored by SaskOutdoors at 7 pm, Feb. 27.

Looking Ahead
Building Operator Training, Regina – Mar. 1, Saskatoon – Mar. 29 
Find out how to reduce energy costs and have a more comfortable building at a building operator training course offered by the Saskatchewan Environmental Society in Regina on Mar. 1 and Saskatoon on Mar. 29.

LEED Green Associate Training, Mar. 2 & 3 (Regina, Saskatoon) 
University of Regina students can obtain LEED Green Associate Training demonstrating certified knowledge in the field from 12-5 pm, Mar. 3. University of Saskatchewan students can receive the training from 1-5:30 pm, Mar. 2, in Saskatoon.

Winter Camp, Mar. 16-17 (Great Blue Heron Provincial Camp) 
Learn to winter camp successfully and comfortably on Mar. 16-17 at SaskOutdoor’s annual winter camp in Great Blue Heron Provincial Park.

Bird ID for Novice Birders, Mar. 18 (Saskatoon) 
The Saskatoon Nature Society and the SK Breeding Bird Atlas are offering a free two-hour workshop on the basics of bird identification from 7-9 pm, Mar. 18.

Bird ID Workshop for Intermediate Birders, Mar. 22-Apr. 12 (Saskatoon) 
The Saskatoon Nature Society and the SK Breeding Bird Atlas are offering 4 two-hour workshops on using your bird book and birding app to identify common breeding birds found in the Saskatoon area from 7-9 pm, Mar. 22, Mar. 29, Apr. 5, and Apr. 12. Space is limited so register as soon as possible.

Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips
Saskatoon Young Naturalists 
Mar. 16, 1-3 pm – Owl Pellets
Apr. 6, 1-3 pm – Birdhouse Workshop
Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment.

Other Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips 
Feb. 24, 1:30-3:30 pm – Forestry Farm Park birding
Mar. 3, 2-3:30 pm – Montgomery Place birding
Mar. 9, 9 am-5 pm – Gardiner Dam field trip
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
The Council of Canadians, Regina Chapter, is calling for a just transition to renewable energy in Saskatchewan.

Pond leveller devices are a cost-effective, low-maintenance tool in a landowner’s tool box, and they allow for a happy co-existence with beavers.

Mid-block crosswalks make cities safer for pedestrians.

Listen for the coyotes - January to March is breeding season.

 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).