Groupe Atlantique

Le Groupe Atlantique du Sierra Club est une organisation locale vivante qui habilite les gens à protéger, restaurer et jouir dans une planète saine. Ensemble on est crédible, notre voie est influente, et nous travaillions pour improuver la santé humaine et terrestre.

Que se qu’on fait?

Le Groupe Atlantique utilise l’éducation et l’action pour transformer l’économie et protéger l’environnement. Nos projets sont conçus afin de connecter les enfants avec la nature, protéger la faune et les écosystèmes naturels, et offrir des solutions au changement climatique.

Que se passe-t-il en Atlantic Chapter?

The perils of sharing our roadways

Zack Metcalfe's picture
Posted on August 16, 2016
Author: 
Zack Metcalfe
Source: 
The Chronicle Herald
Date published: 
Sun, 08/14/2016

In the early fall of last year, while driving home down the Bedford Highway, I saw something which I never quite forgot. The vehicles on the road ahead of me were merging into the opposite lane to avoid some obstacle ahead and I followed suit, not laying eyes on the tragic scene until I was nearly alongside. It was a cat, the lower half of its body crushed by the unforgiving treads of a fellow motorist, and it was alive, flailing and writhing with agony beyond my comprehension.

Can’t We Just Say No?

Gretchen Fitzgerald — July 26, 2016
Joint US / Canada Sierra Club Meeting 2005

Thirteen years ago, I was hired as a consultant to provide expert advice on the impacts of the Digby Quarry. The local community had become alarmed about the quarry when they heard about plans to build a marine terminal at the site. Clearly, the quarry, which was originally 3.9 hectares –the size of quarry that eludes environmental assessment in Nova Scotia –was going to be much larger than they had thought. Turned out, a 120 hectare quarry was planned, located 50 metres from the shoreline.

COMMENTARY: My father taught me to love Mother Nature, inspired new Watch for Wildlife program

Posted on June 20, 2016
Author: 
Wanda Baxter
Source: 
Local XPress
Date published: 
Sun, 06/19/2016

My wish for Father’s Day is that more people start thinking about and acting like my dad does when it comes to wild animals hit by vehicles. Wildlife deserves our attentiveness while driving and our respect and decency when they are the casualties of collisions.


Read Wanda's full Commentary article here.


WHY PARKS MATTER - A SPEED-DATING STYLE LEARNING EVENT

Gretchen Fitzgerald — June 17, 2016

City parks matter for many reasons!
Learn from a range of experts why parks are important to people and the environment. At this speed-dating style event, groups of attendees will be rotated through to learn from a series of 8-minute "dates" with the experts.

When: Saturday, June 18, 2016, 1 - 3 PM.

Where: Kenneth Rowe Building, Dalhousie University, 6100 University Avenue, Halifax, NS

Sierra Club Canada Foundation Asks People to Re-Imagine Halifax Harbour

Posted on June 8, 2016
World Oceans Day, June 8, 2016

Halifax, NS – In honour of World Oceans Day, Atlantic Chapter of Sierra Club Canada Foundation with support from Halifax Water is launching a program to engage citizens in re-connecting with Halifax Harbour. Harbours are often our entry point to experiencing the ocean, but they are also polluted and industrialized.

Submission to Centre Plan from Sierra Club Canada Foundation – Atlantic Chapter

Posted on June 7, 2016
Publication Date: 
May 31, 2016

In Halifax, the naïve discourse about sustainability seems to be rooted in the notion that there is the need to counter to “bad” sprawl.  The discourse around solutions is just as naïve and seems largely limited to densification by way of building tall massive high-rises. There is no huge increase in population projected for HRM. The 2013 Stantec Report indicates 35,000 housing units could be constructed within the regional centre without changes in zoning rules.

PDF icon SierraAtlantic_HRM_CentrePlan_Submission.pdf

Sierra Club, ECELAW to Intervene in Judicial Review of NAFTA Tribunal Decision on Digby Quarry

Posted on June 2, 2016

The Federal Court of Canada has granted the Sierra Club of Canada Foundation and East Coast Environmental Law (ECELAW) standing to intervene in a key environmental case with international consequences. Ecojustice lawyers will be working on behalf of the interveners in this case. 

In 2007 the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia rejected a proposed 120-hectare coastal quarry and marine terminal to be located on Digby Neck., N.S.  The decision followed a detailed environmental impact assessment and the recommendations of an independent Joint Review Panel.

Why Trees Matter

David Foster — May 3, 2016

Have you noticed the drastic transformation that is underway in our city? How and why it happens is complex however well understood, but it is clearly a sign of the times – May, to be specific. If you are lucky enough to see a tree out of your window, you might notice it is finally coming to life after a long winter’s sleep. Some trees start sooner than others and our city’s dominant Norway maple population is one of the first to reanimate. The end result is an annual inevitability, the urban canopy weaving through our neighbourhoods restored to its full, luscious glory.

Fogarty's Cove Quarry

Posted on February 10, 2016
Publication Date: 
February 3, 2016

The Fogarty's Cove (AKA Black Point) Quarry in GuysborouFogarty's Covegh County is a large export quarry which will have major impacts on the landscape, seascape, and other industries such as tourism and fishing.

PDF icon Request that the Quarry Receive Highest Possible Level of Environmental Assessment
PDF icon Response to Round 2 of Consultations in the Black Point Quarry Environmental Assessment
PDF icon Response to Round 1 of Consultations in the Black Point Quarry Environmental Assessment

Mines and Quarries

Gretchen Fitzgerald — February 9, 2016

Mines and quarries can impact the environment in a variety of ways such as water contamination, diverting water systems, air emissions, and destroying habitat for wildlife.

The way to reduce these impacts is through careful consultation, land-use planning, and - when serious impacts can't be avoided - saying "no" to certain mines and quarries. 

Black Point (AKA Fogarty's Cove) Quarry Impacts - Survey for Round 2 of Consultations for Environmental Assessment

Posted on February 1, 2016
Publication Date: 
February 1, 2016

The results of the Environmental Assessment for the Black Point Quarry are now available here, and comments are due Feb 3rd! We want your response! 

You can indicate if you wish to remain anonymous or if you would like your name included in our report to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.

Microsoft Office document icon Survey-Questions_Round2Consultations.doc

Sierra Club, SOSS Disappointed as Corridor Granted Third Free License Extension in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

Posted on January 15, 2016

Sierra Club Canada Foundation and the Save Our Seas and Shores (SOSS) Coalition are deeply disappointed that a third extension has been granted for Corridor Resources’ exploration lease in the Gulf of St. Lawrence by federal and provincial natural resources ministers. The junior oil company was obliged to pay $1 million dollars to extend its lease beyond Jan.

What the day meant to me ...

Gretchen Fitzgerald — December 29, 2015

I remember the first time I talked to a fiery Mary Gorman on the phone, as a new staff person at the Atlantic Canada office, her impassioned narrative about the need to protect the Gulf of St. Lawrence from oil and gas development was inspirational.  It made me excited to work with her and others from the Save our Seas and Shores Coalition.  That phone call was in 2010, and over the past five years I have many fond memories of our campaign to protect of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

It's as Easy as Getting Outside.

Laine Brehaut's picture
Laine Brehaut — November 26, 2015
Baby Snowshoe Hares. Photos courtesy of Sophia Lavergne http://sophialav.weebly.com/

Wild Child is all about learning the art of being in nature. We work to help the children deepen the understanding of the world they sense, and build up the knowledge of connection a little bit at a time. One of the most important components of the Wild Child program is getting children out into natural areas. Having children experience a new space is one of the easiest ways to get them engaged and excited. All of the games and activities are designed to get them to use their senses more fully, inhabit their bodies, use their imaginations, and ask questions.

Off on New Adventures!

Laine Brehaut's picture
Laine Brehaut — November 13, 2015
Making art in Nature helps us find beauty and learn about our impacts

I'm so excited to start this adventure with the children of PEI!

There is magic in nature. As a small kid growing up in the PEI countryside I climbed trees, swam in streams, & watched the shadows of clouds race by on the hillsides in my valley. My earliest memories are of being fascinated by the tiny life all around me in overgrown meadows and the peace I felt sitting in the tall plants waving in the ever present summer breezes. I counted the tiny white moths, lady-bugs, and earthworms as my friends. I held countless little lives in my hands; toads, frogs, garter and northern redbelly snakes, and my all time favourite; spotted salamanders!

Wild Child Forest School Announces Fall Programing to Get Kids Active Outside

Posted on July 23, 2015

If you think today’s children’s are spending too much time indoors, you’re not alone.

 

In response to concerns that increasing numbers of today’s kids are more disconnected from the natural world than any previous generation, the launch of Halifax’s Wild Child Forest School comes as a fresh of breath air for families keen on getting their kids back outside and in a healthy setting. 

 

Following on from a successful pilot program in the spring, Wild Child Forest School has launched an ambitious program of ½ and full day sessions at 2 wooded locations within 20mins to downtown Halifax, beginning in September, giving kids an opportunity to discover and explore nature from this September