Sierra Club Canada Foundation is delighted to present the All Hands on Deck Webinar series, to showcase the diversity of issues and solutions as we come together to deal with the environmental and social challenges of our time. Please find recordings of our past webinars below, and stay tuned for future webinars.
Ontario Biodiversity Strategy Webinar - Add your voice!
Posted on March 22, 2023Ban Plutonium Reprocessing in Canada
Posted on February 8, 2023Impacts of offshore drilling on biodiversity
Posted on December 16, 2022Conserving the Last Canadian Home of the Mammoth
Posted on December 22, 2022Green Finance - an All Hands On Deck webinar
Posted on October 21, 2022100% Clean Renewable Energy, Part 1 - Nova Scotia
Posted on October 8, 2022100% Clean Renewable Energy, Part 2 - Newfoundland and Labrador
Posted on October 8, 2022100% Clean Renewable Energy, Part 3 - New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island
Posted on October 8, 2022What if the wind doesn’t blow!? A conversation with Stanford University Professor Mark Jacobson
Posted on October 8, 2022How Climate Change is Affecting the Temperature of the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Posted on July 28, 2022The waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence can be separated into three layers in summer: a surface layer in thermal equilibrium with the atmosphere, a deep layer that comes in from the ocean, and between them a Cold Intermediate Layer formed during the preceding winter. Long term temperature trends of these layers are presented and related to climate change warming, with a quick look at the decreasing sea ice cover.
North Atlantic Right Whales: The Road to Recovery
Posted on July 17, 2022Roughly 83% of the population of the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW) showed evidence of at least one entanglement throughout their life, with 59% of those having been entangled more than once. Entanglements from fixed fishing gear, along with vessel strikes, have been leading causes of mortality in the species for years. With fewer than 350 NARWs remaining, they are at a critical point.
Local fishermen in the Gulf of Saint-Lawrence region and the government of Canada are working together to reduce mortalities, notably by placing temporary closures and developing and testing new whale-safe fishing gear. However, while this may help reduce mortalities, the impacts of climate change and other ecological problems may also affect the Gulf of St-Lawrence bioregion, an important feeding ground for the species. So will these efforts prove sufficient to help the species recover?
Using Two-Eyed Seeing as a Model for Reconciliation and Marine Conservation
Posted on July 5, 2022Note: Elder Albert Marshall could not be present during the event due to health issues. We instead shared a video of him speaking about Two-Eyed Seeing and the need for reconciliation with nature. The video can be found on Youtube at the address below, it was published on January 10th 2022 by Allison Bernard Memorial High School. Go and give it a like!
youtube.com/watch?v=qoR4nnzG13U&list=LL&index=5&t=83s
The importance and role of reconciliation between settlers and Indigenous peoples to ensure adequate conservation of marine ecosystems is fundamental to consultation and cooperation, as stated under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act adopted by Canada in 2021. Two-Eyed Seeing is an increasingly important process for the inclusion of Indigenous peoples for environmental sustainability. Two-Eyed Seeing has the potential to guide reconciliation in the context of consultation and cooperation. By enhancing our understanding of knowledge systems, Two-Eyed Seeing will be explored as a tool for reconciliation to conserve marine ecosystems.
2030 Is Tomorrow: Protecting 30% of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Is Urgent and Feasible
Posted on June 27, 2022The state of our oceans is concerning, to say the least. They are subject to cumulative impacts from pollution, noise, climate change, overfishing, and more. One of the solutions in our toolbox to help restore the health of marine ecosystems are marine protected areas (MPAs). In this presentation, SNAP Québec will discuss the history, benefits and types of MPAs, as well as the necessity and urgency of creating an effective MPA network covering at least 30% of Gulf of St. Lawrence.
2030, c'est demain: Protéger 30% du golfe du St. Laurent est urgent et réalisable
Posted on June 27, 2022L'état de nos océans est préoccupant, c'est le moins qu'on puisse dire. Ils sont soumis aux impacts cumulés de la pollution, du bruit, des changements climatiques, de la surpêche, et plus encore. L'une des solutions dans notre boîte à outils pour aider à restaurer les écosystèmes marins sont les aires marines protégées (AMP). Dans cette présentation, SNAP Québec discutera de l'historique, des avantages et des types d'AMP, ainsi que de la nécessité et de l'urgence de créer un réseau efficace d'AMP couvrant au moins 30 % du golfe du Saint-Laurent.
Protecting Avian Biodiversity: A Guide for Municipalities (English)
Posted on May 9, 2022Every spring, millions of birds from various species migrate back to Canada from their southern wintering grounds to come feed and nest. This is a critical time for them. Sierra Club Quebec Chapter is researching and sharing best practices municipalities can apply to mitigate effects of our potentially damaging activities like use of pesticides, landscaping, and clearing under utility lines.
The Migratory Birds Convention Act is intended to provide protection to these migratory birds. However, additional work and research is constantly required on current policies and practices to adequately protect them. Failing to do so could have serious impacts on these fragile animals that spread seeds, pollinate our flowers, and control insect populations.
Note: English translation ends at 45 minutes due to interpreter availability.
Protéger la biodiversité aviaire: Vers un guide pour les municiplaités (français)
Posted on May 9, 2022Chaque printemps, des millions d'oiseaux de diverses espèces migrent du Sud vers le Canada pour venir se nourrir et faire leurs nids. C'est un moment critique pour eux. La section Québec de la Fondation Sierra Club Canada recherche et partage les meilleures pratiques que les municipalités peuvent appliquer pour atténuer les effets de nos activités potentiellement dommageables pour les oiseaux, dont l'utilisation de pesticides, l'aménagement paysager et le dégagement des lignes électriques.
La Loi sur la convention concernant les oiseaux migrateurs vise à assurer leur protection. Cependant, des travaux et des recherches supplémentaires sur les politiques et pratiques actuelles sont constamment nécessaires pour les protéger de manière adéquate. Ne pas le faire pourrait avoir de graves répercussions sur ces animaux fragiles qui répandent des graines, pollinisent nos fleurs et contrôlent les populations d'insectes.
Webinar: Crises, war and the future of global climate cooperation and activism
Posted on March 18, 2022The Russian invasion of Ukraine has revealed the consequences of the global reliance on fossil fuels. We are at a real inflection point for the world and Canada. Will we entrench our reliance on fossil fuels even further or switch quickly to renewable energy and energy savings as the climate emergency demands?
Champions for oil and gas are attempting to use the war in Ukraine to buttress oil and gas demand and provide cover for approving new oil and gas projects like Bay du Nord. Meanwhile, global climate science indicates the consequences for not confronting the climate crisis are dire.
How can we work together and lead the way toward peace and climate justice?
Join us for a timely discussion of global energy demand and solutions.
With Eddy Pérez, the International Climate Diplomacy Manager at Climate Action Network Canada.
Our speaker: Eddy Pérez
In addition to his work with Climate Action Network Canada, Eddy is a lecturer at the University of Montreal and teaches Climate justice and international cooperation. Eddy is an expert on climate diplomacy, analyzing and monitoring international climate negotiations from a Canadian and North American perspective.
He chairs the G7 Climate and Energy WG within the G7 Global Taskforce. He sits on the Canadian Domestic Advisory Group (CEDAG) for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Eddy holds a Master of Science degree from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique du Québec (INRS).
Eddy loves poetry and attributes part of his passion for climate justice to the work of Eduardo Galeano. One of his favourite quotes from this author is: “Recordar, from the Latin records, to pass back through the heart.
You can also watch our other webinars at: www.sierraclub.ca/en/all-hands-on-deck-webinars
Webinar: Treaty 9 and Development of the Ring of Fire within NAN Territory
Posted on March 4, 2022We invite you to learn about the historic context and current concerns related to the proposed Ring of Fire mining project in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Territory.
Joseph Duncan, an Indigenous member from the NAN Territory and former chair of the Sierra Club's Ontario chapter, discusses the club’s work on a report for the government’s Regional Assessment of the Ring of Fire. Our report focuses on the social, environmental, and economic impacts of the proposed development including a survey of some local residents.
The $60 billion chromite mining proposal, referred to as the Ring of Fire, impacts 5,100 square kilometers of Northwestern Ontario. The area is rich in mineral deposits, peat moss, caribou, and many other species essential to Indigenous nations’ economy and culture. The region is home to the Indigenous people of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, with a population of 45,000.
Treaty Nine was established in 1905, making the NAN Territory a sovereign nation.
Repercussions of mining developments have significant impacts on the economy, environment, society and Indigenous nations' natural habitat, impacting their survival. Provincial and federal leaders hail the Ring of Fire proposal as a multigenerational opportunity that can economically and socially benefit communities. Unfavorable repercussions of surface and subsurface mining frequently include toxic waste material, long-term environmental devastations, and human rights violations.
This presentation highlights parts of the research report Ring of Fire Assessment: An Assessment of Reflections From the Members of Nishnawbe Aski Nation Territory. We recommend you read the report in addition to watching the webinar.
Our speaker:
Joseph Duncan is an Indigenous member from Nishnawbe Aski Nation Territory, situated in Muskrat Dam First Nation. He is a former police officer who served with the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service for 14 years. After an injury ended his law enforcement career he has pursued higher education at Lakehead University completing degrees in Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism and an MA in Social Justice. Joseph is familiar with the political structure of the NAN Territory and ran in the 2021 election for Deputy Grand Chief of NAN. Today, Joseph teaches at Lakehead University instructing Advance Land Relations.
You can also watch all of our webinars at: www.sierraclub.ca/en/all-hands-on-deck-webinars
A Brief History of Bison Conservation in Canada
Posted on January 24, 2022Within a single human lifetime, tens of millions of bison were killed until less than a thousand individuals remained in all of North America. Despite over 120 years of hard work, many conservation challenges still face bison today.
This is a story you don’t want to miss. It’s a story of twists and turns, from dramatic roundups by Blackfoot and Mexican cowboys, to epic train journeys, "lost" national parks, near-ruinous mistakes, and no small amount of luck.
Watch the webinar recording below! You can also watch all of our webinars at: www.sierraclub.ca/en/all-hands-on-deck-webinars
Our presenter this month is Lauren Markewicz, a member of our Prairie Chapter’s Executive Committee.
Lauren is a public historian who has come to specialize in the history of bison. She is the author of Through the Storm: Canada's Bison Conservation Story, a book dealing with the twists and turns of the history of bison conservation in what is now Canada, in both images and text.
She has worked at various historic sites and natural areas in Western Canada. She likes to spend time on the landscape, hiking and camping, and thinking a lot about the human relationships with and impacts on the land and the other creatures that live there.
All Hands on Deck: A Telling Tale of Tailpipes
Posted on January 20, 2022In Canada, roughly one-third of us live near a major road. We’re surrounded by traffic everyday. We pass by throngs of cars as we walk our kids to school; we sit in gridlock traffic driving to and from work; we hear cars whizzing by our homes that are located beside major roadways. Close proximity to major roads increases our exposure to air pollution, and the health risks that come with it.
What do we know about traffic-related air pollution and what can we do about it?
Our webinar featured prominent researcher and University of Toronto professor Dr. Greg Evans. Dr. Evans’ research focuses on air pollution, and understanding its impacts on human health and the environment.
The webinar also featured emerging findings from a community-based air quality campaign, Breathe Easy. The campaign’s goal is to use citizen science to monitor local air quality and use the findings to inspire community action on air pollution.
Understanding traffic-related air pollution is a big first step to improving it - and protecting our health. Check it out below!
