Trees, Bees & Birds: The Interconnectedness of Nature and Policy

Online

This webinar will explain the significance of municipal advocacy for environmental causes such as Bird Friendly Cities and urban tree canopies. By listing effective lobbying techniques, examples of what to lobby for, and ways in which Nature Canada can support, this webinar will be a resourceful starting point for organizations seeking to engage in environmental change in their cities.

Rain Garden and Bioswale Development - Learning from Connected Communities: An in-depth look at Nature-Based Climate Solutions in Atlantic Canada

Climate change is here, it is happening, and it is impacting New Brunswickers across the province and other Atlantic Canada residents.  Nature-based and natural approaches to adapting to climate change focus on implementing infrastructure that restores and protects natural areas while removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere, reducing flooding and stormwater surge risks, and supporting biodiversity.

There is interest and support for nature-based climate solutions from residents (see public survey of opinion results here) and there are many examples of successful projects across the region (see maps of case studies here).  Municipalities, community organizations, and landowners, however, face many barriers and challenges to developing their own nature-based projects including access to funding, materials, knowledgeable contractors, native plants, and more.

Join the NBEN, CLIMAtlantic, and Nature NB for a seven-part webinar and discussion series throughout June and early July where we will hear from communities across the Atlantic Provinces who have implemented nature-based infrastructure. Let's learn from their experience to understand the  challenges they encountered in the process, how they overcame those challenges, where they accessed the funds and resources, and what the results/successes of the projects have been. There will be opportunities to ask speakers your pressing questions and receive input and advice to surpass the challenges you might be facing in your communities.


This second webinar will delve into the development of rain gardens and bioswales to help with managing flooding. Rain gardens and bioswales are designed to manage rain and snowmelt runoff. Runoff during rain or snow melts is absorbed into the soil and eventually flows into water bodies and wetlands. Runoff often contains pollutants from animal excrement, bacteria from sewage, fertilizers, pesticides, sediments, and hydrocarbons, all of which provide risks to human and environmental health. A rain garden is comprised of deep-rooted grasses, flowers, and shrubs that tolerate wet and dry conditions in shallow landscape depressions. Bioswales are depressions with native plants, shrubs, and layers of soils that are engineered to complement conventional public storm water management systems and are often located next to roads or parking lots to help filter storm water run-off.

Speakers:

Jolyne Hébert, Executive Manager, Shediac Bay Watershed Association

Jolyne Hebert has over 10 years of experience with environmental NGOs in Southeastern New Brunswick. Since 2015, she began working towards the implementation of a stormwater management program in the Town of Shediac.

With funding from the NB Environmental Trust Fund and ECCC EcoAction program, she has led the development of stormwater management projects using green infrastructure in the Shediac Bay area. From rain gardens to bioretention systems, she promotes the use of plants and soil microbiome to tackle water quality issues related to pollution found in runoff.

This workshop will feature several of the projects she has created, from residential rain gardens to commercial bioswales.

Roxanne MacKinnon, Executive Director, ACAP Saint John 

Roxanne MacKinnon is the Executive Director of ACAP Saint John and has years of experience working on water quality and aquatic habitat projects. She has a keen interest in connecting environmental issues with community members and inspiring people to take local action. In recent years, Roxanne has been actively involved in multiple rain garden projects from designing, to funding, to implementation and works with a dedicated team of staff and volunteers to implement natural climate change adaptation initiatives within the Greater Saint John Region.



This webinar will be primarily in English with simultaneous French interpretation.

Mapping fossil fuel lock-in and contestation in Eastern Canada

Online

CCPA-Nova Scotia, CCPA-British Columbia and the Corporate Mapping Project will launch their forthcoming report Wednesday, June 7th, at 3 pm Eastern/4 pm Atlantic/4:30pm Newfoundland/Labrador. Join this free webinar where participants will hear from the report authors on the state of carbon extractivism in Eastern Canada. French/English translation will be available.

Climate Change in Atlantic Canada

Online

Looking to better understand the impacts of Climate Change in Atlantic Canada and what we can do about it? Join CLIMAtlantic Climate Change Science and Adaptation Specialist, Emma Poirier and NCC staff to learn about what impacts to expect in our region and what we can do about it. 

Climate change in Atlantic Canada means warmer temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, changing sea levels, and impacts such as coastal flooding and erosion. This presentation will cover projections of different variables for Atlantic Canada. It will also explore the variety of impacts that the region will see and highlight different options that can be used for adaptation, such as nature-based approaches.

Drive Electric Day Fredericton

Fredericton

On Saturday, July 8, join the NB Lung for Drive Electric Day Fredericton! Learn more about electric vehicles, bicycles, and more at this event. You can register at the link below for a test-drive in EVs and e-bikes!

World Ocean Day

Online

Nature Photography in Fredericton

Fredericton

All are welcome to join for some nature photography fun at the Ferris Street Nature Preserve.

During this outing, you will learn how to identify local plants and flowers through a photo-scavenger hunt with Ukranian botanist and Nature Trust staff Viktoriia Spitsyna.