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  • 2023

The State of Biodiversity on the Saugeen Peninsula
and Beyond

DRAFT FORUM PROGRAM

We would like to invite you to the 2023 Forum themed on biodiversity. We feel that the timing is right following the United Nations Convention of the Parties on biodiversity meetings in Montreal in December, 2022. By all accounts, Canada played a leading role in forging the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, committing countries to protect 30 per cent of land and oceans by 2030, recognizing Indigenous leadership as a central pillar of achieving these goals and reaffirming Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, prior and informed consent to development projects taking place on their territories. It includes a call for rich countries to support poorer countries with US$200 billion to protect nature by 2030, including $20 billion per year between now and 2025 and $30 billion per year after that until the end of the decade.

Why is this important? Biodiversity is the variety of all living things on this planet, from bats to cattails, bears to humans, caribou to orchids. There are millions of plant, animal, insect, bacteria and fungi species that make up life on Earth, and each one has a part to play in helping ecosystems thrive. But this precious biodiversity is under serious threat. Over the last half-century or so, the number of animals on Earth has dropped by half. Up to one million species are currently on the brink of extinction, some within decades or earlier. Scientists say we’re seeing the sixth mass extinction on our planet, the first to be caused entirely by one species – us.

In gathering at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre for the April 2023 Forum, we have several learning and action objectives:

    • Learn about biodiversity and the importance of the United Nations COP15 agreement.
    • Situate Indigenous conservation leadership as central; as Minister Guilbeault says, “By coupling Indigenous and Western science, we can fight the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, strengthen our relationships with Indigenous communities, and build a better future for everyone.”
    • Examine how important the Saugeen Peninsula is to Great Lakes-wide biodiversity, hear about important efforts by government and local groups, and learn how you can take action.
    • Apply critical thinking skills by considering contradictions in what governments say and actually do. While Canada was announcing funding to support Indigenous conservation during COP15, they were also announcing plans to fast-track environmental assessments for ‘Ring of Fire’ mineral mining projects in Ontario’s boreal forest, home to dozens of Indigenous Nations and critical caribou habitat.

Stay tuned for more information about the Forum program here and in the upcoming editions of the Bruce Peninsula Press. But, as a teaser, we are excited to announce that we will be showing the new film: The Issue with Tissue, A Boreal Love Story with Director Michael Zelniker.

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER HERE

The program and registration process will be officially launched in late January. Look for a brand-new section on biodiversity providing you with a learning primer to enhance your participation.

See you soon!

  • 2022

The Climate Is Changing. Will We?

FORUM AGENDA
FORUM SPEAKERS
VIDEO PROCEEDINGS PLAYLIST
  • 2019

Fathom Five National Marine Park: In Depth

Forum Agenda
Video Playlist

  • 2018

Shaping the Future

Forum Agenda
Video Playlist

  • 2017

Accounting for the Past, Envisioning the Future: A Seven Generations Based Framework for the Bruce Peninsula

Forum Agenda
Video Playlist
Public Discussion Notes
Photo Gallery

Speakers

Dr. Deborah McGregor

James S. Quinn (Jim): is a professor of biology at McMaster University. He teaches conservation biology, molecular ecology, and behavioural ecology as well as a first year course called “Biodiversity, Evolution, and Humanity”.

Alan Corbiere

Alan Ojiig Corbiere, Bne doodemid (Ruffed Grouse clan): is an Anishinaabe from M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. He was educated on the reserve and then attended the University of Toronto for a Bachelor of Science, he then entered York University and earned his Masters of Environmental Studies.

Dr. Deborah McGregor

Deborah McGregor: Associate Professor & Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Environmental Justice, York University, Osgoode Hall Law School and Faculty of Environmental Studies TOPIC: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Environmental Futures

Dr. John Borrows

Dr. John Borrows: Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law, University of Victoria and citizen of the Chippewas of the Nawash First Nation TOPIC: Learning From The Land: Understanding Anishinaabe Law on the Saugeen Peninsula

Dr. Dan Longboat

Dr. Dan Longboat: Director, Indigenous Studies and Science, Trent University Topic: Seven Generations Thinking: Understanding the Future By Remembering the Past

Nathan Tidridge

Nathan Tidridge: Teacher of History and Government, Waterdown High School Topic: The Queen as Treaty Partner The Crown’s Role in Reconciliation

Kit Worzel

Kit Worzel: is a dynamic young futurist with a focus on science and technology. His experience in the field, both at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the University of Guelph have given him strong insight into trends in science, and being a favored guest on InnerSpace on the Space network keeps him sharp and on top of his game.

  • 2016

Peoples of The Great Arc: Two Ways of Knowing

Forum Agenda
Video Playlist
Photo Gallery

A presentation and discussion of the implications of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report for the residents of the Bruce Peninsula was the feature of the Sunday morning final session of the 2016 Sources of Knowledge Forum. Special Speaker: Chief Vernon Roote, Saugeen First Nation.

  • 2015

The Great Arc: Life On The (L)edge

Forum Proceedings
Forum Program
Forum Speakers
Video Playlist

  • 2014

Beneath The Waves

Forum Proceedings
Forum Program
Video Playlist

  • 2013

Changing Lakes

Forum Proceedings
Forum Program
Forum Speakers

  • 2012

Climate Change

Forum Agenda
Forum Speakers
2012 Proceedings

  • 2011

Dark Skies, Bright Minds

2011 Proceedings

  • 2010

Wildlife, Research, Management & Planning

2010 Proceedings

  • 2009

Coastal Heritage

2009 Proceedings

2022 Speakers

Stephen Scharper

STEPHEN SCHARPER

Dr. Stephen Bede Scharper is a U of T professor, author, editor, columnist, and public scholar with a special focus on social justice, sustainability, and the environment. Dr. Scharper’s research and teaching are in the areas of environmental ethics, worldviews and ecology, religion and ecology, liberation theology, sustainability ethics, as well as nature and the city. Dr. Scharper is hosting the ever-popular curated movie night, a regular favourite at Sources of Knowledge.

John Terpstra

JOHN TERPSTRA

John Terpstra is a poet, author and cabinetmaker whose work often focuses on the built and natural geography of the not-quite-post-industrial city of Hamilton. His most recent non-fiction work, Daylighting Chedoke, concerns a buried creek in the city. One of his poems, Giants, is mounted on a plaque on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment overlooking downtown Hamilton.

Bill Caulfeild-Browne

BILL CAULFEILD-BROWNE

Bill is a former business executive and corporate director. He is a passionate conservationist and nature photographer and has published several books of his work. He is a former Chair of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and of the Sources of Knowledge Forum. He currently serves as a director of Canada’s History Society. A citizen-scientist in the field of climate studies for over 40 years, he has documented climate change on the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula by comparing records from his weather station in Tobermory with those of the 20th century.

Eric Miller

ERIC MILLER

Eric Miller is Director of the York University Ecological Footprint Initiative, while he also teaches courses in ecological economics and sustainability informatics. Eric is also a David Suzuki Fellow with a focus on enhancing ecological-economic literacy in Canada. His prior work as a consulting economist informed governments, industry, think-tanks, and NGOs. His earlier work in public service had him leading the team of economists in the Ministry of Natural Resources, after he had worked for the Ministry of Environment and for Environment Canada.

Ethan Meleg

ETHAN MELEG

Ethan Meleg grew up near Point Pelee National Park, which turned him into a ‘bird nerd’ at a young age and inspired his passion for nature and parks. His Parks Canada career started in 1999 as a naturalist at Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park. He has grown into many different roles, and spent a few years at Georgian Bay Islands National Park, before coming back to the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula a few years ago – this time with a family in tow. Ethan is a member of the park management team and is currently the acting Park Superintendent. Outside of his work with Parks Canada, Ethan is an accomplished nature photographer. His greatest passion is exploring parks and wild areas with his camera, whether on exciting trips or close to home.

Reid Gomme

REID GOMME

Reid is a lawyer for Ecojustice’s Ottawa office, returning to the team after working at the Ottawa office as a 2021-22 articling student, a 2020 summer student, and having participated in the uOttawa Ecojustice clinic course in the fall of 2019. Reid is thrilled to contribute to Ecojustice’s work in fighting for a livable and equitable future for humans and all living creatures. Reid was actively involved in the youth climate case. When Reid is not researching or taking a Zoom call, you can find him exploring trails and waterways in and around Ottawa, or out on the Salish Sea in a canoe with his Grandpa when he has a chance to visit family back in BC.

Emily Martin

EMILY MARTIN

Emily Martin is a resident of the Northern Saugeen Peninsula and the Manager of Resources and Infrastructure for the Environment Office of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON). In her role she manages the duty to consult and accommodate SON for all proposed development in SON Territory (other than energy projects) and the relationship with Parks Canada for SON. Emily is passionate about public education in SON Territory and is looking forward to connecting with the SOK community.

Daimen Hardie

DAIMEN HARDIE

Daimen is the co-founder and Executive Director of Community Forests International, a charitable organization with a mission to protect and restore the climate by enabling communities and forests to thrive together. Community Forests created one of the first forest carbon storage projects in Canada in 2012, to preserve the endangered Wabanaki forest of the Maritimes, and leads community-based climate resilience projects internationally in vulnerable regions including Zanzibar and Mozambique. Daimen has witnessed firsthand how people can become a restorative force for forests and the climate. He will share the latest learnings from Community Forests’ work on improving carbon storage and biodiversity of forests with highlights including the most climate-adapted trees, successful strategies for mobilizing communities and funding local forest protection, and inspiring findings on the link between the global climate stability and local disaster risk reduction provided by community forests.

Ralph Martin

RALPH MARTIN

Ralph C. Martin grew up on his family farm in Wallenstein, ON. After 4-H, his formal education includes, a B.A. and an M.Sc. in Biology from Carleton University and a Ph.D. in Plant Science from McGill University. His research and teaching began at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, in 1990, and he realized students teach him too. In 2001, he founded the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada www.dal.ca/faculty/agriculture/oacc/en-home.html to coordinate university research and education pertaining to organic systems, across Canada . In 2011, he was appointed as Professor and the Loblaw Chair in Sustainable Food Production at the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph. In 2019, he retired and published his book, Food Security.

Steve Lee

STEVE LEE

Between 2017-2019, Steve listened to the voices of over 100,000 young Canadians in person. He helped students undertake more than a hundred local sustainability projects. He drove 160,000 km to over 500 schools in more than 400 towns, focusing on rural and remote communities that didn’t want to talk about climate change. Enough students were talking about it at dinner tables that Alberta’s energy ‘war room’ opened with an attack on Steve, which led to a barrage of death threats by parents requiring RCMP protection in some schools. What is climate denial really about? Why is it so emotionally charged? How do we bridge the divides? The answer: listening in love.

Dianne Saxe

DIANNE SAXE

Dianne Saxe, Ph.D. in Law, is one of Canada’s most respected environmental lawyers. She ran an environmental law boutique for 25 years, and was the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario 2015 – 2019, reporting to the Legislature on environment, energy and climate. Now heads SaxeFacts, focussing on the climate crisis. Substantial board and media experience. Hosts Green Economy Heroes podcast. Senior Fellow, Massey College. Law Society Medal 2020 for exemplary leadership in environmental law. Clean50 honouree. Deputy leader of the Ontario Green Party and Green Party candidate in University-Rosedale. Global Competent Board Designation.

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2017 Photos

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2016 Photos

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2015 Forum Speakers

Kristin Buckley, Matthew Buckley & Morag Kloeze

Stephen Scharper

Daryl Cowell

Elizabeth Thorn

Derek Ford

Hazel Lyder

Paul Regnier

Rod Steinacher

Patrick Donnelly

Kim Clarke

Frank Brunton

Dr. Roger Kuhns

Eric Fowle

Dr. Don Mikulic

Dr. Joanne Kluessendorf

Bob Bultman

Steve DeBaker

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2015 Forum Proceedings

The 2015 Sources of Knowledge Forum titled “The Great Arc: Life on the (L)Edge” took place in Tobermory on May 8-10, with the goal of building bridges to other communities which, like the Bruce, lie on the rim of the Michigan Basin.

This geological structure, often referred to as the “Great Arc”, extends from the Niagara Peninsula northward through the Bruce, across Manitoulin Island and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and then southward through the Door Peninsula of Wisconsin to Green Bay and beyond.

Communities situated on this Arc, while different in many ways, have in common an escarpment, sometimes submerged or buried, but very evident in areas such as the Bruce and Door peninsulas.

They share a dolostone bedrock chemistry. Where the rim is exposed, their soils are thin and rocky. Thanks to their common bedrock source, the soils support a similar biodiversity.

Learning about these communities is interesting in itself, but it is our common issues and the ways they have been addressed that form the core of this Forum. This year we focussed on that area of Wisconsin encompassing Green Bay and the Door Peninsula to the north. The Door and Bruce peninsulas in particular have geographical and geological similarities. The Door escarpment faces west and is referred to as the “Ledge”. The film shown to our National Park Visitors, featuring our escarpment, is called “Life on the Edge”, hence the Forum title.

Both economies depend on tourism, have offshore islands and tour boat operations, are home to retirees and artists, and depend on urban centres at their base (Green Bay and Owen Sound) for major supplies. Both have rich archeological and cultural histories, have First Nation communities, struggle with wind turbine issues, and have hiking trails and parks. John Muir, famous as the founder of the Sierra club, lived for a time at the base of both peninsulas!

There are also major differences. Green Bay is a much larger centre than Owen Sound. The Door is more heavily populated and economically more developed than the Bruce. In a sense, the Door represents one version of a future for the Bruce as we seek to develop economically; not necessarily the future we might choose, but worthy of study. Conversely, residents of the Door might envy the state of preservation of this area, and seek to learn from it.

The 2015 Forum provided opportunities to look at these possibilities. We worked with Eric Fowle of the East Wisconsin Planning Commission in preparation for this event, and attracted other officials and Wisconsin residents to the Forum. They even shared their local wines and cheeses with us!

As usual, the Forum included a Friday afternoon field trip, the Friday evening Film Festival with Dr. Stephen Scharper, and the Saturday evening social and dinner with keynote speaker.

Beneath the Waves: Underwater Discovery in Fathom Five National Marine Park

This year’s Forum celebrated the long history, and bright future, for underwater exploration in the Tobermory area.

There are lots of rich and interwoven stories here. These include the early surveys by British and American navies, the rich history of diving in the area, the role of that dive community in the establishment of Fathom Five and the technologies such as Sublimnos that have been pioneered. This background is timely as we embark upon exciting new projects to better map our wrecks and monitor subsurface conditions. For example, laser imaging and advanced filming techniques are now being employed to produce 3-D and interactive models of the wrecks.

The field trip on Friday afternoon, May 2, featured demonstrations of subsurface mapping and diving techniques. Members of the Canadian Navy’s Experimental Diving and Undersea Group participated. Friday evening, Stephen Scharper from the University of Toronto hosted the annual film festival on this year’s theme.

Saturday Speakers

  • Stuart Seldon on the early years of discovery around Fathom Five;
  • Dr. George Harpur: a pioneer in medical diving and hyperbaric medicine;
  • Andrew Leyzack: an expert on high resolution hydrography with the Canadian Hydrographic Service
  • Flora Davidson: of the Parks Canada Marine Archaeology Unit on modern methods of surveying shipwrecks;
  • Doug Elsey: pioneering diver and engineer on the 1969-71 Sublimnos habitat project with Dr. Joe MacInnis, who will provide a video-taped introduction;
  • Dr. Jim Rusak of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment on the Global Lake Experimental Observatory Network (GLEON);

Event Details

The dinner on Saturday was catered by The Grandview, Tobermory and featured keynote speaker, Marc-André Bernier of the Parks Canada Underwater Archaeology Section. He gave a presentation on 50 years of Marine Archaeology carried out by Parks Canada personnel, including the location of HMS Investigator and the recent search for Franklin.

The first session on Sunday morning featured Lt. Troy Beechinor of the Canadian Navy’s Experimental Diving Group who described new techniques for deep diving. If you have ever wondered what those mysterious black-suited divers in black Zodiacs are up to, this was your chance to find out.

For the remainder of the morning, Dr. Gordon Nelson moderated a panel – Daryl Cowell, Scarlett Janusas, Eric Fowle, Jim Uhrinak – previewing the 2015 Forum on The Great Arc – a look at the social and scientific issues common to communities, like Tobermory, living around the rim of the Michigan Basin.

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Changing Lakes

As Lake Huron-Georgian Bay continues to experience profound and novel change (e.g., driven by invasive species, lake levels, development, water quality, etc.), the context for coastal and offshore conservation becomes increasingly complex and uncertain. Although protected areas such as Fathom Five National Marine Park and Bruce Peninsula National Park are recognized for the central role they play in protecting natural and cultural values, their effectiveness to do so is being challenged and requires a rethinking of our stewardship efforts. The 2013 Sources of Knowledge Forum provided a platform for scientists, students, decision-makers, and the public to understand the changing nature of Lake Huron and discuss the means to better protect it.

Through presentations and workshops, topics covered at the Forum included:

  • Describe the changing and novel ecosystems of Lake Huron.
  • Review the status, benefits, and efficacy of aquatic protected areas.
  • Explore opportunities for place-based conservation.
  • Discuss the possibility of an international peace park or other network initiative.
  • Present contemporary offshore and coastal mapping and assessment techniques.
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2013 Forum Speakers

Jeff Gray

Aranus Liskauskas

Geoff Peach

Dr. Scott Parker

Daryl Cowell

Mike Shantz

David Bywater

Dr. Patrick Lawrence

Greg Mayne

Dan Krauss

Dr. Stephen Riley

Dr. Stephen Scharper

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Climate Change

By all accounts this sold-out Forum was a great success – world class speakers, community voices, generous sponsors, and attentive participants. The Climate Change Forum Proceedings are available below.

CLIMATE CHANGE; WHAT MIGHT IT MEAN FOR THE BRUCE? was the focus of the 4th Sources of Knowledge Forum April 28-29, 2012 at the Parks Visitor Centre, Tobermory. Informative and thought-provoking presentations helped to improve our understanding of how our weather and climate are changing and the impact on health, safety, economy and the environment. Everyone in attendance had an opportunity to learn more about the effect of climate change on lake levels, tourism, recreation, agriculture and biodiversity as well as what it takes to adapt to changing needs and circumstances.

The Forum brought together an eclectic panel of speakers sharing their knowledge on various aspects of one of today’s most challenging subjects – CLIMATE CHANGE.

In addition to the plenary sessions during the day on Saturday, April 28th, there was a dinner, catered by The Green Door Cafe with guest speaker, internationally renowned Dr. Stephen Woodley.

On Sunday morning, April 29th at the Visitor Centre, Tobermory, the Peninsula Transition Group hosted a workshop with interactive and collaborative activities, and presentations on local projects and initiatives that align with Transition values.

In the afternoon there was a mini Climate Change Film Festival, hosted by Dr. Stephen Scharper at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre, Tobermory.

There was also exhibitor displays and an art show Changing Weather featuring Bruce Peninsula artists.

Climate Change Proceedings

2012 Forum Speakers

Dr. Stephen Woodley – Keynote Speaker

Dr. Stephen Murphy

Dr. Patrick Doran

Dr. David Pearson

Dr. Barry Smit

Bill Caulfeild-Browne

Dr. Christopher Lemieux

Gary Neilsen

Dark Skies, Bright Minds

The third Sources of Knowledge Forum: Dark Skies, Bright Minds, was held in Tobermory, Ontario on April 29-30, 2011. Once again, the Forum celebrated the natural and cultural heritage of Bruce Peninsula National Park, Fathom Five National Marine Park and the surrounding communities by exploring the value and importance of our dark skies.

The event brought together local, national and international speakers on dark sky conservation, astronomy and ecology of the night. Artists, scientists and practitioners alike all shared their perspectives and reinforced the on-going efforts to recognize and protect the region’s dark skies.

The venue was filled to capacity and attracted 107 students, local residents, and others with an interest in this important and inspired theme.

The theme for the 2011 Sources of Knowledge Forum was Dark Skies, Bright Minds. The Table of Contents are listed here and a link to the entire PDF is provided below.

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2010 Proceedings

The second Sources of Knowledge forum was held May 14th and 15th, 2010 – again hosted by the Parks Advisory Committee in partnership with Parks Canada, Friends of Bruce District Parks, Bruce Peninsula District School and St. Edmunds Public School.

The theme for the 2010 Sources of Knowledge Forum was Wildlife, Research, Management, Conservation and Planning. A link to the entire PDF is provided.

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2009 Proceedings

On May 1-2, 2009, the Parks Advisory Committee hosted the 1st Sources of Knowledge Forum in partnership with Parks Canada, Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association, Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory, Friends of Bruce District Parks, Bruce Peninsula District School and St. Edmunds Public School.

This event attracted 117 participants. The theme for the 2009 Forum was ‘Coastal Heritage’ and included presentations, workshops and field trips by universities, government organizations, conservation groups, First Nations, schools and citizens and covered such topics as wildlife conservation as well as other issues affecting these and other Ontario national parks.

The 2009 Conference Proceedings have been compiled to make this knowledge available to anyone interested in learning about the natural and cultural heritage of the Bruce Peninsula and furthermore, to inspire action.

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The Painted Turtles Silent Auction

This summer, over 20 resin turtle shells have been brought to life through the Painted Turtles art exhibit at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre. Local artists, including many from the Bruce Peninsula Society of Artists and members of the Saugeen Ojibwe Nation, have contributed time, talent, and creativity to raise awareness around turtle conservation. The shells range in design from colourful paintings to multimedia creations featuring beads, feathers, porcupine quills, and stained glass.

On Saturday, September 22nd from 7-9pm, Sources of Knowledge and Parks Canada are partnering to host a Silent Auction event for the turtle shells. The event also includes a special presentation from Wendy Baggs, Education Coordinator at the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) in Peterborough. The OTCC is known as Ontario’s “turtle hospital,” rehabilitating turtles from across the province who have been hit by vehicles. Wendy will be bringing four live turtles with her for the presentation.

Plastics in the Great Lakes: Finding Solutions Together with Parks Canada, Georgian Bay Forever & Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation

On June 26-27, the Sources of Knowledge and Parks Canada co-hosted a Friday evening Zoom talk on the damage micro-plastics are doing to the Great Lakes, followed by a community cleanup. For those of you who were unable to attend, here is a short summary of the findings and follow-up.

It is estimated that 22 million pounds of plastics enter the Great Lakes each year. Eventually all plastics break down into what are referred to as micro-plastics. These small pieces of plastic are often mistaken for food by insects, plankton, fish, and other aquatic life. Ingestion can cause abrasions or blockages, which can lead to outright starvation. Plastics spread toxins across ecosystems. Aquatic organisms can even get defects as they absorb pollutants into their skin and at the molecular level, which then get passed up the food chain. We learned that current research on Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie proposes that plastic concentrations observed exceed data collected in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch!

Brooke Harrison from Georgian Bay Forever reported on their project employing 100 Filtrol laundry filters with local Parry Sound residents to remove micro-fibres lost from your clothing ($160 each – filtrol.com). Brooke’s monitoring showed a recordable difference in micro-fibres in the municipal sewage treatment plant. Parks Canada has just purchased Filtrols for six laundry machines in the park! Brooke is working with University of Toronto professor, Dr. Chelsea Rochman – her graduate student, Lisa Erdl has determined that fish from the Great Lakes can have up to 40 micro-plastics in their digestive tracts.

Hannah Cann from the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation outlined their efforts at regular shoreline cleanups. Hannah reported that 80% of anthropogenic litter is plastics and 600 metric tonnes enter Lake Huron/year, ranging in size from nano (<1 micron) to micro (up to 5 mm) all the way up to mega plastics such as tires. With a 22-year residence time before water leaves Lake Huron this stuff tumbles around, breaking into smaller and smaller plastics. Hannah ended her talk with some positive news highlighting C.R. Plastics in Stratford who use 60 lbs of collected plastic waste to produce one of their Adirondack chairs, and Terracyle who will assist you in recycling many different kinds of plastics that don’t fit in our Blue Box programs.

Our Saturday morning cleanup was dominated by cigarette butts which from a quick Google search is sadly the case with almost all cleanups (4,723 butts in a 2019 Goderich beach cleanup!). Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate fibres which breakdown into micro-plastics and take decades to decompose. Filters also contain thousands of chemicals that can kill plants and animals. We don’t have to go on about how smoking is bad for one’s health – PLEASE, just pick up your cigarette butts!

The Sources of Knowledge Forum is a Registered Charity #83042 9486 RR0001.

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