Invasive Species – Action and Adaptation
The 16th Annual Sources of Knowledge Forum
Sources of Knowledge presents its 16th Annual Forum, Invasive Species: Action and Adaptation, taking place May 1–3, 2026 in Tobermory.
The forum will be held primarily at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre, with a Saturday evening banquet at the Tobermory Community Centre. Over three days, researchers, land managers, Indigenous knowledge holders, and conservation practitioners will examine the ecological, social, and management dimensions of invasive species in the Great Lakes region and beyond.
Programming includes a guided Bruce Trail hike to a restored site where invasive plants have been replaced with native species, keynote presentations on global and Lake Huron aquatic invasive species, discussions on invasive mussels and whitefish, intentional non-indigenous fish stocking, phragmites control, park-based monitoring and management, hydrilla as an emerging threat, and ecological gardening with native plants.
The forum also features dialogue sessions, moderated panels, and opportunities for participant questions throughout the weekend.
Following the forum, on May 5th join Sources of Knowledge, The Meeting Place, and Parks Canada for a guided e-bike ride exploring local ecosystems and identifying invasive forest species. This small-group outing offers a hands-on look at how invasive species are identified and managed. Pre-registration is required, email info@tobermorymeetingplace.com to join.
FIRE : Respect – Knowledge – Balance
The 15th Annual Sources of Knowledge Forum
We had rescheduled the much-anticipated Forum on Fire due to federal regulations that restrict government employees from speaking publicly during the election writ period, which extends beyond election day. Since contributions from Parks Canada and the Great Lakes Forestry Centre represent an important part of the forum’s intended discussions, holding the event without their participation would have limited our ability to fully present all planned research and perspectives. Originally planned for the weekend of May 2nd – 4th, the Forum was held on October 24-26, 2025.
Sources of Knowledge originated as part of a partnership with Parks Canada to share important research and insights about the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula and its unique ecosystems. To remain true to our foundational purpose and ensure the forum fully represents the vital research and knowledge from our government partners, we believed rescheduling was necessary. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding. Thank you for your continued support!
For millennia, humans have gathered around fire—it has been central to our economic, social, cultural, and sacred lives. Fire is a powerful and essential force, providing warmth from the sun and the heat we rely on for cooking and survival. Yet, fire is also destructive, capable of devastating homes and communities. As climate change accelerates, conditions increasingly favour fire weather, leading to more frequent and intense wildfires. This presents a paradox: wildfire is a natural and necessary force, playing a critical role in forest renewal and ecosystem balance, yet it also brings destruction and loss. Understanding this dual nature is crucial, and this year’s forum will delve into the many ways fire shapes our world.
To explore these complexities, we are bringing together experts from multiple fields to discuss fire’s impact on nature and human life. Speakers will include: First Nations’ leaders, an Anthropologist / Archaeologist, wildfire experts from National and Provincial forestry centres (Sault Ste. Marie & Peterborough), Bruce Peninsula Firefighters, Parks Canada Forest Ecology specialists, Municipal leaders & emergency planners, and Forest Regeneration specialists from British Columbia and Quebec.
A Sustainable Tourism Future for the Saugeen Peninsula
May 3 – 5, 2024
Thank you for joining us for our 2024 Forum: A Sustainable Tourism Future for the Saugeen Peninsula. As per last year, the Parks Canada Visitor Center hosted the Friday evening social and Saturday/Sunday technical programs. The Banquet and guest speaker presentation was held at the Tobermory Community Center. The delicious dinner was prepared and served by Pharos Restaurant (The Princess Hotel).
The Forum subcommittee had been busy and received excellent support from a variety of agencies and individuals to participate. Sustainable Tourism is currently at the forefront of strategic planning and new initiatives on the Peninsula and beyond, thus there is much to learn and discuss. We hoped to provide a cross-section of local, regional and greater sustainable tourism plans and programs.
Highlights included a pre-Forum geological hike near Dyers Bay (“Geotourism Live!”) led by local geologist Daryl Cowell; a presentation on the North Bruce Sustainable Tourism Action Plan (STAP) and implementation Advisory Group (STAG) involving many local and regional agencies. Other presentations were shared by the SON Environment Office and by the Niagara Escarpment for Sustainable Tourism (NEST), as well as GreenStep Solutions who spoke to the development of links between tourism destinations and businesses.
Our guest speaker on Saturday Evening was Tony Pigott, Executive Director of “DEEPTIME: The Georgian Bay Aspiring Geopark”. Tony provided an in-depth description of recent proposals and activities to establish the entire Georgian Bay region, including the Saugeen Peninsula, as a new UNESCO Global Geopark. The inclusion of the geology of this region within the global geopark network is described as an essential building block in creating a sustainable future for Georgian Bay.
Sunday morning was again open to the community and started with new sustainable tourism initiatives by RT07. This was followed by a ‘roundtable’ discussion including tourism presentations by local actors involved in tourism and tourism planning (Escarpment Heights Motel, Summer House Park, The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association and the Municipality of North Bruce Peninsula).
The State of Biodiversity on the Saugeen Peninsula
and Beyond
PROCEEDINGS COMING SOON!
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. 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.
The Forum Program is designed to meet several learning and action objectives:
- Learn about biodiversity and the importance of the United Nations COP15 agreement.
- Situate Indigenous conservation leadership as central; as Canada’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven 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 already underway by government and local groups, and learn how you can take action.
For more information about, or to view the trailer for Friday evening’s film: The Issue with Tissue, A Boreal Love Story by Director Michael Zelniker
Accounting for the Past, Envisioning the Future: A Seven Generations Based Framework for the Bruce Peninsula
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.
Peoples of The Great Arc: Two Ways of Knowing
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.
