A walk in the woods: Enchantment in the subalpine
Enchantment Valley, BC (Photo by NCC)
I grew up in southern Ontario, and have spent nearly all my life living in urban areas. Despite this, I found ample opportunity to spend time in the forest. Most years, I camped with friends or family at Algonquin in the Great Lakes-St Lawrence...
A walk in the woods: Montane forest
Skaha Bluffs, BC (Photo by NCC)
I grew up in Williams Lake, British Columbia; it's a place known for ranching, logging, milling and mining. It’s also known for wide, open spaces, forests as far as the eye can see, sparkling lakes and wild rivers. My parents, who hailed...
Man Nature Poem: The Tragically Hip's connection to the Canadian outdoors
The Tragically Hip in Kelowna, BC, 2015 (Photo by Aven Hoffarth)
One of my earliest memories of music came from the speakers of my dad’s 1969 Beaumont convertible with the top down. I remember sitting in the back seat, my hair blowing through the wind, and my sister sitting shotgun beside my dad. Blaring...
The Migratory Bird Treaty turns 100!
Woman, wearing a large feathered hat and boa, posing for a portrait (Photo by John Oxley Library, Public Domain)
This year we mark the centennial of the convention between the United States and Great Britain (for Canada) for the protection of migratory birds — also called the Migratory Bird Treaty — that was signed on August 16, 1916. A century...
Adventures of a conservation intern: My first time to Haida Gwaii
Haida Gwaii's North Beach (Photo by NCC)
As the plane descended and broke through the thick, grey clouds, I could slowly start to make out forest-green islands emerging from the dark ocean. I had finally arrived on Haida Gwaii. Me! Here! Until that moment, Haida Gwaii was somewhere I...
Partners in conservation: The Nature Conservancy of Canada and Parks Canada
Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta & Northwest Territories (Photo by Parks Canada)
Canada’s Parks Day takes place on the third Saturday of July each year, at all national parks from coast to coast to coast. It serves as a reminder of our country’s beautiful natural landscapes. As Canada’s leading national...
Birdy McBirdface takes on the Big Year
Toby with monocular (Photo by Joanna Streetly)
Recently I had the chance to speak to a young lady, who is not only knowledgeable but passionate about birds and their conservation, and about her birding quest – pursuing a Big Year challenge at just 11 years old. Meet Toby —...
Looking back at my time with NCC
Interns help out on the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve (Photo by NCC)
I started working for the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) as a stewardship intern in 2008. After a great summer exploring NCC conservation areas across BC, I returned to the University of Victoria to continue my geography degree. The next...
Lions and coyotes and bears, oh my... and sheep, and wolves, and people: A workshop with Dr. Alistair Bath
Alistair Bath, human dimensions expert (Photo courtesy Mr. Bath)
“We have two ears and one mouth, so we should be listening twice as much as talking.” That’s Dr. Alistair Bath’s refrain. It was my sixth day of work at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), and I got to attend...
So you'd like to see a warbler...
Black-and-white warbler (Photo by NCC)
I like birding at just about any point of the year, but spring birding brings a certain excitement after a long winter season. Throughout Canada, warblers and other songbirds are starting to flock to landscapes that were recently quiet. Many are...
