Bringing communities together: The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
Hauling foam, a buoy and other marine debris during a 2016 Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. (Photo courtesy of Rachel Schoeler)
As an avid open water swimmer, I learned to respect our waterways while fighting through the smack and splash of ocean waves during long training swims. I fell in love with our waterways during calm, quiet morning swims out on the lake. And I...
All about wetlands
Forested wetlands in summer (Photo by Mary Gartshore)
Wetlands help purify fresh water for billions of global citizens. Like giant sponges, they absorb and replenish water, holding water during floods and providing water to rivers and streams during drought. Wetlands also provide vital nesting,...
Protecting what matters most: Identifying and conserving freshwater key biodiversity areas
Richelieu River, îles de Jeanotte et aux Cerfs, QC (Photo by Claude Duchaîne)
Nature conservation is fuelled by urgency. With over 750 Canadian wildlife species at risk, and many habitats being lost and degraded, it’s clear we need to do more conservation in Canada, and we need to do it faster. There are spaces and...
Emerald in the rough
Hine's emerald dragonfly at Minesing Wetlands, ON (Photo by Chris Evans)
Deep in the heart of the Minesing Wetlands, southern Ontario’s third-largest wetland system, lives a mysterious creature. It is thought to inhabit only 50 distinct locations in the entire world, most of which are concentrated around the...
The last places on Earth: Protecting globally rare habitats in Canada (Part one)
Black oaks on the prairie and savannah, Rice Lake Plains, Ontario (Photo by NCC)
The Rice Lake Plains in Ontario, Roberts Island in Nova Scotia and King Ranch in Alberta all have something incredibly important in common: They are places that the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is working to protect. Each property provides...
Listening to the answers hidden in frog calls
Western chorus frog (Photo by Ryan Bolton)
Taking the time and effort to listen is essential to fully experiencing the outdoors. As a biologist, I am always keeping an eye and ear out for anything out of the ordinary, such as a rare frog, plant or bird species I’ve been hoping to...
Nature's never boring: Paddling the Rat River
Lisa paddling along the Rat River (Photo by NCC)
Growing up, my interest in the outdoors stemmed from camping trips with my family and backroad Sunday drives, led by my dad, in hopes of finding a secluded fishing hole. Today, I’ve made a little home along the Rat River, a small tributary...
10 tweetable facts about turtles
Snapping turtle (Photo by Ryan M. Bolton)
World Turtle Day, May 23, is an annual occasion that American Tortoise Rescue began 17 years ago to honour and promote turtle and tortoise conservation around the world. Sadly, global turtle and tortoise populations are declining because of...
How a fragmented forest helps a flying fish
Redside dace (Photo by K. Schmidt)
The tall trees in the MacMillan Nature Reserve stand like an island of green within the urban matrix of Vaughan, Ontario. Sprawling and sparkling new subdivisions splash up against three sides of this natural area; a five-lane roadway borders the...
Dip your toes into World Water Day
Walking on the Barrens in NS (Photo by NCC)
Water is one of the most essential elements on our planet. Almost nine per cent, or 891,163 square kilometres, of Canada's total area is covered by fresh water. Our country's portion of the Great Lakes alone makes up nearly 10 per cent of the...