CANADA'S NORTH - OURS TO PROTECT, THE WORLD'S TO CHERISH

FORUM DETAILS

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
3rd floor (West)
Canadian Museum of Nature
240 McLeod Street, Ottawa
Free admission / No registration required
Distribution of resource material
Displays
Light refreshments

OC Transpo Bus Service: numbers 5, 6 and 14

Limited on site paid parking

ORGANIZERS

Sponsored by the OFNC/Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Parks Canada, the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Ottawa Wildlife Festival.

This is the fifth in a series of annual forums that take place during the Wildlife Festival, a regional celebration of National Wildlife Week. Each Forum highlights current topics in wildlife conservation. In 2007 we will examine issues surrounding Canada's north: the wildlife, the weather and climate change, and why setting up national parks north of 60 presents a unique and very different challenge. We will look at these topics through the eyes of a polar bear research worker, a park planner specializing in northern parks, and a Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada (and author of the well-known Canada Weather Trivia Calendar). This will be an informative and engaging evening with an excellent panel of speakers. International Polar Year is also being celebrated in 2007-2008, sponsored by the International Council for Science and the World Meteorological Organisation, so the topic is very timely indeed.

AGENDA

@ 6 p.m. doors open, mingle, browse displays, refreshments

@ 7:00 p.m. Welcome and Introduction - Johanne Ranger , Parks Canada

@ 7:05 p.m Polar Bears. Jeremy Inglis , Senior Fish and Wildlife Resources Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

@7:30 p.m Creating Northern Parks, David Murray , Senior Planner, New Northern Parks Parks Canada

@ 7:55 p.m. INTERMISSION

@ 8:10 p.m. Door Prizes

@ 8:20 p.m. Canada's weather . David Phillips , Senior Climatologist,Environment Canada

@ 9:05 p.m Thank you and wrap up

@ 9:15 p.m. Meet with the speakers, browse the exhibits, refreshments.

@ 9:30 p.m. END

Biographical Information

JEREMY INGLIS - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Jeremy worked in Algonquin Park from 1986 to 2000 mainly within fish and wildlife management and research. During that time he had extensive experience working with black bears both in a nuisance and a research capacity. He played a key role in a 7 year study on the biology and ecology of adult male black bears in Algonquin Park, which was the first bear study to be conducted in the Park. Jeremy has written and co-authored several published scientific papers on black bear research in Algonquin Park and he regularly participates in various aspects of black bear management in the province. He is currently co-chair of the provincial Bear Wise bear handling team. Jeremy was also fortunate enough to have participated in the Ontario Hudson Bay Polar Bear Project where he was a member of the polar bear handling team. He currently works for the Pembroke district Ministry of Natural Resources as a Fish and Wildlife Technical Specialist where he continues to play a significant role in bear management .

DAVID MURRAY - Park Establishment Branch, Parks Canada

Over the past three decades, David has worked as researcher, geographer and planner in Nunavik (Arctic Quebec), Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska. With Parks Canada since 1990, he is presently working with Park Establishment Branch on park proposals in Canada's three northern territories. Current projects include the proposed expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve and the establishment of parks at the East Arm of Great Slave Lake (NWT) and on Bathurst Island (Nunavut). David lives in Ottawa.

DAVID PHILLIPS - Environment Canada

David has been employed with Environment Canada's weather service for 39 years. His work activities relate to the study of the climate of Canada and to promote awareness and understanding of weather and climate in Canada. He has published several books, papers and reports on the climate of Canada, including several essays in The Canadian Encyclopedia , a book on The Climates of Canada , and two bestsellers: The Day Niagara Falls Ran Dry and Blame It On The Weather . He is the originator and author of the Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar , the most popular calendar sold in Canada, and now in its 20th year. For nearly ten years he wrote the Weather-wise column in the Canadian Geographic magazine. David frequently appears on national radio and television as a commentator on weather and climate matters. David is a fellow of both the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. He has been awarded the Patterson Medal for Distinguished Service to Meteorology in Canada, and has twice received the Public Service Merit Award. In June 2004 he received an honorary Doctor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. In 2001, David was named to the Order of Canada.

DISPLAYS

The workshop will feature displays from the following organisations:

- Canadian Boreal Initiative

- Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - Ottawa Valley Chapter

- Canadian Wildlife Federation

- Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club

- Ottawa Wildlife Festival

- Students on Ice

More information:
Christine Hanrahan, Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club, vanessa@magma.ca

Johanne Ranger, Parks Canada, johanne.ranger@pc.gc.ca