Check out the full list of over 25 Workshops and Awesome Youth Programming here!
| LOBBY | STAGE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Workshop Title | Speaker | Workshop Description |
| 10:00 | Opening Remarks- CCC Award Recipients | ||
| 11:00 | The Great Plant Restoration | Stefan Webber- Ecologist and Seed Specialist | This presentation will focus large scale restoration and how we are using agricultural practices to grow bulk seed of uncommon Carolinian Plants to return to the landscape. I will also talk about the political and biological barriers to plant restoration and the work we are doing to overcome them. |
| 12:00 | Hanging On By A Scale: The Decline of Reptiles in Ontario | Scott Gillingwater -Species at Risk Biologist for the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority | Endangered species are more than just Pandas and Whales, they are not limited to the Oceans or far off continents. Globally, reptiles have experienced some of the most rapid declines of any group of animals. Ontario has over two dozen species of reptiles. Come explore the often overlooked gems of our fields, forests and wetlands, and what you can do to help protect them. |
| 13:00 |
Flowers and Foo: Growing Edible Native Plants. |
Lorraine Johnson - Author of more than 10 books on Native Plants | In this illustrated talk, Lorraine Johnson will combine two timely and popular subjects—food growing and native plant gardening—and inspire gardeners to grow edible native plants in their yards. |
| 14:00 | Get Out and Enjoy It! High Adventure with master guides. | Garth Pottruff, Robin Tapley and Steve Martin | Join us as Garth Pottruff owner/tour guide with Grand River Rafting, Robin Tapley- instructor for Fanshawe's Adventure Expeditions program and Steve Martin - Manager for Long Point Eco Adventures discuss their own Adventure Expeditions in Carolinian Canada and beyond and how this has deepened their personal commitment and respect for the ecological integrity of the areas they explore. |
| 15:00 | Landowner Leaders | David Ainslie, Denise Shephard, and Steve & Sharon Benishek | |
| 16:00 | To be announced! | ||
| 16:30 | Backyard Birding in Carolinian Canada | Cathy Jones/Bird Studies Canada | Kathy Jones will highlight 5 great Citizen Science birding options that all Carolinian Canada enthusiasts can enjoy and participate in. Join us and learn about eBird; Project FeederWatch, the Great Backyard Bird Count; the Great Canadian Birdathon and Project NestWatch. |
| 17:00 | Sustainable Tourism - Myth or reality? | Steve Martin/LPEA, (unnamed MEC rep), Anne Marie Fortner from Explore Pelee, Bronwen-CCC/Eco Trails. | Can sustainable tourism enhance the environment and not just impact it? |
| ARENA Workshop Space | |||
| 10:30 | 10 Native Trees for your Yard | Louise Fleming/ Reforest London | Learn about why native trees do so well here, and how they contribute to a healthy ecosystem. We will present 10 great native trees for your yard, from small to large, their soil and light conditions, and how they will both beautify your yard and make it a healthier place. |
| 11:00 | Lost & Found: The History of the Pawpaw | Dan Bissonnette/The Naturalized Habitat Network of Essex County & Windsor | This is a look at our indigenous Pawpaw from a historical and cultural perspective. What can be done to restore this species? This presentation will explore how we relate to our natural heritage and our cultural values, and how we might strengthen the ties between the two. |
| 11:30 | Native Plants - Ten Years Documenting the Return of Wildlife to the City | Ben Porchuk /Landscape Native | A journey through photos reviewing the transition of his urban property from the typical yard to 40% native landscape, including 200 native species of plants and close to 100 specieis fo birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish! |
| 12:30 | Tree Caching and Tree Monitoring for Climate's Sake | Alice Casselman/The Association for Canadian Educational Resources (ACER) a.k.a. Climate's Sake | Discover Tree Caching Trails in Ontario to learn more about different tree species in our environment. Users can scan a tagged tree to learn its identity, characteristics and interesting facts. Learn how to measure tree growth and its importance in tracking climate change impacts. Find out how you can become involved in our tree monitoring programs for volunteers, communities, schools and organization |
| 13:00 | CCC- Big Picture talk | Jarmo Jalava and Sarah Hodgkiss, Carolinian Canada Coalition | A review of Carolinian Canada's "BIG PICTURE" campaign,- advancing a collaborative conservation strategy for healthy ecoosystmes in Ontario's Carolinian Life Zone. |
| 14:00 | Bring Nature Home | Alan Arthur/Sr. Ecologist- St. Williams Nursery and Ecology Centre | The landscape industry has helped create a legacy of simplified landscapes dominated by a few alien species. As a result the typical residential "yard" in much of North America provides little ecological benefit. Allan will discuss the significant ecological implications of our habit for importing non-native plants, and highlight the practicality, beauty and ecological benefits that can be gained by enhancing our landscaped areas with that native plants. |
| 14:30 | Our Wisdom Tree Project | Andrew Judge/ Our Wisdom Tree | Our Wisdom Tree Project is a bridge to Elders, community leaders and ecological guardians who create real world changes today and opportunities to engage. Our goal is to plant trees in similar ways that Indigenous people did prior to colonization and inspire others to do the same. On the way we want to build a community with similar visions for the future. |
| Citizens Toolkit for Nature Coservation | Anne Bell/Ontario Nature | Ontario Nature's "Citizens Toolkit for Nature Conservation" will equip citizens with information and advice on advocating for environmental protection in their municipalities. It will highlight nature's benefits and how to create healthier, more livable and resilient communities through greenway planning. | |
| 15:30 | The Importance of Native Pollinators and Native Plants | Vic Bernyk/Native Trees and Plants | Native plants support a diversity of species and by bringing native plants into residential and public landscapes we can increase the habitat and support many more species. This discussion will outline the main pollinator groups in Ontario and how in many instances, their very survival depends on native plants. |
| 16:00 | The Carolinian Food Forest in your backyard | Jessica Robertson/ The Carolinian Food Forest | The Carolinian Food Forest is located on 1 acre of City of London park land and includes dozens of species of native Carolinian plants. They have purposefully been chosen to provide food and medicine, or to provide ecosystem services to the community, and require little input and care from humans. Come and learn about this unique project, what you may see when you visit the site, and how you can get involved. |
| 16:30 | Phragmites- Invasive species and impact on our wetlands | Nette Pachlarz/Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group | Phragmites is an invasive species that is causing significant damage to wetlands' flora and fauna across the province. Community organizations are working tirelessly to rid drains, ditches, marshlands and beaches of this weed. Learn how one such project is making an impact. |
| 17:00 | Visit our Woodland | Jeanne Anne Goldrick/ The Garden Club of Canada | A description, with photos, of the development, history and reasons for the Woodland as a restoration project to achieve a piece of Carolinian Forest with in the City of London. |
| Title | Speaker | Workshop Description | |
| Demo And Interactive Exhibit Space -Parkette | |||
| 10:30 | MEC workshops/pack your pack | 3 workshops (we have a shortlist of 5,...just figuring out the three best) | |
| 11:30 | Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre | Brian Salt/Salthaven | Our education programs connect people with animals and nature and teach them that their actions can make a difference. Our program focuses on introducing people to the uniqueness and diversity of Ontario wildlife and the work that Salthaven does to help sick, injured or orphaned wild animals. We feel strongly that people even at a young age can be inspired from within to develop a lasting passion for improving the environment. Our presenters are accompanied by one or more of our Wildlife Ambassadors (Spirit the bald eagle, Gusss the grey rat snake, Miko Shikoba the red-tailed hawk, and Chaukar the Laggar falcon). |
| 12:30 | Cool Phone App to track Rep-tiles and Amphibians | Ann Bell/Ontario Nature | |
| 1:30 | Sciensational Snakes | ||
| 14:30 | MEC | GPS, Digital Navigation and Topographical maps | |
| 15:30 | tree cashing | ||
| 16:30 | MEC | 101- How to fix a flat, basic maintenance, accessorizing your bike | |
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