Speaker: Dr Phillippe Thomas, Wildlife toxicologist, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Topics:
1. The impacts of the hydrocarbons from the Alberta oil sands on the health of river otters
2. Regional monitoring programs and steps being taken to safeguard the otters
Visitors are welcome!!
If you would like to attend, please send a request to info@vkhnature.caand we will send you the online link.
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Christmas Bird Counts CANCELLED
If any hobby could help us survive this Covid-19 pandemic while being safe, it is ours! ! ! Whether it's from the comfort of our homes, out driving or walking on trails, we can still B-I-R-D. A shortage on bird feed is being predicted this fall/winter due to the increased number of people feeding birds. Oh wow, better stock up now!!
Needless to say the upcoming Christmas Bird Counts will be very different for field participants. If you still wish to participate, I can only suggest using walkie-talkie type technology between vehicles, being in your birding bubble, the wearing of masks, being physically distanced or the dreaded 14-day quarantine prior to the count(s). Another thing is that optical equipment such as telescopes cannot be shared. Our compiling meetings which normally take place after the counts will definitely not take place.
I would ask that you let me know whether you wish to participate or not I may have to cancel the count(s). So here are the dates:
December 20, 2020 - Vankleek Hill CBC CANCELLED
December 26, 2020 - Alfred-Montebello CBC CANCELLED
January 2, 2021 - Casselman - Forêt Larose CBC CANCELLED
I know we hear this on a daily basis, but please stay safe!!
Monday, April 15, 2019 - 7 PM - Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute Library
Effect of Climate Change on our Wildlife
Guest Speaker: Stephen Hazell Director of conservation and general counsel with Nature Canada
Nature Canada's upcoming May conference will be discussing this topic. We all have an idea about its effect on polar bears and the Arctic but what about our local wildlife?
Bring a friend and join us!! We serve beverages and sweets
Our president, David Stringer and other members of the executive will be meeting the Honourable Catherine Mc Kenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change to discuss local issues. ********************************************** April 2019 - Launch of the Ontario Nature Youth Summit Application Document to local French and English Students ages 14 to 18 For more details please refer to the Youth Summit tab
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Monday, April 15, 2019 - 7 PM - Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute Library
Effect of Climate Change on our Wildlife
Guest Speaker: Stephen Hazell Director of conservation and general counsel with Nature Canada
Nature Canada's upcoming May conference will be discussing this topic. We all have an idea about its effect on polar bears and the Arctic but what about our local wildlife?
Bring a friend and join us!! We serve beverages and sweets
March 25, 2019 - 7 PM Sandfield Centre - Garry Shepard Hall, 102 Derby Street West, Alexandria
Protecting and Increasing Forest Cover in North Glengarry
The South Conservation staff will be briefing the municipal council on protecting and increasing forest cover in North Glengarry. Let's support our North Glengarry members and residents!! We can all benefit by attending this meeting as it can give us ideas on how to approach other local municipalities. See you there!!
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Monday, March 18, 2019 - 7 PM - Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute Library
Travelling Ecuador, Galapagos and Peru Guest Speaker: Elaine Kennedy
Welcome to all!! Beverages and sweets are served Members $ 1.00 Visitors $ 2.00
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Saturday, December 15, 2018 - 2 PM - Christmas Wine and Cheese
Hosts: Lucia and Armin Trommer Place: 125 Pattee Road, Hawkesbury Bring a piece of cheese and wine. Crackers, coffee and tea will be provided. RSVP 632-4427 Members only
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Monday, November 19 2018 - 7 PM - Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute Library
A Bird in the Hand: Tools for migratory bird research and conservation. Guest Speaker: Lesley Howes Lesley will be talking about the Canadian Bird Banding Program and the use of birds in science in Canada. Welcome to all!! Beverages and sweets are served Members $ 1.00 Visitors $ 2.00 ************************************************************************************************** Monday, October 15 2018 - 7 PM - Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute Library
Ontario Nature: Youth Engagement and the Environment Guest Speakers: Sarah Clouston and Emma McGurk (both have attended this year's Youth Summit) Welcome to all!!!
Coffee and sweets are served Members $ 1.00 Visitors $ 2.00
***************************************************************************************************** Monday, September 17 2018 - 7 PM - Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute Library Air Pollution - Impact on the Environment
Guest Speakers: David Stringer and Dr Daniel Cloutier
Welcome to all!! ***************************************************************************************************** Deadline for Youth Summit is September 5, 2018 Ontario Nature Youth Summit Application Document to Local French and English Students ages 14 to 18 To access the application see the Youth Summit tab
Sunday, June 10, 2018 2:00 - 4:00 PM - Rhubarb Social Hosts: Eric and Claudia Deskin Place: 289 Hoffman Crescent, East Hawkesbury. Driving directions are: from the North end of Tupper in Hawkesbury, drive about 1 km East along Front Road and turn left at Hoffman Cresent Bring: Rhubarb dessert and maybe a lawn chair if you wish to sit outdoors and enjoy Eric and Claudia’s lovely garden. Coffee and tea will be served
Please RSVP to 613 632 3636, or to eric2705@yahoo.com so that Eric and Claudia can plan
Sunday, August 19, 2018 Corn Boil and Potluck, time to be confirmed **************************************************************************************************** Thursday, May 17, 2018 9:30 AM - until sold out - Fundraiser in front of Scotiabank ***************************************************************************************************** Monday, April 30, 2018 7 PM - Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute Library A Naturalist`s Voyage to the Southern Hemisphere
Guest Speaker: Elaine Kennedy “ It is in our Nature to reach out into the Unknown”: Ernest Shackleton. Join Elaine Kennedy who travelled in Argentina and then by ship to the Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula last fall. As a naturalist, she reached out to see, understand and get involved in many unknowns.
Welcome to all! ***************************************************************************************************** Monday, March 19, 2018 7 PM - Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute Library
Healing Waters and Arctic Waters
Guest Speaker: Dr. Stuart Robertson Caledonia Springs, a brief historical presentation, once a major tourist attraction and health centre in Eastern Canada. The Arctic where Dr. Stuart Robertson has been fortunate enough to spend significant time in most of the hamlets of Nunavut, working there but also being able to spend time “out on the land” with local Inuit. Photos and videos of the geology and typography plus the culture of Nunavut. Some discussion on the effects of climate change in the Arctic will also be described.
Celebrate the 4oth Anniversary of the Nature Society!
September 18, 2017 - Regular meeting, Down Memory Lane and Going Forward, a celebration of our 40 years. VCI Library, Vankleek Hill, 7:00 PM. Note there will be no business at this meeting, there will be a member email instead.
November 20, 2017 - VCI Library, Vankleek Hill, 7:00 PM AGM, including election of new officers
Speaker: Max Finkelstein Canoeing a Continent: On the Trail of Alexander Mackenzie. A journey through space and time.
As the 150th anniversary of Canada's confederation comes to its end, what better way to recall how Canada as we know came about than to look at the journey of discovery of the first European (and likely the first human) to cross the present-day country of Canada from coast to coast to coast. Join Max the modern-day voyageur as he re-traces with images and stories Alexander Mackenzie's historic first crossing of the continent of North America. A journey of hardship and perseverance, of adventure and survival, for both Max and Alexander Mackenzie. But mostly it is the story of Canada and its beginnings as the nation we know today, and of our evolving relationships with the two defining elements of Canada, wilderness and First Nations.
April 24, 2017 - Regular meeting and guest speaker, VCI Library, Vankleek Hill, 7:00 PM. Our speaker is Michelle Gordon, Process and Compliance Technician of the OCWA (Ontario Clean Water Agency). She will speak on Vankleek Hill's drinking water system.
March 20, 2017 - Regular meeting and guest speaker, VCI Library, Vankleek Hill, 7:00 PM
We are lucky that our speaker for what ended up being a snowed out AGM was able to reschedule for us. Our speaker is David Miller, Executive Director of the Algonquin to Adirondack Collaborative, a transboundary NGO working on ecological connectivity between Algonquin Park and the Adirondacks. The Algonquin to Adirondacks corridor is the most extensive, least degraded north-south corridor east of Lake Superior, connecting the Appalachian forests of the southeastern US to the vast boreal forests of the Canadian Shield. It provides a critical pathway through which species can move and disperse in response to habitat needs and climate change. The heart of the A2A Region also represents one of the most biodiverse areas of Eastern North America as northern and southern forest zones mix. David's presentation will review the nature and significance of the corridor as well as the work of the A2A. Three key A2A initiatives will be presented (Conservation Action Planning, A2A Trail, and Road Ecology). Opportunities for collaboration in Eastern Ontario will also be discussed.
We will also be having by-elections for the positions of:
Treasurer - Jean Kronberg and Director - Maxime Cloutier.
ach you about the different contributions wildlife rehabilitation has made to conservation, how a rehabilitation centre functions and what to do if you find an injured or orphaned wild bird. VCI Library, Vankleek Hill, 7:00 PM
November 21, 2016 - Meeting Postponed due to weather - new date will be posted ASAP AGM (elections!) and guest speaker, VCI Library, Vankleek Hill, 7:00 PM Our speaker is David Miller, Executive Director of the Algonquin to Adirondack Collaborative, a transboundary NGO working on ecological connectivity between Algonquin Park and the Adirondacks. The Algonquin to Adirondacks corridor is the most extensive, least degraded north-south corridor east of Lake Superior, connecting the Appalachian forests of the southeastern US to the vast boreal forests of the Canadian Shield. It provides a critical pathway through which species can move and disperse in response to habitat needs and climate change. The heart of the A2A Region also represents one of the most biodiverse areas of Eastern North America as northern and southern forest zones mix. David's presentation will review the nature and significance of the corridor as well as the work of the A2A. Three key A2A initiatives will be presented (Conservation Action Planning, A2A Trail, and Road Ecology). Opportunities for collaboration in Eastern Ontario will also be discussed.
December 2016 - Christmas get-together - Bird Counts
March 20, 2017 - Regular meeting and guest speaker, VCI Library, Vankleek Hill, 7:00 PM
April 24, 2017 - Regular meeting and guest speaker, VCI Library, Vankleek Hill, 7:00 PM
Last year
March 21, 2016 - Regular meeting and guest speaker - Vankleek Hill resident Rod Ewing will be giving a slide presentation of his hike along the Pacific Rim Trail. New projector, great pictures. Also time to renew memberships if not renewed in November. VCI Library, Vankleek Hill, 7:00 PM
April 18, 2016 - Regular meeting and guest speaker - Winchester photographer Susan Sloane will present her nature photography, tips and techniques, and a discussion of equipment. Also time to renew memberships if not renewed in November. VCI Library, Vankleek Hill, 7:00 PM
May 19 - Annual Fund-raiser sale
May 28 to 29 Bill Pilon Spring Bird Count Join a team, or make one.
The count period is 24 hours, but is spread between two days. The count will begin on Saturday at 4 PM and ends on Sunday at 4 PM. This allows a night for owl searching, which is optional.
The bird count takes place within the Five Counties`Birding Circle (counties of Prescott, Russell, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry). The circle’s central point is 5 Km north of exit # 51 of Highway 417 and extends to Ripon Québec to the north, Cornwall - USA to the south, part of Mer Bleue to the west and Rigaud Québec to the east.
For information, phone Christine Trudeau Brunet at 613-632-8356 or email at christinetb5@aol.com
June 27, 6:30 - 8:30 PM - Rhubarb Social -members only social event - everyone has been emailed the details. If you did not receive an email and you are a member, please email the President at pat.hennesey@xplornet.ca
