We want to extend a warm welcome to two of our returning staff members, Larissa Dean and Kass Harris, who have rejoined the team after a brief pause. We're also thrilled to introduce Rebecca Dennis, who is joining us as our newest team member for the summer. With their combined experience and skills, we're looking forward to the unique contributions they will bring to the network!
NSEN's Biodiversity Caucus is recruiting new members!
Are you passionate about biodiversity? Join the caucus! One of the most effective ways for NSEN to connect members of the environmental community is to facilitate the formation of environmental caucuses.
Caucus members will join monthly meetings with those working in, volunteering in, or interested in issues related to biodiversity. The main purpose of these meetings is to promote collaboration and advance biodiversity work in Nova Scotia.
The next caucus meeting will be held on August 9th from 10-11 AM. For more information and a meeting invite, please contact the Caucus Coordinator at biodiversity@nsenvironmentalnetwork.com
Have you checked out our new documentary yet? We've published the 1-hour film online to make it freely accessible to everyone.
The goal of this project was two-fold:
1) To educate the public on the vital role of communication and collaboration in Nova Scotia's environmental movement over the past 30+ years.
2) To raise awareness and support for NSEN and its mission to cultivate a more interconnected and united environmental sector in the face of worsening ecological crises.
We hope you will celebrate the completion of this project with us by watching the film!
Coastal Restoration Society (CRS) and partners have projects underway after receiving Department of Fisheries and Oceans Ghost Gear Funding, allocated to address the damage and fishing gear loss resulting from Hurricane Fiona in September of 2022.
Alongside partners Scotian Shores, Glooscap OH&S contractors, municipalities, and community members, CRS is currently leading shoreline clean-ups and dive operations across Nova Scotia on the territories of the Mi’kmaq Nation. Through the summer and running into the fall, CRS will be targeting debris on and off the beach - polystyrene/styrofoam, nets, ropes, and commercial traps - with the goal of reducing hazards to vessels and limiting the risk of entanglement to wildlife.
CRS is incredibly excited to be working in Nova Scotia and are proud of the work accomplished so far with incredible partners and staff! As of July 24th, our crews have removed 157,760 kg of debris, including 1,374 traps, 35,009m of rope, and 234 buoys. As the threats of climate change accelerate, we recognize the imperative need for an “all hands on deck” approach, where the scale of our response rises to meet the challenges we collectively face in stewarding our planet for generations to come. While dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters may at times feel insurmountable, we believe that by mobilizing in community, we build the resilience required to address restoration work with courageous interdependence. From federal funding to the community members sorting debris out in the field, this project is taking flight from the culmination of efforts at every level of participation.
Located at 140 Alderney Drive in Martin's Park, Dartmouth, the community aquarium is finally ready to take in visitors. Bring the kids and come see the fin-tastic ocean creatures that we have here in Nova Scotia.
While we are still raising funds for our full-size, custom touch tanks, we will have a mini touch tank with the same local species to learn about. We are open Wednesday - Sunday from 10AM-6PM. SEA you there!
Hike NS invites groups across NS to partner with it on delivering fall guided walks from September to November 2023. Hike NS will help promote events and provide a how-to guide and trail prizes to give away. Register your event by August 11 for events between September 15 and November 19.
SEED is happy to announce the launch of our independent publication 'The Magic of Greenleaf - Discovering Urban Green Spaces'. This is a 16-page children's story with watercolor illustrations and large print. It is easy to hold for little hands and includes a nature-inspired activity. Want a copy? SEED has launched a Kickstarter to help fund the production of this delightful and inspiring story.
Nature Nova Scotia is excited to announce the launch of our Mainland Moose Research Project. Our primary objective is to gain a scientific understanding of public knowledge, appreciation, and desires surrounding the mainland moose.
We have several Moose Meetings planned for various areas in the province and an online survey option for those who can’t visit us in person. At the meetings, we’ll discuss the current state of scientific understanding for moose, ask participants for their own take on these trends and for feedback on Recovery Plan recommendations, and lead young moose enthusiasts through an art activity to celebrate our forest-dwelling species at risk.
Stay tuned for how to register for our upcoming meetings:
Yarmouth Tiam Mawio’mi Moose Meeting: August 4th, 4 PM-6 PM
Valley Moose Meeting: August 12th, 2023, 10:30 PM-2 PM
Chebucto Peninsula Moose Meeting: August 26th, 10 AM-2 PM
The Bird Friendly Halifax coalition is always welcoming new members. The coalition includes representatives from Birds Canada, Ecology Action Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax Regional Municipality, Hope for Wildlife, Nature Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Bird Society, and other individuals passionate about birds.
In 2022, HRM was declared a Nature Canada-certified Entry-level Bird Friendly City. We are working to improve this status by addressing priority bird threats in our city, including but not limited to habitat loss, predation by roaming cats, and window strikes. The below rubric provides information on how HRM was determined to be a bird-friendly city by Nature Canada, as well as the areas where there is still room for improvement.
SeaLight SkyLight Festival is back on August 12th from 1:00-11:00 PM! Join us in welcoming back one of our signature events with a day-long, family-friendly event planned around the peak of the Perseid meteor shower and ocean bioluminescence in Ship Harbour! This celebration of nature features live music from local musicians, performance artists, kids games & activities with HRM rec, HOPE for Wildlife, day and night sky observation, eco-art workshops, astronomy presentations with the Halifax Planetarium and more! Food will be available for purchase on-site, or bring a picnic! To buy tickets, head to our website or Facebook page.
Seeking Volunteers: SeaLight SkyLight Festival
We are seeking volunteers, musicians, and performance artists for SeaLight SkyLight! If you would like more information or want to apply, please click here! Hope to see you there!
HRM Rec Van
The HRM Rec Vanis at the Deanery on Thursday afternoons until August 24th from 1-3 PM! Drop-ins for kids of all ages are welcome to enjoy more than 50 games & activities! This offering is no charge!
HRM Rec Summer Camp
Looking for something for your kids aged 7-12 to do from August 8-11th? HRM Recis offering a summer camp at the Deanery daily from 9-4 PM. Register online at halifax.ca/myrec and sign in or create an account. Or call 902-889-4050. There is funding available to make the camp more accessible!
Please write to help protect Sandy Lake Regional Park.
"Thank you to everyone who has written letters to MLAs, the Premier, and Mr.Lohr requesting Sandy Lake be removed from the provincial Special Planning Areas list. Sandy Lake-Sackville River Regional Park Coalition Steering Committee members recently met with the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, John Lohr. It is now very clear that we are doing the right thing by sending letters to the MLAs, Premier and Mr.Lohr.
Our request is “Please remove Sandy Lake from the Special Planning Areas list” and we present rational support for this. We are not against housing developments that are well done, but it makes no sense at Sandy Lake.
The area is a gem worth saving to help create a great city, not a place to sacrifice to advance terrible city planning. With 24 species of Interest and 16 Species at Risk including Wild Atlantic Salmon, large areas of Old Growth forests and older forests, essential wildlife corridors to the Chebucto Peninsula, and more, Sandy Lake really needs extra support since the province seemed focused on building housing at all costs. The consequences will be grave, including to the 35 years of work by the Sackville Rivers Association to return Salmon to the system, if housing is put at Sandy Lake."
Add your organization's voice to cap emissions from oil and gas!
"Canada's greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas industry keep going up. Our governments have missed every climate target they've set.
Finally, there's some hope, but it means keeping the federal government to its word and stopping any more delays.
A national emissions cap is the best option we have to drive down Canada's rising emissions quickly and by enough to reach our climate targets. It also means new fracking, offshore oil and gas expansion, and LNG plants would be reined in as the whole oil and gas industry would need to stay within Canada's climate commitments.
This is a generational opportunity to prevent worsening climate change, protect our health and prepare our economy for the future.
The federal government committed last year to this critical policy, but is delaying.
The oil and gas industry is also lobbying hard to weaken and delay the policy.
We need to send a strong signal that Canadians are watching, and want the federal government to implement a strong, fair emissions cap with no more delays.
Here is a sign-on letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and key Cabinet Ministers. I'm hoping you can join in this effort by:
Help us advocate for the clean-up of Arlington Heights!
"The receipt of our Ministerial Appeal has been acknowledged and we are promised a written decision by August 8. We need as many people as possible to send letters supporting the appeal to Environment Minister Tim Halman! Please share this information widely.
FAQs & How to Help Toolkit
The attached FAQ document outlines some of the most recent goings on regarding the Arlington Heights dump issue. There are instructions on how to send a letter along with several other ways to support our advocacy efforts. Please take a minute to write your letter today, and don't forget to include your personal testimony!
Endangered right whale movements 'totally different' in Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2023
Critically endangered North Atlantic right whales arrived in the Gulf of St. Lawrence later than usual in 2023 and then showed up in places they've never been seen before, according to fishermen, scientists and Canadian fisheries managers.
"What we saw this year was totally different compared to other years," said Marcel Hebert of the Acadian Crabbers Association in Shippagan, N.B.
Meteorologist Ryan Snoddon says much of Nova Scotia can expect heavy downpours over the next 24 hours. There has already been localized flooding in parts of the province.
Baby ospreys rescued from burning nest reunited with parents
Two baby birds barely bigger than a ball of feathers have been reunited with their parents in a brand new home after they were rescued — smoky and singed — from their fiery nest in Musquodoboit Harbour, N.S., two weeks ago.
The reunion was a collaborative effort between firefighters, the Hope for Wildlife rescue organization, Nova Scotia Power and the Department of Natural Resources.
Upper Tantallon residents air concerns in first public meeting since wildfire
Loud applause filled an Upper Tantallon gymnasium as resident after resident called for action from officials and governments in the wake of a devastating wildfire nearly two months ago.
More than 200 people gathered in the St. Margaret's Centre Thursday night to hear from staff at Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, RCMP, the Halifax Regional Municipality, the Nova Scotia government, and others involved in the fire response.
Half of the meeting was given to first responders and officials with various organisations who went over what their roles had been during the fire, with the remaining time given to representatives from affected communities to present comments.
EverWind green hydrogen project to develop 3 new wind farms
One of two companies aiming to build green hydrogen production facilities in Point Tupper, N.S., has announced plans for three wind farms to help power the project.
EverWind Fuels wants to construct a 66-turbine wind farm called Windy Ridge in Colchester County. It is also partnering with Membertou to purchase wind power from two of the band's proposed farms, the 20-turbine Kmtnuk project and the 15-turbine Bear Lake project.
"This investment helps Nova Scotia move more quickly and cost-effectively towards its clean energy transition," said EverWind CEO Trent Vichie in a news release.
Every Wednesday we share a Nova Scotia Nature Photo on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Have you taken photos of beautiful places around the province? Share them with us for a chance to be featured on our page!
This photo of a Grey Catbird was captured by Lindsay MacDonald at Miner's Marsh in Nova Scotia.
Green Job Opportunities
Don't forget that you can check out the NSEN Job Board at any time to see the latest job opportunities with NSEN members. Submit a new position or apply today!
The Education & Engagement Team at Clean is looking for an organized, enthusiastic and confident individual to support youth voices and actions through a variety of methods.
The successful candidatewill work with both the Education and Workforce Development teams at Clean. This role requires a high degree of flexibility, collaboration, communication and teamwork.
The ideal candidate will have a passion for both supporting youth voices and for environmental, sustainability and climate change education. The candidate must have demonstrated experience in facilitation and/or working with youth in a leadership capacity.
WCS Canada’s Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) program is seeking a diligent KBA Research Intern with a strong attention to detail and technical skills in coding and GIS to join a dynamic team on a national effort to identify places in Canada that contribute significantly to the persistence of biodiversity. KBA sites are identified in a collaborative manner, using a global quantitative and scientific standard that requires extensive research into species distributions, population sizes and biology.
Student Energy is looking to hire a full-time (40 hours per week) Communications Manager to help build communications and media partnerships, grow our digital reach, manage a multi-platform social media strategy, manage a team of social media coordinators and graphic designers, assess analytics, and execute creative communications projects that engage and provide value to our community.
Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia: Executive Assistant
We are seeking an individual who is passionate about purpose-driven work and takes pride in being both organized and able to contribute to a wide diversity of tasks. You will be working most closely with the Executive Director and the IONS operations team. You’ll be supportingnearly all aspects of IONS’ work, so you’llhave to be comfortable with changing tasks and jumping in where needed.We hope to find someone who loves working collaboratively, values diversity of knowledge and viewpoints, and is solution-oriented.
You will also need to be very comfortable with learning and using a variety of technology systems, and supporting general logistics and administrative tasks. We also want to make sure you have opportunities to engage in projects that pique your interest and help you develop your leadership skills. We are looking for someone who is located in the Halifax area, who can work in our office in person on a regular basis.
Green Economy Canada: Net-Zero Transition Manager, Atlantic Canada
We are seeking a Net-Zero Transition Manager (NZTM) to lead an exciting new project focused on engaging small and medium-sized manufacturers in the net-zero transition and building the ecosystem to facilitate this transition in Atlantic Canada. This work will serve as a proof of concept for a scaled-up program that will engage hundreds of manufacturers in the region. It will provide a greater understanding of the readiness of local service providers to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on their net-zero journey, and what policies and programs exist or could be developed to accelerate the transition.
Have you visited NSEN's Volunteer Hub yet? This tool is a powerful one-stop-shop where NSEN members can post volunteer positions and our network of volunteers can view and apply for opportunities that fit their interests. Submit a new position or apply today!
Annapolis Waterkeepers are looking for volunteers to support the organization's advocacy efforts by helping with sign campaign distribution. They seek to fulfill positions not only in the Annapolis Valley but in as many areas as possible throughout the province.
DEN is looking for volunteers to maintain their contact list and assist in other office duties as needed. Necessary skills for this position include computer literacy, organizational skills, and social skills.
Nature Nova Scotia is recruiting volunteers to contribute nature-themed content to feature on their TikTok account. Potential duties include conducting online research on topics of interest and creating relevant content based on your findings.
Nova Scotia Environmental Network: Blog Contributor
NSEN is always looking for skilled volunteers to contribute environmental blog posts to feature on our website, newsletter, and social media platforms. Potential duties include conducting online research on topics of interest, writing op-eds on topics you are knowledgeable in, and interviewing environmental experts for Q&A-style posts.
Mark the Date for Hope for Wildlife’s 2023 Open House! The next event will be held on August 26 from 12-4 PM!
Get a once-a-year "behind-the-scenes" look at our wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility with tours of our medical facilities, access to our bird and mammal nurseries, our recovery units, the marine unit, and our giant flight cages!
There will also be wildlife displays and demonstrations, activities for the kids, live music, barbeque, a silent auction, as well as local exhibitors, crafts, and food! It is a fun-filled day for the whole family.
All funds raised got to support Hope for Wildlife's efforts to help injured and orphaned wildlife in Nova Scotia. Admission is free. Click here for more information.
The Compost Council of Canada: Towards Victory in Organics Recycling! For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food & Climate Protection
Through the diversion of food scraps, yard trimmings and other organic materials from landfills and into organics recycling programs, we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enrich the soil, protect biodiversity and conserve water. And yet, Canada still has a lot of room for improvement, currently missing immediate opportunities to fight battles more effectively for healthier soils and a calmer climate. Join the troops involved in organics recycling and soil health!
Whether you are a business leader, community steward or organics recycling champion, enlist in our conference. We will be digging deep into the latest advances which are achieving victories in waste diversion, local environmental stewardship, energy recovery, climate change mitigation, water conservation, soil productivity and health. Click here for more information.
Solar Nova Scotia: 2023 Atlantic Solar Summit
Solar Nova Scotia is pleased to launch the website for the 2023 Atlantic Canada Solar Summit. This year's event will include a solar industry training day at the Hampton Inn in Halifax on December 5th followed by the Solar Summit and Solar Mixer at the Halifax Convention Centre on December 6th.
This event will bring together industry professionals from across Atlantic Canada for learning, networking, and celebrating the success of the ever growing solar industry. We welcomed 300 delegates to the 2022 Atlantic Canada Solar Summit and are hoping to build off that this year, making the 2023 Summit the best one yet! We have great opportunities for sponsors, exhibitors, and presenters. Click here to visit the website.
Regeneration Canada: Stories of Regeneration Campaign
Regeneration Canada (RC) is proud to introduce Stories of Regeneration, an initiative to bridge the gap between curious consumers and Canadian regenerative farmers. The RC team will visit farmers from across the country—listening to diverse voices, exploring changing landscapes, learning about different practices and connecting with local communities through a series of on-farm events, films and interviews.
Keep an eye out on Regeneration Canada’s social media platforms for announcements on upcoming events and the digital releases of videos, podcasts and articles!
Red Bear Healing Home Society
Red Bear Healing Home Society is requesting public assistance for donations of gently used cell phones.
Empowering and enabling people who are experiencing poverty by way of providing cell phones ensures access to public services and reduces the stress of being economically disadvantaged. Living without a cellular device or phone can have a detrimental effect on a person’s mental and physical health and make connections impossible for people who are phoneless.
Donating gently used technology is also a great way to extend the life cycle of these products and keep precious minerals from ending up in a landfill.
They kindly ask that gently used cell phones that have been unlocked and reset, be dropped off at Annapolis Valley libraries in Kingston and Middleton. Call them at (902) 448-4744 for more information or to arrange for another drop-off location.
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