The Corner Brook Christmas Bird Count, organised by the Humber Natural History Society will be held on Sunday Jan 2, 2011 (storm date Monday, Jan 3, 2011). Our area is within a circle bounded by Hammond Farm, back of Marble Mountain, top of Massey Drive, Loggers’ School Rd, Mt Moriah and Meadows. Please Luise Bateman if you would like to help out by either watching your bird feeders or wandering some area of that circle during the day (walk, snowshoe, ski). Contact Luise to indicate your preferred area. You can go out for all day or for a few hours, keeping track of the distance and time involved (as well as the birds seen!). Contact info: Lois Bateman, 634-7206 – home, 637-6247 – work; lbateman@swgc.mun.ca.

4:30pm – 9:00pm, Environmental Gathering Place, 172 Military Road, top floor, St. John’s
All environmentalists and nature lovers are cordially invited to the Environmental Gathering Place Christmas Party! This will be a potluck, so bring something along to eat if you like. Or simply stop by for some holiday cheer! Bring family and friends. For more info: 753-7898 or nlen.ed@gmail.com

7:00 pm, Junior Common Room, Gushue Hall, Memorial University, St. John’s
The federal Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Scott Vaughan, will be presenting findings from his December 2010 report to Parliament, followed by a question and answer session. The Commissioner’s report covers three important topics: oil spills from ships; federal monitoring of freshwater resources; and, climate change impacts and adaptation. The session will provide a unique opportunity to hear from the Commissioner personally about the work of his office and recent findings. Copies of the Commissioner’s reports will be available as of December 7 at http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca. This event is organised by the Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network in partnership with the Environmental Policy Unit (Grenfell College). For further information contact the NLEN at 709-753-7898 or nlen.ed@gmail.com. Gushue Hall is located in the Paton College complex (Main Dining Hall), Memorial Campus, St. John’s. Free parking is available directly in front of Gushue Hall on the Parkway side.

Saturdays & Sundays at 1:30pm, Suncor Energy Fluvarium
In this season of friends and family, how can we show that we care while respecting the Earth?  Families will discover ways to make their gift giving more green and how we can give back to the Earth during the holidays. This special Fluvarium Kids program is for all ages and includes an outdoor component, game, story and craft!  Fluvarium Kids programs are complimentary with admission. Ask about our Annual Family Pass. For more information contact: Denise Hennebury – 754-3474 – dhennebury@fluvarium.ca

10:30 am – 1:30 pm, Signal Hill Visitor Centre, Tattoo Annex, St. John’s
Every five years sites under Parks Canada’s administration undergo a review of their management plans.  It is now time to update the management plan for Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada. With a new focus on being more relevant to Canadians, we envision that Cape Spear Lighthouse NHSC will be known as a powerful place where people can personally connect in their own way with Canada’s most-easterly point, the rugged Atlantic coastline and to the Sites history — and in doing so discover something within themselves. We are looking at ways to engage and better connect visitors to the 1836 lighthouse and light keeping at the site.  We would like to involve the provinces unique artistic and cultural communities to breathe new life into the Site and inspire others to see and experience it in new ways. Occasionally we would like to see the Site become a community gathering place for performances and events inspired by the its distinctive attributes. We would like to hear what you would like to see going on at the site and your thoughts on the directions we are considering. To confirm your participation or if you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact our planner, Patricia Buchanan at 772-6362.

The Lantern, 35 Barnes Road, St. John’s
Christmas gifts and art with a human touch!  Ten Thousand Villages offers fairly traded, unique home décor and gifts at the Ten Thousand Villages Festival Sale sponsored by Mercy Centre for Ecology and Justice & Development and Peace. Your purchases at this sale will provide steady work, fair wages and a better life for struggling families around the world.  Last year’s sale provided for four to five families for one year.  We hope to double that this year.   Call 722-0082.

7:45 pm, 86 West Street, Western Environment Centre Office, Corner Brook
Have you been wondering how to become more involved in your community? Are you interested in working on environmental projects? Are you new in town and want to meet some like-minded and fun people? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then please come to our upcoming volunteer meeting! We are holding this meeting so that new and current members can find ways to become involved with the Western Environment Centre. As many of you know we do lots of different projects, including the farmers market, the community garden, community clean ups, movie screenings and lots more. We’re always looking for new people and would love to see you there! Contact: info@wecnl.ca; www.wecnl.ca.

Interpretation Canada is a community that supports and inspires those involved in the field of heritage interpretation and education at museums, historic sites, parks, farms, nature centres, first nations cultural sites, zoos, aquaria, botanical gardens, and a host of other heritage sites and wilderness locations. Their second online conference has the theme “Audiences and Innovation”. Speakers include: Chris Mathieson (Vancouver Police Museum) – Building New Audiences: Big Lessons From a Little Museum; Dr. John Falk (professor, University of Oregon) – Keynote Address: Understanding the Visitor Experience; Brad Tucker (Dinosaur Provincial Park) – Carving the Niche: The Benefits of Designing Programs from an Experiential Perspective; Interpretation Canada’s 2010 AGM (Annual General Meeting); Stephanie Weaver (experienceology blog, author) – Forgotten Spaces and Your Visitor Experience: Details Matter; Nicole Deufel (from Wales, UK) – From Stakeholder to Audience; Stéphane Bruneau (Parks Canada) – social marketing and outreach education (title TBA). Conference Details: Six live hour-long online sessions, as well as our AGM. Registration will give you access to all seven as well as continued access to the recorded sessions for six months. So if your time zone or daily work prevents you from attending all of the sessions, you will still have access. FREE – watch the sessions from the first online interpretation conference in the world – last year’s IC conference! Includes Sam Ham’s keynote address. Over 100 interpreters from seven different countries came together to share ideas, get recharged, and develop further as professionals. Visit our website for more info. Today’s member rate: $113 (US$110); Non-member rate: $175 (US$170). To register and for more info: http://www.interpcan.ca.

10 a.m.-2 p.m., Crossroads, Grenfell
Student Housing (on- and off-campus) and the Environmental Policy Institute are holding a Dump and Run. Students, staff and faculty can drop unwanted items off at the Crossroads during this time period. The collected items will then be offered to the Grenfell population for free. Bring your own mug to sip on free hot chocolate! Suggested items include furniture, toys, books, gently used clothes, sports equipment, tools, posters, shoes, small appliances, decorations, and electronics. Prohibited items include food and large furniture items (i.e.: mattresses and couches).