Mon, Nov 8: Dare to be Deep Tour
7:00 pm, Hampton Hall, Marine Institute on Ridge Road, St. John’s (Doors open at 6:30pm)
The Dare to be Deep Tour is a national tour celebrating ocean conservation and protection. The event is fueled by the establishment of a National Protected Marine Area in Gwaii Haanas, British Columbia. Considered the Galapagos of the North, Gwaii Haanas in B.C.’s much revered Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve waters is Canada’s first deep sea National Marine Conservation Area.  Join us for an evening of exciting talks from marine scientists, conservationists and Haida representatives as we learn about the importance of protecting our ocean and their resources. Discover what is happening here in Newfoundland and Labrador and how you can help! There will also be a special performance by the Four Winds Traditional Drum Dance group. For further information contact CPAWS NL at nlmarine@cpaws.org.

April 12-15, 2011: Rural Revitalization From our Forest Conference
Gros Morne Resort (St. Paul’s)
Mark your Calendars! The Great Northern Peninsula Forest Network is pleased to announce the Rural Revitalization From our Forest Conference. The event will focus on current forestry issues and economic opportunities, related to our forest-dependent communities. Join us as we explore new and innovative ways in which our rural communities can use our forest resources to foster economic growth and sustainability.

Note: Pre-conference registration ends March 18, 2011

For complete detailed background information on the conference, registration form, information on conference sponsorship opportunities, click here: RROF Official Conference Flyer Complete Package.

For complete updates on conference details, including speaker bios, visit www.mfnl.ca

Tues, Nov 30: LEED Canada for Homes Workshop
8:30 am – 5:00 pm, The Suncor Energy Fluvarium, St. John’s
LEED® Canada for Homes is a comprehensive, voluntary, market-driven green building rating system for residential construction. It is based on the USGBC’s LEED® for Homes rating system and it evaluates performance on a range of ecological and human health issues from a whole home perspective, providing a definitive benchmark for what constitutes ‘a green home’. This full-day workshop provides essential knowledge of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Canada for Homes Rating System. It provides the foundation required for more advanced LEED Canada for Homes training. Group activities help demonstrate and reinforce learning. The target audience for this workshop is individuals seeking a better understanding of LEED Canada for Homes. This may include Home Builders, Interior Designers, Contractors, Architects, Project Managers, Developers, Product manufacturers, Real estate managers, owners & tenants, and Consultants & industry stakeholders. Cost: $225 + GST – CaGBC Members/Chapter Members with a National Benefits Package or $325 + GST – Non-Members. For more information contact 1.877.771.9276 or info@thermalwise.ca. To register visit www.cagbc.org/education.

Tues, Nov 30: Coastal Matters lecture series – The skeptical fisherman
12:30 – 1:30 pm, Room 104, RecPlex, Grenfell Campus, Corner Brook
In a recent editorial in the Globe and Mail, entitled “Cod in Newfoundland: Already seen that drama” columnist Jeffrey Simpson argued a typical line: The cod fishery in Newfoundland collapsed because: there were too many parties, and too many politicians, with vested interests in ignoring science, or playing it down, or claiming that the results were biased.” Jeffrey claims that “They are still around, and vocal [but] …None of these individuals or groups has separate, better scientific data. They have only anecdotal reports from fishermen, claiming fish to be more abundant than the scientists do.” There is much to protest in Simpson’s column but he is simply reflecting what most serious commentators on the Newfoundland cod fishery and other fisheries around the world believe. It is clear how people can live sustainably with fish, listen to the scientists with the best scientific data and ignore the fishermen with their anecdotes about abundant fish stocks. This presentation will explore the consequences of this worship of science and dismissal of fishermen and their qualitative observations using the history of the Newfoundland cod fishery as an exemplar. Join presenter Dr. Dean Bavington, Canada Research Chair in Environmental History. The Coastal Matters series is sponsored by Humber Arm ACAP. For further information contact info@acaphumberarm.com or 637-2883.

Saturdays and Sundays, until Nov 28: The Fluvarium Kids Club Weekend Program – “Fish Nests”
1:30pm, The Suncor Energy Fluvarium (St. John’s)
Fish make nests?  It is spawning season at the Fluvarium!  Join us to discover how a trout builds a nest to lay her eggs in and find out how important the riffle area is to the baby trout!  You may even be lucky enough to see a real brown trout making a nest for her eggs. Program runs approx. 45-60 minutes. This Fluvarium Kids program is family fun and includes an outdoor component, game, story and craft. Fluvarium Kids programs are complimentary with admission. Ask about the Fluvarium’s Annual Family Pass. For more information contact: Denise Hennebury – 754-3474 – dhennebury@fluvarium.ca.

Tues, Nov 23: Session to explore the future of Land Use Planning in the Province
9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Comfort Inn, St. John’s
The Provincial Council of the Rural Secretariat is holding a session to explore the future of Land Use Planning in the Province. The objectives for the session are: 1) To examine the current status of land use planning as it exists in the province; 2) To discuss the issues relating to land use planning in the province; 3) To provide the Provincial Council with information that will inform their work in the development of a policy advice document on land use planning for submission to the Provincial Government. The session will bring together a diverse cross-section of people with an interest or stake in land use planning in this province (e.g. stakeholders involved with forestry, mining, agriculture, municipalities, etc). Participants will be asked to thoughtfully consider how best to advance land use planning processes in NL. They will share their individual ideas, and will reflect upon and discuss a variety of different approaches to land use planning. All ideas and insights generated during this session will be thoughtfully considered by the Provincial Council as they refine an advice document about LUP to be presented to the Provincial Government. Please register using one of the following: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/provincial-land-use-planning/, Fax: (709) 729-1673. Deadline for registration is November 12. If you have any questions please contact Jamilee Fitzpatrick at 227-1322 or jamileefitzpatrick@gov.nl.ca.

Mon Nov 22: Public Meeting – Smart Bay Project, Bay of Islands
7:00pm, Irishtown Town Hall
ACAP Humber Arm has partnered with Memorial University-Grenfell Campus to launch the Smart Bay project in the Bay of Islands. All are invited to this public meeting to discuss this exciting new initiative. The project is aimed at collecting and distributing useful information to all Bay of Islands users waterway.  Consultations have begun with user groups, community groups and other interested parties to find out what type of information is needed and how it should be made publicly available.  Some examples of the kind of information that Smart Bay may collect are weather and safety reports, underwater maps of the Bay, water current and other navigational info.  Who should attend this meeting? Municipal leaders, Fishers, Tourism Operators, Harbour Authorities, Recreational Boaters, Local Residents and all others who are interested. Contact Gail Martiri at gmartiri@acaphumberarm.com or 709.637.2884 for more information.

Thur-Sat, Nov 18-20: Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Educators (NLEE) 2nd Annual Provincial Workshop
Pinetree Lodge, Traytown
Are you a teacher, park interpreter, government worker, Brownie leader, non-profit educator, community volunteer (you get the idea) involved in environmental education? Join with other environmental educators from across the province at the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Educators (NLEE) 2nd Annual Provincial Workshop. For more information or to register please contact Denise at vice-chair@nlee.ca or 368-4689 (evening).

Thur, Nov 18: Food Security Network Annual General Meeting & Roundtable Discussions
2:00 – 5:30 p.m., Gower St. United Church, St. John’s
Mark your Calendars – The Food Security Network NL Annual General Meeting (AGM) is coming up and it is your chance to come and learn about what FSN has been up to this past year, become a member, and get involved in planning for 2010-2011. All are welcome! If you are unable to attend in person, but would like to participate, teleconferencing options will be available. Please RSVP with Rick Kelly at richardkelly@foodsecuritynews.com or 709.237.4026. To learn more about FSN and the Annual General Meeting, or to renew or sign up for a membership with FSN, please visit www.foodsecuritynews.com.

Wed, Nov 17: Lunch ‘n Learn – SMART© Life Cycle Assessment and Sustainable Products Standards Training©
12:00 pm, The Suncor Energy Fluvarium, St. John’s
Market confusion and green-washing have never been greater due to the huge demand by purchasers and specifiers for bona fide sustainable products. With California’s adoption of California Gold, the first consensus and life cycle standard providing certified sustainable products, manufacturers are starting to legitimately compete over the sustainability of their products. Identical SMART© Sustainable Product Standards have been adopted for Textile, Fabric, Apparel, Flooring, and Building Products. These consensus Standards cover 60% of the world’s products. Lunch provided by Forbo Canada.  Please RSVP to lryan@atl.cagbc.org. Free to CaGBC Atlantic Chapter Members. Non-Members: $10. To find out how to become a chapter member: http://www.cagbc.org/chapters/atlantic/membership/index.php.