5 Week Environmental Education Conference 2009

The Canadian Wildlife Federation Learning Institute was launched at the 5th World Environmental Education Conference Earth Our Common Home in Montreal this May. Professors from across Canada joined CWF in developing the Learning Institute to enhance the connections between people and their environments. In this photo are the Learning Institute members (L-R) Dr. Leo Elshof, Assistant Professor, School of Education, Acadia University, Dr. Grant Gardner, Associate Vice-President (Academic), Memorial University, Dr. Luba Mycio-Mommers, Director of Education, CWF, Dr. Yves Jean, Director of the Science and Technology, University of Quebec in Montreal (TELUQ), and Dr. Richard Mrazek, Professor of Science Education, Faculty of Education, University of Lethbridge.

More than 100 guests joined CWF at the Biosphere in Montreal for the Launch of the CWF Learning Institute and a preview of the new CWF French language documentary on the St. Lawrence River. Navigating Troubled Waters will air this June on Canal Savoir. CWF water aware public service announcements and webisodes are available for downloading via the cwf-fcf.org website as part of our Rivers to Oceans water stewardship program.

CWF President Pat Doyle spoke about the mission and vision of our non-profit charitable organization at the VIP reception. CWF was described by 5weec organizers as a “Can-Do” organization and thanked for becoming a major partner of the international environmental educators conference.

Students from Michael A. Riffel High School in Regina met Ricardo Petrella at the CWF VIP reception in Montreal. Petrella has worked for the European Commission and UNESCO and he has taught in universities around the world. He published "The Water Manifesto" and lectures on the water economy and the international water rights. In this photo (L_R) Karen Luzny, art teacher, Michael A. Riffel High School in Regina, Wade Luzny, CWF Executive Vice President, Ricardo Petrella, European author, teacher and activist, and Grade 11 students and water artists from Riffel High School Caitlynn Beckett, Lacie Ripplinger and Kaitlyn Juba.

Paintings by Regina students about the importance of protecting water resources were displayed at the 5weec conference. The paintings were so popular, that they were displayed at the EECOM booth drawing attention to the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication. The paintings were also displayed at the CWF booth and on the presentation pavilion stage. CWF sponsored the participation of the Regina students at the Montreal conference and they provided two workshops about their concerns for the environment and their project H2OurLife: Now is Not Soon Enough.

Conservation musicians delighted audiences at the CWF stage in the presentation pavilion at 5weec in Montreal. L to R: Michael Hurwicz, Rosie Emery, Sharon Abreu and Remy Rodden entertain and educate children and adults with their innovative songs about the environment. Remy’s album Think About The Planet was produced with support from the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Visit thinkabout.ca for more information.

Heather Robison, Media Relations Officer for CWF and Jose Lefebre, M.Sc. candidate at Acadia University in Biology, met educators from around the world in Montreal at 5weec. Lefebre volunteered for CWF at the Montreal conference and will also be involved in the CWF Summer Institute at Acadia in July. His thesis is on Blanding’s Turtles Movements on private and Crown land, to facilitate conservation of species. Details about the Summer Institute July 4-11 in Nova Scotia can be found by visiting cwf-fcf.org.

Debbie Griff, HWW Program Manager, and Louis-René Sénéchal, host and narrator of the French language television vignettes, spoke about the popular series at 5weec. First created in the early 1960s, Hinterland Who’s Who remains an enduring part of Canadian culture. CWF is proud to support these educational wildlife resources. New webisodes and public service announcements as well as vintage clips can be downloaded from hww.ca.