Category Archive for ‘Press Releases’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ottawa, ON (July 31, 2017) — Nature Canada and its Board of Directors are pleased to welcome Mr. Graham Saul as Nature Canada’s new Executive Director, effective September 11. Mr. Saul is a well-known environmental leader and one of the founding members of Ecology Ottawa, a not-for-profit, grassroots and volunteer-driven organization working to make Ottawa the green capital of Canada. He has more than twenty years of experience working with social and environmental organizations such as Climate Action Network Canada, the Washington, D.C.-based Bank Information Center, Friends of the Earth Canada and Oil Change International. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is a great pleasure to welcome Graham to the Nature Canada team,” says Bob… read more →

Victoria, B.C.  (July 12, 2017) — The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and Nature Canada, Canada’s oldest national nature conservation charity, are officially designating the grounds of Government House a NatureHood site as part of the expansion of the existing Saanich Peninsula NatureHood to include the entire capital region. The official ceremony took place on Wednesday, July 12 at 3:30pm at the Government House residence, 1401 Rockland Avenue, Victoria, B.C. “We are delighted by Her Honour’s passion for nature, and appreciate her support in acknowledging the Government House grounds as a NatureHood site within Victoria’s capital region,” says Bob Peart, National Chair of Nature Canada’s Board of Directors and volunteer with the Friends of Shoal Harbour. “What a… read more →

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ottawa (June 29, 2017) – A federal discussion paper released today in response to the recent independent panel report Building Common Ground: A New Vision for Impact Assessment in Canada provides a reasonable framework for a next-generation federal law to assess development projects. “The federal government’s discussion paper is a step in the right direction to restore public trust in how Canada’s natural resources are developed,” says Stephen Hazell, Nature Canada’s Director of Conservation and General Counsel. “However, Nature Canada has several important concerns with the discussion paper, which perhaps can be addressed in the legislative drafting process” adds Hazell. Key positive directions described in the discussion paper include: Establishing a single federal agency to guide and conduct… read more →

Ecological integrity becomes priority in management of park today. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ottawa (June 20, 2017) – CPAWS and Nature Canada celebrate a major achievement today for Rouge National Urban Park- Bill C-18 received Royal Assent from the Governor General. The law means ecological integrity will be the first priority in management of Rouge National Urban Park. It meets a key request from leading conservation groups in Canada that the federal government prioritize nature conservation in law for the park. “How sweet it is,” says Janet Sumner, Executive Director for CPAWS Wildlands League. “After five years, we are that much closer to achieving our dream of building a truly amazing protected ecological connection for wildlife between the Oak Ridges Moraine… read more →

Ottawa, ON (May 12, 2017)—Nature Canada’s Women for Nature initiative is pleased to announce the first recipients of its exciting new Young Nature Leadership Grant. The goal of the grant is to encourage, foster and nurture youth to demonstrate their own leadership for nature. Canadian youth were invited to develop and implement (in 2017) a project inspired by the Canadian Parks Council’s recently published The Nature Playbook that connects a new generation with nature by bringing them into the nature. “As the Honorary Chair of Nature Canada’s Women for Nature initiative, I am delighted to see that Canada’s nature is in good hands,” says the Honourable Senator Diane Griffin. “These young women and their projects being recognized today are a… read more →

Ottawa, ON (May 11, 2017) – Nature Canada and Canadian Biodiversity are hosting a free public event at Brewer Park on Saturday, May 13th, to welcome back the birds for International Migratory Bird Day. This is an annual celebration with this year marking the Centennial of the Migratory Bird Convention Act – Canada’s first wildlife law. “Migratory birds are among nature’s most ambitious long-distance travellers. This spring birds are facing an extra challenge, with the cold and the historic flooding,” says Jill Sturdy, NatureHood Program Manager for Nature Canada. “That gives us more reason to reach out and let people know how they can help be a good neighbour to wildlife, which could include planting native plants, putting up a… read more →

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2017 – Kérastase Canada joins forces with Nature Canada to celebrate Earth Day and the Launch of Aura Botanica; a new 98% natural range of haircare made with organic and responsibly sourced ingredients. Aura Botanica has transformed nature’s raw power into a refined experience for women which makes for a perfect collaboration with Nature Canada and its Women for Nature program. Women for Nature is the collaborative voices of Canadian women with vision – women of influence who chose to demonstrate their passion for nature and pass their values on to others to drive change. The program focuses on connecting more Canadians with nature, an idea Kérastase and Aura Botanica fully embrace. Kérastase will be donating all… read more →

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ottawa (April 5, 2017) – The report of the Expert Panel reviewing Canada’s environmental assessment law, released today, provides a strong foundation for restoring public trust in how natural resources are developed, says Nature Canada. “Congratulations to the Expert Panel on an excellent report. If implemented by legislation, the Panel’s recommendations would greatly assist in achieving sustainability, reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, protecting biodiversity, and promoting reconciliation with Indigenous people” says Stephen Hazell, Nature Canada’s Director of Conservation and General Counsel. “This past autumn, the Expert Panel heard from Canadians at hearings across the country demanding a next-generation law to assess the effects of proposed developments such as pipelines, oil sands projects, dams and mines,” says Hazell. “This report… read more →

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ottawa (March 22, 2017)—Nature Canada congratulates the federal government for its commitment to nature in the 2017 federal budget, including providing $25 million over  5 years for the Indigenous Guardians Pilot Project to provide indigenous communities with resources to manage nature conservation on their traditional lands. Nature Canada is also pleased by the investment of $30 million over 5 years for completion of the Trans Canada Trail, providing millions of Canadians with opportunities to enjoy nature. “We are pleased to see a re-commitment to Canada protecting 17 per cent of its lands and inland waters by 2020 as required under the Aichi Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity”, says Eleanor Fast, Executive Director of Nature Canada.… read more →

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ottawa, ON (March 21, 2017) – The report that the Expert Panel reviewing Canada’s environmental assessment law will release next week is critical to restoring public trust in how natural resources are developed, say environmental law experts. The report is the result of the Expert Panel’s nationwide engagement, which gathered input from scientific and legal experts, Indigenous peoples, industry representatives and members of the public. “This past autumn, the Expert Panel heard from Canadians at hearings across the country demanding a next-generation law to assess the effects of proposed developments such as pipelines, oil sands projects, dams and mines,” said Anna Johnston, Staff Counsel at West Coast Environmental Law. “The recommendations of the Expert Panel – and… read more →