Internationally renowned experts discuss the strengths, challenges and opportunities for conservation in Canada

As our demands on rural landscapes intensify, our climate changes and our concern for the natural environment grows, the need for innovative ways to address current and emerging environmental issues is critical. Sharing knowledge and promoting conversations around conservation in Canada is an integral part of contemporary and inclusive Environmental Governance. We are excited to host this event, “Connecting to Conservation in Canada”, which will bring internationally renowned experts and the community together to discuss conservation science, conservation practice and policies, conservation citizenship and a wider national-level culture of conservation awareness.

The event will be moderated by Judy Maddren M.S.M, CBC Journalist and U of G Alumna who will lead the discussion and among the experts on our panel are:

• David Miller, North America Regional Director and ambassador for inclusive climate action for C40 Cities, the climate leadership group of 90 of the world’s greatest cities. Former president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund – Canada, and former Mayor of Toronto and where he helped Toronto become widely admired internationally for its environmental leadership.
• Dr. Faisal Moola, the Director General, Ontario and Canada’s North, from the David Suzuki Foundation. He will become an Associate Professor of Geography at U of Guelph in December and has been in the forefront of some of Canada’s most iconic environmental battles.
• John Cutfeet, from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation. John focuses on being a resource to communities in Ontario’s Far North on watershed protection and on resource proposals that may impact those watersheds.
• Elizabeth May, is the leader of the Green Party of Canada and its first elected Member of Parliament, representing Saanich-Gulf Islands in southern Vancouver Island. In 2005, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of her decades of leadership in the Canadian environmental movement.

Tonight’s event presented by the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences and the Department of Geography in support of the Kinross Chair in Environmental Governance. U of G and Kinross joined forces in 2008 in a new education and research network to promote responsible natural resource management.

Governance is more than government responsibility and action but rather indicates the full range of direct accountability and actions taken by Aboriginal groups, business, communities, not-for-profit organizations and citizens. The Kinross chair spends a semester at the U of G working with the University and community partners to be a portal of knowledge and information exchange, evolve the education and research network to promote responsible natural resource management.

Linking to a groundbreaking interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts major in Environmental Governance and the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute, the Kinross Chair will provide leadership around the processes of, and mechanisms involved in, environmental governance, the challenges and innovations in the field, and emerging societal concerns. For further information and updates around the position and the upcoming call for applications please visit the Kinross site .