Workshop 6 Speakers
Short biographies of the speakers and abstracts of their presentations
will be posted here as they become available.
Hugh M. Akagi
Hugh M. Akagi is Chief of the Passamaquoddy Peoples and a long
time employee of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, where he
performs science research.
Chief Akagi will talk about traditional and current approaches
to adapting to climate impacts. To do this he will relate and rely
on his pesonal experiences and observations having walked betweeen
both worlds.
Fred Baechler
Fred Baechler is the Chief Hydrogeologist for ADI Ltd in the Sydney
Regional Office.
Mr. Baechler will focus on what water system operators can do right
now, on a day-to-day basis, to adapt their systems to deal with
climate change - using Cape Breton as an example. The first key
is not to wonder 'if change will happen' - but to understand it
has and will be going on and adapt to it. The second key is that
'you can’t manage what you don’t understand'. This requires
investing in monitoring programs and analyzing what is already available.
The third key is 'the past is the key to the future'. This requires
combining the first two keys to see how ground and surface water
systems have reacted in the past to changes in climate - then use
those to predict the future. It is here where the Elder’s
knowledge and wisdom becomes important. Examples are provided from
the Cape Breton experience, for both ground and surface waters.
Recommendations are provided for each of the five First Nations
Communities on the Island.
Elder Gwen Bear
Elder Gwen Bear will conduct the opening and closing ceremonies
and tell a creation story on the first day.
Alyre Chiasson
Alyre Chiasson is a professor in the Biology Department at the
Université de Moncton. His background is in freshwater ecology,
primarily that of running waters. Dr. Chiasson’s research
interests focus primarily on the use of fish and macroinvertebrates
as biological indicators, linking land use to aquatic health. Over
the past 3 years he has evaluated the effectiveness of constructed
wetlands as a means to treat stormwater effluent. Recently, he has
also investigated the seasonal use of cold-water streams by fish
as areas of thermal refuge from elevated water temperatures in the
mainstems of larger rivers. Dr. Chiasson is one of the founders
of the Petitcodiac Watershed Monitoring Group and current sits on
its board of directors. He is also a member of the board of directors
and a researcher in the Fundy Model Forest, in addition to president
of the Biology Committee and council member of APICS, the Atlantic
Provinces Council on the Sciences.
Dr. Chiasson will present on effects of climate change freshwater
ecosystems. This presentation will focus on the foreseen consequence
of increasing water temperature, changes in the flow regimes and
rises in atmospheric CO2, on freshwater flora and fauna
as a result of climate change. Water temperature is acknowledged
as a critical factor in regulating the life cycle of many aquatic
organisms from fish to macroinvertebrates. Shifts in timing of emergence
of aquatic insects may have repercussions for predators, especially
in the early life stages. The potential exists for a cascade effect
through the food chain. Changes in the ice cover of streams and
lakes in addition to frequency of winter thaws may all have consequences
for the over-wintering stages of animals and plants. Potential changes
in the chemical composition of freshwater will also be examined.
The presentation will conclude with a number of recommendations
to help monitor and moderate the impact of climate change on freshwater
systems.
Michael Cox
Michael Cox is currently the Director of Lands, Environment, and
Natural Resources for the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq. He is
co-chair of the AFNEN planning committee.
Mr. Cox introduce the Atlantic First Nations Environmental Network.
Graham R. Daborn
Graham R. Daborn is the Director of the Arthur Irving Academy for
the Environment and Former Director of the Acadia Centre for Estuarine
Research and Professor of Biology at Acadia University in Wolfville,
Nova Scotia. During the last 30 years he has been involved in many
kinds of research dealing primarily with aquatic ecosystems: lakes,
ponds and estuaries, particularly the macrotidal estuaries of the
Bay of Fundy system. Dr. Daborn is currently also involved in enhancing
public awareness of environmental socio-economic issues, in supporting
(after designing) the Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP), of
which the Clean Annapolis River Project is the flagship. He is the
Co-Chair of the Program Management Committee for the Canadian Water
Network, a Network of Centres of Excellence aimed at understanding
the Environmental Implications of Clean Water. From 1996-2004 he
chaired the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership, a virtual institute
that is concerned with increasing cooperation between governments,
communities, resource users and industries in development of sustainable
futures for the communities and resources of the Bay of Fundy. Recent
research involved a major study of the Windsor Causeway and saltmarsh
ecosystem.
Dr. Daborn will speak about external factors that influence freshwater's
resilience to climate impacts. Management of water resources is
difficult at the best of times: natural changes in supply result
from climate variability and ecosystem changes that are largely
unpredictable. Those communities that depend on primary resources
(forestry, fishing, agriculture etc.) have probably retained a long-developed
capacity to adapt to such natural changes that city and town dwellers
generally have lost. However, in addition to natural changes in
water supply, there are numerous external influences that modify
both supply of and demand for water. Some of these are local: changes
in land use, increasing urbanization, industrial development, and
investment in central infrastructure for water management, for example.
Other influences are much more distant. These include: national
and provincial policies; international trade forces that affect
the scale and practice of forestry; demand for fish products that
encourages growth of aquaculture (to compensate for disappearing
wild stocks); and market preferences that affect selection of agricultural
products. Uncertainties about the real effects of global climate
changes on the Atlantic region mean that forecasting water supply
and demand is extremely difficult. Consequently, adaptation by communities
to changing water sufficiency will be determined by a community’s
ability to monitor change, to adjust both supply and demand to availability,
and to develop a comprehensive, integrated water management process
that is based on sound knowledge of surface and groundwater resources,
judicious allocation of water according to its quality and quantity,
protection against degradation, and a versatile policy regime able
to respond to external factors. It may seem like a cliché
to say that water is essential for all life, but failure to act
on its truth could be deadly.
Brendon Drake
Brendon Drake is a Project Engineer with Public Works and Government
Services Canada located in Amherst, N.S.and is currently assigned
as coordinator to the First Nations Water Management Strategy.
Mr. Drake will speak about First Nations Water/ Wastewater Operator
training.
Peter Duinker
Peter Duinker is a Professor at the School for Resource and Environmental
Studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Manager/Co-director
of C-CIARN Atlantic. His research interests are wide-ranging and
include forest policy, forest management planning, sustainable forest
management systems, criteria and indicators of sustainable forest
management, wildlife habitat analysis, forest biodiversity assessment,
forest tenure, public participation, conflict resolution, climate
change, and environmental assessment.
Dr. Duinker will introduce participants to C-CIARN, familiarize
them with the goals of the workshop, and act as co-facilitator throughout.
Manon Fleury
Manon Fleury is a Biostatistician in the Foodborne, Waterbone
and Zoonotic Infections Division (Public Health Agency of Canada)
and has extensive experience in enteric disease research and modelling.
Manon also has an M.Sc. in biostatistics and her thesis focused
on temperature and foodborne diseases in Canada and included complex
time series statistical methods and epidemiological modelling. Since
2002 she has been involved in researching the health impacts of
climate change on foodborne and waterborne diseases and has been
part of the ECCHO team (Ecosystems, Climate Change and Health Omnibus)
since 2002. She has also participated in international research
projects on climate change and health. Her background includes multi-disciplinary
research and ecosystem health methods.
Ms. Fleury will speak about anticipated or known climate impacts
to drinking water as a health issue in the Atlantic region. An adequate
supply of safe drinking water is important to the health and wellbeing
of Canadians. Waterborne illnesses result from pathogens entering
the water supply, which is then consumed either directly through
drinking water or indirectly by contaminated foods. The burden from
waterborne illness is unknown in Canada although research has shown
that it accounts for a significant proportion of enteric illness.
Climate models suggest that in the next 100 years the Atlantic provinces
may see projected increases in temperature of 3-4ºC, changes in
precipitation patterns and an anticipated increase in extreme weather
events. The links between climate change and waterborne disease
have been demonstrated and there is a need to develop a better understanding
of the potential impacts of climate change on epidemic and endemic
waterborne disease. People may be more vulnerable to waterborne
diseases with increased heavy rainfalls, sea level rise, and floods
or storm surges. Climate change beyond normal range could affect
existing infrastructures (eg. water treatment, public health) designed
within certain parameters.
Al Hanson
Al Hanson (Canadian Wildlife Service - Sackville, NB) holds a Ph.D.
in wildlife ecology from the University of Western Ontario. Dr.
Hanson has worked as the CWS habitat research biologist for Atlantic
Canada for the past 15 years. Al is currently the Ecosystem Impacts
Team Leader for the New Brunswick Climate Change and Sea-level Rise
Project in addition to being the CWS Regional Lead on Climate Change
Issues.
Dr. Hanson will speak about the First Nations Water Management
Strategy.
Kim Hughes
Kim Hughes is the Director of the Sustainable Planning Branch
of the New Brunswick Department of Environment & Local Government.
He also holds the position of Provincial Planning Director. Kim
has a BSc (Biology) from the University of New Brunswick and has
been working in the field of environmental planning and management
since 1978. His current responsibilities include oversight of all
provincial land use and community planning legislation, water management
planning, including source drinking water protection and water classification
programs, and coastal and marine planning initiatives.
Mr. Hughes will enlighten participants on source water protection
and watershed management in New Brunswick.
Gary Lines
Gary Lines is with the Climate Change Division (CCD), Meteorological
Service of Canada - Atlantic Region. He brings over 25 years of
meteorology experience to the topic of climate and climate change.
In the past several years, Mr. Lines, as part of his role in CCD,
has helped deliver more than 100 presentations on climate change
to a varied audience. He also manages research projects and participates
in several networks aimed at expanding climate change knowledge.
Mr. Lines has become a regional science authority on climate change
and is the regional resource for the Seasonal Forecast.
Mr. Lines will introduce the concepts, as seen by Western Science,
of climate change and its impact on both the built and natural environment.
Topics such as climate change detection in Atlantic Canada, climate
variables important to water resources and the projections of climate
change expected in Atlantic Canada as generated by sophisticated
climate models. Special attention will be paid to projected change
in precipitation across the region for the next 50-100 years.
Kyle McKenzie
Kyle McKenzie is the Atlantic Regional Coordinator for the Canadian
Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network, based at Dalhousie
University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Before joining C-CIARN, he worked
as an environmental scientist and planner at the Nova Scotia Department
of Transportation and Public Works in Halifax and at S.N.C. Lavalin
in Dartmouth. He holds an honours Bachelor's degree in Geology from
Dalhousie University and a Master's degree in Regional Planning
and Resource Development from the University of Waterloo.
Mr. McKenzie will speak about C-CIARN and climate change adaptation
research funding opportunities.
Yves Michaud
Yves Michaud is currently scientific coordinator for the Québec
division of the Geological survey of Canada and the Manager of the
C-CIARN Landscape Hazards sector. He has been working for the G.S.C.
as research scientist for about 15 years in the field of Climate
Change and hydrogeological mapping. More recently, he was the leader
of a few groundwater inventory projects in the region of Portneuf,
South-eastern New Brunswick and Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia
as well as a CCAF project on the impact of climate change in eastern
Canada.
Dr. Michaud will talk about threats to ground water quality and
quantity in Atlantic Canada. Groundwater plays a major role in the
water cycle since it is the largest reservoir of fresh water on
earth. In eastern Canada 50 to 100% of the population relies on
groundwater for their drinking-water supply, depending on the province.
The renewal of this resource and thus the amount of groundwater
available for consumption in a specific region is dependant upon
climatic conditions, groundwater uses, evapotranspiration, and runoff.
It is established that an increase in temperature causes increased
evaporation and evapotranspiration, which in turn may decrease aquifer
recharge. Climate changes and its influence on recharge variations,
may have an impact on groundwater levels in aquifers, and groundwater
availability.
Chris Milley
Chris Milley is a graduate of both Mount Allison and Dalhousie
Universities. He holds a Bachelor of Science, Honours in Chemistry,
a Masters of Science (Oceanography) and a Master of Marine Management
(Community-based Management). He has a keen interest in advancing
First Nations involvement in community-based integrated resource
management. During the ten years prior to joining the M.C.P.E.I.
Chris worked with a number of Mi'kmaq fishery management projects
and organizations, including: the Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission,
the Mi'kmaq Fish and Wildlife Commission, where he served as Executive
Director and the Atlantic Policy Congress where he served as a fishery
policy analyst. Chris also worked with the Acadia Band in Nova Scotia
as Director of their Fisheries Program, where he was successful
in helping to establish a very effective Mi'kmaq communal fishery
program. In the short time since the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I.
began operations, Chris Milley has established a very effective
province-wide approach to the Mi'kmaq fishery, while continuing
to provide the technical assistance required to further the unique
fishery, aquaculture and coastal resource development interests
of each of the P.E.I. Mi'kmaq Bands.
Mr. Milley will explore climate change impacts on freshwater management
for First Nations in P.E.I. through a brief overview of the current
situation respecting water resources (types, availability, and infrastructure),
current examples and evidence of climate change impacts, and long-term
information requirements. The presentation will address skills and
capacity needs, research and technical support requirements (including
predictive modelling), and implications of insufficient planning
and support.
Marie-Ève Neron
Marie-Eve Neron has been working for Indian and Northern Affairs
Canada for almost three years. During that time, she spent two years
in the Atlantic Regional Office working as a Funding Services Officer,
shadowing the Manager of Capital and Senior Environmental Officer.
Since her move to Ottawa last fall, she has been working as a policy
analyst on climate change impacts and adaptation. Marie-Eve has
a B.Sc. in Biology and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning,
both from Laval University.
Ms. Neron will give a brief explanation of INAC's role in the impacts
and adaptation component of the Aboriginal and Northern Community
Program.
Len O’Neill
Len has worked with Health Canada - First Nations and Inuit Health
branch since 1995. He is currently the Regional Manager of the Environmental
Health program. As part of his responsibilities Len is responsible
for implementing the First Nations Water Management Strategy for
Health Canada throughout the region. He has worked with First Nations
communities on a number of issues including food safety, housing,
and contaminants providing advice and support/funding for proposals
to address issues impacting the health of First Nations.
Mr. O'Neill will speak about the Health Canada component of the
First Nations Water Management Strategy.
Clifford Paul
Mr. Paul will act as co-facilitator throughout the workshop.
Myrle Traverse
Myrle Traverse is an Ojibway from Manitoba. She is employed as
a Senior Policy Analyst at the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa.
She was also an Instructor at University College of the North in
Thompson where she taught Native Studies and Environmental Studies.
She has a Master of Science and is currently working on her Ph.D.
on climate change.
Ms. Traverse will speak about how climate change will affect First
Nations.More research is needed to assess its impacts on First Nations.
Assembly of First Nations (AFN) was able to do an initial scoping
of the extent of awareness by First Nations on climate change issues.
The preliminary results of the workshop indicated that the impacts
of climate change are as diverse as First Nations and their communities.
Some of these diversities include housing and infrastructure, transportation,
health, treaty rights, economic development, land and resource management,
traditional knowledge and activities, and fishing. The diversities
are challenging which is reflective of First Nations geography,
culture, economy, and infrastructure, to name a few. The opportunities,
capacities, and level of awareness among First Nations are the challenges
that will determine the ability to respond and be resilient.
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