Community Oriented Environmental Speakers and Conversations
Upcoming Speaker:
Join Melissa Tomaszewski at the Canmore Public Library for their presentation Why We Should Talk More About Garbage: a lively discussion on when garbage isn't garbage!
Melissa is the founder of Fyne Products, which gives new life to clothing that is too damaged for the second-hand market and would typically end up in a landfill. Learn about easy ways you too can turn garbage into gold.
This Earth Talks event, in partnership with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, will take place on Monday April 17th, 2023 in the Friends Program Room at 7:00pm. Registration is required.
About Why We Should Talk More About Garbage:
Fyne Products is a Bow Valley based company that is obsessed with garbage that isn’t garbage. Fyne Products are Pre-Adventured. They are made using post-consumer waste (used clothing) that is too damaged for the second-hand market and would typically end up in a landfill.
At this presentation, we will learn about ways to upcycle "garbage" into clothing, as well as cover topics like
About the Presenter:
Melissa believes that by talking about our collective garbage habits and understanding broader waste systems, we can better focus our energy and action on the most impactful environmental protection actions. As well, reflecting on how our waste reflects our social values helps close the gap between understanding and action.
Melissa has over fifteen years of experience in operations management and human resources in both the public and private sectors. With a B.Mgt. in Human Resources and an MBA focused on Public Policy, Melissa approaches environmental discussions from a system and a human perspective.
Earth Talks is a new program coming to the CPL, in collaboration with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, to bring you monthly environmental speakers and conversations relevant to our community.
On one Monday evening each month, we will be joined by Biosphere staff in the Friends Program Room at 7:00pm for an Earth Talk. Earth Talks will typically be held on the third Monday of the month, with a few exceptions. Admission is free, with donations graciously accepted.
Get inspired to learn more about the world around us and what we can do to preserve it!
2023 dates have been set, speakers TBD. Check back soon!
Future Dates:
Join Nick de Ruyter and Lynda Pianosi at the Canmore Public Library for their presentation Family Hiking: Making it as Easy as 1-2-3. Learn the key things you should know for a safe and enjoyable day on the trail!
This Earth Talks event, in partnership with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, will take place on Monday May 15th, 2023 in the Friends Program Room at 7:00pm. Registration is required.
About Family Hiking: Marking it as easy as 1-2-3:
Living with the beautiful Rocky Mountains in our backyard, we are surrounded by nature, wildlife, and hiking trails galore. But do you know which trails are family friendly, or how to choose the best hike for all the members of your group? Have you wondered what you should pack in a first aid kit or how to use bear spray? At this Earth Talks presentation, you'll learn all that, and more!
Nick and Lynda will touch base on the key things you should know to make your family hiking experience safe and enjoyable!
They will cover topics like:
This presentation will also provide you with hand-outs and check lists on local hiking trails suitable for families, packing lists, and how to be wildlife smart. It will offer opportunities for you to share your own hiking stories or wildlife close encounters you've experienced, and will give you a peek at the gear and supplies they use when on the trails!
About the Presenters:
Nick de Ruyter is the WildSmart Program Director at the Biosphere Institute and enjoys delivering educational programming to diverse groups of residents and visitors! Prior to joining the Biosphere Institute, Nick spent 8 years working as a commercial "Bush" pilot in the Canadian Arctic. After hanging up his "wings," he continued to work up north managing remote mining camps, which is where he first became involved in human-bear conflict issues while dealing with polar and grizzly bears in camp. In his free time, Nick likes to be outdoors skiing, mountain biking and hiking with his wife and 2 kids.
Lynda Pianosi’s love of the outdoors started in her childhood. When she had her children, she knew she wanted to share her love of the outdoors with them. Hiking was a great way to do this. However, she quickly discovered that preparing a family with two small children for a hike in the mountains was a challenging task. Not all hikes were alike and not all trails were designed for families.
Though she referenced several easy walks and hikes books, they were written with adults in mind and left her with unanswered questions. Through trial and error on many-a trail, an idea grew roots: what if my family documented our experiences to help other parents? The seeds for “Take a Hike with Your Children™” — the first-of-its-kind Rockies guidebook written with families in mind, including the 1-2-3 Mountain Rating System— the difficulty level from a child’s perspective — were sown. Shortly after self-publishing her book, she became a Professional Interpretive Four Seasons Hiking Guide. Lynda aims to provide families and beginner hikers of all ages with the knowledge and skills they need for a safe and enjoyable day on the trail.
Past Speakers:
Join Dawn Byford, C.H.N.C., Plant-Based Cook, PBNC Nutrition Professional, at the Canmore Public Library for their presentation Our Plate and the Planet - an hour of delicious discussion highlighting the power of your plate and how what you choose to fill it with can impact not only your personal health, but the health of the planet as well. Eat plants, plant trees, love life!
This Earth Talks event, in partnership with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, will take place on Monday March 20th, 2023 in the Friends Program Room at 7:00pm. Registration is required.
About Our Plate and the Planet:
Do you know the positive effect you have on the planet each time you choose a plant-based meal? Do you know how much rainforest is destroyed every day for animal agriculture? How much ocean is destroyed each day in relation to that?
At this Earth Talks presentation, Dawn will offer an eye-opening and delicious introduction to the many benefits of a whole foods plant-based lifestyle for human and planetary health.
We will learn about the importance of the power on your plate to profoundly impact climate change - for instance, do you know how much forest we can save just by cutting meat intake by 40%?
Dawn will also be treating us to a mini cooking demonstration and tasting of a plant based recipe!
About the Presenter:
Dawn is a graduate with honours from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, and Professionally Certified in Plant-based cooking and Plant-based Nutrition. She’s a dedicated community volunteer, as part of the Rotary Club of Canmore, and a lover of all things that are good for your Soul. Teaching others how to make easy and health-supporting plant-based meals is her passion. She believes strongly in the resiliency of the human spirit and of all Life itself.
In the past two years, Dawn also discovered the vast environmental benefits of a Whole Foods Plant-based lifestyle, through her international volunteer role with ESRAG’s (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group) Plant-Rich Diet Taskforce, and her certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition with T. Colin Campbell’s Centre for Nutrition Studies at eCornell. Infusing all she does with kindness and “Vitamin L”, is a primary intention as she humbly explores this ever-changing and wondrous journey of life.
Eat plants, plant trees, love life!
