Steve started his forestry career high-lead logging in coastal British Columbia in the early 1980's. He graduated with a B.Sc.F. from the University of Toronto in 1985 and joined the Canadian Forest Service as a database analyst for the Forest Insect and Disease Survey working on long-term forest health monitoring data and plot networks. In 1995 Steve became the manager of the Petawawa Research Forest in Chalk River, Ontario managing the 10,000 ha experimental area. In 2008 Steve became a Knowledge Exchange Specialist with the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre on exchange with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in Pembroke, Ont. Steve currently works on finding ways to add value to the wood fibre chain with duties in Central Ontario and throughout western Canada. In addition Steve has undertaken various projects as chair of the Forest Stewardship Committee of Renfrew County, has served on forest certification committees for Algonquin Park and the Ottawa Valley Forest, and has undertaken urban forest and forest renewal project across the Ottawa Valley.
Wildlife: Don Lewis (MNR) with Jim Ferguson and Murray Borer
Don Lewis
Don Lewis was born in Pembroke and attended Algonquin College for Forestry Technician. In 1985 he started in the MNR fire program and worked mostly in northern Canada (Atikokan, North Bay and Geraldton). He then returned to Pembroke as an Area Tech in 2007 and became the Fish and Wildlife Technical Specialist in the summer of 2007. He is proud to say that Renfrew County is a great place to raise kids and that is what brought him back. He loves to be in the bush whether it is hunting, fishing, hiking, working or doing the Envirothon!
Jim Ferguson
Jim Ferguson is a graduate of Carleton University with a BA degree in physical geography and is an environmental studies specialist.He has written a column for the Renfrew Weekender “Speaking of Nature” regarding animals, flowers and insects for the past thirteen years. He has also written an article “Scene from the Hawk’s Eye” about the life and times of birds for the Renfrew Mercury for thirty years. He has been a compiler in the Renfrew area for the Christmas Bird Count since 1988.He has held wildlife seminars and field trips for church groups, elementary and secondary school science classes, horticultural societies, scouts, cubs, beavers, girl guides, brownies and sparks, Rotary Clubs, Renfrew Seniors groups and Lions Clubs.
Jim has been a staff member at the Ontario Camp Leadership Centre Bark Lake for three seasons and a leader in the Scouting movement for forty-five years.
Murray Borer
Mr. Borer will be assisting Jim Ferguson within the 'birds' section of the Wildlife station at this year's Envirothon. Murray is full-time Bee Keeper, part time Arboriculture Professor and amateur naturalist.
Aquatics: Sarah Hall (Environment Canada) with John Kasaboski
Sarah Hall
Raised in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Sarah Hall spent her childhood and adult life working and playing in and around water. Graduating with a B.SC degree in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University in the early 1990’s, Sarah worked for most of her career for Environment Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Here, she focussed on water quality science and the use of spatial mapping technologies, to generate, interpret and deliver scientific information to a broad range of partners and the public. She also worked extensively in field programs in both Nova Scotia and Labrador, and gained experience developing relationships with aboriginal communities in some of Canada’s "harder-to-get-to" places.
Sarah moved to Pembroke in 2006 and currently works full time as a physical scientist for Environment Canada in Ottawa. She is also a part time instructor at Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley where she teaches forestry students in the use of geographical information systems. Through the college, she also leads the development of a water quality monitoring network for the Muskrat river watershed, a network which relies on student led collection of aquatic bugs. She especially loves local field work and collaborating with colleagues, scientists, community groups and students to teach them and train them on the collection of aquatic benthic invertebrates. Sarah volunteered for her first Envirothon in 2009 and enjoyed it so much that she’s volunteered to come back again.
John Kasaboski
John Kasaboski is a retired environmental science and biology teacher who lives off the grid in Renfrew County. While teaching he was fortunate to be involved with local envirothons and once took a team to the provincial competition. He was active for many years as a member of the Ontario Society for Environmental Education and served as its president for a term. He is presently a member of the Pembroke and Area Field Naturalists and a board member of the Ottawa River Institute.
Soils: Nicole MacGregor, B.A.- Environmental Technician, CFB Petawawa with Chris Ryan, Forestry Technician, Algonquin College of the Ottawa Valley
Nicole MacGregor
Mrs McGregor graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from Brock University and a post graduate diploma in Geographic Information Systems from Niagara College. Currently she is finishing a second degree in Environmental Geoscience. She has experience with various Phase I, II Environmental Site Assessments including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and undeveloped properties. Experience within the environmental field has included field site assessments, groundwater monitoring / sampling, surface water sampling and soil sample collection. Mrs McGregor has also been involved with GIS related projects as well as drafting in AutoCAD. Furthermore she has been involved with geotechnical and mining projects. These projects have included work in Matachewan, Baffin Island, Montreal and Goose Bay.
Experiences at these sites include soil sampling, bedrock drilling, orientated core logging and site supervision.Mrs McGregor graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from Brock University and a post graduate diploma in Geographic Information Systems from Niagara College. Currently she is finishing a second degree in Environmental Geoscience. She has experience with various Phase I, II Environmental Site Assessments including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and undeveloped properties. Experience within the environmental field has included field site assessments, groundwater monitoring / sampling, surface water sampling and soil sample collection. Mrs McGregor has also been involved with GIS related projects as well as drafting in AutoCAD. Furthermore she has been involved with geotechnical and mining projects. These projects have included work in Matachewan, Baffin Island, Montreal and Goose Bay.
Special Topic: Local, Sustainable Agriculture
Presenter: To Be Decided for 2014
Posts
