See the full Workshop Schedule - Go Wild

LOBBY Workshop Stage
Time
Workshop Title
10:30
Opening Remarksand Welcome
Speaker
Workshop Description
11:00
The Great Plant
Restoration
Stefan Webber- Ecologist
and Seed Specialist
This presentation will focus large scale restoration and how we are using
agricultural practices to grow bulk seed of uncommon Carolinian Plants to
return to the landscape. I will also talk about the political and biological barriers
to plant restoration and the work we are doing to overcome them.
12:00
Hanging On By A
Scale: The Decline of
Reptiles in Ontario
Scott Gillingwater -Species
at Risk Biologist -Upper
Thames River Conservation
Authority
Endangered species are more than just pandas and whales; they are not limited
to the oceans or far off continents. Globally, reptiles have experienced some of
the most rapid declines of any group of animals. Ontario has over two dozen
species of reptiles. Come explore the often overlooked gems of our fields,
forests and wetlands, and what you can do to help protect them.
*NOTE. There has been a change in our workshop schedule. Unfortunately Lorraine Johnston is unable to join us,...though she is looking forward to NEXT YEAR!
13:00
Get Out and Enjoy
It! High Adventure
with master guides.
Garth Pottruff, Robin
Tapley and Steve Martin
Join us as Garth Pottruff owner/tour guide with Grand River Rafting, Robin
Tapley- instructor for Fanshawe's Adventure Expeditions program and Steve
Martin - Manager for Long Point Eco Adventures discuss their own Adventure
Expeditions in Carolinian Canada and beyond and how this has deepened their
personal commitment and respect for the ecological integrity of the areas they
explore.
1
14:00
14:30
Backyard Birding in
Carolinian Canada
How to Include
Native Plants in Your
Garden
Kathy Jones/Bird Studies
Canada
Graham Buck, Nith River
Native Plants
Kathy Jones will highlight 5 great Citizen Science birding options that all
Carolinian Canada enthusiasts can enjoy and participate in. Join us and learn
about eBird; Project FeederWatch, the Great Backyard Bird Count; the Great
Canadian Birdathon and Project NestWatch.
Graham will share valuable expertise that will inspire your gardening prowess
with native plants! He will discuss plants that will adapt to a broad range of
conditions; moist to wet, sun to shade, and soil conditions from sand, loam to
clay. Learn how to create a native plant garden that will flower throughout the
seasons and thrive in any condition.
Landowner Leaders
David Ainslie, Denise
Shephard, and Steve &
Sharon Benishek
Carolinian Canada’s own Landowner Leader program celebrates these
landowners who have untaken significant stewardship projects on their
properties, and the knowledge and experience they can share with others is
invaluable. Join us as these landowners share their experiences in stewardship,
offer advice and answer questions from the audience.
16:00
Sustainable Tourism
- Myth or Reality?
Steve Martin/Long Point
Eco Adventure, Victoria
Lawson-Mountain
Equipment Coop, Anne
Marie Fortner from Explore
Pelee, Bronwen BuckCarolinian Canada/Eco Trails.
Can sustainable tourism enhance the environment and not just impact it?
Panel Discussion Moderated by Brian Craig
18:00
Closing Remarks
15:00
2
ARENA Workshop Space
10:30
10 Native Trees
for your Yard
Louise Flemington/
Reforest London
Learn about why native trees do so well here, and how they contribute to a healthy
ecosystem. We will present 10 great native trees for your yard, from small to large,
their soil and light conditions, and how they will both beautify your yard and make it a
healthier place.
11:00
Lost & Found:
The History of the
Pawpaw
Dan
Bissonnette/The
Naturalized Habitat
Network of Essex
County & Windsor
This is a look at our indigenous Pawpaw from a historical and cultural perspective.
What can be done to restore this species? This presentation will explore how we relate
to our natural heritage and our cultural values, and how we might strengthen the ties
between the two.
11:30
Native Plants Ten Years
Documenting the
Return of Wildlife
to the City
Ben
Porchuk /Landscape
Native
A journey through photos reviewing the transition of his urban property from the
typical yard to 40% native landscape, including 200 native species of plants and close to
100 specieis fo birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish!
Tree Caching and
Tree Monitoring
for Climate's Sake
Alice Casselman/The
Association for
Canadian
Educational
Resources (ACER)
a.k.a. Climate's Sake
Discover Tree Caching Trails in Ontario to learn more about different tree species in our
environment. Users can scan a tagged tree to learn its identity, characteristics and
interesting facts. Learn how to measure tree growth and its importance in tracking
climate change impacts. Find out how you can become involved in our tree monitoring
programs for volunteers, communities, schools and organization
12:30
3
13:00
14:00
Carolinian
Canada- Big
Picture talk
Bring Nature
Home
14:30
Our Wisdom Tree
Project
15:00
Citizens Toolkit
for Nature
Conservation
15:30
The Importance
of Native
Pollinators and
Native Plants
Jarmo Jalava and
Sarah Hodgkiss,
Carolinian Canada
Coalition
A review of Carolinian Canada's "BIG PICTURE" campaign,- advancing a collaborative
conservation strategy for healthy ecosystems in Ontario's Carolinian Life Zone.
Alan Arthur/Sr.
Ecologist- St.
Williams Nursery
and Ecology Centre
The landscape industry has helped create a legacy of simplified landscapes dominated
by a few alien species. As a result the typical residential "yard" in much of North
America provides little ecological benefit. Allan will discuss the significant ecological
implications of our habit for importing non-native plants, and highlight the practicality,
beauty and ecological benefits that can be gained by enhancing our landscaped areas
with that native plants.
Andrew Judge/ Our
Wisdom Tree
Our Wisdom Tree Project is a bridge to Elders, community leaders and ecological
guardians who create real world changes today and opportunities to engage. Our goal
is to plant trees in similar ways that Indigenous people did prior to colonization and
inspire others to do the same. On the way we want to build a community with similar
visions for the future.
Joshua Wise/Ontario
Nature
Ontario Nature's "Citizens Toolkit for Nature Conservation" will equip citizens with
information and advice on advocating for environmental protection in their
municipalities. It will highlight nature's benefits and how to create healthier, more
livable and resilient communities through greenway planning.
Vic Bernyk/Native
Trees and Plants
Native plants support a diversity of species and by bringing native plants into
residential and public landscapes we can increase the habitat and support many more
species. This discussion will outline the main pollinator groups in Ontario and how in
many instances, their very survival depends on native plants.
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16:00
The Carolinian
Food Forest in
your backyard
Jessica Robertson/
The Carolinian Food
Forest
The Carolinian Food Forest is located on 1 acre of City of London park land and includes
dozens of species of native Carolinian plants. They have purposefully been chosen to
provide food and medicine, or to provide ecosystem services to the community, and
require little input and care from humans. Come and learn about this unique project,
what you may see when you visit the site, and how you can get involved.
16:30
PhragmitesInvasive species
and impact on
our wetlands
Nancy
Vidler/Lambton
Shores Phragmites
Community Group
Phragmites is an invasive species that is causing significant damage to wetlands' flora
and fauna across the province. Community organizations are working tirelessly to rid
drains, ditches, marshlands and beaches of this weed. Learn how one such project is
making an impact.
Visit our
Woodland
Jeanne Anne
Goldrick/ The
Garden Club of
Canada
A description, with photos, of the development, history and reasons for the Woodland
as a restoration project to achieve a piece of Carolinian Forest with in the City of
London.
17:00
5
Demo and Interactive Exhibits
ALL Day
Climbing Wall
Junction Climbing
Gym
All Day
Leaf
Identification
and Colouring
Reforest London
First climb is free!
‘Parkette’ Workshop Stage
10:30
How to Pack Your
Pack!
Mike Merritt,
Mountain
Equipment Coop
Become the master of organization and learn exactly what you need and how to store
it with the equipment gurus from MEC.
Schedule CHANGE- Salthaven has been very busy with rescues this week, and though there will be a representative joining us to talk about the work they do,
no wildlife ambassadors will be able to join us.
11:30
Salthaven
Wildlife
Rehabilitation
TBD/Salthaven
Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre’s mission is to help sick,
injured or orphaned wild animals. Meet one or more of their Wildlife Ambassadors
(Spirit the bald eagle, Gusss the grey rat snake, Miko Shikoba the red-tailed hawk, and
Chaukar the Laggar falcon).
12:30
Tracking Reptiles
and Amphibians
Tanya Pulfer/
Ontario Nature
Calling all Citizen Scientists! Check out this Cool Phone App to track Reptiles and
Amphibians across the region and share your data with conservation biologists!
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13:30
Meet Reptiles
and Amphibians
Jenny Pearce/
Sciensational
Sssnakes
This programs feature live animals that are safe, friendly and easy to handle. Many of
them are native Ontario species, some of which are now endangered in the wild, and
rarely seen. Sciensational Sssnakes!! maintains the most complete collection of
Ontario reptile and amphibian species in the province, which allows unparalleled
opportunities to learn about these animals and the challenges we face to ensure their
survival in the future.
14:30
GPS, Digital
Navigation and
Topographical
maps
Christian Espanol,
Mountain
Equipment Coop
These are the MASTER SKILLS and TOOLS you need to Get Out and really Enjoy It! If
you love your gear or you want to go old school......this workshop will help you
confidently navigate the back country.
15:30
Tree Caching
Association of
Canadian
Educational
Resources (ACER)
You’ve heard of Geo Caching....well this is a similar challenging activity. Find these
specially marked trees around the region, then scan to learn more!
16:30
Bike
Maintenance
101!
TBD, Mountain
Equipment Coop
Learn how to fix a flat, basic maintenance, accessorizing your bike
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