PIEDMONT, Que. -- November
22, 2010 -- On behalf of Canada's Environment
Minister, John Baird, Steven Blaney, Member
of Parliament for Lévis-Bellechasse,
today announced the Nature Conservancy of
Canada's successful acquisition of ERS Youth
Development Corporation property in the
Laurentian region of Québec. This
property consists of 459 hectares (1,134
acres) of land located in the Tremblant-Prévost
Corridor Natural Area. This project was
secured in part with funding from Environment
Canada's Natural Areas Conservation Program
and has an overall budget of $5,247,250.
"As part of the
International Year of Biodiversity, this
acquisition marks another achievement under
our government's Natural Areas Conservation
Program. With this investment, we are taking
real action to protect and conserve our
ecosystems and sensitive species for present
and future generations," said MP Blaney.
"Your actions, large and small, will
help to protect the abundance and variety
of life that is part of our natural heritage."
This property is part
of an ecologically significant area that
is home to important plant and animal species
at risk such as the Peregrine Falcon. Mixed
and deciduous forests cover most of the
property, and White and Red Pine trees can
be found at the top and the bottom of the
ridge. This diverse forest cover combines
with the presence of the facing cliffs to
explain the abundance and diversity of bird
populations in the area.
Moreover, a small lake
(Lake Paradis) in the south west portion
of the property is home to a well-drained
maple forest with mature Butternut and Red
Oak trees accompanied by meridional plants
such as the Bloodroot and the Northern Maidenhair
fern. The complex topography of this Natural
Area has encouraged the development of various
types of soils, hydrologic regimes and microclimates,
and thus a mosaic of forest and wetland
habitats of great diversity.
"These Gifts to
Canadians are tangible examples of what
we are able to achieve by working together.
By designing and managing networks of protected
areas we fulfill our national and global
responsibility to protect Canada's natural
treasures for the future," said John
Lounds President & CEO of Nature Conservancy
of Canada. "What better way to celebrate
our nation than by protecting the spectacular
lands and wildlife that our country is known
for around the world."
The Government of Canada's
$225-million Natural Areas Conservation
Program is an important on-the-ground initiative
that takes real action to preserve Canada's
environment and conserve its precious natural
heritage for present and future generations.
It is through the ongoing contribution from
all donors that we can ensure the protection
of natural areas in Canada. As of July 2010,
under the Natural Areas Conservation Program
over 138,800 hectares (342,982 acres) have
been secured, protecting habitat for over
79 species at risk.
+ More
The Biosphère,
Environment Museum, Presents the 5th Edition
of Green Christmas and the Recycling-Artists
Eco Fair
MONTRÉAL, QC
-- November 17, 2010 -- From December 3
to January 9, the Biosphère offers
holiday programming that unites the arts
and the environment. Activities include
the well-known Recycling-Artists Eco Fair,
the O.N.E. | Outfits from a New Era and
Behind the Christmas Tree exhibitions, and
the Sainte-Émilie Flying Beavers
story. Celebrities such as Robert Lepage,
George Stroumboulopoulos, Guy A. Lepage
and Julie Payette have agreed to support
the O.N.E. exhibition's artistic approach
by autographing a waste object associated
with one of the exhibitors' creations.
Recycling Artists Eco
Fair: December 3 to 5
The Fair's 5th edition
brings together 43 exhibitors inspired by
a common artistic and environmental approach.
This major environmentally responsible event,
which drew 3200 visitors in 2009, offers
decorative and utilitarian objects, clothing,
jewellery and accessories created from recycled
materials. In a completely new setting,
visitors can also pick up some tips on eco-wrapping,
participate in discussions with the artists,
and acquire good-as-new toys refurbished
by the Lutins verts workshop. Schedule:
Friday, December 3, from 12 noon to 9 p.m.,
and Saturday and Sunday, December 4 and
5, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the
Biosphère will be free for this event.
O.N.E. | Outfits from
a New Era: starting December 3
This exhibition showcases
16 outfits fashioned from consumer products.
Accompanied by art videos and soundtracks
from Canada's music scene, these artists'
creations present car parts, batteries,
salmon skins, electronic waste and other
cast-offs from our society in a whole new
light!
Behind the Christmas
Tree: starting December 3
Made up of six theme-based
tableaux, this mini-exhibit creatively illustrates
statistics on holiday consumption and suggests
solutions that anyone can implement.
Sainte-Émilie
Flying Beavers
The whole family will
be touched by Sainte-Émilie Flying
Beavers, a warm tale that weaves together
comedy and mystery, and encourages us to
think about our holiday habits. It is presented
on December weekends starting December 11,
and every day as of December 23.
Full programming, schedules
and green tips are available at http://www.ec.gc.ca/biosphere/.
As an environment museum,
Environment Canada's Biosphère is
mandated to encourage everyone to take action
and get involved in environmental issues.
In addition to staging exhibitions and special
events, the Biosphère develops educational
and outreach projects for a diverse clientele
across Canada; it is also a recognized clearinghouse
for environmental information.
Media Relations
Environment Canada
