© Conservation Council of New Brunswick 2024
In this edition of EcoNews, we’ve put together a guide to help you question your local MLA candidates about their environmental plans ahead of the provincial election. These questions go beyond the environment — they touch on how your future representatives will address the cost of living and public health and build a sustainable future for all New Brunswickers.
Plus, as people prepare to vote, check out our intro course on provincial civics. Also, if you missed out on tickets for our fundraising whale-watching tour, scroll down to see how you can join our cancellation list! Dive in and join us in shaping the future of our province.
Question the candidates
The 2024 New Brunswick election is right around the corner, and this is your chance to make sure the issues that matter most to you are front and center. The environment directly impacts the cost of living, your health and the strength of your community. Clean air, safe water, affordable energy and a healthy environment are all connected to our quality of life.
We’ve put together some key environmental questions for you to ask your MLA candidates. These aren’t just questions about the environment — they’re about how your future MLA plans to tackle the rising cost of living, protect your health and build a better, more sustainable future for all of us.
Click below to visit our website and check out these questions, or feel free to push candidates on any topic that concerns you.
Provincial civics 101
Civic education is key to participating in the democratic process. Sadly, most Canadians aren’t exposed to these topics in the education system, with a third of Canadian adults saying they don’t remember learning anything about the subject in school.
That’s why we put together a quick guide on how New Brunswick’s provincial government works, why voting matters and how activism can shape environmental policy ahead of the provincial election. This guide covers the basics of Canada’s political system, so if it’s you’re first time voting or you just want to brush up on how it works, you’ll gain the confidence to participate in democratic processes and better understand the political issues that affect your community.
Whale-watching tour sold out — Join the waitlist!
Tickets for our fundraising whale-watching tour sold out extremely quickly! We’re so grateful to everyone who bought a ticket and will explore the Bay of Fundy’s wildlife and beautiful marine areas on Sunday, Sept. 22.
If you’re disappointed you missed out, send us an email and join the tour waitlist. In case of a cancellation, we’ll contact you and book you a spot on this tour guided by New Brunswick conservation experts. All proceeds from this event will go directly to supporting the vital work of the Conservation Council and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society New Brunswick Chapter.
Click below for more details, and contact us if you’d like to join the waitlist!
Stand with seniors for climate action
The United Nations International Day of Older Persons is Tuesday, Oct. 1, and seniors across Canada are standing up for climate action. In New Brunswick, 55 communities are rallying together—here’s how you can get involved in Fredericton:
Legislature gathering (11 a.m. — 12 p.m.)
From 11 a.m. until noon, there will be a gathering at the provincial legislature. There will be music by the Raging Grannies, a pledge to future generations and stories about how the climate impacts older adults. Bring a chair (rocking chairs are welcome) and help fill the legislature lawn.Webinar on climate and seniors’ health (4 p.m.)
Join a webinar hosted by the New Brunswick Environment Network and the Stepping Stone Senior Centre to learn about climate change’s effects on the health and safety of older adults. Open to everyone. Register now!Case study release
More than 40,000 New Brunswick seniors are living in energy poverty. The Conservation Council is releasing a case study on a New Brunswick senior living in an energy-inefficient home, highlighting potential solutions.
Click below for the Seniors for Climate online map to see what’s happening in your area:
Hey teachers! Schedule an electric school bus presentation for your students
The Conservation Council of New Brunswick is offering an engaging and educational presentation on electric school buses. This presentation is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about sustainable transportation, electric buses’ environmental impact and the health benefits they bring to our communities.
Presentation highlights:
Structure: Presentation and activity
Duration: 50-60 minutes
Target audience: Grades K-12 (content can be adjusted based on age group)
You can book by emailing our climate change co-ordinator, Autumn Downey, by clicking below and scheduling the best time for your class. You can also fill out our quick Google Form to select your preferred date and time.
Happy retirement, Steph!
We’re saying farewell to an exceptional member of our team at the Conservation Council.
Stephanie Phillips, our longtime office manager and financial administrator, is retiring. Steph has been the heart of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick for 10 years, ensuring that our operations run without a hitch. Her leadership was instrumental when she served as the organization’s interim executive director, guiding us through a transition period with unwavering dedication.
Before joining us, Steph served as our board treasurer and was a financial manager at Fredericton’s former York Credit Union, bringing a wealth of experience when she joined the Conservation Council staff. Steph is an amazingly thoughtful team member, taking the time each day to check on our office staff. If you’ve ever spoken to her, you know how much she cares about this province and her co-workers.
We couldn’t be more grateful for everything Steph has done, and wish her the best in her retirement!
Welcome, Michelle!
Farewells also bring new beginnings. We’re so excited to welcome Michelle Pellerin to our staff as the Conservation Council’s new office manager and financial administrator.
Originally from Bathurst, Michelle brings a unique blend of business savvy and artistic creativity to our team. After earning her business degree in the late ‘90s, she spent over a decade with Bell Aliant in various roles. But her creative spirit led her back to school in the 2010s, where she pursued a ceramics program at the College of Craft and Design in Fredericton after apprenticing with a family member. Now, she’s a seasoned artist who also balances roles as an office manager.
Michelle’s love for numbers, teamwork and hands-on creativity keep her energized. Outside of work, she enjoys life with her family and a host of fur and feathered friends. When she’s not busy, you can find her soaking in the tranquillity of the St. John River, either fishing or eagle-watching from her boat.
We’re so happy to have Michelle on board!
Thank you for joining our wildfire preparedness workshop!
Thank you to everyone who came out to our wildfire preparedness workshop on Sept. 4 in Saint Andrews! Experts shared how you can prepare for wildfires as these unnatural disasters exacerbated by climate change become increasingly frequent and severe across the country. Being prepared is what matters most, and if we all work together, we can reduce the risks and protect the places we care about.
If you would be interested in similar workshops in the future, let us know by contacting us below!
We work hard to ensure a strong environmental voice is heard in New Brunswick’s print, radio and television media. Here are the latest stories Conservation Council staff have been called upon for expertise, analysis and commentary:
Conservation Council in the News
Sept. 10 | Climate change undoubtedly affects issues like health affordability, which are sure to be important to voters in the upcoming provincial election. Dr. Moe Qureshi, our director of climate research and policy, tells Canada’s National Observer that political parties need to connect climate concerns to issues like health and affordability. Dr. Qureshi pointed out that topics such as public transportation, extreme weather and high energy bills are inherently linked to the climate. Read more.
Aug. 28 | Our marine conservation director, Matt Abbott, spreads the word about our wildfire preparedness workshop held in Saint Andrews on Sept. 4. Matt shares some personal stories about the wildfires near the community last year that still cause stress for some. Listen to the interview.
Aug. 20 | What will it take for New Brunswick to learn a costly lesson and finally say no to more nuclear power? Point Lepreau, Atlantic Canada’s only nuclear power station, is down again, costing nearly $1 million per day. Dr. Qureshi tells Canada’s National Observer that relying on this expensive technology makes no sense when cheaper, reliable options like wind and solar exist. Read more.
Aug. 7 | The effects of climate change are readily apparent with another unusually hot summer in the Maritimes this year. Dr. Qureshi calls CBC’s Maritime Connection to explain why some European countries are considering naming heatwaves in an effort to warn people about the severity of these events. Listen to the show.