Morning Keynote

Irena Creed, PhD, Executive Director, School of Environment & Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan

Irena Creed is Executive Director of the School of Environment & Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan, and was the Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Watershed Sciences from 2007 to 2017. Irena's research group, together with collaborators from government, industry and an international network of scientists, study the impacts of global change (climate change, atmospheric pollution, and land use/land cover change) on ecosystem structure, function and services. She works at multiple scales using contemporary techniques to investigate how hydrology influences ecological processes in terrestrial (forest, agriculture) and aquatic ecosystems (streams, wetlands, lakes, rivers).

 

 

Afternoon Keynote

Thorsten Hebben, Director of Surface Water Policy at Alberta Environment and Parks

In his eleven years with the provincial department, Thorsten has worked on long-term water quality monitoring programs, water quality trend assessment, emerging contaminants tracking, and water quality index reporting. For the past several years, Thorsten has been leading development and implementation of a new Wetland Policy for the Province of Alberta

On March 22, 2018 the IES was proud to host: Food for Thought: Beer, Food and Sustainability. The evening took place at Craft Beer Market Downtown Calgary and featured a 5 course dinner created with local ingredients and 5 beer pairings from Cold Garden Brewery. This event was held in celebration of Earth Hour and to celebrate our 5th year anniversary. The IES was happy to thank all those who have supported the Institute over the years. The night also featured lighting talks from some of our faculty and student researchers!

Peter Tertzakian delivered an exceptional talk on Finding the Middle Ground on energy and environment for Earth Day. We look forward to keeping abreast of energy trends by following Peter on Twitter @PTertzakian

Naomi Klein, award-winning journalist and author was the Institute's 2016 Earth Day speaker. Naomi Klein's critically acclaimed new book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate, is the 2014 winner of the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust prize for nonfiction.

Photo credit: Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Nicholas Metivier Gallery, TO
IES hosted Edward Burtynsky, renowned photographer, to present in March 2015. Edward told the story of where water comes from, how we distribute it, use it, and waste it. It was a thought provoking journey which tackled environmental issues.

On March 6, 2014, an audience of 300 joined Alan AtKisson, author, musician, environmentalist, speaker, and member of the Sustainability Hall of Fame, as he explored some of today's most pressing challenges related to sustainability. Using story and song, Alan guided us on an entertaining romp into the fascinating realm of sustainability in this world premiere performance presented by the IES. The audience learned how they can be a more effective change agent for a more sustainable planet.

In September 2014, IES was pleased to offer a unique opportunity for Mount Royal University instructors and students. The Inquiry Exhibition was installed at MRU during the Under Western Skies conference. The exhibition featured stories from 30 young people who spoke out during the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry led by Justice Thomas Berger in the 1970's. Inquiry raised questions about large resource projects that continue to spark debate in Canada. Drew Ann Wake, the curator of the exhibition, led interactive seminars for Mount Royal classes during that week. The exhibition, which features images by Calgary photographer Linda MacCannell, was designed in 2009 with the help of more than 200 elders in 25 Dene and Inuvialuit communities of the Northwest Territories.