With Others

Here’ a listing of environmental activities for April -June

Many of us share the common goal of maintaining the Ghost Watershed well into the future.

In 2011, a study was done of the cumulative impacts of current land uses in the Ghost Watershed. Projecting current and proposed uses fifty years into the future, this Cumulative Effects study showed that water quality, recreational resources, along with fish and wildlife habitat, would decline if current and proposed land uses continue. This study can be viewed atwww.ghostwatershed.ca.

It is important that we come together to create a sustainable future for this landscape. Through open dialogue and frank discussion, we are capable of solutions we haven’t yet imagined. The wisdom and expertise to resolve the challenges of the Ghost Watershed reside within us.

OUR GHOST WATERSHED FORUMS
Our upcoming series of workshops will begin the process of effective dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing the Ghost Watershed. We invite everyone interested in the Ghost Watershed to bring their best thinking on the theme of the day, which is:

“The Future of the Ghost Watershed: Exploring Solutions”

We will utilize an outside facilitator and an “open space” process for large group collaboration. The open space method will enable us to set an agenda which incorporates the topics most important to each of us on this theme.

In advance of the forum, please consider questions such as these:

What makes the Ghost-Waiparous area special to you? What might ensure these special characteristics remain for our children to enjoy?
How might we maximize benefits and minimize liabilities of the area’s land uses?
What might lead to increased opportunities for all users of this multiple use area?
How might we improve water quality, recreational opportunity and resources, along with fish and wildlife habitat in the Ghost?

Please bring your passion for the Ghost Watershed, your vision for its future, and your personal commitment to learning and contributing. We look forward to discovering solutions together at these upcoming sessions.

Dates and Locations:

Saturday, April 28, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.    Cochrane Toyota Community Room
Friday, May 4, 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.   Beaupre Community Hall
Saturday, May 5,   9 a.m. 1 p.m.       Cochrane Toyota Community Room
Friday, May 11, 2   p.m. 6p.m.         Calgary Water Centre, Bow River Room

You may attend one or more sessions.
The Forums are limited to 40 people per event.
Please register by e-mail at office@ghostwatershed.ca
noting the session(s) you would like to attend.
Refreshments provided.

Lunch & Learn CrowdSpace! 11am – 1:00pm April 26th Calgary

Building Better Products, Stronger Companies and Communities through Open Innovation, Crowdsourcing & Social Media Interaction!

Understanding the power of the crowd and its ability to solve problems, build stronger market driven products, engage citizens, and fund change as well as start-ups, is necessary in this social media driven world.

This exclusive 2 hour interactive workshop will cover the following topics:

Social media and its impact on product development, citizen engagement, marketing and communications.
Practical Crowdsourcing - what is it and how can you use it?
How to tap into the conversations that are already going on to make better decisions.
The Business Case - Making crowdsourcing pay for itself!

$15.00 Includes Lunch!

Nature Conservancy of Canada Opportunities

Get Wired!

Location: NCC Kelly Ranches property

Closest Town: Penhold, AB

Date: Sunday, April 29

Time: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm

Join us for a day of hands-on stewardship and take part in a spring fencing project on one of NCC’s newest properties. We’ll spend the day installing new wire along the southern boundary of the property, then take a tour and show you some of the mysterious wood carvings left behind by the former owner.

For more information on these events, or to register, please email us!

Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation

Shortly the annual migration count will be completed at the Mount Lorette, Hay Meadows site. To recognize 20 years of continuous migration counts, and extend our information to the public, the Eagle Foundation is holding an Eagle Migration Day on May 5, 2012, at the Beaupre Community Centre, near Cochrane .

www.eaglewatch.ca

For more info, please contact Claire at (403) 255-0296

Cochrane Open Space Master Plan

The Town of Cochrane is currently working on an Open Space Master Plan. The Open Space Master Plan will identify and define short (1-5 years), medium (5-10 years) and long term (10-20 years) plans for park, outdoor recreation, open space and pathway development in the Town of Cochrane and will outline budget planning for operational and capital requirements for investment in existing and future parks, outdoor recreation, open spaces and pathways. This plan involves corporate and community partners, stakeholders and citizens to ensure that Cochrane’s parks, outdoor recreation, open spaces and pathways continue to meet community needs.

The Open Space Master Plan engagement process has started. We have a number of opportunities for members of our community to engage in the process. The first round of engagement has begun. On Wednesday, April 18 from 6-8pm there will be an Open House at the RancheHouse for people to come and see what we currently have in our Open Space system and provide feedback on what works, what needs to change in the system and what do we need to develop in the future. We also have a number of online tools available for the next few weeks for people to give feedback. There is an online survey, a Facebook page and a Crowd Sourcing Tool. These can all be found atwww.cochrane.ca/parks. There will also be three sounding boards in the parks where people can provide information and feedback while they are out enjoying Cochrane. There will be one at Mitford Pond, one at the Ranche Site and one at the Off Leash Area by the old bridge.

Please take part in this important plan for Cochrane by providing feedback through the many tools available and please send to all of your contacts so they can provide input as well. This is a very important plan for Cochrane and we need to hear from as many people as possible to make it the best plan possible.

Alberta Tomorrow is now publicly available!

Alberta Tomorrow is an effective educational tool for teachers, students and all Albertans that helps Albertans understand the process of sustainable planning that balances land-uses such as agriculture, oil and gas and forestry with ecological integrity.

Alberta Tomorrow gives you the power to better understand land-use issues in Alberta so you can make engaging and informed decisions that will affect you, your children, and your grandchildren. Best of all, just like the previous version, this new version is completely free for everyone to use. And, we’ve added a whole set of new features:

With Alberta Tomorrow You Can

• View videos and discover the potential benefits and impacts of different land-uses and land-use practices in Alberta

• Improve your understanding of Alberta’ ecosystems and environmental resources

• See what’s happened in your area in the last century, and see what it might look like 30 years from now

• Track and share water quality and land-use observations with other Albertans

• Develop your own plan for Alberta’s future

You can create your own account at www.albertatomorrow.ca and design the future of Alberta!