LEARN YOUR LANDSCAPE
The 'Learn Your Landscape' discussion series is a platform for local scientists and experts to present important information about the natural systems and beings that inhabit our shared environment.
HEADWATERS MATTER:
Time to Use our Heads
Guest Speaker: Kevin Van Tighem
Date: Friday, Feb 12
Time: 7:00 PM MST
Proceeds will be donated to The Livingston Landowners Group
75-minute covid-safe zoom presentation followed by facilitated Q+A.
ABOUT
On February 8th the UCP government of Alberta reinstated the 1976 Coal Policy which prohibited open pit coal mining along much of Alberta’s Foothills and caused political backlash rarely seen in Alberta’s history. On the February 9th CBC Calgary Eyeopener, Alberta's Energy Minister, Sonya Savage said that the UCP government wants Albertans input to create a new plan for the mining of metallurgical coal, which she called necessary to make steel for renewable energy. The UCP wants to mine this coal in Alberta.
Katie Morrison, Conservation Director, CPAWS Southern Alberta, put out a statement yesterday saying “We are glad the government is planning to engage in a public conversation on the development of a new coal policy and we have high expectations. Albertans have clearly stated they want more protections on the Eastern Slopes. The outcome of these consultations must accurately reflect the view of Albertans. It will be very important that Albertans participate fully in this upcoming consultation to ensure it addresses all coal mining in the Rockies.”
Alberta conservation movement leader and author Kevin Van Tighem proposes new legal protection for all of Alberta’s Foothills headwaters. In a February 6th letter to Minister Savage, Kevin wrote “This isn’t about “mountaintop removal” or about “respecting coal communities and workers.” This is about sustaining the watershed landscapes we all depend on and the beauty and productivity of a region so many of us cherish and had always assumed would never be opened to strip mining until your shock announcement last spring.”
Learn Your Landscape urges all interested in protecting our foothills to listen to Kevin’s compelling discussion for protecting our headwaters region, not just from coal mining, but from any further degradation in the future!
ABOUT KEVIN VAN TIGHEM
Kevin Van Tighem was born and raised in Calgary. His family roots in what is now Alberta go back to 1875.
He graduated with a degree in plant ecology from the University of Calgary in 1977 and went on to a career with Parks Canada. He retired as superintendent of Banff in 2011. He has served on the boards of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Livingstone Landowners Group.
Kevin is the author of fourteen books on wildlife and conservation and writes a regular column (“This Land”) in Alberta Views magazine.
His newest book, Wild Roses Are Worth It, will be released in April of this year.
A portion of the proceeds from this discussion series goes to the speaker or to an organisation or cause of their choice.