Smokey Skies and Gallant Grandmothers

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This week, we’re excited to air an interview done by fellow CJSR star Nigel Henri Robinson, host of the CJSR show Acimowin, who spoke with the English Bay Grandmothers about their work fighting against oil extraction and development on the Cold Lake First Nations.

While we were preparing for this show we were surrounded by wildfire smoke in Edmonton that has turned the city disturbingly apocalyptic.  We were inspired to air an archive story from 2012 about light pollution and sustainable lighting to cap off the episode.

In the news this week:

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Photo by: JamesZ_Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60847326@N00/484634587/)

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Building Greener

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This week on Terra Informa we take a visit to the Primed Mosaic Centre, Alberta’s first net-zero and LEED Platinum-certified building. This one-of-a-kind commercial building is located in Edmonton, Alberta and has won awards for building engineering and Innovation. Now formally known as the Primed Mosaic centre due to its recent change in ownership. The Primed company is a local medical products company that put there values to actions when they decided to invest in the LEED building. We hope this story will inspire any and all businesses to look at more sustainable work sites – if not for the solar panels, than for the live plant walls!

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Provoked by Poems

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Photo by: Australasian Science Magazine

This week on Terra Informa, amidst news of our earliest ever earth overshoot day, Terra Informers Dylan Hall and Amanda Rooney speak with poet Alice Major about her book entitled “Welcome to the Anthropocene”. Alice Major, who was also Edmonton’s first poet laureate, reads poems from her book and answers our questions, including “what is the anthropocene?”.

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Responsible Recreation & Bioremediation

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Photo by: Hannah Cunningham

This week on Terra Informa, we’re focusing on looking after the world around us. First, Terra Informer Hannah Cunningham speaks with Sheryl Savard, a trail runner turned activist who will tell us how to responsibly recreate in our local natural spaces. Then, we’re bringing back an archive piece where Leila Darwish talks about the use of bioremediation.

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Responsible Recreation

In this week’s first piece, Hannah Cunningham speaks to Sheryl Savard, founder of the local Edmonton Trail Runners group and race director for the bi-annual River Valley Revenge trail race. Sheryl speaks to the importance of collaboration when it comes to looking after our public spaces, how to reduce the environmental impact of large events, and how recreating can turn you into an activist for your local natural spaces.

Bioremediation

In a time when spills, leaks, and environmental disasters are becoming more and more common, how do we clean up in a way that’s both reasonable and responsible? Prevention, of course, is always the best policy, but even the best-laid plans go awry, and when they do, one answer is often overlooked: bioremediation. Tasmia Nishat speaks with community organizer Leila Darwish, author of Earth Repair, about the healing potential of sunflowers and oyster mushrooms for backyard contamination, big spills, and everything in between.

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Infrastructure for the People

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This week on Terra Informa we are talking about cycling! In this archive episode, Terra Informers Shelley Jodoin and Amanda Rooney speak with Vice Chair from Paths for People, Conrad Norbert, an Edmonton non-profit organization advocating for the creation of infrastructure with pedestrians and cyclists in mind.

In June of 2017, Paths for People released multi-use trail policy recommendations. We discuss re-imagining the use of public space, hopes and ideas for the future, and the policy recommendations recommendations.

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Life in Plastic

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Did you know that July is Plastic-Free Month? This week, we’re bringing back two stories from our archives centred around plastic. One about a BC woman, Taina Uitto, who lived plastic-free for a whole year, and another in which we interview Laura Bamsey and Marnie Olsen from the Elements Society on a school pilot project that focused on reducing single-use plastics. Then, Terra Informers Amanda Rooney and Sofia Osborne will give their hot take on the current debate taking place around plastic straws.

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Plastic in the Classroom

Our first archive features the Elements Society and the Lonely Whale Foundation, who created a classroom pilot project to address the issues surrounding single-use plastics. Back in September 2017, I spoke with Laura Bamsey and Marnie Olsen from the Elements Society about this pilot project, and how  students not only learned about plastic waste, but also how to build communication and project management skills.

A Year Without Plastic

Try to make it sixty seconds without using anything made out of plastic. Think about objects that you use day to day. Every minute even. The clothes on your back even. Short of moving into the woods, it’s virtually impossible to live a 100% plastic free year, let alone a lifetime. Hamdi Issawi spoke to Taina Uitto who is trying just such a challenge. He reached her by phone in Denman Island, BC to talk about her plastic-free life. A documentary chronicling Taina’s challenge was released in 2014; it’s called From The Waste Up.

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Photo by: weegeebored (www.flickr.com/photos/kenningtonfox/2768449017)

Native Plants and Living Bridges

 

Living Bridge on Edmonton's 97st

(photo credit: Nicole Wiart)

This week on Terra Informa, we’re bringing you stories about urban greenery. First join Amanda and Shelley on their bike tour of the native plants in Edmonton’s river valley then revist an archive with us as we say goodbye to downtown Edmonton’s living bridge which was reported on by Terra Informers when the project was first started.

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Edmonton River Valley Bike Tour

Last month Terra Informers Shelley Jodoin and Amanda Rooney embarked on a rather lengthy bike tour along with other cyclists interested in learning more about the native species found in the iconic Edmonton river valley. The Edmonton Native Plant River Valley Bike Tour, was a collaboration between the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society and the Edmonton Native Plants Society and riders were taken to various locations to learn about the plants and ecosystems specific to Edmonton.

Amanda and Shelley had the opportunity to chat with Edmonton Native Plant Society representatives Liz Deleeuw and Cherry Dood at the John Janzen Nature center.  They explain the importance of native plants and gave us the low down on the native plant situation in the prairies surrounding Edmonton and area. The terra informers also had the chance to reflect on their bike ride whilst splashing in the north saskatchewan.

Saying Goodbye to the Downtown Living Bridge

In 2013, Terra Informers Nicole Wiart spoke with Erin and Carmen to get the details on how the transformation of one unused space revitalized a downtown community. They found out what happens when you put three creatives together, give them an abandoned bridge and seven weeks: in the case of Edmonton locals Carmen Douville, Erin Ross, and Chelsea Boos, you emerge with a “Living Bridge.”

Over the past five years, the Living Bridge has become a fixture and gathering place of downtown Edmonton. Sadly, it’s time has come to an end and in June 2013 an event was held to transplant the perennial plants from the garden on the bridge to other locations. The time of the living bridge has come to a close but hopefully reflecting on the roots of this project will inspire others to take on similar projects, making green spaces accessible and more numerous!

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INSPIRING CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS FOR CANADA DAY

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Photo by: Ecology Ottawa

This week on Terra Informa, we’re acknowledging Canada Day by bringing you two interviews from our archives that highlight two powerful female Canadian environmentalists.

First, Trevor Chow-Fraser and Natalee Rawat speak with Severn Cullis-Suzuki, an environmental activist and daughter of David Suzuki. Our second interview features Terra Informer Matt Hirji speaking with Maude Barlow, Chairperson for the Council of Canadians and author of the book ‘Blue Planet’.

In the news this week:

 

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