CPAWS Northern Alberta

06/01/2026

🗓️Webinar: Wednesday, June 3rd @ 12 PM 🗓️

🌧️Rainy days like these across Alberta have us thinking about curling up with our next book 📖 May we suggest “Black Bear” by ?

ℹ️To celebrate the launch of our annual summer reading list we will be in conversation with Trina, highlighting the importance of storytelling in creating connection to conservation topics! We hope you’ll join us ☺️

🔗RSVP @ the link in bio

📸: courtesy of Trina Moyles

06/01/2026

🗓️ This Week 🗓️

📚 Welcoming the launch of the CPAWS Northern Alberta's summer reading list, we are SO thrilled to host a webinar this Wednesday, June 3 @ 12 PM with author Trina Moyles. Join us as we discuss Moyles' latest release, Black Bear 🐻 Registration details below!

05/27/2026

💪Elbows up for climate 💪 Upcoming event at Art Gallery of Alberta next week, June 4.

Make sure to RSVP 🔗: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/john-vaillant-on-fire-weather-tickets-1988831243788?aff=oddtdtcreator

There’s never been a more crucial time for local elected leaders to discuss nation-building projects that protect our communities from the dual threats of climate change and U.S. economic destabilization.

Join fellow leaders from across the country who are working towards national solutions that safeguard our communities, while making them healthier and more affordable during the Elbows Up for Climate Summit on Thursday, June 4 in Edmonton.

Participants will benefit from:
🟥 A closed-door morning session with David Miller (former Toronto Mayor) and Valérie Plante (former Montréal Mayor) where municipal leaders can share their climate challenges and solutions.
🟥 An expert briefing on climate communications and latest polling data from Amber Bennett, Executive Director of Re.Climate, at Carlton University;
🟥 A keynote presentation from John Vaillant, best-selling author of Pulitzer-nominated Fire Weather;
🟥 Lunch and end-of-day reception included for all attendees.
New and current members of the Elbows Up for Climate campaign are welcome to attend! Spaces are limited – reserve your spot now.

📍 Art Gallery of Alberta
🕒 Thursday June 4 | 1:30–3:00 PM MT
RSVP: www.elbowsupforclimate.ca

05/26/2026

Come join us for our first FREE River Valley Walk of the season! Stay tuned for future dates in mid July and August.🍃

📅Thursday, June 18th, 2026: We'll travel through Gold Bar Park then cross the North Saskatchewan River into Rundle Park. Along the way, we will stop to meet some native plant species, discuss the importance of the river valley, and dive a bit into the history of the area.

Make sure to bring footwear for hiking on gravel trails, a water-bottle, a snack, and an extra layer in case of light rain or wind.

Weather permitting, we will meet at 6:30 pm beside the Gold Bar Park Pavilion, which is near the Gold Bar Parking Lot at the end of Gold Bar Park Rd NW.

Head to https://cpawsnab.org/event/ to register 🔗

05/23/2026

⚠️Mine wastewater clouded with runoff and sediment has contaminated a tributary of the Lovett River, which flows into the Pembina River and eventually the Athabasca River. Waterbodies near this incident provide critical habitat for at-risk trout.

While the Alberta Energy Regulator blames ice melt for the berm’s failure, mining companies are responsible for building infrastructure and mitigation measures that effectively contain contaminants. Spring ice melt is a regular occurrence that companies should be prepared for.

Stories like this are all too familiar and warn us of the environmental impacts that new mining developments could have on already sensitive ecosystems.🚩

05/22/2026

🔍 A UNESCO Reactive Monitoring Mission is expected to return to Wood Buffalo National Park this August.

Reactive Monitoring Missions occur when UNESCO has serious concerns about threats to a World Heritage Site. Independent experts assess the condition of the site and whether enough is being down to protect it.

The last mission took place in 2022 and examined the growing pressures on the park. The investigation concluded that the ecological values of the park continue to face significant threats and reiterated its utmost concern about the lack of progress in addressing cumulative impacts of oil sands and tailings ponds upstream of the park.

Since then, threats have intensified - especially with concerns around the potential release of treated tailings water into the Athabasca River, which could have serious downstream impacts on ecosystems and communities.

🌱However, hope is not lost. First Nation communities, environmental organizations, and other concerned parties remain dedicated to advocating on behalf of this incredibly unique ecosystem.

👀 Stay tuned for more information on how you can speak up for Wood Buffalo National Park. In the meantime, you can learn more about the Park and its Action Plan on our website.

05/19/2026

Protecting wood bison, North America’s largest mammal, from the pressures of development is no small feat! But the team at ShagowAskee Foundation are working hard to do just that.🦬

Representing Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community members from Little Red River Cree Nation and Tallcree First Nation, ShagowAskee is committed to protecting the sensitive Wabasca and Ghost wood bison herds.🍃

Our team has had the honour of collaborating with ShagowAskee for several years. Their work spans from operating a remote camera program, coordinating community engagements, and identifying buffalo habitat using Indigenous knowledge and Western science to support the long-term recovery of these herds.🌲

You can join ShagowAskee in their work to protect, restore, and find new ways to coexist with nature by considering donating to their organization. Donations go directly towards sustaining their vital conservation work and strengthening the capacity of Indigenous stewardship.

As Johnson Alook, co-founder of ShagowAskee said, "The only way it will work is if we work all together."🧡

🔗 Learn more on ShagowAskee’s fundraising page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/shagowaskees-wood-buffalo-stewardship-project

05/14/2026

The Government of Alberta is developing a new coal policy that is attempting to bypass the overwhelming call from Albertans to stop further coal mining in the eastern slopes. ⚠️

Coal mining in the area, despite posing substantial risks to critical water sources, is being justified on the basis of promised economic benefits and “new techniques” to mitigate selenium contamination. 💦

However, these claims are often overstated and lack support from current evidence, market trends, and regulatory frameworks. 🚩

Albertans already bear the environmental and financial burden from previous coal developments that were poorly regulated. How will these new projects be any different?

Check out our newest blog, co-authored by CPAWS Northern Alberta, CPAWS Southern Alberta, and the Alberta Wilderness Association to learn more 🔗

https://cpawsnab.org/blog/the-issue-with-cimi-theres-no-modernizing-coal/

05/13/2026

We're challenging the Alberta Energy Regulator’s (AER) decision to terminate the Mine 14 public hearing are urging the Alberta Court of Appeal to restore public confidence by reinstating the hearing process.

In a finalized legal argument filed Tuesday, the organizations are asking the Court to revoke the approvals allowing Mine 14 to operate.

ℹ️ Read more: https://cpawsnab.org/all-news/alberta-conservation-groups-challenge-aers-unprecedented-cancellation-of-mine-14-hearing/

Don’t you love it when a new, moratorium-exempt coal mine gets the go-ahead from the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), after it had pulled the plug a public hearing because the AER CEO said so? ❤️

That’s what happened with . It was an unprecedented, unilateral decision that overturned that of independent commissioners.

And it was neither the AER CEO’s — nor the coal company’s — decision to make.

So we’re joining the legal team leading the challenge against it — alongside Napoli Law and on behalf of both the Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) and CPAWS Northern Alberta.

LEARN MORE >> https://bit.ly/4uFagzo

Ecojustice lawyer Susanne Calabrese said: “Public hearings are one of the few ways Albertans can learn the true impacts of coal mining in our Rocky Mountains. Our regulators are meant to stand with the public — not behind closed doors with the industries they oversee. By cancelling the Mine 14 public hearing after a coal company asked them to do so, the AER has raised serious questions about transparency and accountability. All Albertans should be wondering: what is the CEO trying to hide?”

“In his decision to cancel the Mine 14 public hearing, [AER CEO Rob] Morgan appointed himself the de facto judge, jury, and executioner in regulating resource development in Alberta,” said Kennedy Halvorson, AWA Conservation specialist. “It should concern everyone that despite the checks and balances meant to be in place, and the separation of powers supposedly inherent in Alberta’s governing and regulatory processes, one person would assume absolute authority to veto public participation. It is a dangerous precedent we must challenge; the implications otherwise are serious.”

“Albertans have been promised over and over again that our environment and our water are being well taken care of by the regulator. If the companies seeking to profit off Alberta’s landscape are whispering in the ear of the CEO to get what they want, there is a clear conflict of interest,” says Tara Russell, program director at CPAWS Northern Alberta. “This is a breakdown of public trust in the process. We are challenging the decision because we deserve better, and our water and wildlife deserves better.”

05/11/2026

Trina Moyles is a Yukon-Based author, Journalist and Creative producer. Her work is inspired by rural communities and relationships with land, wildlife, food security, and climate change. We are SO pleased to have some of her time in this upcoming webinar "Conservation commentary, memoirs and stories". 🌟

🌿 Moyles grew up in the Peace River country of northwestern Alberta, the daughter of a wildlife biologist and an early childhood educator/community liaison. She credits her parents, Dave and Linda, for teaching her strong values of community, land, and social justice. ✊

➡️ If you are a CPAWS supporter, you have likely come across Trina's work in the Narwhal and the Walrus. The latter for which she is now working at the northern correspondent. We're are very much looking forward to hear from Trina the connection between conservation and story, and ask more questions about her latest release "Black Bear". 🐻

🔗 Registration is FREE: https://bit.ly/4cWL00a