Stewardship Association of Municipalities Inc

10/23/2026

🌊Happy World Beach Day! 🌊

Today, we teamed up with you (our amazing community members!), along with the Town of Bauline, Stewardship Association of Municipalities, and Aquatic Conservation Initiative to celebrate World Beach Day by giving back to our local beaches in Bauline!

Together, we hosted a community clean-up and made a fantastic impact, removing litter to help promote keeping our coastal environment clean and healthy. We are so pleased with the incredible turnout and everything we were able to accomplish together!

A huge thank you to everyone who came out, rolled up their sleeves, and supported this initiative! Your time and effort make a real difference in protecting our local environment.

10/23/2026

We’re excited to share that SAM has been featured in the 2026 Canadian North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) report, Habitat Matters! 📝

The feature, "Municipal Habitat Conservation in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador", highlights our work with the Towns of Hughes Brook, Carbonear, and Bauline to protect important local habitats through municipal conservation. 🌱

We’re proud to see the efforts of our municipal members recognized nationally and grateful to the Canadian NAWMP for showcasing the important role communities play in protecting NL’s wetlands and wildlife habitat. 💚

Read the report to learn more:
🔗https://nawmp.wetlandnetwork.ca/Media/Content/files/HM2026-en-v3.4-web.pdf

Wildlife Habitat Canada
Eastern Habitat Joint Venture

10/22/2026

Help us celebrate environmental stewardship in Newfoundland and Labrador! 🌎

The SAM Environmental Stewardship Award Application has received an update! We’ve refreshed our website information and improved our application form to make it easier to recognize the individuals, organizations, businesses, and community groups going above and beyond to protect our environment and wildlife habitat. 🏅

The awards recognize outstanding contributions in three categories:

🌱 Innovative Organization - Business or Non-Profit/Community Group: Celebrating innovative environmental initiatives and positive community impact.

🏆 Community Champion: Recognizing individuals making a difference through their commitment to environmental stewardship.

🎓 SAM Student Scholarship: Supporting students whose education, activities, and future goals reflect a commitment to conservation in NL. The scholarship is valued at $1,000!

Know someone who deserves recognition? We encourage SAM member municipalities to nominate the dedicated people and organizations in their communities who are making a difference for our environment. You can also apply on your own behalf! 📝

Nominations for the Innovative Organization and Community Champion Awards are considered ahead of SAM’s Spring AGM and Fall Regional Meetings. The deadline for the SAM Student Scholarship is May 1st, annually. 🗓

Let’s celebrate those helping make our province a better place for people and wildlife! 🎉

Visit our website to learn more about the awards and access the updated application form: https://www.samnl.org/environmental-steward-award

10/10/2026

Happy World Migratory Bird Day! Thanks to CPAWS-NL for this great post of resources!

Happy World Migratory Bird Day!

Newfoundland and Labrador is an important breeding ground and stopover for migratory birds. From puffins along our coast to songbirds in our forests, birds depend on our province’s habitats for places to nest, feed and rest. Protecting these habitats supports birds here and along the migration routes that connect us to the rest of the world.

Birds help keep ecosystems healthy by spreading seeds, controlling insect populations and supporting food webs. Changes in their populations can also tell us how our environment is changing.
This year’s theme, “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!”, highlights how everyday birdwatchers can contribute to science. Recording the birds you see and hear helps researchers track populations, understand migration and identify important habitats.

Want to identify a bird, find somewhere to watch them, or contribute your sightings? Here are a few resources to get started:

• All About Birds - Find species guides, bird calls and tips for identifying and understanding birds.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/
• Merlin Bird ID - A free app to help identify birds by sound, photo or a few simple questions.
https://www.merlinbirds.org/
• eBird - Explore local birding hotspots and record sightings that support research and conservation.
https://ebird.org/
• Birds Canada - Discover conservation projects, community science programs and practical ways to help birds.
https://www.birdscanada.org/
• Newfoundland Breeding Bird Atlas - Learn about the community science project documenting which birds breed on the island and where they occur.
https://nf.birdatlas.ca/
• Key Biodiversity Areas Canada - Explore places important for birds and other biodiversity, including sites here in NL.
https://kbacanada.org/
• Nature Newfoundland and Labrador - Find local nature events and download their free Guide to Birding in Newfoundland and Labrador, with birding locations and tips for getting started.
https://naturenl.ca/
Birding guide:https://naturenl.ca/sites/naturenl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Nature-NL-Guide-to-Birding-in-Newfoundland-Labrador.pdf

Have a favourite birding resource, guide or local group? Share it in the comments!

10/09/2026

This summer, SAM’s community tree-planting efforts were featured in The Shoreline, a local newspaper covering news and events across the Conception Bay North region! The articles highlighted several of the Presentation Sisters’ 250th anniversary tree plantings, celebrating their generous donation of 100 trees to communities across Newfoundland and Labrador. SAM was pleased to help bring these plantings to life, supporting local green spaces and community stewardship. 🌳

A big thank-you to The Shoreline for highlighting these wonderful initiatives and helping share the story behind the plantings! Check out the articles below to learn more about the trees planted in Spaniard’s Bay, Bay Roberts, Carbonear, and Harbour Grace. 🌱

Town of Harbour Grace: https://theshoreline.ca/2026/09/25/harbour-grace-gifted-tree/

Town of Carbonear/Town of Bay Roberts : https://theshoreline.ca/2026/09/03/presentation-sisters-donate-trees-to-cbn/

Town of Spaniard's Bay: https://theshoreline.ca/2026/08/20/anniversary-marked-by-tree-donation/

10/09/2026

The Town Of Steady Brook is inviting photographers of all ages and skill levels to showcase the natural beauty of their community through a nature photography contest! 📸

From beautiful landscapes and peaceful forests to local wildlife, rivers, streams, and waterfalls, they want to see what makes Steady Brook special. Water features are especially encouraged! 🌊

The winning photograph will be featured on a sign highlighting Steady Brook’s Conservation Area, allowing the photographer’s work to be enjoyed by residents and visitors for years to come. The winning photographer will also receive a small prize! 🏅

Whether you’re an experienced photographer or simply love exploring the outdoors, grab your camera or phone and capture the beauty of Steady Brook. You never know which snapshot could become a lasting part of your community! 🌅

Get outside. Get creative. Capture Steady Brook! 🌱

Submission Deadline is November 6th, 2026
Please send your photos to [email protected]

10/05/2026

October 5th is World Habitat Day! 🌿 🏠

World Habitat Day is a reminder of the importance of protecting the places that provide habitat for wildlife and make our communities healthier, more resilient and enjoyable places to live! 🌎

Here in NL, we’re fortunate to have incredible habitats all around us - from wetlands, forests and ponds to coastal areas, barrens and waterways. Protecting these places can start with simple actions like planting native species, conserving wetlands, keeping natural areas free of litter, and creating space for wildlife in our communities. 🌱

Healthy habitats benefit everyone. They help support biodiversity, protect water and natural resources, provide opportunities to connect with nature, and contribute to resilient communities. 🌊

This year’s World Habitat Day theme is “Adequate Housing for All,” highlighting the importance of creating inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient communities where everyone has a safe and suitable place to call home. 🏘

Today, let’s celebrate the habitats that make our communities home - for people and for wildlife! 🌎🌱

09/30/2026

SAM Newsletter #51: Fall 2026 - https://mailchi.mp/b03a54f6fbb4/sam-newsletter-51-fall

09/30/2026

In a spirit of mutual respect and friendship, we acknowledge that we practice conservation on lands that have been, and continue to be, inhabited by the Indigenous Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador. We are thankful to all the generations of people who have cared for these lands, and we recognize and deeply appreciate their historic connections to these places.

On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, SAM recognizes our shared responsibility in conserving these special places and seeks to assist communities in achieving this goal. 🧡

09/27/2026

Sunday September 27th is World Rivers Day! 💧

World Rivers Day is a chance to celebrate the rivers and waterways that support our communities, wildlife, and ecosystems - and to recognize the importance of protecting them. 🌊

This year’s theme, “No Forests, No Rivers, No Water, No Life,” highlights just how closely connected our natural systems are. Healthy forests help protect waterways by slowing runoff, reducing erosion, filtering water, and providing important habitat along rivers and streams. 🌳💦🐟

At SAM, protecting and stewarding these connected habitats is an important part of our work with municipalities and landowners across NL. From wetlands and forests to streams and rivers, protecting one part of an ecosystem can help protect the whole. 🌎

Today, take a moment to appreciate a river, stream, brook, or pond in your community - and think about what you can do to help keep it healthy. 🩵