The Green Ball Inauguration ball on January 19th, 2009 organizers committed to making the ball as green as they could. Here are some things that they did. This is putting “greening of events” into action.
A Green Ball That’s Really Green
The organizers of the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball are committed to making this the greenest inaugural ball possible.
100% of the carbon footprint of the event is being offset with high quality carbon offsets from Native Energy. The offsets will support a portfolio of renewable energy technologies.
The event’s menu developed by Grand Cuisine and Chef Bradley Nairne, in consultation with renowned organic Chef Nora Pouillon, will include locally-sourced, organic and seasonal food.
Waste from the event will be recycled, reused and composted by the Waste Neutral Group. No plastic bottles will be available
Waste items will be source separated into biodegradable trash bags supplied by Perf Go Green.
Lighting will incorporate the latest LED technology
Limited paper and signage was used to produce and publicize the event.
All printed materials will be printed on recycled paper using soy based ink.
All bathrooms will use biodegradable soap and energy efficient air dryers.
All linens are cleaned without the use of chemicals, and in a manner that uses less water and drying time.
Floral decorations are organic, being kept to a minimum, and arrangements will be donated and reused.
Attendees were encouraged to use metro, walk, or drive a hybrid to the event to minimize emissions from transportation.
Trucks will not be permitted to idle while in the loading bays.
The Green Carpet greeting guests, provided by Bentley Prince Street, is made with 100 percent renewable electrical energy and is made of 10% consumer waste. The carpet will be completely recycled after the event.
Even the coat check will feature reusable numbers instead of paper tags.
Guests will be encouraged to reduce their carbon footprint by purchasing carbon offsets through a partnership with Native Energy
Many additional greening aspects were explored but were not feasible due to security, infrastructure, and availability of vendors to service.
Here are two outstanding guides with which to green our festivals – Dauphin Country Fest, Sonics & Sojourns, Harvest Sun, Harvest Moon, and many others. Download and use immediately.
Two powerful American singer-songwriters share their music as part of the Greening of America and the shift that we all start to be part of, as the Green Ball (January 19, 2009) kicks off the changes to how America re-powers itself and re-sets its clock of respect and integrity for people of all kinds, environmental values, and care for the planet.
Obama Song, written and performed by Michael Franti, after the recent American election
Michael Franti performed and electrified audiences at the 2007 and 2008 Winnipeg Folk Festival in a way that no other performer has done in over two decades. I know, because I was there and was absolutely amazed. Enjoy this video…this will kick off your energy buttons and leave you in a space of asking what can you do to help Planet Earth?
Parks Canada produced this short (10 min) video about Riding Mountain National Park. For anyone who is visiting for the first time, this is an excellent short visual introduction. Once you have seen this, you will have a sense of the park’s beauty and why Earth Rhythms team of guides and facilitators lives here, and why we love it! In all seasons. We love working with small groups of people who are looking for customized itineraries to experience local culture, cuisine, nature, wildlife, or the arts. Call us at 1.204.848.4680
A remarkable 4 minutes of video taken in Riding Mountain National Park of two bull moose sparring in the fullness of September. This is one of the best bits of video that I have seen that demonstrates the sheer power of these animals, their speed, and the amount of ground that they can cover.
This simple, yet powerful video ties together the power of one to make a difference – whether the reason or issue is social, environmental, planetary or other. When we look at this place we call home today – Planet Earth, or Riding Mountain – it is all about the Power of One to be positive, affirmative, clear, and to ask for what is needed.
Riding Mountain National Park has announced that it is inviting local stakeholders to discuss how the park management plan is being delivered in Riding Mountain National Park. See the schedule of drop-in meetings or evening sessions in January, 2009.
Erickson:Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 at Erickson Legion Hall, 30 – 1st St. SW Grandview:Wednesday, Ja. 21, 2009 at Grandview Legion Hall, 476 Main St.
Ste. Rose: Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009 at Ste. Rose Community Hall, 561 – 1st St. S.
Rossburn: Monday, Jan. 26, 2009 at Rossburn Community Hall, 10 Main St.
For more information please call 1.204.848.7275 or email rmnp.info@pc.gc.ca
Dissecting Lymph Nodes from White-Tailed Deer to assess for diseases
[Photo by Cate Watrous]
Roxanne Grzela, a technician at the lab in RMNP examines the lymph node from a white-tailed deer shot east of Onanole earlier in the day. Grzela is part of a team of researchers who work at the lab to monitor wildlife health in deer and elk populations living in and around the park.
From November to January, staff at Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) receive up to 50 samples of white-tailed deer and elk daily from hunters participating in the wildlife health monitoring program. For the general public, this may be the only work that the lab at the Maintenance Compound does that they are familiar with, but this facility is involved in many other research projects as well.
RMNP with its varied ecosystems is an ideal location for scientists to examine species within their natural habitats. The lab serves as a hub for Parks Canada Agency (PCA) initiated studies about the Riding Mountain area, as well as for visiting researchers who use it as a remote base for processing samples collected in the park.
Since an expansion to the lab in 2002, this facility has played a role in studying a variety of wildlife species: wolf, deer, elk, coyote, beaver, fish, songbirds, waterfowl, and insects. Also coordinated through the lab are research projects on plant species. In these plant studies, field sampling plots are monitored for signs of environmental change as well as for the effects of fire.
Clear Lake Project – This past summer, as it has for several years now, monitoring Clear Lake has been an important part of the work done by RMNP staff. In their water sampling program, they are looking at water chemistry, total phosphorus and nitrogen content, as well as checking for pathogens and water clarity. It is hoped that this data will provide a snapshot of the health of this very special lake, and help RMNP, along with its First Nations partners and community stakeholders, to develop strategies to keep the “clear” in Clear Lake now and into the future.
Wildlife Health – From November to January, the lab processes deer and elk samples brought in from Game Hunting Areas (GHA) 23 and 23A. It also acts as a depot for the many check stations that surround RMNP, including McCreary, Dauphin, Grandview, Russell, Roblin, and Rossburn where hunters in those areas can drop off their samples. RMNP technicians examine these samples for signs of disease. They also coordinate elk population surveys, blood test programs, and elk movement studies as part of a larger strategy to manage wildlife health in the Riding Mountain Area.
The management of RMNP is an important responsibility involving consultations with partners and discussions with stakeholders. Planning for the protection of the ecological integrity of the park is enhanced by the monitoring and research being done by RMNP’s Resource Conservation staff. The science-based information that they gather helps to make sound decisions about how best to preserve and present the natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations of Canadians.
-Information Bulletin from Riding Mountain National Park
Yurt at Riding Mountain National Park - 4 Seasons camping in comfort
-Photo by Cate Watrous
The yurt in the Wasagaming Campground featured in the above photograph is furnished with comfortable and attractive furniture. Visitors need only bring their clothing, bedding and food – no fancy gear required!
Canadians love winter. Oh, sure, we like to complain about the cold but it’s more like a comforting ritual than an out and out criticism. And most of us harbour a secret pride about the hardships we are able to endure armed with little more than a beat up old parka and a lively sense of humour. In the midst of the worst cold snaps, most of us are drawn outside for at least a taste of the biting cold and fierce wind. Then when temperatures climb back up to seasonal norms, we flock out into the sunshine with gleeful enthusiasm and speak earnestly of heat waves and of our great good fortune to live in such a remarkable place.
We are either really good sports, or slightly barmy. Regardless, many of us look forward to our winters because of the opportunities they offer to prove our mettle. Topping the list of ways to demonstrate how hardy we are, sleeping out of doors between Thanksgiving and the May Long Weekend has got to rank pretty high on the list.
Welcome to the world of winter camping. Many Canadians do not feel the need to give up their favourite outdoor adventure just because winter has arrived. So at this time of year, cold weather enthusiasts are able to indulge in a slightly cooler version of the traditional camping expedition.
And that’s “cool” as in “hip” and “trendy,” as well as “cold” and “frosty.”
Not for the faint of heart or the poorly prepared, this is nonetheless an outstanding experience for those intrepid souls seeking to try something a little out of the ordinary.
Proper planning is essential in order to make this experience as enjoyable as possible. The importance of food, shelter, and clothing increases tenfold once temperatures dip below zero.
The good news is that there are actually some things that are easier to manage in winter. Take refrigeration, for example: your food will not spoil in the heat. Campsites are plentiful. There are no bears. Disorderly neighbours partying loudly all night long are rare. You have a great excuse not to shower. Even a tent is optional.
Truth be told, your choices for accommodation are quite varied. For the “gear guy” who has a wilderness supply store bookmarked as his homepage, there are tents especially made for winter, although a standard three-season tent can be adapted to the rigors of cold weather with tarps and creative staking techniques. Or save yourself the bother of hauling anything to your destination; instead you could enclose a cooking shelter like the kind found at most campgrounds with hardware store poly and a staple gun. Several parks actually enclose some of their shelters in the winter months for this purpose. Or you could ski or snowshoe up to a friend’s rustic cottage and cozy up by the fireplace for the weekend.
Quinzees: snow homes
Are those options too tame for your boundless sense of adventure? You could always take a stab at building a quinzee which is kind of a hybrid between an igloo and a snow cave. And because of the great insulation properties of snow, you will be surprisingly comfortable in your little snow hut.
Quinzees are fairly simple to construct although they do take some time and an industrious nature. You start by making a pile of snow about 2m high by about 2.5m wide. Mix the snow by flipping every other shovelful before adding it to the pile. Then sit back and wait for the snow to “sinter,” or pack. The mixing of the snow in the piling stage facilitates the settling process which can take between one and three hours to complete. Some people like to make the pile one day and build their snow hut the next. After the snow has hardened, excavation can begin. Then with just a few adjustments for ventilation and ease of entry, you end up with a 1.8m round room with a domed ceiling and walls that are 30 to 45cm thick. Click on the following for some very helpful advice about quinzee making.
Yurts: old idea, new application
If you are not a “snow palace” kind of person, you could always run out and pitch your yurt in the shelter of a convenient spruce stand. Yurt? Well, yes. I did say yurt.
Yurts are soft-shelled dwellings whose origins date back more than 2,000 years to the nomadic peoples of Central Asia. Mongolians call them “ger.” To Afghans, they are “kherga” or “jirga.” In Pakistan they are known as a “gher.” These sturdy, portable structures traditionally feature a cylindrical lattice wall topped with a conical roof made with poles, both covered by felt or skins. They are easy to dismantle, transport and reassemble. They protect their occupants from the same types of climate swings that we see here in Canada. And if you don’t happen to have your own yurt, you can use someone else’s: Riding Mountain National Park has one that they rent out year round to visitors.
Trip planning
A winter camping experience does require careful planning in order for it to be safe and enjoyable. Take the time to research your trip, let friends or park staff know of your travel itinerary, test your equipment and pack the essentials. You could even earn yourself bragging rights as a fabled “Adventurer of the Year” among your friends and family.
In Manitoba, there are as many months with snow on the ground as without. But even locked in snow and ice, the landscape still teems with life and it makes sense to get out there and enjoy the fresh air and wilderness that we are so fortunate to have in abundance out here. And in case you still need one final inducement to get you off the couch and out of doors to enjoy winter à la Crazy Canuck, here it is: NO MOSQUITOES!!
-By CATE WATROUS
Earth Rhythms customizes winter day trips to snowshoe offtrail in search of wild mammals tracks, take part in a photographic safari, and other cultural experiences in the Riding Mountain area.
It was good to see an article today offering assistance to travelers who continue to travel during these turbulent economic times with some simple actions that make for a more sustainable travel journey. It includes suggestions regarding purchasing carbon offsets, taking light-weight shopping bags with you, taking solar-powered chargers for re-charging your AA, AAA and C batteries, and supporting the local economy through purchasing local goods. See what you think about these tips. Do you have other suggestions for making travel greener? “Follow Our 7 Top Tips and Stay Green Despite the Credit Crunch” says Holiday Letting Company.
When you travel to Riding Mountain National Park this year, we invite you to use these seven tips, and add three of your own. Travel Green, travel sustainably, travel responsibly.
