CPAWS Northern Alberta

Tomorrow!! Join MCFN in Fort Mcmurray (#YMM) standing up against treat and release tailings into the Athabasca River. 💧

Please share with your network in the area ➡️

Joint News Release: Mine 14 Approvals Granted After Public Hearings Cancelled, ENGOs Continue to Move Forward With Appeal - Alberta Wilderness Association On September 24, 2025 the Regulatory Applications branch of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) issued approvals for Summit Coal’s Mine 14 Applications, an underground metallurgical coal mine near Gran...

🚨Joint News Release w/ @cpawsnab.bsky.social: Mine 14 Approvals Granted After Public Hearings Cancelled, ENGOs Continue to Move Forward With Appeal albertawilderness.ca/joint-news-r...

PST: Our Third Annual Nature Trivia Night hosted with Elements Outfitters has a spooky twist this year! Come get acquainted with the more mysterious side of Alberta's nature 🌙

Get your Ticket for Thursday Oct. 23 ($5/each) : www.eventbrite.ca/e/nature-kno...

Keen observation, thank you for sharing!

Parties have a role in this civic election. Here's how that's being viewed in one Edmonton ward | CBC News Partisan politics are making their debut in this municipal election, but the majority of Edmonton's mayoral and council candidates have chosen to stay independent.

Another good read leading up to the #yeg municipal elxn. Local elections are key in tackling a host of topics, including conservation and nature protection in our "backyard".

🔗: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

A map of the world showing how levels of worry in most countries are greater than 70%. Source: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, International Public Opinion on Climate Change, 2023.

Two of the most common climate misconceptions I see, even among knowledgeable folks, are that (1) most people aren't worried about climate change, and (2) if they were, they'd act.

Not true! Data show (1) most people are worried, but (2) they won’t act if they don’t know what to do-and most don’t.

What insurance data reveals about how bad wildfires are getting | CBC News Scientists tapped into 44 years of data to show how these societally destructive wildfires — ones that kill people and cause huge financial losses — are growing all across the world and are becoming m...

Insurers are taking climate risk seriously, and this article highlights existing gaps between the actionable data available to insurance companies and what is available to the public 🔗 cbc.ca/news/science...

Wildfire continues to be a growing threat to many communities across the country.

A full list of the official mayoral and council candidates for Edmonton’s election Nominations for Edmonton’s municipal election are closed as the city gears up for voting day on Oct. 20. One-hundred and forty Edmontonians are official candidates for mayoral, councillor and school t...

If you are local to the #yeg area, CTV News put out an excellent list of mayoral and council candidates to get your started (save the date for Oct 20th!)
www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/art...

Fine This Is Fine GIF ALT: Fine This Is Fine GIF

There is * a lot * going in right now in our local, provincial and global world right now. and sometimes it feels like the GIF below. Voting in your municipal election is one action you can take not only for nature, but many other intersecting topics!

The Government of Alberta’s Commitment to Protect Alberta’s Water from Selenium Pollution By: Nigel Bankes, David Luff, and Neil Kathol Matters Commented On: (1) Press Conference on the Coal Industry Modernization Initiative, December 20, 2024, (2) Bringing Alberta Coal Mining into the …

Here's my effort w David Luff & Neil Kathol to hold the GoA's feet to the fire when it comes to its commitment to protect Alberta's water sources (& those of downstream users) from coal-related selenium contamination
#abpoli @cpawssab.bsky.social @cpawsnab.bsky.social @albertawilderness.bsky.social

Environmental groups turn to Alberta Court of Appeal after Alberta Energy Regulator CEO cancels public coal hearing   - CPAWS Northern Alberta Chapter Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) and Northern Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS NAB) call for the Alberta Energy Regulator CEO's unprecedented decision be tested ...

Today we and @albertawilderness.bsky.social filed an appeal to the Alberta courts to challenge the decision that was made to CANCEL a public hearing for a coal mine in Alberta. 🔗: cpawsnab.org/all-news/env...

We argue that the AER's CEO, who made the call, did not have the authority to do so.

Agreed! Petitions and the Government of Alberta's own public engagements...

Mad about Mine 14? Wait until you hear about the Blackstone mine. - CPAWS Northern Alberta Chapter A backgrounder on the Blackstone mine, located in the headwaters for the Edmonton region, and why this is one to watch.

Mad about Mine 14? Meet the Blackstone Mine. New blog out now, giving you a backgrounder on this mine that could go forward (without a fair process or the involvement of Albertans) in the eastern slopes: cpawsnab.org/blog/mad-abo...

Opinion: Cancelled coal hearing shows Alberta energy watchdog has forgotten who it serves The AER, its leadership, and its political masters have forgotten who they serve. They need to be reminded.

Great op-ed by professional biologist Lorne Fitch in the @edmontonjournal.com : edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...

"The AER, its leadership, and its political masters have forgotten who they serve. They need to be reminded."

Canada should fast-track the idea that Indigenous rights and critical minerals go hand in hand Leadership in inclusion and responsibility projects to the world that Canada is a safe and reliable jurisdiction for mining.

To unlock Canada’s full potential for critical minerals, governments and industry must treat Indigenous rights as central pillars—not afterthoughts—in mining development.

Read more from Saga Williams, the Institute’s Marisa Beck and Tamara Krawchenko ⬇️
www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/0...

➡️ Back by popular demand: We are teaming up with the Northern Forestry Centre and Parkbus for a special guided trip to Elk Island National Park! Sign up for this FREE programming during Forest Week 🌲: www.parkbus.ca/destinations...

Wondering what exactly the AER's CEO decision means to cancel a hearing that would address whether or not a coal mine should move forward? @jemphatically.bsky.social presents excellent context on WHY this is so concerning for the Alberta public.

Great read, thank you Jody!

Great points raised in the article, one being "if the treated tailings are looking to be released in the Athabasca river - why can't they be reused for the industry's processes".

Alberta government creating standards for releasing oil tailings into environment | CBC News The Alberta government says it will begin creating standards for releasing treated oil tailings into the environment.

While we welcome the news that the Government of Alberta will be developing standards to take on the unmitigated risk of tailings - the solution must be science-backed while ALSO prioritizing the environment and the concerns of downstream communities. 🔗 : www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Garter snakes advisory on notice for drivers east of Edmonton Alberta Parks is warning outdoor enthusiasts to be on the lookout for garter snakes when driving near campsites this weekend.

🐍🐍🐍 Love em' or hate em' 🐍🐍🐍 watch out for snakes on the move towards their hibernacula (habitat for winter) if you are heading east of #Edmonton!

www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/art...

Infographic titled “7 actions decision-makers can take to reduce extreme heat stress risks for workers”, by WHO and WMO. Actions listed with numbers and icons: 1. Tailor heat-health policies (icon of hard hat). 2. Protect vulnerable workers (icon of gloves). 3. Boost heat-health awareness (icon of sunglasses and hard hat). 4. Co-create locally relevant strategies (icon of map pin). 5. Design solutions for scale (icon of water bottle). 6. Embrace innovation (icon of fan). 7. Strengthen evidence and impact (icon of safety vest). Background is a gradient of red, orange, and blue.

As heatwaves intensify, millions of workers face rising risks.
Sectors like farming, construction and fishing are especially exposed to heat stress.

A new @who.int and @wmo-global.bsky.social report offers guidance to protect workers and economic stability: www.who.int/news/item/22...

“You'll be speechless when you first go to core and [see] how beautiful it looks.” – Jonathan Rickard, peat core technician, Moose Cree First Nation

"Beneath Our Feet" is an audio production exploring Indigenous-led carbon monitoring in the Hudson & James Bay Lowlands: https://youtu.be/d2PT1fgyyiw

Young Forests Are an Overlooked Climate Solution New research by TNC scientists provides the first detailed picture of the carbon removal value of naturally regrowing forests

Research demonstrates that young secondary forests are the best at removing carbon from the atmosphere — up to 8x faster per hectare than newly planted forests. But there’s a catch.

Weakened protections in bylaw wording will accelerate the current loses of green spaces within the City of Edmonton.
Read more here: edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...

Gobsmacked by a decision (August 21) of the new CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator to overrule a hearing panel's decision on a matter under the panel's active consideration.
I have news for Mr Morgan. He is not god and he does not have the "absolute discretion" he claims to have.
#ableg #abpoli

AER CEO claims unprecedented power to cancel public hearing for coal mine   - CPAWS Northern Alberta Chapter CPAWS Northern Alberta and AWA on AER decision to cancel Summit Inc. Mine 14 Public Hearing.

CEO of the AER 🤝 Summit Inc. (coal company behind Mine 14)

ℹ️ AER CEO claims unprecedented power to cancel public hearing for coal mine : cpawsnab.org/all-news/aer...

"This decision will further erode the credibility and public trust in the AER." - Tara Russell, CPAWS Northern Alberta

Canada Strong park pass has brought big crowds, but some question whether everyone should get in for free | CBC News Free admission to Canada's national parks this summer has helped draw visitors to the country's most popular parks, fuelling traffic jams and raising environmental concerns.

Commentary (and criticisms) from the effects of the 🍁 Canada Strong Pass, offering free admission and discounted campsites in National Parks until Sept 2: www.cbc.ca/news/busines...

Congestion, Record Attendance and increased Visitor Management are listed as key areas of concern.

Wildlife Keep Being Harmed from Tailings Ponds at the Hands of Negligence - CPAWS Northern Alberta Chapter CNRL knowingly let birds use islands that had formed within tailings ponds as a nesting site. Over 400 birds died. We look into the Alberta Energy Regulator's investigation and the fine came to be red...

Agreed. That amount is reduced from the AER's own guidelines, we wrote a blog about how the fine was calculated here: cpawsnab.org/blog/wildlif...

Appeal launched by CNRL in tailings pond bird deaths rejected by Alberta regulator | CBC News Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. has lost its appeal against a $278,000 fine it faced for the death of hundreds of birds at a northern Alberta mine.

"The penalty is appropriate and should not be changed." ‼️

CNRL will be fined $278,000 for its failure to prevent birds from nesting on an island that formed in its tailings pond: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

The company appealed to reduce its fine, which the Alberta Energy Regulator rejected.