RCE Facilitation Group (RFG)

Minutes

Date: Thursday, June 22, 2017

Location: Luther College at the University of Regina, Room 207 and Via Skype

Time:10:00 to 11:30 am

Note: Action Items are in Bold.

Attendees:

In person:

  • Katherine Arbuthnott, Campion College at U of R (Psychology)
  • Ingrid Fimenez Canet, U of R (Visiting Student from Mexico)
  • Lynn Digney Davis, Havelock Special Projects Committee (HSPC)
  • Ximena Castillo Diaz, U of R (Visiting Student from Mexico)
  • Jill Forrester, 3S Health & RCE Strategic Planning Facilitator
  • Adela Kincaid, U of R (Geography and Sociology) and White Butte Ecomuseum (& others)
  • Roger Petry, Luther College at U of R (Philosophy) & RCE Saskatchewan Co-coordinator
  • Carol Reyda, U of R (Facilities Management), & RCE Saskatchewan Co-coordinator
  • Curt Schroeder, Saskatchewan Polytechnic & RCE Recognition Event Planning Committee
  • Glenn Sutter, Royal Saskatchewan Museum (Curator) & RCE Adapting Cultures for Sustainability Coordinator

Via Skype:

  • Tanya Dahms, University of Regina (Biochemistry) & RCE Health and Healthy Lifestyles Coordinator
  • Thera Nordal, Havelock Special Projects Committee (HSPC)
  • Garth Pickard, U. of Regina (Education (Emeritus) & RCE Sustainable Infrastructure Co-coordinator
  • Arzu Sardarli, First Nations University & RCE Reconnecting to Natural Prairie Ecosystems Working Group
  • Jonathan Yee, Masters Student (Refugees and Sustainable Development) & RCE Youth Co-coordinator

Regrets: Sheri Florizone, Aura Lee MacPherson (see report), Paul Stinson (see report), Lee Garinger and Arkin Kauf (see report)

1.Welcome of Guests and Approval of Agenda

1.Each person introduced themselves and Roger Petry reviewed the purpose of the RCE Facilitation Group (committee purposes are reflected in the agenda structure)

2.Updates from RCE Theme Area Working Groups (TAWG)/Coordinators & Flagship Projects

1.Updates from Working Groups and/or Flagship Projects

1.Working Group Updates (theme groups, youth working group, K-12 working group)

Jon Yee (Youth)

  • Working on the Global Action Programme (GAP) on ESD Priority 1 by developing policy briefs on all of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); this will provide a high overview of all 17 and more detailed policy briefs will then be developed; these were launched at COP 23; currently are reviewing the general template and receiving input
  • Acted as a peer reviewer for ESD and the SDGs learning objectives that came out in January; Jonathan Yee to send link to resource;
  • Worked on “UNESCO education on The Move document (Ch. 9 on scaling education for SD as well as reviewed a few programs)
  • Doing Masters Degree with Dr. Garth Pickard as supervisor; topic is Refugees and ESD with a focus on Lebanon (spent 4 and half months in Lebanon with marginalized groups and returning in the fall)
  • Founded a non profit founded that did 3 side events in Morocco on Youth Engagement and Youth and Climate change
  • Still involved internationally with RCEs—Jon will send events/links for What’s App Group for global youth involvement in RCE

Glenn Sutter (Adapting Cultures Working Group)

  • Glenn working with Katherine Arbuthnott on nature connection and creativity project; worked with students at Last Mountain Lake over the last school year; display now at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum with songs as part of the exhibit as a listening station; finding ways to keep the project alive; gaining insight on the creative processes involved; see “songs4nature” website); Glenn to send links with link to be made to RCE website
  • Member of provincial ecocmuseum steering committee (10 organizational members including Heritage SK and the Saskatchewan Museums Association and chaired by RSM; just formalized the partnership agreement so that the RSM will continue to act as chair and the SK Museums Association will take the lead re. emerging networks of sites and that have been recognized as museums; Association is able to provide training for local groups
  • Applied to SSHRC (the federal university funding council for humanities and social sciences) with Tobi Sperlich (University of Regina--anthropology) for a grant to host an event in late September/early October with Peter Davis
  • Currently 4-5 Ecomuseums (i.e., community agreements to use local heritage in the interest of sustainable development) including Val Marie Calling Lakes, White Butte, North Central, rEgina Civic Museum, Moose Jaw)
  • Luther College committed to run Ecomuseum Course in January; want it to run with student projects; it was suggested connecting with Over the Hill Orchards (using collected rainwater for agriculture since creek from Regina to salinated due to salt from city water softeners and Lumsden area (note St. Michaels retreat up for sale—could be part of an ecomuseum initiative with several communities)

Garth Pickard (Sustainable infrastructure including Water and Energy):

  • Watching Yancoal development; Attended an international conference at First Nations University with business, industry and First Nations groups attending exploring the implications of foreign investment in the province
  • Working on research proposal with Dr. Chuck Hopkins on Reorienting Educational Systems to Improve the Lives of Indigenous and Marginalized Youth—looking for 5 sites in Canada; focus on interdisciplinary learning that would make things better especially with Sustainable Development and the GAP; looking at sustaining well-being of all over the longterm and how youth understand what wellbeing is for them; doing pre-post research analysis; see what happens when youth feel better about themselves when sustaining well-being of others; SK hasn’t yet engaged (meeting with Faculty of Education at the U of R earlier and contacted U of S but no response; can RCE be the lead and engage the College of Education—need capacity to actualize this?
  • At conference last week interest in knowing more about the RCE (met a fellow from Brazil and want to engage)

Arzu Sardali (Reconnecting to Natural Prairie Ecosystems):

  • own research relating to studies of water quality in Calling Lakes system; done some research on indigenous knowledge and models for understanding and improving water quality; would like to continue on that work; interest to find funding for community based research and sharing publications; Roger to send information on water quality testing by RCE Kwazulu Natal
  • Recently judged national science fair; more and more high school student projects presenting on ecosystems, sustainable energy use—a good sign showing a demand from society to do more work; Arzu to contact organizers of science fair to see how the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals might be included in classifying and awarding science fair projects; also possibility some Saskatchewan projects received RCE Saskatchewan Recognition Awards if having an educational forcus

Tanya Dahms (Health and Healthy Lifestyles):

  • Presented to the City of Regina on pesticide issue (some constituents were upset about blowing weeds and wanted the City to back-peddle on pesticide use to appease theme)
  • Working with Regina Councillor Andrew Stevens to come up with a list of pesticides to get some off the table (especially the most dangerous)
  • Continuing project with the University of Regina re. keeping pesticides off the U of R Green; working with local high school to do monitoring

Lee Garinger, Arkin Kauf, and Paul Stinson (K-12 ESD):

  • Reviewed information submitted prior to meeting as part of agenda
  • Reminded attendees about recycling event in Regina (also detailed)
  • Reminded attendees of 2 websites Paul Stinson is working on (sustainable schools map and facebook page):

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2.RCE SK Flagship Projects Update (e.g., ecomuseums; international exchange program between RCEs)

1.Ecomuseum updates (e.g., Calling Lakes Ecomuseum, White Butte Ecomuseum)

Adela Kincaid:

◦ecomuseum study started in April and ending in December: looking at 3 ecomuseums: Calling Lakes Ecomuseum (), White Butte, and North Central; working to look at their community engagement, identity, and how governed

◦2nd project: sent paper to Prairie Forum

◦upcoming project with Glenn Sutter and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM); project on White Butte Ecomuseum work with Local Schools (i.e., Eco-White City School and using a conservation easement for an educational process; Adela facilitating partners: ecomuseum, school, RSM and university; met with Katherine Arbuthnott (Campion College) and her students to help; looking for volunteers from university classes that could do a related undergraduate assignment; interested in creating programing and lessons re. Sustainability

◦also connected with the RM of Edenwold

◦connected with Angela Snowshoe; interested in First Nations youth and sustainability education; also connected with Sarah Hannah from Campion and spoken to Faculty of Education (Catherine Noland) and sessional instructor; interested in Other Conatcts with U of R

  • Aura Lee MacPherson, Calling Lakes Ecomuseum

◦Reviewed information submitted for the meeting (see original agenda and attachments at including:

◦Letter re. Discharges from Town of Lebret

◦Letter to SK Ministry of Environment re. Quill Lakes water diversion proposal into Last Mountain Lake

◦Window Water Festival project in Fort Qu’Appelle

2.Yancoal Southey Project Update

◦Thera Nordal: Havelock Special Projects Committee (HSPC) has been a busy group; since met last have met with RM of Longlaketon in January; did a presentation in January to get them more updated re. issues; RM has hired Paul James and Dennis Sherrit to help navigate an agreement with Yancoal and doing it carefully and in the right way; 3 asks of HSPC: (1) continue to pursue larger setback distance; (2) hold conversations with local impacted interests, and (3) develop a cost benefit analysis; Note RM of Cupar wanted (?) a larger setback distance from the mine site of 2000 metre (but it was denied Community Planning of Saskatchewan Intergovernmental Relations—needed solid evidence for why it should be further back (government focus on being “open for business”—need evidence to support health, safety, and other concerns)

◦Same presentation taken to Yancoal representatives in Earl Grey and to SK Ministry of Environment along with a binder of information that details process, going even before the HSPC and earliest contact. Thera to give Roger copy of binder

◦Robin Cush (sp.) dealing with community engagement no longer employed by Yancoal; a recent person has just been approved so no engagement with Yancoal since January except for a few emails; Yancoal has had no engagement with community to date despite deadline for engagement with community set by Government of SK of August 9th; letter sent by HSPC asking if Government has heard from Yancoal and whether there is any reason for extending deadline (apparently amendments can be made); key point is that neither the Government of Saskatchewan nor the company has gained a social license from the community (it is just assumed by these that because economic development brings jobs that everyone will be in favour of it despite other tradeoffs; HSPC is the first time a community has stood up, in the case to a company with no experience in potash mining; community intervention of this kind will likely be a precedent

◦RM of Longlaketon is required and has control over the development agreement that specifies how the Mining company will relate to community and how local infrastructure is managed; RMs are newbies to such a process and have never negotiated with such power imbalances; the Government of SK has not provided any support for these RMs; HPSC has done this work for the RM; many of the presentation HPSC has given have been about what HPSC has learned about the process by meeting with government groups and previous experience of other groups (e.g., BHP Billington mine); the piece that raised the most eyebrows was the amount and proximate breakdown of revenues from the mine by Federal, Provincial and Local Governments which was not what was expected (as it was much lower)

◦Katherine Arbuthnott on board of prairie pastures group that had successful negotiation with wind energy companies in developing best practice following problems of placing wind turbines at Chaplain Lakes where there is a bird sanctuary/viewing; sees the wind reserve negotiations as similar and have been invited to meet with others. Katherine to share information on best practice with HPSC.

◦Invitation from UN University to develop chapter of book on Yancoal experience; Roger to lead writing of first draft; Roxane and Linda will help edit document. Due early July.

◦Garth Pickard noted Miskawagin (sp.) First Nations is under discussions to have a solution potash mine on their reserve; are facing similar issues negotiating with Encanto Potash Corp as they don’t know the rules and regulations and fear mining companies will play one off one community with another other; things done on First Nations’ land is owned by First Nations though may imply federal involvement. Also dealing with a company from India (Metals and Minerals Trading Company of India) who wants rights to potash on the reserve. RCE can play a role by engaging U of S water researchers on these topics and assisting new Minister. HPSC will meet with Miskawagan First Nations to relate their knowledge and experiences

◦RM of Longlaketon did a survey specifically about the mine (sent with the tax renewal form) about how residents feel about the development; to date they have not released the results. Tanya Dahms will contact the RM for the results.

3.Quill Lakes Update:

◦Reviewed letter of Aura Lee MacPherson sent to SK Ministry of Environment on June 5 (on RCE website:

◦Adela Kincaid connected with water quality issues and work being done by NSERC; Adela will connect with Aura Lee with Keri Findlay who did a post doc with Peter Leavitt at the U of R (who has studied many of the lakes in Saskatchewan)

3.RCE Ambassadors and RCE SK participation with Other RCEs

Tanya Dahms (Health and Healthy Lifestyles working group) participated with RCE Greater Western Sydney (Australia)in an international forum with 2nd year university students and health research individuals through an online facebook forum; each outlined major issues with their RCEs (i.e., those specific to Saskatchewan and related to own research, e.g. pesticides) and then had a conservation with it that helped educate students abroad; a huge success and students very impacted; showed how one can mobilize with RCEs for education as part of a full week strategy.

3.Updates from RCE Partners and Communities

1.Community partners:

▪City of Regina: Sherri Florizone sent regrets. No longer holds position of Sustainability Outreach Coordinator now that the City has eliminated that position. RCE Saskatchewan to send a letter to the City regarding who now holds sustainability responsibilities with the City now that the position is eliminated.

▪City of Saskatoon: Shannon Dyck with support from Roger Petry submitted a nomination for Lyle Benko to the Rob Dumont Energy Management Award for Lifetime Achievement (it has been awarded posthumously before)

2.Higher Education Partners

1.U of Regina (Carol Reyda): 9 person President’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability meets every two months—RCE SK has representation; created a sustainability strategic plan; volunteers working on communications strategies related to plan; Call for Sustainable Community Engagement Fund to occur in Fall (Bryanna Butz sending out request for funds from partners); Tany indicated they have approved remaining funds for Plant Health Care Model; Carol to put item on agenda of PACS related to...? (sorry not in notes)

2.SaskPolytech (Curt Schroeder):

  • Curt serves on the RCE Recognition Event Awards Committee and adjudicating award applications; Sask Polytechnic has received some awards again this year
  • Sustainability Policy in Sask Polytechnic strat plan is temporarily on hold until other issues sorted (management engaged in dealing with Budget issues); Dr. Dennis Johnson AVP of Business Development will this fall pick up the formal sustainability policy at Sask Polytechnic (Roger and Carol met with Dr. Johnson in December of last year to share best practices from other RCEs and RCE SK)
  • Curt attended MOOC through EdEx consortium on sustainability (distributed to RCE members already); can audit courses or get credit; run out of the University of Tokyo and v. useful to hear what Tokyo is doing re. history re. ESD and what issues are local to Japan; mostly videos run by professors; presentation archived and can still log in:

4.RCE Technology Group (RTG):

  • Curt to check registration on domain name () to see if near expring and need for renewal
  • Curt to contact Joe re. broken links on site
  • Noted two other RCE sites: K-12 ESD site and RCE SK Recognition Event Site
  • Discussion about needing a facebook page in addition to more static materials on main site and other social media presence (noted there exists an RCE twitter account set up by Carissa)
  • Jon Yee noted other facebook pages: African RCE facebook; Global UNU RCE facebook

5.RCE Saskatchewan Events