#Northern Ontario Ontario daily news

[nasa]

NASA Inspires Your Crafty Creations for World Embroidery Day

It’s amazing what you can do with a little needle and thread! For #WorldEmbroideryDay, we asked what NASA imagery inspired you. You responded with a variety of embroidered creations, highlighting our different areas of study.

Here’s what we found:

Webb’s Carina Nebula

Wendy Edwards, a project coordinator with Earth Science Data Systems at NASA, created this embroidered piece inspired by Webb’s Carina Nebula image. Captured in infrared light, this image revealed for the first time previously invisible areas of star birth. Credit: Wendy Edwards, NASA. Pattern credit: Clare Bray, Climbing Goat Designs

Wendy Edwards, a project coordinator with Earth Science Data Systems at NASA, first learned cross stitch in middle school where she had to pick rotating electives and cross stitch/embroidery was one of the options.  “When I look up to the stars and think about how incredibly, incomprehensibly big it is out there in the universe, I’m reminded that the universe isn’t ‘out there’ at all. We’re in it,” she said. Her latest piece focused on Webb’s image release of the Carina Nebula. The image showcased the telescope’s ability to peer through cosmic dust, shedding new light on how stars form.

Ocean Color Imagery: Exploring the North Caspian Sea

Danielle Currie of Satellite Stitches created a piece inspired by the Caspian Sea, taken by NASA’s ocean color satellites. Credit: Danielle Currie/Satellite Stitches

Danielle Currie is an environmental professional who resides in New Brunswick, Canada. She began embroidering at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic as a hobby to take her mind off the stress of the unknown. Danielle’s piece is titled “46.69, 50.43,” named after the coordinates of the area of the northern Caspian Sea captured by LandSat8 in 2019.

An image of the Caspian Sea captured by Landsat 8 in 2019. Credit: NASA

Two Hubble Images of the Pillars of Creation, 1995 and 2015

Melissa Cole of Star Stuff Stitching created an embroidery piece based on the Hubble image Pillars of Creation released in 1995. Credit: Melissa Cole, Star Stuff Stitching

Melissa Cole is an award-winning fiber artist from Philadelphia, PA, USA, inspired by the beauty and vastness of the universe. They began creating their own cross stitch patterns at 14, while living with their grandparents in rural Michigan, using colored pencils and graph paper.  The Pillars of Creation (Eagle Nebula, M16), released by the Hubble Telescope in 1995 when Melissa was just 11 years old, captured the imagination of a young person in a rural, religious setting, with limited access to science education.

Lauren Wright Vartanian of the shop Neurons and Nebulas created this piece inspired by the Hubble Space Telescope’s 2015 25th anniversary re-capture of the Pillars of Creation. Credit:  Lauren Wright Vartanian, Neurons and Nebulas

Lauren Wright Vartanian of Guelph, Ontario Canada considers herself a huge space nerd. She’s a multidisciplinary artist who took up hand sewing after the birth of her daughter. She’s currently working on the illustrations for a science themed alphabet book, made entirely out of textile art. It is being published by Firefly Books and comes out in the fall of 2024. Lauren said she was enamored by the original Pillars image released by Hubble in 1995. When Hubble released a higher resolution capture in 2015, she fell in love even further! This is her tribute to those well-known images.

James Webb Telescope Captures Pillars of Creation

Darci Lenker of Darci Lenker Art, created a rectangular version of Webb’s Pillars of Creation. Credit:  Darci Lenker of Darci Lenker Art

Darci Lenker of Norman, Oklahoma started embroidery in college more than 20 years ago, but mainly only used it as an embellishment for her other fiber works. In 2015, she started a daily embroidery project where she planned to do one one-inch circle of embroidery every day for a year.  She did a collection of miniature thread painted galaxies and nebulas for Science Museum Oklahoma in 2019. Lenker said she had previously embroidered the Hubble Telescope’s image of Pillars of Creation and was excited to see the new Webb Telescope image of the same thing. Lenker could not wait to stitch the same piece with bolder, more vivid colors.

Milky Way

Darci Lenker of Darci Lenker Art was inspired by NASA’s imaging of the Milky Way Galaxy. Credit: Darci Lenker

In this piece, Lenker became inspired by the Milky Way Galaxy, which is organized into spiral arms of giant stars that illuminate interstellar gas and dust. The Sun is in a finger called the Orion Spur.

The Cosmic Microwave Background

This image shows an embroidery design based on the cosmic microwave background, created by Jessica Campbell, who runs Astrostitches. Inside a tan wooden frame, a colorful oval is stitched onto a black background in shades of blue, green, yellow, and a little bit of red. Credit: Jessica Campbell/ Astrostitches

Jessica Campbell obtained her PhD in astrophysics from the University of Toronto studying interstellar dust and magnetic fields in the Milky Way Galaxy. Jessica promptly taught herself how to cross-stitch in March 2020 and has since enjoyed turning astronomical observations into realistic cross-stitches. Her piece was inspired by the cosmic microwave background, which displays the oldest light in the universe.

The full-sky image of the temperature fluctuations (shown as color differences) in the cosmic microwave background, made from nine years of WMAP observations. These are the seeds of galaxies, from a time when the universe was under 400,000 years old. Credit: NASA/WMAP Science Team

GISSTEMP: NASA’s Yearly Temperature Release

Katy Mersmann, a NASA social media specialist, created this embroidered piece based on NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) global annual temperature record. Earth’s average surface temperature in 2020 tied with 2016 as the warmest year on record. Credit: Katy Mersmann, NASA

Katy Mersmann is a social media specialist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. She started embroidering when she was in graduate school. Many of her pieces are inspired by her work as a communicator. With climate data in particular, she was inspired by the researchers who are doing the work to understand how the planet is changing. The GISTEMP piece above is based on a data visualization of 2020 global temperature anomalies, still currently tied for the warmest year on record.

In addition to embroidery, NASA continues to inspire art in all forms. Check out other creative takes with Landsat Crafts and the James Webb Space telescope public art gallery.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[lgenvs3000w23]

UNIT 1: Launching into Nature Interpretation

I have had a slightly unorthodox journey to becoming interested in nature, as the concept of studying nature in university has only recently occurred to me. For context, I grew up in the Waterloo Region which is quite a developed urban area; so there was not much opportunity for exploring vast forests or serene lakes. The concept of studying nature in school or even going for a hike wasn't even a thought in my head for the first 19 years of my life. I began university in Biomedical Sciences at a different institution (which was a very intense human-centric program with no biodiversity or environmental biology exposure), but transferred to the University of Guelph during my first year. At UoG, I had to take a required class, BIOL*1070 Discovering Biodiveristy… and boy did I discover biovideristy!

In BIOL*1070, I was lumped in a group with a bunch of biomed kids who HATED the class and just wanted to learn “useful biology,” that’s when I realized I didn't hate the class at all, it was actually my favourite first-year course I had taken! It was the other student’s closed-mindedness that made me realize how important the class was and appreciate the content so much more. I also realized that solely doing biology courses about anatomy, molecular biology, genetics and physiology made me absolutely miserable, and I had this untapped passion for ecology, evolution, environmental biology, and geography. I switched my major to Biological Sciences so I could experience the best of both worlds and have more flexibility to explore this side of biology that I had no exposure to in high school or my first year of university. Unfortunately, I think it is a common experience for students to be pigeonholed toward the medical field and human biology. I am very happy that I was forced to take BIOL*1070, I would never have done it as an elective and I wouldn't be here in ENVS*3000 or have taken half the classes on my transcript.

Additionally, BIOL*1070 also opened doors to new hobbies as I became a frequent hiker and trail runner. In BIOL*1070, we had to go on 5 nature walks for an assignment, which at the time I thought was super annoying and inconvenient but I ended up falling in love with the fresh air and sunshine. Shortly after, I started working full-time in an office and going on daily hikes and runs which absolutely saved my mental and physical health. I am so grateful I discovered this hobby before my work-term because I don't know what I would have done without it! Sitting at a computer in a windowless cubical for 8 hours a day would have driven me insane if I didn't have nature as an outlet. It is hard to believe that just 3 months before my trail obsession I had zero interest in nature. This newfound appreciation for nature has even impacted the vacations I have taken with camping trips and road trips to remote trails. I love exploring Northern Ontario, I am specifically obsessed with Lake Superior.

I thank my professors in BIOL*1070, Dr. Shoshanah Jacobs and Dr. Alex Smith, who made a lasting impression and sparked the nature bug that completely redefined my university experience. These amazing profs opened my eyes to fields of study I have since fallen in love with. I would not have the love of nature I have today with their enthusiasm and delivery of BIOL*1070.

Thanks for reading!! Take care:)

[mbenvs3000w23]

My Connection to Nature & It's Evolution

Hey everyone, welcome to my blog!

Today I'll be discussing my relationship with nature and its evolution over the years.

As I’ve progressed through university, I’ve found myself developing a greater appreciation of nature. Not that I ever didn't respect or appreciate it, but it was just always there, so I never took the time to truly immerse myself in its entirety. That's kind of the reality of growing up; you learn that life isn't simple and easy but rather that things can change quite quickly. When I was a kid I never thought about the future of the planet or of the colossal impacts we have on our environment. Now that I’ve grown up and taken classes detailing the science behind our planet and environment, I know how fragile it is and how unpromised its future is. 

I grew up in Sudbury, Ontario. Sudbury is a city in northern Canada known for its rich natural surroundings and historical significance. The city is located on the Canadian Shield, and as such, has an abundance of rocky terrain and greenery. My house was 30 minutes out of town and ‘deep into the bush’ as some would say (I've included a picture below for context). Due to this, I was surrounded by forests and lakes with really no urban influence. Living there, surrounded solely by nature, I found a “sense of place”. Nature was not just a backdrop in Sudbury; it was an intrinsic component of my daily life. The trees provided a safe place, the lakes brought serenity, and the hard terrain was like a huge playground. Growing up I had a deep connection with the land, creating memories that were linked with the rustling of leaves, the smell of fresh pine, and the cool winds that blew around us while we played outside. As we had no real neighbours and about 140 acres of land with our house, me and my brother were often left to do whatever we pleased outside. This allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in nature and, honestly, gave us no other choice even if we didn't want to play outside. There was nothing even remotely close; just us and nature. This led to me having a more recreational connection to nature. I think this is why as a child I never truly appreciated nature, as I thought that it was just standard to always have it around us. It was only when I was old enough to understand the realities of the world that I developed a stronger appreciation for nature. 

Over the last several years, I've been fortunate enough to have taken various courses and learned a lot about nature. So far, Climate Change Biology (ENVS*3010) has by far been my favourite and truly opened my eyes about our impacts on the environment. As a result, my viewpoint on nature as a whole has changed significantly. I have also developed new kinds of connections with nature recently, including therapeutic, scientific, and sustainable-based connections. I now use my early memories as a source of reflection and thankfulness, displaying the long-term evolution of my relationship with nature. 

I also have such a love for nature as it allows me to spend time with my family. Going out for walks and looking at all the diverse scenery is a great way to clear your head and take in its beauty. Recently, I've been training my new puppy how to walk on her leash. My parent's house is up north still so there aren't any sidewalks. Due to this, it's been challenging to get her to stay on the side of the road and walk off the paved road when cars pass. She seems to love cars so this has been quite a challenge. Especially when she tries to run in front of them or after them 🙃

[2femme]

I'm new to community nursing.

I'm baffled that I'm being told to discharge patients from daily wound care because the uppers at the office think only 5% of patients should need daily care.

Perhaps my northern rural town has more daily dressings due to lack of health care resources??!?! Maybe we should base wound care orders on pt condition (and staff availability) vs some arbitrary number??!?!?!

Anyway- health care is in crisis across the bored. Let your local politicians know healthcare is important to you as our Provincial (Ontario) government is trying to privatize!!!

[msbarrows]

So yesterday @genginger tagged me in a “three things that you’re proud of in 2023″ thing, and I had to think a lot to come up with things - being long-term unemployed means my days (and weeks, and months) tend to be very sameness-of-a-same.

One thing I got done at the end of the year (but have yet to deploy) is putting together a skills-based resume. Sooooo much anxiety over finally tackling it, as I’ve been unemployed for over a decade now and haven’t job searched in years. Thankfully some online friends did supportive hand-holding while I tackled it. Now I just... need to figure out some applications. Write some cover letters (UGH!!!). Probably make some more versions of the resume, to cover skill sets relevant to specific jobs (DOUBLE UGH!!!).

Been working my way through the big box of old family photos from the basement, plus my personal large file box of photos, and scanning all of them. Have the former finished but am still working through the latter. At some point I need to burn a bunch of them to DVD to send around to my brother and sister’s households (all the family ones, plus some of my personal ones).

One of the biggest projects I tackled in late summer of last year was to finally put together an emergency go-bag for myself (see photo above), inspired in part by katy-l-wood’s Evacuation Prep chart having crossed my dash earlier in the year, plus us here in northern Ontario having had several bad fire summers recently, including the fire by the old ski hill in 2020. Thankfully small, thankfully put out rapidly, but it came right down to the yards of the houses along the base of the ridge. We were on edge for a few hours on whether or not things might go bad and force us to evacuate (not to mention we’ve had bigger fires only a little further away that took 2-3 days to put out), and I’d found myself thinking several times since about what I’d grab if we got that sudden automated phone call or banging on the door. More about the go-bag contents under the cut (it’s long).

Anyone else interested in posting their three things, consider yourself tagged :)

So... go-bag contents! This is still a WIP, I plan to add additional food items to it for one, but at present, from left to right this includes:

couple of foldable water containers. It there’s enough warning before having to leave, those would be filled from the tap and go out to the truck separately, otherwise will be filled at whatever first stop with potable water we* reach.

box of assorted Cliff bars, to be replaced every 6-8 months. I also plan to add a box of assorted fruit bars and/or nut bars and/or sesame snaps. Stable foods with some nutrition and a good energy hit, basically.

the opened out red bag is a first aid molle pouch, it includes EMT shears, bandaids, adhesive mesh, polysporin, and a ton of assorted gauze pads and packing gauze leftover from when I was have a large cyst treated a year or two ago (yay for daily nurse visits to inspect and repack the wound).

the yellow drawstring bag contains a large rain poncho

mess kit, normally stored in the round purse with the raffia flamingo on it (protects it, plus doesn’t hurt to have an extra bag in my bag)

the large black duffle bag that everything fits inside

to the right of that is a dark green electronics storage bag, in front of which are what it normally holds - a solar power bank, my old 7″ android tablet, my old android cell phone (the sim card for which is in my new phone, but it’s still usable for emergency calls and means I have a backup handy if I accidentally break the new phone), red external backup drive, my original bluetooth speaker in its lime green carry case - all of these get their batteries topped up at the start of each month, plus updated (OS, apps, backup files). Also a couple of USB charging bases and cables.

stainless steel thermos

LifeStraw personal water filter (in case the only water source is questionable)

folding umbrella

from in front of that over to right is all small things I store inside a purse organizer, which I have tucked inside a clear vinyl storage bag that some sheets came in, so its protected from collecting dust or lint, plus if anything escapes the organizer it’ll remain in the bag. Contents include: small coin purse holding a small roll of bills, can opener, makeup mirror (as a mirror and for flash signalling), tums, safety razor, comb, hair elastics, USB rechargeable flashlight, soap, tooth floss, toothpaste, toothbrush, ibuprofen, packet of tissues.

the lumpy blue things at back right are compression packing cubes full of tshirts, socks, underwear, a pair of jeans, flannel shirt, light hoodie, plus hiding between them and the clear vinyl bag are a drawstring cloth bag holding pyjamas (so it’s easy to grab just sleepwear), and a zippered pouch of more socks and more underwear. Figure I’ll remove, wash, and repack the clothes on the same 6-8 month rotation as replacing the food in the bag.

Basically it’s aimed mostly at getting to and remaining at an evacuation centre or motel for a couple days sort of goal, but I have also put a bit of consideration into what if we’re unable to reach such a place and end up stuck temporarily outside somewhere, so things like how the poncho can double as a small shelter (which reminds me I should add some paracord or light rope), the LifeStraw can be used to more safely drink from untreated water sources, and I have at least a few days worth of food on hand. Also there’s a sleeping bag stored in the same closet as this kit, so close to hand. And a second, much larger duffle to stuff as many clothes into as possible.

Most of the other small things I’d want to grab, such as ID, keys, and more cash, are in my purse, which is an arm’s length away from where I sit at my computer.

* - I say ‘we’ because I don’t drive, so if there’s an evacuation I’d be going with my brother or waving down a neighbour’s vehicle.

[hqsenvs3000w24]

A learner today, teacher tomorrow

"…we cannot forget that people are with us mainly seeking enjoyment, not instruction." - Tilden (1967).

This is a quote from on textbook (page 44) that really stuck out to me. Really, in actuality, this quote is seemingly quite simple, but I saw a deeper meaning in the words, one that I connected instantly with my co-op placement up North.

I have had the great honor of being (what I call) a baby nature interpreter at a rather young age. When I worked up at SOES, I had the opportunity to learn from the specialists there who each had a deep connection to the outdoor world and dedicated their lives to helping teach the next generation about it. Most of my time spent interning there was just absorbing knowledge, and as I got more comfortable, the opportunity to teach some lessons myself. Imagine it like being a classroom teacher, but the classroom is in the middle of the forest and the kids are really excited because instead of teaching them math you're teaching them how to build a shelter. It was one of the best experiences of my life getting to share my love of nature with those kids.

But it wasn't always easy, and the quote I mentioned earlier really comes into play, especially when working with children. As much as we were teaching them about the natural world and the connections we can make with the land, so much of it was just allowing them to explore on their own. By the end of my four month term, I understood why the lessons we taught tended to be so short or why on a hike we would sometimes stop for longer than we should have. It was because the specialists up there knew that these kids needed to enjoy their time up there, even if it meant skipping a lesson we had planned, or rearranging the schedule.

After working with students in a natural environment I realized a had a strong passion for helping educate kids on the topic of nature. This led to a second placement for me working with students at a nature photography camp. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working as a nature interpreter in these two roles, and would love to have a future role in a similar position. Taking the quiz regarding how I learn was very insightful as I am a mainly visual and audio learner. I am a person who likes to see either instructions or visual depictions of information and benefit from having someone describe it as well. However, I understand that a lot of students are kinesthetic learners or a mixture of all things and I try my hardest to teach information in a way everyone will understand. When I was younger I always had a hard time understanding instructions if they were only given verbally, and I greatly benefited from visual aids or seeing someone else do it. I know it can be hard for everyone to understand but it is very important to ensure for me as an interpreter to try my hardest to teach/transfer information in a way that most if not all of the group walk away with some new piece of information.

In the future, I would love to work in an outdoor education school environment to help educate the future generation about the importance of the natural world, and bridge the connection to nature in their daily lives. I would love to live in northern Ontario and share my knowledge and enthusiasm with today's youth.

All for now :)

[papa-j]

To Ontario

Week 3:

We drove to ThunderBay and found a nice diner to have the famous Finnish Pancakes with wild blueberries and maple syrup and they were delicious! 

Then we drove to the local park on the hill for some nice views over the city and the harbour.  There is a sunken garden in this park, small but well kept and a large selection of shade plants and a big selection of sunflowers in the centre, beautiful colours.

Around mid day we drove east along lake Superior through very rugged country to Nipigon. The rocky outcroppings are large here, several hundred meters high with the highway cutting through some good sized gorges through the granite.  

We stopped for a hike in Ouimet Canyon and our surprise we crossed two suspension bridges across the canyon. From one end of the 600’ suspension bridge was a half mile long zip-line that looked spectacular, unfortunately it was not in operation due to the lack of staffing.  

A beautiful canyon nevertheless with basalt pillars close to 100 meters high.  The fall colours and the colours of the rock made it a beautiful sight.

We turned off onto Hwy 11, the road to northern Ontario towards Kapuskasing and Timmins. 

More highway construction projects with some minor delays. Most of the roads are in great shape along here. Speed limit is 90, but everyone drives at 108…

There are many small lakes along the way here as well. The fall colours are still beautiful, the evergreens are mostly Black Spruce, the same as we saw in the Yukon.  Longlac is a first nation community at the north end of an 80km long lake. We got to Hearst late afternoon and found a campground on the edge of town, where we settled in for the night.

We had an early breakfast and drove on eastward to Cochrane where we stopped to take in the polar bear sanctuary.

This is a research facility with 3 bears with a very extensive habitat for the animals. The enclosure is more than 50 acres with a small lake 5 acres in size where they can swim.

There was also a snowmobile museum with 30 - 40 vintage snowmobiles some from the 1950’s and a few more current models.

Then we walked around a small heritage village to end the visit to Cochran.

Then onwards on Hwy 11 to New Liskeard to visit with Linda’s brother John and his family. We stayed there for 3 days, visiting some of Linda’s school mates and old family friends. Lots of good food, daily walks and card games.

[thedhananjayaparkhe]

The Daily Difference:

Preparing for an EV future ( courtesy: Carbon Almanac newsletter) Preparing for an EV future [ https://thecarbonalmanac.org/preparing-for-an-ev-future/ ]‘Build it and they will come’ is taking on a new meaning in Northern Canada’s tourism industry. If you want to attract tourists from urban Ontario, where increasing numbers of people drive electric vehicles (EVs), you are going to need to offer…

[atlanticcanada]

Cold front to bring relief in Central Canada but heat wave continues on coasts

As a cold front brought some temperature relief to parts of Ontario after a multi-day heat wave, regions from coast to coast to coast in Canada braced for sweltering conditions to last into the weekend.

The unseasonable heat threatened to break daily temperature records in the north and other parts of the country, capping a week that saw one unofficial analysis record earth's hottest day on record.

An updated heat warning issued Friday morning for southern Quebec says a hot and humid air mass would stall over the province until Sunday, making it feel like around 35 degrees Celsius during the day and offering little overnight relief.

More climate and environment headlines

Heat warnings remained in place for eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, but Environment Canada had lifted weather alerts for the rest of the province after a punishing week of hot and humid weather.

In British Columbia, heat warnings remained for inland sections from the north to central coast and in the Fraser Canyon area east of Vancouver. Daytime highs between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius were expected through Sunday.

On the east coast, it was forecasted to feel like 40 degrees in parts of New Brunswick and 36 degrees in Nova Scotia given the humid conditions. Most of Prince Edward Island was expected to see temperatures in the high 20s, while a slice of Newfoundland and Labrador, around Churchill Falls, was also under a heat warning.

Earth's average temperature set a record high of 17.23 degrees Celsius on Thursday, according to the University of Maine's Climate Reanalyzer, a tool that uses satellite data and computer simulations to measure the world's condition. It was the third such unofficial milestone in a week already rated as the hottest on record.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration distanced itself from the university's analysis Thursday, saying it could not confirm data that results in part from computer modeling. But the agency recognized the earth was in a period of warmth due to climate change.

Temperatures in parts of Canada's north were forecasted to compete with record daily highs as Environment Canada issued heat warning in the Yukon and Northwest Territories expected to last through the weekend.

In central Northwest Territories, including Fort Simpson, the agency said the unseasonable heat could persist into late next week. In Inuvik, the forecast called for temperatures in the low 30s for Friday and Saturday, on par with daily record highs, according to Environment Canada dating back to 1957.

Special air quality statements are in effect in northern parts of B.C., Alberta and Quebec due to forest fires.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/cR3CL7t

[cattatonically]

A Change of View - Freya Barker (Northern Lights, book 2)

Synopsis

What if one morning you look in the mirror and no longer recognize the person looking back?

When Leelo can no longer identify herself by the roles that once defined her, it’s both terrifying and liberating. Oh, she feels the loss, the grief, and then the anger, but when she inherits property up north, she jumps at the promise of freedom and independence.

Yet not everyone in her new community is what they seem, starting with the surly mountain man down the road.

As owner of the local fishing lodge, Roar is content with his everyday life. And the older he gets, the less he appreciates change. So when a blue-haired, tattooed ‘city girl’ moves into the old motel, shaking up his daily routine, he’s none too pleased.

Still, something about the woman’s easy smile and almost reckless grit has him step up as her keeper.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought would, and most of that has so much to do with the nostalgia factor.

I was absolutely, thoroughly surprised to read this story take place new Wawa, which is so very close to my own hometown. (Anyone who’s familiar with that area of Northern Ontario knows just how close a lot of those communities are.) It was honestly a bit of a blast from the past to realize I recognized a lot of the names of the roads, the surrounding area, and even some of the local businesses in Wawa! And honestly, that’s probably a large reason why Leelo and Roar appealed to me so much.

Roar is exactly the kind of rough and gruff sort of man that I remember growing up with. He’s good with his hands, extremely handy, and extremely loyal to those who are near and dear to his heart. Leelo, on the other hand, is a no-nonsense city girl who takes no prisoners.

I loved watching their interactions. Fresh off a bad divorce (cannot relate at all, nope, not even a little [cue sarcasm]), Leelo gives absolutely zero shits. And watching her mouth off, stand her ground, and put men in their place was exquisite for me to read. I adored watching Leelo come into her own, and really take hold of her own life, and her own future.

Honestly, this book felt like a fresh new beginning, which is exactly what I’m in the market for in my own life right now. Being able to live vicariously through Leelo, even just for a little while, was empowering to me. And having this story hit close to home (literally) was a really nice bonus.

I’m really enjoying reading these stories take place in areas that I’m familiar with. I can’t wait to see which Canadian love story comes next.

[poor-life-style-on-reserves]

How Can You Get Involved and Advocate to Resolve Inadequate Living Conditions on Reserves?

There are 2 main ways you can help out.

Spread awareness of these issues to others who may not know about them.

Donate to indigenous communities. One organization that you can donate to that advocates for First Nations rights is the Assembly of First Nations.

Now for the reveal of where I got all the information that I presented in my blog posts from:

Hutter, Kristy. “Northern Ontario First Nation Residents Get to Design Their Own Homes in Pilot Project.” CBC News, CBC/Radio Canada, 1 Nov. 2017, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nibinamik-pilot-project-home-design-1.4374183.

Melvin, Alexandria, and Thomas Anderson. “Housing Conditions among First Nations People, Métis and Inuit in Canada from the 2021 Census.” Government of Canada, Statistics Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics Canada, 21 Sept. 2022, www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/98-200-X/2021007/98-200-X2021007-eng.cfm. CBC News: The National. Could a New Approach to First Nations Housing Be a Game-Changer? YouTube, CBC News: The National, 1 Nov. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpRyv5VzmjA.

Needham, Fraser. “Study: First Nations Children’s Health Impacted by Poor Housing Conditions.” APTN News, 24 Jan. 2022, www.aptnnews.ca/featured/study-first-nations-childrens-health-impacted-by-poor-housing-conditions/.

“Government Spending by Function, 2021.” Statistics Canada, Government of Canada, 25 Nov. 2022, www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221125/dq221125a-eng.htm.

[justbrooklyn]

Domus constructions

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Build the house of your dreams, request a free quote. It was incorporated on 2006 and its headquarters are located at Cso Italia 101 Lesina Puglia 71010. Our construction company is based on the passion and tradition of the builders of northern Italy. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Here at Domus Construction, Inc., we are a locally owned and operated company that values honesty and integrity and treats your home as if it were our own. is a Limited Liability Company that operates within the Construction of residential and non-residential buildings industry. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Tell us about your project Is this your business Claim now > U BZ SCORE: 90. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Use our free bidding system to get a quote from Urban Domus Construction + 2 more of the best. We have enjoyed collaborating with them on many custom residential projects.

#Domus constructions professional

This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Their professional and thorough approach to the construction process is appreciated. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Domus is committed to creating and consistently delivering world-class real estate projects and master developments that strengthen Erbils position as the global real estate investment destination of choice. et al, case number 3:21-cv-00623, from California. Smith Construction Manager built DoMUS apartments high-end finishes & parking. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Parties, docket activity and news coverage of federal case Scott v. Access to the RiverWalk & located in Milwaukees Historic Third Ward, C.D.

#Domus constructions pro

This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Read reviews for Domus Construction Ltd, a General Contractors pro located in North York, Ontario and get a quote for your next home improvement project. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Throughout the project, we will partner with you to make sure you receive the best value for your money in an organized and considerate manner.Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This way, the impact on your daily routine is minimized. We will keep you informed of upcoming milestones as well as give you plenty of notice prior to needing decisions on material selections, etc. We strive to be as detailed and proactive as possible in our planning, allowing schedules to be determined and maintained. Because of this revolution, it’s important that those involved in residential and commercial construction. As technology evolves, we see the effects it has on the industry, businesses and everyday life. We have developed long-standing relationships with proven suppliers and subcontractors, and through them we receive the best value for the products and services used in your home. Domus Construction Design & Build believes that technology has a profound impact on construction efficiency and the industry as a whole. At Domus Constructors, LLC, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and quality through every step of the building process. As project managers specialising in new home construction, Domus Homes have the expertise, experience and proven track record to undertake your building.

[longgc]

Primal survivor cameraman

Stroud has made multiple television appearances including on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The View, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Larry King Live. The show, Off the Grid with Les Stroud, chronicled the process of buying property and refitting an old farm house with solar and wind power, a raincatcher and well, as well as the adjustments the Stroud family had to make to adapt to this style of living. In 2006, Stroud produced a 90-minute special documenting his family's journey to building an off-the-grid home. Stroud also composed and performed the opening theme music of Survivorman. Stroud produced 23 episodes of the show which began airing in 2004. The popularity of these pilots spawned the show Survivorman. They were originally broadcast as daily segments over the course of one week but were repackaged as two one-hour specials titled Stranded. In 2001 Stroud produced two one-hour specials for the science news show These segments follow the same format as Survivorman with Stroud filming his own survival in the wilderness. Stroud filmed their primitive living experience and released the 50 minute documentary, Snowshoes and Solitude, which was named Best Documentary at the Muskoka Film Festival and Best Film at the Waterwalker Film Festival. Once when Stroud's father was dying from cancer, another when they both went to be treated for giardiasis, and again when Jamison had a miscarriage. Stroud and Jamison built and equipped a winter cabin using an axe, a modern bow saw, and a trapper's tin wood stove left by Getgood and Rowe, along with a metal pot they found.įamily and medical emergencies brought them out of the bush on three occasions. In late September, Stroud's friends Doug Getgood and Fred Rowe brought in food for the next six months and chopped firewood for the couple. For the first half of the year, they took a store of traditional foods such as wild rice, squash, beaver and moose meat, bear fat, and maple sugar. They travelled to Goldsborough Lake ( 50☄1′55″N 89☂0′46″W  /  50.69861°N 89.34611°W  / 50.69861 -89.34611) deep in the Wabakimi, first building a tipi then an attached A-frame while using no metal, plastic, or otherwise manufactured tools. The success of these specials led to the development of Survivorman, a show that followed a similar format of leaving Stroud on his own, with minimal equipment, in the wilderness to videotape his survival experience.Īfter his marriage to Jamison in 1994, the two of them spent one year in the Canadian wilderness to attempt a paleolithic existence. Stroud produced two programs titled One Week in the Wilderness and Winter in the Wilderness for in 2001. Inspired by the popularity of the television show Survivor, Stroud pitched a more authentic version of the show to The Discovery Channel Canada. Stroud and Jamison then settled in Huntsville, Ontario where they had two children and started both the outdoor instructional outfit Wilderness Voice and the media company Wilderness Spirit Productions. Afterwards, the couple moved to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories where Stroud was employed as an outdoor instructor to special needs individuals of aboriginal descent. They married in 1994 and together left for a year-long honeymoon in the remote Wabakimi area of Ontario which was to become the basis of the documentary Snowshoes and Solitude. It was also during this time while on a survival course he met his future wife, photographer Sue Jamison. In 1990 Stroud became a guide for Black Feather Wilderness Adventures leading canoe excursions into the Northern Ontario wilds. During this time he also worked as garbage collector for the City of Toronto. Stroud worked for several years at the Toronto-based music video channel MuchMusic, and as a songwriter for the band New Regime before a Temagami canoe trip sparked a career change. He went on to complete the Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. Stroud was born in the Mimico neighbourhood of Toronto and graduated from Mimico High School.

[fatehbaz]

First week of December 2020, after years of sustained Native opposition and after 6 years of regulatory review and legal challenges, Alberta-based oil giant Enbridge began building the multi-billion-dollar Line 3 fossil fuel pipeline expansion in northern Minnesota, as the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission voted to ignore appeals from multiple Indigenous groups. In late December, during blizzards and frigid cold, protest actions continue to be held each day.

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Nearly two dozen protestors were arrested at an Enbridge Line 3 pipeline construction site in Aitkin County near the Mississippi River on Monday [14 December 2020] after they blocked equipment and refused orders to disperse [...].

Indigenous and environmental activists, who have been holding daily protests north of Palisade, Minn., prevented the extraction of a protestor who had been camped in a tree for 10 days. [...] Activists vowed to continue to stand in the way of pipeline construction, which started two weeks ago. [...]

“They’re standing up to say it’s time the state actually listen to Indigenous voices [...] instead of caving to the interests of a Canadian oil giant.” Calgary-based Enbridge said in an earlier statement: “We recognize the rights of individuals and groups to express their views legally and peacefully. We don’t tolerate illegal activities of any kind including trespassing, vandalism, or other mischief, and Enbridge will seek to prosecute those individuals to the fullest extent of the law.” [...]

Work on the $2.6 billion pipeline began on Dec. 1 after Enbridge received its final permit following six years of regulatory review. Opponents say the pipeline, which will deliver oil from the tar sands of Alberta to a terminal in Superior, Wis., will contribute to climate change and expose new parts of the state to the risk of oil spills. [...]

Indigenous organizer Winona LaDuke, who built a ceremonial lodge on the pipeline route where it is set to cross the Mississippi that had halted construction at that specific site, said “we will expect more resistance.” [...]

About 2,000 people are on the job across the 340-mile pipeline route, and another 2,000 are expected to join them by the end of the year [2020].

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Text excerpt from: Brooks Johnson. “22 protestors arrested at Enrbidge pipeline construction site.” Minneapolis Star Tribune. 15 December 2020.

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In northern Minnesota’s Aitkin County, just north of the tiny town of Palisade, construction workers are clear-cutting a wide path through the forest near the Mississippi River, heavy equipment rumbling, to make way for the new Line 3 oil pipeline replacement project. [...] Construction has ramped up quickly on Line 3 since Enbridge Energy received its final state and federal permits late last month — and so have the protests of activists determined to stop work on the contentious project [...]. Several environmental and tribal groups, along with the Red Lake and White Earth Nations and the Minnesota Department of Commerce, have filed suit to try to block it. Groups are expected to soon ask the state appeals court to put a pause on construction until those suits can be heard. [...] [T]he new corridor passes through treaty land that Ojibwe tribes ceded to the federal government in the late 1800s — land which still maintains important historic and cultural significance.

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Text excerpt from: Dan Kraker. “Line 3 construction barrels ahead, despite efforts to block it.” MPR News. 15 December 2020.

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Other context:

After Line 3 brings the fuel from Alberta to Duluth-Superior, the fuel is then carried by Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline from Duluth-Superior to Sarnia (Ontario) north of Detroit.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday he “won’t spare a penny” to help fight the northern wildfires and support evacuees, but he isn’t declaring a state of emergency.

Mr. Ford visited the wildfire command centre in Thunder Bay and met with evacuees and community leaders. He thanked the hundreds of firefighters, as well as other provinces and jurisdictions such as Wisconsin and Mexico, who have sent resources to help.

Both the size and number of wildfires burning across northern Ontario are substantially higher than in an average year, and the blazes have forced more than 3,000 people from their homes on several First Nations. Thousands more may have to be displaced.

First Nation leaders have called on Ontario to declare a state of emergency over the situation, but Mr. Ford suggested doing so wouldn’t provide additional help.

Northwestern Ontario sees 17 new wildfires; more evacuations ongoing

“I think there’s a little confusion [over] what a state of emergency is,” he said. “It’s not going to add any more resources. It’s basically the province coming in, taking over everything.”

Mr. Ford said he believes in working in collaboration with First Nations and municipalities.

“The only difference [with a state of emergency] is the province will come in and say, ‘You can’t go down this road,’ ” Mr. Ford said. “There’s already emergency orders put in place, so it’s not holding back any resources. We’ll put all the resources we have. I won’t spare a penny.”

Government officials have said the legal conditions have not been met to declare a state of emergency, which include a lack of available resources to support the crisis.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said that a state of emergency would eliminate barriers and give the province the authority to access more accommodations, resources and supports, such as access to health care and mental health services for evacuees while they are away from home.

In his daily calls with senior provincial and federal officials, they say they don’t have the manpower or equipment to fight the fires, Mr. Fiddler said.

“[The government’s] response again today was if they were to issue an emergency declaration that would just mean more power or more authority and not necessarily resources,” he said.

“Well, that’s not really true. I think a state of emergency would just take away all those bureaucratic hurdles that are still very much there.”

Pikangikum is waiting to evacuate 1,300 people but there is nowhere to accommodate them, he said.

Mr. Fiddler worries that if more people need to leave, there will be very few options in terms of where they will have a bed and wraparound supports.

“Show us the plan. What does that plan look like in the long term?” he said.

“In the long-range forecast there is very little rain for the next few weeks, so we’re looking at potentially being in this situation until September. Right now the current model is not sustainable.”

Mr. Ford said the province is looking at more accommodations in the Greater Toronto Area, if evacuees are willing to travel that far.

Ruth Wassaykeesic, her partner and five children were evacuated from Poplar Hill First Nation to Thunder Bay with little time to pack their essentials.

“I was sitting at home looking at everything in my home, like all the children’s art and everything, wondering if we’ll be able to see our home again,” she said. “But all the material things didn’t really matter to me … I’m hoping we’ll be able to go home.”

For Ms. Wassaykeesic, the culture shock of moving to a large city has been difficult to adjust to because Poplar Hill is a fly-in community that has been in full lockdown since March, 2020. She and her children try to keep busy in their rooms with toys for the younger ones and electronics for her teenagers, waiting to hear when they can go back.

“I don’t want to go home until I know that it’s safe for me to go home with my children,” she said.

The NDP has also called for a state of emergency and for the 1,300 people in Pikangikum to be evacuated immediately.

“How could the provincial government abandon these 1,300 souls, like they don’t matter?” said Sol Mamakwa, who represents the riding of Kiiwetinoong.

“Doug Ford should be moving heaven and Earth to get those people airlifted to safety, and put the resources in place to give them a safe place, where they can access medical care and temporary supports.””

- Elena De Luigi and The Canadian Press, “Premier Doug Ford says he ‘won’t spare a penny’ to fight Ontario wildfires, resists calls to declare state of emergency.” The Globe and Mail. July 28, 2021.

[chenvs3000]

Updating my 2020 Relationship Status with Nature.

It’s easy to fall in love with all the beautiful and wild places this earth has to offer. But like any relationship – there’s exciting parts and “boring” parts. To me nature is like life, everybody loves new and exciting experiences, but not everybody can truly sit down on Monday morning and appreciate the “same old”. Everybody loves nature, but not everybody truly appreciates all the forms it comes in.

Like most of you I gather, I’ve loved hiking and exploring from a very young age. I think most people have this unexplainable connection to nature. You feel it when your toes are in the sand or some cool grass, or the feeling of fresh air after rainstorms. My absolute favorite feeling is when you get to the end of a hike, or to a lookout spot, and you just kind of sit down and take a deep breath and get this deep sense of joy and appreciation for the natural world. There are very few other experiences where I’ve felt true bliss.

Pollet’s Cove, Cape Breton, NS. After a 13km hike up and down 3 mountains, seeing this view was truly a “bliss” moment for me. Photo taken by myself.

BUT!! Something has changed – and our dear friend COVID (sarcasm alert) is the reason my relationship with nature has changed. Raise your hand if the worst part about lockdown was not being able to travel and explore as much!! Raise your hand if you had to cancel flights and trips you’ve been looking forward to for months because international travel became restricted!! You can’t see me through your computer screen right now, but if you could you would see both my arms raised because I had to cancel a trip to Nepal, British Columbia, and Thailand this past 2020. It was supposed to be my year of travel and adventure, and every trip/excursion planned would have been about exploring nature and new places. Instead, I had to settle for the local walking trails I had walked a thousand times and my backyard – both unexciting in comparison to Everest Base Camp and Banff National Park.

But I’ve always been a bubbly person who likes to  see the bright side of things – so what did I do? I built flower and vegetable gardens in my backyard, when the weather got warm I took my laptop to work outside, and I went for daily walks. And the funny thing is, I now appreciate my daily walks more than I did before. I pay more attention to the trees along the trails and how they grow all crooked and quirky sometimes to get more light. Nature is everything around us, and I’ve learned to appreciate all of it and not just the wild and unexplored parts of it.

Two Whitetail deer spotted on one of my new daily quarantine walks. Photo taken by myself

My boyfriend is an arborist so we discovered a new way to experience nature during our mandatory 14-day isolation in Nova Scotia - climbing the trees in our backyard!

Last but not least – I want to introduce you all to an experience that allowed my to gain a ‘sense of place’ and where I truly felt connected to the beauty of an area and the significance of it’s natural and cultural history. Welcome to the world of tree planting. This summer, and for the past 3 summers, I have spent my time tree planting in Northern Ontario from May until July. Tree planting in my opinion is one of – if not the rawest way to experience nature. You live in a tent in the middle of nowhere, hours away from the nearest town, and you work for 10 hours a day by yourself in the middle of the woods. The first time I saw a clear-cut block, it was quite grim and provoked feelings of sadness and unjust. Looking back, I guess that is when I learned that sense of place does not always have to relate to beautiful places or pristine landscapes. I felt this deep connection like I was part of something bigger to help better our natural environment. You quite literally help rebuild a forest by hand, one tree at a time. I have my crew boss to thank for teaching me that that my daily work would have lasting effects on the environment and health of the forest, and that each tree/piece of land/forest is special and unique. I would recommend it to anyone, and the experience continues to inspire me to work to protect and restore our nature environments. 

A fellow planter working in a clear-cut block. Photo taken by myself. 

My crew of happy planters, helping replant Canada’s forests one tree at a time. Photo taken by myself.