Land Use and Shrinking Rivers: What’s at Stake? (Part 1)

For more than a century the foothills and Front Range Mountains of western Alberta have been recognized as being vital to the water supply for western Canada. Virtually all the water that sustains communities, ecosystems and the economy of prairie Canada comes from this narrow strip of land arrayed along the Continental Divide. For all its importance, however, water management decisions affecting this enormous region have ignored the significance of land health and focused almost exclusively on building dams. Implementation of the 2014 South Saskatchewan Regional Plan, which is designed in part to protect the South Saskatchewan headwaters, has encountered resistance from off-road vehicle enthusiasts who want unlimited access to designated trails, despite the damage caused to ecologically sensitive areas. Speaker: Kevin Van Tighem Kevin Van Tighem retired from the top job at Banff National Park in 2011, but that hasn’t stopped him from having an impact. The author and former park superintendent has remained a strong voice in the preservation of Alberta’s wilderness, and has been one of the most vocal supporters of crafting the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan. Kevin Van Tighem has written more than 200 articles, stories and essays on conservation and wildlife which have garnered him many awards, including Western Magazine Awards, Outdoor Writers of Canada book and magazine awards and the Journey Award for Fiction. He is the author of several book including Bears: Without Fear (2013), The Homeward Wolf (2013) and Heart Waters (2015) Moderator: Courtney Reiger Date: Thursday, November 5, 2015 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (lower level of the Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea at the presentation)