Great Nations, Great River: Collective Efforts to Engage Communities through Science and Action
The 2016 Great Nations, Great River Symposium provides a platform for researchers, educators, policy-makers, community leaders and citizens to share knowledge about the status of the St. Lawrence River/Great Lakes and other freshwater ecosystems and their responses to changing conditions. A focus this year will be sharing knowledge about how the research and environmental community can empower communities to protect water, restore wetlands, improve beaches, enhance understanding and consider adaptive management practices.
Confirmed Keynote Speaker for Wednesday, May 25th, 2016
Yves de Lafontaine, Ph.D., Director, Sciences regional directorate, Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Government of Canada
Mr. de Lafontaine has over 25 years of experience in scientific management and research. He began his career as an associate research professor at Université du Québec à Rimouski and has since occupied various scientific positions with progressively more responsibilities at Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment Canada. He recently co-chaired the St. Lawrence Action Plan’s “Water Quality Improvement” committee. Mr. de Lafontaine has been honoured with an International Joint Commission Certificate of Appreciation and an Environment Canada Excellence Award. He has also written or co-written over 100 scientific publications and communications.
He has a master’s degree in oceanography from the Université du Québec à Rimouski and a doctorate in marine biology from McGill University
Proposed Sessions:
- Great River? – Current issues and emerging concerns along the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries, Chaired by Dominique Lapointe, Research Scientist, River Institute
- Nuisance Algae and Aquatic Plants, Chaired by Frances Pick, University of Ottawa
- Adaptive Management, and Water Level Controls, Chaired by Michael Twiss, Great River Centre, Clarkson University
- Species at Risk and Invasive Species, Chaired by Naomi Langlois-Anderson, Senior Fish and Wildlife Technician, South Nation Conservation Authority,
- Progress on Remedial Action Plans: TBA
- Water Quality and Watershed Processes, Chaired by Geof Hall, Queen’s University