Day 3
Sep 23: Abundant Landscapes
Embracing parks as rich landscapes for conservation and climate resilience
10:30 am EDT
Rejuvenating Morning Nature Connection
To help balance the screen time associated with a virtual conference, join forest therapy guide and storyteller, Carolynne Crawley for a live guided audio experience to connect with All Our Relations through the practice of forest therapy. Join from your front or backyards, balcony, local park, or even from a window to tune into both to your surroundings and Carolynne’s invitations to explore and connect with all of Creation. This is an opportunity to de-stress and slow down while experiencing the importance of being in a loving and reciprocal relationship with Mother Earth.
Carolynne Crawley
Founder @Msit No’kmaq
11:30 am EDT
Keynote
Kongjian Yu
Founder and Principle @Turenscape
Embracing Water: Natural Climate Infrastructure for Cities
Award-winning Beijing landscape architect Kongjian Yu restores the natural ebb and flow of water to cities. With his landscape architecture firm Turenscape, Kongjiun has created beautiful, flexible spaces that embrace rather than control water. Join this inspiring keynote to understand how designing parks for water results in magnificent and future-proofed cities.
12:30 pm EDT
Cultivating Abundance with Nature
Panel
Join four conservation experts who are at the forefront of integrating nature into urban environments. From community-based stewardship and restoration to creating urban meadows and daylighting streams, you'll gain an understanding of how to cultivate natural environments that support biodiversity and nature connectedness in cities.
Janet SumnerExecutive Director @Wildlands League
Andy FergusonStewardship Coordinator @Stanley Park Ecology Society
Max ScrutonSenior Water Resources Engineer @Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Chad TownsendEnvironmental Planner @Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Dave PearceSenior Forest Conservation Manager @Wildlands League
Krista VothEnvironmental Stewardship Coordinator @Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Caring for the Land and Each Other: Elevating Stewardship
Panel
Six Quebec-based park experts share ideas and practices for engaging communities in land-based stewardship. Discuss with us how to foster meaningful connections to nature.
French with English Interpretation
Danielle LandryDirector @De ville en forêt
Myriam GemmeProject Manager for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptations @Conseil régional de l'environnement et du développement durable de l'Outaouais (CREDDO)
Marie LafontaineHead of the Biodiversity Department @City of Montreal
Antonin St-JeanHead of Conservation Services @Les amis de la montagne
Jonathan ChaSenior Planning Advisor @Société du parc Jean-Drapeau
Élodie ChoqueuxCheffe de section, Gestion des parcs-nature @Ville de Montréal
2:15 pm EDT
Hitting the Mark in Parks: Measuring Park Impact
Panel
How do we know if our parks are successful in increasing biodiversity, enhancing inclusion and cultivating human well-being? Explore innovative mapping and measurement techniques that are helping advance discussions, decision-making and funding for equitable and vibrant urban parks.
Alexander "AJ" WrayProject Coordinator @ParkSeek Canada
CJ SchoutenGIS Specialist @Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Ibrahim DiaPlanner @City of Mississauga
Julien VoyerProject and development officer @Centre d'écologie urbaine de Montréal
A Field Guide to Fruitful Urban Agriculture Projects
Panel
Growing food in cities supports food security while promoting reconciliation, local economic development, community building, and more. And yet, communities experience multiple barriers to growing food in parks. Join this national conversation to learn tools of the trade to create and sustain urban agriculture projects in public spaces.
Javad MozafariCommunity Engagement Coordinator @Flemo Farm, FoodShare Toronto
Nadine NakagawaCouncillor @City of New Westminster
Leona BrownCultural Facilitator @
Caitlyn HarrisonReconciliation Planning Analyst @Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Marie-Pierre BilodeauOperations Coordinator @Vancouver Urban Food Forest Foundation
Moe GarahanProject Director @Food Communities Network
Advice from Funders: Securing Support for your Park Project
Panel
Get advice directly from Canada’s leading green space funders! Learn how to best present your work and increase your chances of securing and renewing funding for your next park project.
Community Groups
4:00 pm EDT
Keynote
Chúk Odenigbo
Founding Director and Director of Ancestral Services @Future Ancestors Services
Addressing Climate Justice Together in Parks
Join Chúk Odenigbo, founding director of Future Ancestors Services in embracing the importance of social justice in our ecological actions, particularly in urban parks and public spaces. As we work to improve the well-being of nature and our planet, we must push beyond traditional acts conservation and challenge deep-rooted societal systems of oppression and their impact on our relationship with the environment and each other.
In English and French with interpretation
4:40 pm EDT
Conference closing with Carolynne Crawley
Carolynne Crawley
Founder @Msit No’kmaq
5:00 pm EDT
“Ask-me-anything” Networking Session
Networking
Meet fellow municipal staffers, NGOs or community leaders from across the country, and get your most pressing city park questions answered by park leaders with a wealth of experience in the parks sector.