Canada

Come explore the buzzing world of pollinators!

The Office of Student Academic Services in collaboration with the Sonia Bujold Initiative and Let’s Talk Science, has put together a lovely free online booklet of self-paced activities on pollinators.

Pollinators such as bees, bats, birds, butterflies, and beetles do us an invaluable service. They are just as important as the warmth of the sunlight, the nutrients in the soil, and the purity of the water, for they help to pollinate over 75% of the world’s flowering plants! Learn to identify different native pollinators and plants. Get tips for planting a pollinator-friendly garden, do arts, play games and much more. There is something for everyone to enjoy!

• For children and adults of all ages.
• The activity booklet is available in both French and English.
• Register now to receive your booklet on Friday June 14.
• For questions or additional information, please contact ingrid.chiraz@mcgill.ca.
• Registrations will be accepted through June 13.

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The Sonia Bujold Initiative  is an outreach initiative established in 2021 by Ms. Sonia Bujold, a recent retiree from the McGill Department of Biology, to “reach out” and break the isolation that students, individuals living alone, and families experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Initiative offers engaging and educational activities on the fascinating world of biology through a series of free online self-paced activity booklets for children and adults.

The McGill Chapter of Let’s Talk Science is a volunteer-based group of graduate and undergraduate students from a wide range of faculties at McGill University. Our volunteers deliver hands-on classroom presentations, host public STEM events, mentor for and evaluate projects at regional science fairs, and provide STEM outreach to a range of urban and indigenous schools!

Activity booklet: The Buzzing World of Pollinators – 2024 edition

Friday June 14

The Office of Student Academic Services in collaboration with the Sonia Bujold Initiative and Let’s Talk Science at McGill University, has put together a lovely free online booklet of self-paced activities about pollinators.

Learn to identify different native pollinators and plants. Get tips for planting a pollinator-friendly garden, do arts, play games and much more. There is something for everyone to enjoy!

Register now to receive your booklet on Friday June 14!

• Free
• For children and adults of all ages.
• In French and English.
• Registration will be accepted through June 13.

More information →

The First Nations Farm & Food Festival, co-hosted by the Flying Dust First Nation Lands and Resources Office, the ē kanātahk askiy SAGE Project, and the Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab brought together 60 people from various communities. We discussed the relationship between human beings and plants, our responsibilities as seed savers, the importance of seed sovereignty, and the use of cover crops for soil health and plant diversity in farms and gardens. We had workshops on soil mapping and hands-on learning activities for school groups. Attendees had a chance to tour the Flying Dust Market Garden, a 170-acre mixed-vegetable farm run by Flying Dust First Nation that provides fresh, organic veggies, fruit, and honey to the community!

Are you fascinated by plants? Us too! Join us on this world-wide day of plant love as we explore some of our favourite plants at Riverwood. We’ll explore our gardens and forests, learn about the important role each plant plays, and then plant trees together to support our urban forest ecosystem.

Important Information

Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes that you are willing to get dirty. This is a rain-or-shine event unless severe weather is in the forecast.

No dogs permitted, service dogs welcome.

Difficulty Rating

Moderate. The plant tour will remain on the top terrace, where trails are relatively flat. Tree planting to follow may involve some heavy lifting, digging, and bending down, you may participate in whichever way you feel comfortable.

Cancellations and Refunds

Refunds may only be processed if a registration is cancelled five or more business days before event day. Cancellations are subject to administrative fees. No refunds will be given for no-shows. For programs that have a registration fee of $19.99 per person or less, no refunds will be issued due to processing fees. If the program is cancelled due to weather, illness, or minimum registrations not reached, we will attempt to reschedule, or a full refund will be issued based on the circumstances of the cancellation.

Taya Kehler combined her passions for horticulture and design while completing her degree in Landscape Architecture at Dalhousie University. Her goal is to enhance gardens with eco-friendly practices and year-round interest to encourage pollinators and welcome visitors to Riverwood.

Come discover the secrets of trees!

The Office of Student Academic Services in collaboration with the Sonia Bujold Initiative and Let’s Talk Science, has put together a lovely free online booklet of self-paced activities on trees.

Trees are the unsung heroes of the plant world. They provide food and shelter to a diverse community of mammals, birds, insects, lichen, and fungi. They absorb carbon dioxide and produce breathable air. They improve soil quality, prevent soil erosion, and reduce noise pollution. They even fight climate change! But the very best thing about trees is how they add beauty to our world.

Learn to identify native tree species of Quebec, discover fun historical facts, do arts and crafts, play games, and much more. There is something for everyone to enjoy!

• For children and adults of all ages.
• The activity booklet is available in both French and English.
• Register now to receive your booklet on Friday May 3!
• For questions or additional information, please contact Ingrid Chiraz.
• Registrations will be accepted through May 2.

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This event is part of 24 Hours of Science, a day-long event filled with science and technology activities for everyone (children, teens, young adults, families, seniors, etc.). Over 400 activities take place throughout Quebec! The event starts on Friday at noo

The First Nations Farm & Food Festival, co-hosted by the Flying Dust First Nation Lands and Resources Office, the ē kanātahk askiy SAGE Project, and the Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab brought together 60 people from various communities. We discussed the relationship between human beings and plants, our responsibilities as seed savers, the importance of seed sovereignty, and the use of cover crops for soil health and plant diversity in farms and gardens. We had workshops on soil mapping and hands-on learning activities for school groups. Attendees had a chance to tour the Flying Dust Market Garden, a 170-acre mixed-vegetable farm run by Flying Dust First Nation that provides fresh, organic veggies, fruit, and honey to the community!

Plant Canada is a Federation of Canadian Plant Science Societies, a not-for-profit corporation, is an umbrella organization that seeks to bring together researchers, educators, extension personal, postdoctoral fellows and students in plant science and related disciplines in Canada.
The purposes of Plant Canada are: a. to organize and sponsor regular, effective scientific meetings and workshops under a national umbrella for plant science and related disciplines in Canada, b. to operate and maintain a strong communication network among Member Societies and their individual members, and c. to be a strong and effective force for public education and advocacy in plant and related sciences in Canada and globally. Plant Canada organizes Plant Canada conferences every four years.

Program – Plant Canada 2024 – Canadian Phytopathological Society

Workshop – Plant Canada 2024 – Canadian Phytopathological Society: R for biovigilance of phytopathogens based on metabarcoding approach

Tours – Plant Canada 2024 – Canadian Phytopathological Society: Visit to the Assiniboine Park Conservancy greenhouse, the Leaf Tropical Biome and tour the Conviron growth chamber manufacturing facility. Lunch provided on the Conviron Terrace and Visit the Leaf indoor Horticultural attraction, English Gardens, Leo Mol Sculpture Garden on your own. Date is July 7, 2024 from 9:30-2:00.

Activity booklet: The Joys of Spring – 2024 edition

Tuesday March 12

The Office of Student Academic Services in collaboration with the Sonia Bujold Initiative and Let’s Talk Science at McGill University, has put together a lovely free online booklet of self-paced activities on spring.

The calendar states that March 19 is the first day of spring! But how does Mother Nature show us that spring is finally here? Be a nature detective as you hunt for the clues that tell us spring has finally sprung with our outdoor scavenger hunt. Identify migratory birds returning from their tropical destination. Do crafts, play games and much more. There is something for everyone to enjoy!

Register now to receive your booklet on Tuesday March 12!

• Free
• For children and adults of all ages.
• In French and English.
• Registration will be accepted through March 11.

Activity Booklet: February, the Month of Love & Friendship – 2nd edition

Discover the history of Valentine’s Day and the meaning behind some of its iconic symbols like fragrant flowers and sweet chocolates. Learn about the people who influence the tradition of giving out cards on this holiday. Explore the world of different animals that mate for life and the importance of the heart as an organ, do crafts, and much more. There is something for everyone to enjoy!

• For children and adults of all ages.
• Available in both French and English.
• Register now to receive your booklet on Tuesday February 6!
• Registrations will be accepted through February 5.