Prescribing nature: From passion to international recognition
Melissa speaking about Parks Prescription at the Canadian Medical Association Health Summit 2023 (Photo by Birinder Narang)
Memories and experiences in nature can sometimes evoke a profound sense of wonder that compels someone to share its benefits with others. For Dr. Melissa Lem, president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, encountering...
Queer connection and representation in conservation: NCC's Pride/2SLGBTQIA+ Resource Group
Double rainbow over Cherry Meadows, BC (Photo by Walter Latter)
Since I was about 13 years old, I've known I was queer, and I've also known that I love the environment and wanted to make conservation my life's work. Yet, my connections to the queer community and to the conservation community have often been...
Seeking nature
Backus Woods (Photo by Neil Osborne)
As a Torontonian, my interactions with nature tend to be few due to living downtown. However, Toronto has a few urban nature parks that are just further away and require some planning to get to. This has led me to travel across the city and region...
De-stressing with plants
McHugh Lake Loop, MB (Photo by Wikimedia Commons)
During the pandemic, many people experienced increased stress levels due to illness, work difficulties and isolation. But many of us have discovered that there is solace in the natural world. In 1984, biologist E.O. Wilson noted that...
A case of mistaken identity: Goldenrod and ragweed
Monarch butterfly on Canada goldenrod (Photo by Peter Jessen, CC BY-NC 4.0)
I count myself fortunate when the change of seasons doesn’t bring about a runny nose, itchy eyes, headache and coughing, among other symptoms brought about by pollen (a fine powder produced by plants for sexual reproduction). Some pollen is...
What we know about lake-safe sunscreen
Shoreline of a lake (Photo by Salome Guruli via Unsplash)
I always felt very lucky that I didn’t inherit my mother’s propensity to sunburn. I wore sunscreen constantly as a child because I was afraid I’d turn crispy from mere moments in the sun. To this day, I always wear sunscreen on...
The calming effects of natural soundscapes
Birds, wind, rain – these sounds enrich our experience of natural landscapes. (Photo by André Cook, Pexels)
Birds chirping, wind brushing through treetops, the babble of running water — nature’s music is abundant and has long been a source of comfort for humanity. Shakespeare noted the beauty of nature’s sounds in The Tempest: The...
The truth about ticks
Adult deer tick (Photo by Scott Bauer/Wikimedia Commons)
Ticks seem to be everywhere these days. They’re on the news, on your social media feed and maybe even on your skin. People, especially those in southern Canada, are dealing with blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks) with increasing...
Ick, it's a tick! Tips for tick safety
Adult deer tick (Photo by Scott Bauer/Wikimedia Commons)
At the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), field work is an integral part of many staffers' routine, be it leading volunteer events or conducting various conservation activities. When it comes to spending time outdoors, it is important to be...
A new relationship to wildlife is needed for nature and people
Bee on flower (Photo by NCC)
COVID-19 has brought us unprecedented health and economic challenges. It will test the resolve and resiliency of each Canadian and our nation. Crises have a way of unveiling truths, flaws and misconceptions in any society. Our immediate crisis is...
