ALBERTA BIOLOGISTS' BIWEEKLY
OCTOBER 15, 2022
CONFERENCE COUNTDOWN
The annual conference is only 45 days away! The ASPB 2022 Fall Conference will be held November 30 - December 2 at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION EXTENDED UNTIL NOVEMBER 1 REGISTER NOW
for:
Sponsorship Information
Conference Registration
Hotel Accommodations
Jessica Vandenberghe
named keynote speaker for ASPB Conference
Jessica Vandenberghe, P.Eng., M.Sc. will present the keynote address at the ASPB annual conference banquet on Dec. 1, 2022. Ms Vandenberghe is the Assistant Dean, Engineering Community and Culture, at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta. Her consulting firm, Guiding Star Consulting walks in a good way with Indigenous Peoples and Communities and those who want to build meaningful relationships to build strong vibrant communities.

Ms Vandenberghe is born of the Dene Thá First Nation, is a sixties scoop survivor and was raised in an inclusive German farming family in northern Alberta. Her exceptional career is based on two engineering degrees from the University of Alberta; she has worked in the oil sands, mining, regulatory, infrastructure, and consulting industries as well as in academia.
Nominating Committee Report
The duly-appointed ASPB Nominating Committee (calendar year 2022-2023) has received nominations for the open positions of President Elect and five Directors. The following ASPB members have been nominated according to the ASPB By-Laws and have stated their willingness to serve on the Board:
President Elect - Nikki Copeland
Director - Kristie Derkson
Director - Shilo Brauer
Director - Matthew Koehli
Director - Julie Oxtoby
Director - J. Scott Kolochuk
Because the number and categories of confirmed nominees is exactly equal to the number and categories of open positions for election to the Board, this year there will be no voting for board members. Short biographies of the foregoing new officers and directors can be found in the Member Downloads section of the Member Portal, under AGM Election Nominees AGM #47. The new board members will be officially introduced at the AGM on Dec. 2, 2022.
AER lays six charges resulting
from a pipeline release by Husky
CALGARY, AB, October 07, 2022 – The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has laid charges in relation to a release from a pipeline in 2020 that was owned and operated by Husky Oil Operations Limited (now amalgamated into Cenovus Energy Inc.) following an investigation by the AER Major Investigations Team. 

The six charges, which fall under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, are related to:
  • One count for releasing a substance into the environment that may cause a significant adverse effect. 
  • One count for failing to report as soon as they became aware of the release.
  • One count for, as soon as they became aware of the release, failing to take all reasonable measures to repair, remedy and confine the effects of the substance.
  • One count for, as soon as they became aware of the release, failing to take all reasonable measures to remediate, manage, remove or otherwise dispose of the substance in such a manner as to prevent an adverse effect or further adverse effect.
  • Two counts for provide false or misleading information to the AER.

All charges are alleged to have occurred at or near Derwent, Alberta between October 18, 2020, and October 21, 2020. The first appearance in court will be November 7, 2022, at 10 a.m. at the Vermillion Provincial Court of Alberta. AER will not be providing further information. as this matter is now before the court.
NEW
on the
JOB BOARD

Project Scientist
 
Land Planner
 
Volunteer Biologist
 
Intermediate Biologist
 
Riparian Specialists
 
Hydrogeologist
 
Environmental Inspector Contractor
 
Environmental Technologist
 
Senior Ecologist
 
Intermediate Soil Scientist
 
Habitat/Wildlife Biologist
 
Fisheries & Aquatics Manager
 
Senior Technical Specialist
 
Senior Environmental Specialist
 
Practice Area Lead Natural Sciences
 
Project Coordinator
 
Wildlife Technician
 
Environmental Sciences Student
 
Intermediate Biologist
 
NRTG Administrative Assistant
 
Senior Vegetation Ecologist
 
Wetland Biologist
 
Environmental Scientist
 
Senior Wildlife Biologist - Team Lead
 
Intermediate Aquatic Biologist

  FIND
INFORMATION ABOUT THESE POSITIONS
AND OVER 20 MORE
CONFERENCE SPONSORS
SILVER
BRONZE
EVENTS OF INTEREST
OCTOBER
DFO Session: Framework for Aquatic Species
The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is conducting regional sessions on the Framework for Aquatic Species at Risk Conservation - Technical Presentation. According to DFO, the live regional session will be held October 17, 2022 at 1:00 pm EST via WebEx. You can read HERE for more information and links.
Half-day workshop:
The Stories Told By Springs
The University of Calgary is offering a half-day ecosystem assessment workshop and lecture on “The Stories Told By Springs” on October 20, 2022. The lecturer, Dr. Abe Springer, is a world renowned expert on spring hydrology and ecology, and is thoroughly familiar with the springs in Alberta. He will guide how to inventory springs using the Level 2 inventory protocol of the Springs Stewardship Institute. There will be no charge to attend the workshop which will be held at an urban spring in a residential area in NW Calgary. For more information, please contact Misaki Hayashi by phone at 1-403-220-2794.
Seeking Workshop Volunteers
The University of Calgary is offering a half-day ecosystem assessment workshop and lecture on “The Stories Told By Springs” on October 20, 2022. The lecturer, Dr. Abe Springer, is thoroughly familiar with the springs in Alberta and he has requested assistance during the workshop from a botanist and an aquatic ecologist who are also familiar with springs in Alberta. There will be no charge to attend the workshop; to offer your voluntary services, please contact Misaki Hayashi by phone at 1-403-220-2794.
Calgary Climate Symposium:
The Climate Symposium 2022 (Monday October 24 through Friday October 28) will allow you to connect with community and business leaders, entrepreneurs, prominent industry experts and City staff for a series of unique (and free) virtual learning opportunities. Symposium will explore how Calgary can position itself for a low carbon future and leverage economic opportunities; how Calgary can strengthen communities to be resilient to climate change impacts and hazards; and how we ensure no one is left behind as we look to the future. Visit Calgary.ca/ClimateSymposium for full program details and registration information.
Field Law Workshop:
An Employer’s Guide to Hybrid Work Arrangements
Field Law's Labour and Employment Group will conduct a comprehensive half-day workshop that will provide attendees with tips and resources to help optimize remote and hybrid work arrangements while avoiding legal pitfalls. This webinar will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2022 starting at 9:00 AM. There is a cost to attend; please REGISTER HERE
EVENTS OF INTEREST
NOVEMBER
Transboundary Grasslands Partnership Workshop
“A new partnership for grassland conservation” - November 15 and 16, 2022 at Medicine Hat, AB. For more information go HERE.
Overcoming Obstacles to Restoration
This Grassland Restoration Forum Fall Information Session will be held November 17, 2022 at the Claresholm Community Centre. Online registration is available at www.grasslandrestorationforum.ca

NATURAL RESOURCES
TRAINING GROUP

Environmental Field Skills Program (EFS) – Online Self Paced – October 3 – December 9, 2022
 
Electrofishing Certification – Kamloops, BC – October 11 & 18, 2022
 
Snorkel Survey Techniques – October 12th (Online) & November 3rd (Courtenay)
 
Technical Writing for Professionals (Online) – October 17-18, 2022
 
Lake Management Techniques – October 18-19th, 2022

Species at Risk (Online) – October 18-19th, 2022

Fish Habitat Assessment Level One – October 19th (Online), 24th, 25th (North Vancouver, BC.)

Experimental Design in Ecology (Online) – October 24-25, 2022

For the full calendar of upcoming courses the link is here:
GRASSLAND
RESTORATION FORUM
HANDS-ON COURSES AND EVENTS
The Grassland Restoration Forum’s hands-on courses and events for 2022 are listed below. You can check out their website for details and registration on all events HERE.

November 17th, 2022: Our Perennial Gathering! GRF Fall Information Session at Claresholm. The one day Fall Information Session gathers a variety of industry and grassland stakeholders to exchange current information on grassland restoration and conservation through a variety of presentations and mini updates.
SALMTEC

COURSES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

Fall 2022 Registration Now Open!, Blended Course: Alberta Wetland Rapid Evaluation Tool – Actual (ABWRET-A), Online Content + Live Streaming Class
 
Fall 2022 Registration Now Open!, Blended Course: Grassland Vegetation Inventory (GVI): A User’s Guide , Online Content + Live Streaming Class

Understanding ACIMS Tools Online Course

Navigating the Alberta Soil Information Viewer Video Short (free)
Registration Link: https://salmtec.myshopify.com/
 
Wetland Water Cycle Video Short (free)
Registration Link: https://salmtec.myshopify.com/

Interactive classes comprise the final learning component of a Blended/Online course.
Help Field Law determine
which projects receive funding!
The voting phase of the 2022 Field Law Community Program is now open! Please visit HERE to view the submissions and vote for the project you would like to see in your community. Total funding in the amount of $75,000 is available across Alberta and the Northwest Territories; last month, individuals and organizations submitted their ideas for pay-it-forward projects for their communities.
ASPB fee adjustments for 2023:
The Board of Directors and the ED have completed a review in response to increased demands on the society in areas of registration and applications, government reporting (Ministry of Labour) and competency requirements. The Board has determined there will need to be some fee adjustments going forward: renewals will open Dec 1, and new rates will be in effect Jan 1, 2023. For more information please read the text of the executive review HERE.
We post on Twitter every day...
here is a sample of our tweets over the last two weeks:
(LINKS ARE HOT)
 

Banner Image:
Drone survey at a Saskatchewan MBS (Drone supplied by Sask. Polytech, photo by PGK)

The ASPB regulates the professional practice of biology in the disciplines of Botany, Zoology, Environmental Biology and Microbiology, and all sub-disciplines below them. The ASPB is the only organization for biologists in Alberta that is registered under Provincial Legislation with a mandate to protect the interests of the public of Alberta. The society is governed by a Board of Directors elected by its registrants.

You are probably receiving this newsletter because you are an ASPB Registrant. This newsletter provides relevant information about professional development opportunities for our members and essential member-related society business; if you are a registered member of the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists, please DO NOT unsubscribe. For more information about the Society or to contact the administration, please visit the website: https://www.aspb.ab.ca
Opinions and general news published in this e-newsletter
do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Society or its Board of Directors.