How does a rockslide happen? 'The mountain that moves' was Canada's deadliest
First Nations people in the area had noticed instability in the mountain decades earlier and even had a name for it that translated to 'the mountain that moves.' The geological structure of Turtle Mountain was said to be the primary cause of Frank Slide, but weather impacts and coal mining were also noted as factors in the deadly rockslide.
An interpretive centre in Frank now tells the story of the slide and history of the area.
Other Canadian rockslides of note include the 1841 rockfall in the Lower Town of Quebec City, killing 32 people and crushing eight homes, and the 1889 rockslide in the same area that killed more than 40, says the Canadian Encyclopedia.
The worst rockslide worldwide was the Haiyuan Landslides of 1920 in China, when more than 200,000 people were killed. An earthquake caused those landslides.
When did the earliest rockslides in Alberta and B.C. occur?
The 680-tonne Big Rock, a type of quartzite, is an intriguing tourist attraction at Rocky Mountain House in Alberta, but how did this boulder measuring 9.7 metres by 9.4 metres by 5.5 metres get there? Well, the Rocky Mountain House Mountaineer reported the following 11 years back: 'Right around 20,000 years ago the Late Wisconsinan Glaciation was at its height; it was a glacier that could have been one kilometre thick. We know that all of the rocks in the Foothills Erratic Train come from the upper Athabasca drainage area south of Jasper,' said author and geologist Ben Gadd.
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National Observer
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Trump's latest attack on carbon research will hamper Canadian scientists
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Last week, NPR reported that the Trump administration asked employees at NASA to create plans to end at least two satellite missions, including the OCO project, as part of Trump's proposed budget cuts. If those plans go through — Trump's budget needs to be approved by Congress, which isn't guaranteed — the OCO-2 satellite will be destroyed when it burns up re-entering the atmosphere after being abandoned. Although budget cuts are being used to justify the move, the Trump administration has made similar efforts to dismantle other programs dedicated to monitoring climate change. Soon after taking office, he forced US government researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to stop all collaboration with "foreign nationals" — a move critics decried as a "body blow to climate research." The administration has also stopped tracking the cost of climate-related disasters, and is pushing the country's Environmental Protection Agency to eliminate the legal basis for some of the US's key climate rules — with "indispensible" help from climate denying Canadian economist Ross McKitrick — among dozens of other moves to roll back climate efforts. Russ Vought, the director of the Trump White House Office of Management and Budget — the office responsible for drafting the White House's budget proposal — was a co-author of the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025. In that document, he wrote that"the Biden Administration's climate fanaticism will need a whole-of-government unwinding." The Trump administration wants to eliminate a NASA satellite mission that pinpoints carbon dioxide emissions from a specific source, such as a power plant or wildfire, and track changes in the growing season. The OCO project also operates a second device on the International Space Station, OCO-3. Last month, NASA announced it is accepting proposals from companies and universities that want to cover the machine's operating costs. The devices are still functional, and an official review by NASA in 2023 recommended continuing the mission for at least three more years. It concluded the satellite is of "high utility" because it helps agencies track industrial emissions, the planet's carbon cycle and to monitor compliance with international climate commitments. Operating both devices costs about $15 million a year — roughly two per cent of the $750 million it cost NASA to build them, David Crisp, the NASA scientist who designed the instruments and managed the missions until 2022, told NPR. Wunch is one of thousands of researchers, including several Canadians, who have worked on the OCO or rely on data collected by the devices to better understand the climate crisis and whether our efforts to fight it are working. OCO-2 was the first satellite dedicated to making CO2 measurements with enough accuracy and precision to answer scientific questions about the carbon cycle, said Ray Nassar, a scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada who was the first person to use OCO-2 data to calculate emissions specific to coal-fired power plants in 2017. "OCO-2 was extremely important in giving us the first observations of that kind that could do that," he said. "They're the leading satellites making this type of measurement, and there's already been a significant investment to get them up in space. To just turn them off at this point, we would lose a valuable source of data" The satellite circles the Earth from south to north, monitoring CO2 in the atmosphere in narrow bands roughly one kilometer wide. This gives researchers enough precision to identify where the gas is being emitted or absorbed, a level of detail unmatched by any other satellites currently in orbit. "Because it's measuring carbon dioxide all around the world, we're able to get more of an idea of regionally, where carbon is being absorbed and where it's being emitted," said Brendan Bryne, a Canadian researcher who worked on the OCO project at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab between 2018 and 2024. Japan has three CO2-measuring satellites in orbit, but they scan a bigger area than the OCO ones. The European Space Agency is planning to send three satellites that can collect similar data on CO2 emissions into space late next year. OCO-2 and OCO-3 can also measure a specific type of photon that plants release during photosynthesis, which researchers can use to track changes in the growing season, as well as when boreal forests start re-absorbing carbon after a wildfire. Losing the satellites will prevent her and other researchers from conducting most of this type of research, said Wunch. "Without commenting on a specific policy decision by any country, turning off satellites that are delivering valuable data is generally a bad thing to do," said Nassar. Simon Donner, a climate scientist at the University of British Columbia, wrote in an email that Trump's proposal is "a foolish decision for financial reasons alone. The vast majority of the cost of satellites is in their construction and launch. Once they are in space, it is relatively cheap to keep them operating, and you get downstream economic benefits from the use of the data." Canada's National Observer reached out to NASA asking about the proposed cuts, but didn't receive a response. Environment and Climate Change Canada couldn't provide a response by deadline to a question about whether Canada could take over the project's operational costs, if the US were willing to transfer the mission. Wunch was clear about the toll that could come if NASA is forced to abandon the OCO mission: "I'm just very sad," she said.
Cision Canada
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Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, Technology for Living and MIMIC Systems Vancouver pilot Novel Solid-State Cooling and Heating System Advancing Climate Resiliency for People with Disabilities
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Without access to effective cooling technologies, these individuals face daily health risks, including muscle spasms, disorientation, and hospitalization. "At Gore Mutual, we believe that climate resilience must be inclusive. Supporting innovative solutions like the MIMIC system aligns with our commitment to equity and sustainability," said Gaby Polanco Sorto, VP, Purpose, Sustainability and Office of the CEO at Gore Mutual Insurance. "As the founding partner of The Climate and Equity Lab, we remain committed to deepening our collective understanding of how climate change impacts vulnerable communities, and we're proud to partner with organizations that are creating real-world impact for Canadians living with disabilities." MIMiC Systems unveils a solid-state solution for indoor climate control for the built environment, designed to eliminate refrigerants or moving parts. Offering both heating and cooling in a single, compact unit, the system provides a quiet alternative to traditional HVAC, ideal for property owners seeking simplicity, sustainability, and performance. The installation faced several delays due to the complexity of approving novel clean tech in BC, with support from the City of Vancouver essential to the launch of the pilot, highlighting the need for regulatory change to effectively meet the climate resiliency needs of Canadians living with disabilities. "It's been a great experience. The unit is beautiful, and we're really happy our family was chosen for the pilot. Just walking into a cool home makes such a difference. I hope this system helps us stay comfortable while using less energy during the summer"— Pilot PLEX (person with spinal cord injury, lived experience) homeowner. " We're building a new standard for thermal comfort - one that's easy to install, built to last, and aligned with our planet's needs.", said Berardo Matalucci, CEO of MIMiC. "SCI Climate Futures initiative helped us to deploy our first unit to provide heating and cooling to those who need it the most. We're humbled and grateful for all the support. We'd also like to give a huge shoutout to Terra Mechanical Ltd. They've been a fantastic partner for our first install". The installation was completed by Terra Mechanical Ltd., BC HVAC and controls specialists, with support from the MIMIC, Praxis, and TFL teams. It involved close collaboration with the homeowner and building management to ensure compatibility, accessibility, and safety. Valuable feedback gathered during the process is already informing future product refinements. Why It Matters The SCI Climate Futures initiative was launched in response to British Columbia's escalating heat crises, which disproportionately affect people with disabilities. Phase 2 expands the scope to test and validate built-environment technologies that offer year-round thermal regulation. "At Technology for Living, we believe equitable access to assistive technology is essential for the well-being and independence of people with disabilities. This pilot is a powerful example of how inclusive innovation can reduce health risks and support safer, more sustainable living environments." said Ean Price, Innovation Strategist, Technology for Living. "This pilot project is a critical step forward for our SCI Climate Futures initiative," said Bill Barrable, CEO of Praxis Spinal Cord Institute. "The project signifies our dedication to advancing innovative, climate-resilient solutions that protect the health and safety of people with spinal cord injuries and others who are vulnerable to extreme heat. At the core of our mission is improving the lives of individuals living with SCI, especially for those most vulnerable to rising temperatures." Next Steps MIMIC Systems will continue working with the pilot household to monitor performance, energy usage, and user experience, while providing ongoing technical support. A second pilot installation site has already been confirmed and is scheduled for deployment in the coming months. This milestone represents a key step toward a climate-resilient future, one that centers on inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability. About Praxis Spinal Cord Institute Praxis Spinal Cord Institute is a Vancouver-based not-for-profit organization that leads global collaboration in spinal cord injury research, innovation, and care. We accelerate the translation of discoveries and best practices into improved treatments for people with spinal cord injuries. Learn more: About Gore Mutual Built on a foundation of financial strength for more than 180 years, Gore Mutual Insurance Company is one of the oldest property and casualty mutual insurers in Canada. With offices in Cambridge, Toronto and Vancouver, Gore Mutual is a Canadian mutual company offering competitive insurance products through trusted broker partners. Every decision and investment made is anchored in the long-term benefits to customers, members and communities. For more information, please visit About Technology for Living Technology for Living (TFL) supports people with severe physical disabilities in living as independently as possible. TFL provides individuals who experience physical barriers with peer support, innovative technologies, respiratory therapy services, and equipment that address unmet needs and promote independence, inclusion, and well-being. Learn more: About MIMIC Systems MIMiC Systems is pioneering solid-state, refrigerant-free heat pump technology to reduce the climate impact of heating and cooling. Unlike traditional systems that depend on compressors and leak high-GWP refrigerants, MIMiC's solution is a quiet, reliable, and emission-free alternative. Our mission is to accelerate the transition to resilient and sustainable heating and cooling systems in buildings and beyond. Learn more:
Cision Canada
2 days ago
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Media Advisory - STRATOS 2025: Canadian innovations to be tested in space-like environment Français
LONGUEUIL, QC, Aug. 12, 2025 /CNW/ - From August 10 to September 10, 12 Canadian payloads will be launched from the Timmins Stratospheric Balloon Base to test new technologies, conduct science experiments and take measurements as part of the Strato-Science 2025 campaign. The campaign is part of STRATOS, the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) stratospheric balloon program. Created in 2012 in collaboration with France's Centre national d'études spatiales, STRATOS gives Canadian researchers and industry a unique opportunity to test and validate new space technologies in a space-like environment, while helping train the next generation of space experts. Since opening in 2013, the Timmins base has supported nearly 100 experiments and involved over 500 researchers and students from across Canada. Stratospheric balloons offer a cost-effective and rapid platform for advancing space science and technology. Media interested in interviews with CSA experts may contact the Media Relations Office.
