Latest news with #LakeheadUniversity
National Observer
22-05-2025
- General
- National Observer
The race to adapt ancient wild rice practices in a changing environment
Traditionally, wild rice — or manoomin — is harvested by paddling into shallow waters and gently knocking the ripe grains into the canoe using cedar sticks. It's a time-honoured practice central to Anishinaabe culture and ceremonies. 'This wild rice is part of our migration story,' said Jyles Copenace, cultural coordinator for Kenora Chiefs Advisory. 'It ties us to where we ended up in northwestern Ontario and to the Great Lakes.' Historically, manoomin thrived in the shallow waters of lakes and rivers. But hydroelectric production, invasive cattails and climate change have made traditional harvesting difficult. '[Wild rice] used to last a month, but now, because of climate change, the rice becomes brittle and must be harvested within a week,' Copenace said. Now, Indigenous communities are breathing new life into manoomin — and part of that includes an innovative shift: cultivating wild rice in saturated soils, instead of traditional flooded habitats. Copenace believes the loss of wild rice has contributed to rising health issues in Indigenous communities. 'Our children are getting sick, and we're seeing less and less wild rice in our traditional territory, and nobody is stepping up,' he said. "Wetlands with overlying water create low-oxygen conditions," said Vince Palace, a research scientist. "That promotes methane-producing bacteria. And methane is one of the most powerful greenhouse gases." Copenance said a sacred Anishinaabe migration birch bark scroll — once held in a museum — was returned to Bad River, Wisconsin. It tells the story of how the Anishinaabe people were guided by prophecy to a place where 'food grows on the water.' That food was manoomin. Centuries later, the future is dimming for that food tradition, but a race is on to understand what it needs to thrive — and how to bring it back. 'We have very limited time to be able to save this food and to save this traditional way of life centred around wild rice,' said Vince Palace, a Lakehead University adjunct biology professor working with Copenace. While Indigenous communities across the border in Wisconsin and Minnesota have been engaged in restoring the plant through a combination of traditional practices and modern conservation efforts, on the Canadian side, that conservation has been less active. 'In Canada, nothing like that was ever done in terms of protection of wild rice,' Copenace said. Growing rice in clay In response to these challenges and inspired by the work done by Indigenous nations in the US, researchers and community members initiated a series of experiments to explore alternative cultivation methods. They tested wild rice growth in three environments: natural wetlands, areas overrun by invasive cattails and saturated soils that Copenace refers to as clay. "The one that did the best was actually the one that was in the clay," said Copenace. Researchers investigated whether wild rice could grow just by keeping the soil wet at root level without flooding or any overhead irrigation. 'We've run a couple of years of experiments now looking at that. And it grows like stink. It grows really well,' said Palace, who is also lead research scientist at the International Institute for Sustainable Development-Experimental Lakes Area. Carbon tests revealed that wild rice grown in saturated soil had the lowest carbon output among the three methods. "Wetlands with overlying water create low-oxygen conditions," said Palace. "That promotes methane-producing bacteria. And methane is one of the most powerful greenhouse gases." Copenace said the idea of growing wild rice in saturated soil came from successful projects in Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This method was confirmed by 10 to 12 African scientists who visited the Kenora Chiefs Advisory site, sharing their success with growing rice in clay to improve food security. The next stage of the Ontario project focuses on managing invasive cattails, which have led to a decline in local wildlife, including geese, muskrats and fish. Palace said they are working to combine the community's knowledge with scientific research. "We want to sort of braid that traditional knowledge of, how does the habitat, how is it different now than it used to be?" Palace said. "And if we turn back the clock by removing the cattails and replanting with wild rice, does that lead to a shift back toward the more traditional quality of that habitat?" Engaging youth Of all the ecological obstacles, though, one of the biggest challenges to reviving manoomin is the lack of younger harvesters. Today, most people gathering wild rice are elders, many in their 60s or older. Few youth are stepping in to take their place. The project was initiated by Bruce Hardy, who is Cree-Métis and CEO of the Indigenous-led biotech company Myera Group. Hardy has worked with First Nations across Manitoba for over 20 years. 'We literally, as Canadians, don't realize that we're going to go through one of the largest losses of opportunity that the world could ever comprehend, with the loss of Indigenous knowledge being less than 10 years away,' Hardy said. Part of the effort behind this project is to create pathways for young people to take on that knowledge — through training, planting programs, and hands-on work. 'What we're doing is getting this project started so the youth can carry it on into the future, because there's so much work to be done with wild rice, I don't even think I'll be able to do it in my lifetime,' Copenace said. 'If it's just wild rice, what are you doing? Who in the community is going to take this up?' Hardy said. 'And if we don't think this through, and if the youth don't take it up, all the stuff we're talking about now, that's really cool — become a museum exhibit. And we'll have lost that.' This is part of Hardy's broader ongoing work with universities and communities, focusing on establishing a self-sustaining, circular economy by linking wild rice production with other innovative practices like fish farming and using fish waste to create natural fertilizers. He hopes that creating this model will encourage youth to explore opportunities in robotic engineering, fish biology, and sustainable agriculture in their home communities, and empower them to be stewards of their land. Copenace said community members and elders recently passed a formal resolution in support of the ongoing research into wild rice. Now, they plan to start the next stage, focusing on how different wild rice varieties compete with cattails and exploring their taste profiles. "With the support we got, it's kind of making sure we do whatever we can in our capacity to make sure that wild rice is always there, even if it means moving to aquaponics, to indoor growing to even having more clay wild rice fields,' said Copenace. 'This is going to be the future of wild rice.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Romios Announces Field Work and Lakehead University M.Sc. Research Project on the Kinkaid High grade Cu-Au-Ag Project, Nevada
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Romios Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: RG) (OTCQB: RMIOF) (FSE: D4R) ("Romios Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that is has started its 2025 field work on its 100% owned Kinkaid high grade Cu-Au-Ag project in the Walker Lane of southern Nevada. "We've had early success as our team uncovered two previously unknown broad zones of epithermal-style alteration about 20 metres wide near known high-grade Au +/- Ag mineralization," stated Stephen Burega, President and CEO. "In addition, minerals characteristic of porphyry-type alteration have now been mapped around one of the major Au-Ag-Cu vein deposits (the Montreal Au-Ag Mine), and porphyry-type alteration has been located in widespread boulders near a series of high-grade copper-rich boulders on the KIN claims." At least 12 clusters of old mine workings on the main Kinkaid claim block (see Map 1) have returned numerous high-grade gold, silver and copper assays over the past 2-3 years of Romios' work. "The historic workings on the southern claims exploited quartz +/- barite veins flanked by often intense sericite alteration and those on the northern claims were developed on skarn deposits," stated John Biczok, VP Exploration. "This geological setting suggests that the veins and skarns are part of the upper portions of several possible porphyry Cu-Au-Ag centres." Masters of Science ( Research Project with Lakehead University Under the terms of an existing, fully funded research agreement with Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, an student under the guidance of porphyry copper expert Dr. Pete Hollings has now begun mapping and sample collection on the Kinkaid claims in an effort to help determine the origin, extent, controls and potential of this mineralization. The work will include age-dating various lithologies of interest, fluid inclusion studies of the vein deposits, plus hyperspectral, geochemical and mineralogical analysis of the alteration patterns around the mineralized zones. Alteration minerals such as actinolite, epidote and biotite, which are typically developed concentrically around porphyry copper deposits, are being documented near some of the main workings and will be studied to help assess the premise that these Cu-Au-Ag vein deposits are related to porphyry systems at depth. Dr. Pete Hollings has authored or co-authored more than 175 publications, primarily on mineral deposits and greenstone belt geology, in collaboration with researchers from many countries including Australia, Canada, China, and the Philippines. He is currently the NOHFC Industrial Research Chair in Mineral Exploration and has recently been onsite at Kinkaid providing guidance to the student and sharing his expertise with Romios personnel. ONGOING EXPLORATION: In conjunction with the research, Romios personnel have resumed geological mapping and sampling of the extensive old mine workings and showings on the main KINKAID claim block as well as exploring the potential source area of high-grade copper boulders found on the adjacent KIN claims in 2023. Numerous epidote+/-garnet altered boulders typical of porphyry/skarn systems have now been located across a broad area on the KIN claims and work is ongoing to locate the source of the nearby mineralized boulders. Nine samples of these boulders sampled in 2023 returned assays of 0.73% to 13.3% Cu, and averaged 5.03% Cu (see Romios press release Oct. 12, 2023). "Work around the >500 metre long series of innumerable Montreal Au-Ag Mine workings has now outlined strong hydrothermal alteration (sericite +/- epidote, actinolite, rare magnetite, etc.) across a width of 200 metres," Biczok continued. "Mapping of one of the northernmost underground workings revealed an excellent example of a mineralized vein up to 1 m wide with locally abundant chalcopyrite and secondary copper minerals (see Photo #1). Gold is typically proportional to the copper content in this deposit so we are optimistic that the pending Cu-Au assays from this site will also be encouraging." Photo 1: View of one of the northernmost workings of the Montreal Au-Ag mine. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: EPITHERMAL POTENTIAL: In addition to this renewed work on the high-grade vein and skarn prospects, the 2025 work has targeted several broad zones of potential low-grade epithermal style gold mineralization. During a brief visit in 2024 Romios' geologists collected a sample of "low temperature silica" near the PM skarn on the northern claims and this sample assayed 0.79 g/t Au and a chip sample of two narrow quartz veins nearby assayed 10.6 g/t Au. An examination of this area in 2025 revealed similar looking silica boulders and veins up to 50 cm wide across a 20 metre wide zone (See Photo 2); the 2025 assays from this site are pending. A small mine dump nearby consists of iron carbonate - quartz vein material that assayed 1,725 g/t Ag with high mercury, antimony, zinc and lead, providing further evidence of an epithermal mineralizing event overprinting the skarns in this area (see Romios Press Release March 10, 2022). Photo 2: Possible epithermal silica overprint on the PM skarn area. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Similarly, broad zones of potential epithermal-style alteration adjacent to vein prospects with high gold, silver, copper and barite contents have been sampled for the first time at a number of other sites; assays are pending. Once the assay results have been received from the current work program an appropriate follow-up program will be planned and executed. Map 1: Kinkaid Project main claim block, prospects and possible porphyry centres. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Claim Details and Location The Kinkaid property is wholly owned by Romios and now consists of 139 claims, covering approximately 11.0 sq km, located 18 km east of the town of Hawthorne where the prolific Walker Lane trend overlaps the southern edge of the mineral-rich Basin and Range geological province. The claims begin 1.4 km north of Highway 95 between Reno and Las Vegas and are largely accessible by road and short hikes. A significant power line crosses the SW corner of the claims. QA/QC Rock samples reported herein were a mix of chip and grab samples considered generally representative of the various mine dumps, veins and outcrops being sampled. Samples collected in 2021-2023 were submitted to the ISO/IEC 17025 accredited ALS lab in Reno Nevada for analysis. Samples collected in 2024 and 2025 were submitted to the Standards Council of Canada ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited Bureau Veritas laboratory in Reno, Nevada for analysis. As a matter of procedure, a rigorous quality assurance and quality control program was implemented in the form of blanks and Certified Reference Material standards inserted at every 10th position in the sample series. The assay results of these standards and blanks have been within the acceptable ranges. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Biczok, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration for Romios Gold and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. In addition to his extensive experience with several major mining companies exploring for a wide variety of ore deposit types across Canada and India, Mr. Biczok spent 12 years conducting exploration and research at the Musselwhite gold mine in NW Ontario. About Romios Gold Resources Inc. Romios Gold Resources Inc. is a progressive Canadian mineral exploration company engaged in precious- and base-metal exploration, focused primarily on gold, copper and silver. It has a 100% interest in the Lundmark-Akow Lake Au-Cu property plus 4 additional claim blocks in northwestern Ontario and extensive claim holdings covering several significant porphyry copper-gold prospects in the "Golden Triangle" of British Columbia. Additional interests include the Kinkaid claims in Nevada covering numerous Au-Ag-Cu workings, and the Scossa mine property in Nevada which is a former high-grade gold producer. The Company retains an ongoing interest in several properties including a 2% NSR on McEwen Mining's Hislop gold property in Ontario; a 2% NSR on Enduro Metals' Newmont Lake Au-Cu-Ag property in BC, and the Company has signed a definitive agreement with Copperhead Resources Inc. ("Copperhead") whereby Copperhead can acquire a 75% ownership interest in Romios' Red Line Property in BC. For more information, visit As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages. To book a one-on-one 30-minute Zoom video call, please click here. For further information, please contact: Stephen Burega, CEO & President - 647-515-3734 or sburega@ John Biczok, P. Geo., VP Exploration - 613-410-7877 or jbiczok@ This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. TSX Venture Exchange or its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Romios Announces Field Work and Lakehead University M.Sc. Research Project on the Kinkaid High grade Cu-Au-Ag Project, Nevada
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Romios Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: RG) (OTCQB: RMIOF) (FSE: D4R) ("Romios Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that is has started its 2025 field work on its 100% owned Kinkaid high grade Cu-Au-Ag project in the Walker Lane of southern Nevada. "We've had early success as our team uncovered two previously unknown broad zones of epithermal-style alteration about 20 metres wide near known high-grade Au +/- Ag mineralization," stated Stephen Burega, President and CEO. "In addition, minerals characteristic of porphyry-type alteration have now been mapped around one of the major Au-Ag-Cu vein deposits (the Montreal Au-Ag Mine), and porphyry-type alteration has been located in widespread boulders near a series of high-grade copper-rich boulders on the KIN claims." At least 12 clusters of old mine workings on the main Kinkaid claim block (see Map 1) have returned numerous high-grade gold, silver and copper assays over the past 2-3 years of Romios' work. "The historic workings on the southern claims exploited quartz +/- barite veins flanked by often intense sericite alteration and those on the northern claims were developed on skarn deposits," stated John Biczok, VP Exploration. "This geological setting suggests that the veins and skarns are part of the upper portions of several possible porphyry Cu-Au-Ag centres." Masters of Science ( Research Project with Lakehead University Under the terms of an existing, fully funded research agreement with Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, an student under the guidance of porphyry copper expert Dr. Pete Hollings has now begun mapping and sample collection on the Kinkaid claims in an effort to help determine the origin, extent, controls and potential of this mineralization. The work will include age-dating various lithologies of interest, fluid inclusion studies of the vein deposits, plus hyperspectral, geochemical and mineralogical analysis of the alteration patterns around the mineralized zones. Alteration minerals such as actinolite, epidote and biotite, which are typically developed concentrically around porphyry copper deposits, are being documented near some of the main workings and will be studied to help assess the premise that these Cu-Au-Ag vein deposits are related to porphyry systems at depth. Dr. Pete Hollings has authored or co-authored more than 175 publications, primarily on mineral deposits and greenstone belt geology, in collaboration with researchers from many countries including Australia, Canada, China, and the Philippines. He is currently the NOHFC Industrial Research Chair in Mineral Exploration and has recently been onsite at Kinkaid providing guidance to the student and sharing his expertise with Romios personnel. ONGOING EXPLORATION: In conjunction with the research, Romios personnel have resumed geological mapping and sampling of the extensive old mine workings and showings on the main KINKAID claim block as well as exploring the potential source area of high-grade copper boulders found on the adjacent KIN claims in 2023. Numerous epidote+/-garnet altered boulders typical of porphyry/skarn systems have now been located across a broad area on the KIN claims and work is ongoing to locate the source of the nearby mineralized boulders. Nine samples of these boulders sampled in 2023 returned assays of 0.73% to 13.3% Cu, and averaged 5.03% Cu (see Romios press release Oct. 12, 2023). "Work around the >500 metre long series of innumerable Montreal Au-Ag Mine workings has now outlined strong hydrothermal alteration (sericite +/- epidote, actinolite, rare magnetite, etc.) across a width of 200 metres," Biczok continued. "Mapping of one of the northernmost underground workings revealed an excellent example of a mineralized vein up to 1 m wide with locally abundant chalcopyrite and secondary copper minerals (see Photo #1). Gold is typically proportional to the copper content in this deposit so we are optimistic that the pending Cu-Au assays from this site will also be encouraging." Photo 1: View of one of the northernmost workings of the Montreal Au-Ag mine. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: EPITHERMAL POTENTIAL: In addition to this renewed work on the high-grade vein and skarn prospects, the 2025 work has targeted several broad zones of potential low-grade epithermal style gold mineralization. During a brief visit in 2024 Romios' geologists collected a sample of "low temperature silica" near the PM skarn on the northern claims and this sample assayed 0.79 g/t Au and a chip sample of two narrow quartz veins nearby assayed 10.6 g/t Au. An examination of this area in 2025 revealed similar looking silica boulders and veins up to 50 cm wide across a 20 metre wide zone (See Photo 2); the 2025 assays from this site are pending. A small mine dump nearby consists of iron carbonate - quartz vein material that assayed 1,725 g/t Ag with high mercury, antimony, zinc and lead, providing further evidence of an epithermal mineralizing event overprinting the skarns in this area (see Romios Press Release March 10, 2022). Photo 2: Possible epithermal silica overprint on the PM skarn area. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Similarly, broad zones of potential epithermal-style alteration adjacent to vein prospects with high gold, silver, copper and barite contents have been sampled for the first time at a number of other sites; assays are pending. Once the assay results have been received from the current work program an appropriate follow-up program will be planned and executed. Map 1: Kinkaid Project main claim block, prospects and possible porphyry centres. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Claim Details and Location The Kinkaid property is wholly owned by Romios and now consists of 139 claims, covering approximately 11.0 sq km, located 18 km east of the town of Hawthorne where the prolific Walker Lane trend overlaps the southern edge of the mineral-rich Basin and Range geological province. The claims begin 1.4 km north of Highway 95 between Reno and Las Vegas and are largely accessible by road and short hikes. A significant power line crosses the SW corner of the claims. QA/QC Rock samples reported herein were a mix of chip and grab samples considered generally representative of the various mine dumps, veins and outcrops being sampled. Samples collected in 2021-2023 were submitted to the ISO/IEC 17025 accredited ALS lab in Reno Nevada for analysis. Samples collected in 2024 and 2025 were submitted to the Standards Council of Canada ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited Bureau Veritas laboratory in Reno, Nevada for analysis. As a matter of procedure, a rigorous quality assurance and quality control program was implemented in the form of blanks and Certified Reference Material standards inserted at every 10th position in the sample series. The assay results of these standards and blanks have been within the acceptable ranges. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Biczok, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration for Romios Gold and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. In addition to his extensive experience with several major mining companies exploring for a wide variety of ore deposit types across Canada and India, Mr. Biczok spent 12 years conducting exploration and research at the Musselwhite gold mine in NW Ontario. About Romios Gold Resources Inc. Romios Gold Resources Inc. is a progressive Canadian mineral exploration company engaged in precious- and base-metal exploration, focused primarily on gold, copper and silver. It has a 100% interest in the Lundmark-Akow Lake Au-Cu property plus 4 additional claim blocks in northwestern Ontario and extensive claim holdings covering several significant porphyry copper-gold prospects in the "Golden Triangle" of British Columbia. Additional interests include the Kinkaid claims in Nevada covering numerous Au-Ag-Cu workings, and the Scossa mine property in Nevada which is a former high-grade gold producer. The Company retains an ongoing interest in several properties including a 2% NSR on McEwen Mining's Hislop gold property in Ontario; a 2% NSR on Enduro Metals' Newmont Lake Au-Cu-Ag property in BC, and the Company has signed a definitive agreement with Copperhead Resources Inc. ("Copperhead") whereby Copperhead can acquire a 75% ownership interest in Romios' Red Line Property in BC. For more information, visit As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages. To book a one-on-one 30-minute Zoom video call, please click here. For further information, please contact: Stephen Burega, CEO & President - 647-515-3734 or sburega@ John Biczok, P. Geo., VP Exploration - 613-410-7877 or jbiczok@ This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. TSX Venture Exchange or its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBC
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
New Heritage Minute celebrates Bora Laskin, namesake of Thunder Bay, Ont., law school
Michel Beaulieu says Historica Canada's new Heritage Minute featuring Bora Laskin is "long overdue." Born in 1912 in Fort William — now Thunder Bay, Ont., — Laskin is known for overcoming antisemitism to become the first Jewish Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. "He became an academic and a leading scholar in many of the types of issues that would resonate today, and definitely the types of focus that became our law school," said Beaulieu, associate vice-provost of academic and professor of history at Lakehead University. The namesake of Lakehead's Bora Laskin Faculty of Law is known for his forward-thinking approach to law and focus on human rights. Appointed to the Supreme Court by former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, his work informed much of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, said Beaulieu. "It's always nice when you see an important element of our region's past receiving national attention," Beaulieu said. The law school first opened in 2013 and was renamed after Laskin the following year. "It was a natural choice to approach the [Laskin] family for a law school that was established to be innovative, to have a focus that dealt with Indigenous law, resource law, small practice, rural, the types of things and innovation that Laskin himself was known for," Beaulieu said. "All of these things do resonate in our law school, the nature of how we approach law, the program, the innovation that our faculty bring to it, but also the nature of the students we have in our program." Expert in human rights After graduating from the Fort William Collegiate and Technical Institute, Laskin was accepted into the second year of the honour law undergraduate program at the University of Toronto when he was only 17. He received his BA and MA from there before going on to obtain his law degree from Osgoode Hall and a graduate degree in law from Harvard University. But it wasn't easy. Laskin's family first arrived in Fort William as Russian Jewish immigrants who had faced significant persecution back home. He contended with similar antisemitic attitudes when trying to find a job in Toronto. Eventually, he secured teaching positions at both of his alma maters in Toronto before being appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal and later the Supreme Court of Canada. "He is one of the most in-exhaustingly compelling figures of Canadian law," said Kerry Rittich, professor of law, women and gender studies and public policy and governance at the University of Toronto, in a news release issued Wednesday. In the Supreme Court, "what he stood out wasn't just the majority decisions, it was also the dissenting comments," Beaulieu said. For example, when the court upheld that Indigenous women would lose their Indian status if they married non-Indigenous men, "Laskin argued very forcefully that this compounded racial discrimination, gender discrimination, and was a violation of basic tenets of human rights — and this really stood out at the time." Laskin was chancellor of Lakehead University from 1971 to 1980. Before becoming the law school's namesake, Lakehead's Faculty of Education Building was named after him. He died in 1984 at age 71. His family members also overcame adversity to make a big impact. His brother Saul Laskin was the first mayor of Thunder Bay when Fort William and Port Arthur were amalgamated in 1970. Now, as students come to Thunder Bay to obtain their law degrees, Beaulieu said it's important for them to remember the contributions Bora Laskin made as they look to establish their own legal careers. "I think it's a point of pride," he said, "going to a law school that is carrying on in the beliefs and the opinions and the approach of probably, some would argue, one of the foremost experts this country has ever had in terms of human rights."
CBC
14-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Environmental advocates in Thunder Bay, Ont., share climate change concerns this election
Social Sharing While national data shows climate change is not top of mind for voters this election, environmental advocates in Thunder Bay, Ont., say they'd like to see it bumped up the priority list. In the 2021 Vote Compass survey, 24 per cent of people named the environment as their most important issue. This year, the environment was eighth on the list, at about five per cent, with relations between Canada and the U.S. topping the list of concerns amid the ongoing trade war. CBC's Superior Morning hosted a climate change panel to hear from those interested in making climate change more of an election issue. "It is something that we need to be putting a lot more energy into and a lot more actual practical work into," said Charles Levkoe, Canada Research Chair in Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont. "Considering climate change is not just a bit of an existential crisis for humanity, but it's going to have real material implications for everyone from Indigenous people to farmers to workers all across the country." Plans and priorities at the local level At the local level, the City of Thunder Bay declared a climate emergency in 2020. The following year, council approved the city's net-zero strategy, which outlines a plan for how to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. It is something that we need to be putting a lot more energy into and a lot more actual practical work into. - Charles Levkoe, Canada Rresearch Chair in Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems, Lakehead University "We're really hearing a lot about ensuring that we're looking at our infrastructure for the city, adapting to climate change, following up on our municipal climate adaptation strategy," said Keira Essex, chair of the city's EarthCare Advisory Committee. In a city known for its outdoor trails and the natural beauty of Lake Superior, Essex said environmental issues may be more apparent for residents in Thunder Bay than elsewhere. While many people view climate change as a monumental challenge outside of the scope of small communities, she said, "we can make such a difference on a local level." "We have a lot of Indigenous nations and relatives in our communities whose lands are at risk because of climate change, and we all have a role in protecting those lands," Essex said. As far as specific issues go, Graham Saunders, president of Environment North, has long been expressing concerns about the proposed deep geological repository for Canada's nuclear waste. The area around Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation in northwestern Ontario has been identified as the preferred location for the project by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). Saunders said he would rather see investments in technology like solar panels than in the nuclear industry. Saunders said the importance of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 isn't up for debate. Instead, the candidates are focused on championing different ways of getting there. "We could, especially in Thunder Bay in northwestern Ontario, effectively do our part to get to net carbon by 2050," he said. Connecting the dots between issues For Levkoe, whose research focuses on food systems, he'd like to see a greater focus on the intersections between food and climate. While the federal government introduced the Food Policy for Canada in 2019, Levkoe said it's become "a bit dormant." WATCH | Canada's mayors urge parties to make climate change an election issue Canada's mayors urge parties to make climate change an election issue 3 days ago Duration 2:06 "Some of the issues that I've been thinking about are around finding ways for the national government, the new government, to connect a lot of issues like biodiversity, emissions reductions, Indigenous rights, food securities through a climate plan that really centres food," he said. Essex, 22, said she hopes the next federal government recognizes the urgency of addressing these interconnected issues. "I'm graduating this semester, I'm getting married next year. I'm hoping to have kids in a few years," she said. "I think for a lot of young people, young people in general, young people looking to start families, there's so much fear about what their future looks like and uncertainty about how they're going to make those decisions." She also said it's important to recognize how different groups are distinctly impacted by climate issues. "How are our systems built to address these problems? Who [do] those systems privilege?" she asked. "Really identifying how we can get better representation and involvement from people that will be more affected and that have a variety of backgrounds." While all three panelists said they haven't heard much from the federal candidates that has inspired them on the climate change front, they each spoke of the importance of community-driven solutions. "I think we really need to look to the people who are doing the work, who have the ideas … about how to move forward," said Levkoe.
