Latest news with #Laurentians
CTV News
31-07-2025
- Science
- CTV News
Citizen scientists wanted: Montrealers encouraged to explore nature during Big Backyard BioBlitz
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is calling on everyone to help scientists better understand the biodiversity around them for the Big Backyard BioBlitz campaign. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News) A nature challenge happening across Canada is calling on everyone —including Montrealers — to help scientists better understand the biodiversity around them. The Big Backyard BioBlitz, launched by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), runs until Aug. 4. The idea is simple: step outside, spot something wild, and snap a photo. From balconies in the Plateau to wooded trails in the Laurentians, participants are being asked to document the plants, animals, and fungi they encounter. Big Backyard BioBlitz The Big Backyard BioBlitz runs until Aug. 4, 2025. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News) 'You don't have to be a biologist or a nature expert to join in,' said Jensen Edwards, spokesperson for the NCC. 'The BioBlitz is really accessible to everybody. In fact, one of the most rewarding parts is how much people learn just by taking part.' Participants can upload their sightings to the NCC's website or use the free iNaturalist app, which helps identify what they're seeing. The app uses image recognition to offer suggestions, and then experts step in to verify the results. 'There are way more people out there with smartphones than there are conservation scientists,' Edwards said. 'This really helps scale up the research, and together these observations are a big help.' Jensen Edwards, spokesperson for the NCC. Jensen Edwards is a spokesperson for the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News) According to Edwards, many participants naturally gravitate toward more familiar species. 'People are great at spotting birds, mammals,' he said, 'but when it comes to insects and fungi, they're often overlooked species,' despite them playing a huge role in ecosystems. The NCC launched the BioBlitz in 2020. Since then, nearly 200,000 nature observations have been submitted across the country. While some of the sightings are fairly common, others have caught Edwards' attention. 'Last year, someone off the coast of Gaspésie spotted a blue whale,' he recalled. 'Another person west of Calgary photographed a whooping crane. Just 100 years ago, there were fewer than 20 of those left in Canada.' Still, Edwards emphasized that the most valuable contributions aren't necessarily the rare ones. 'Even the most everyday observations can tell scientists a lot,' he said. In Quebec, where rapid urban development and climate change are threatening native ecosystems, every data point helps researchers track how species are adapting — or disappearing. The observations collected during the BioBlitz feed into a growing national database, helping scientists map species migration, identify at-risk habitats, and better understand how to protect Canada's natural landscapes. Edwards said the challenge also has benefits for those taking part. 'People just end up deepening their relationship with nature,' he said. 'They start to pay more attention, they gain an understanding of what lives around them and that leads to caring more about conservation.' Whether it's a squirrel in Jeanne-Mance Park, a mushroom in Mount Royal, or a bird perched outside your apartment window, Edwards encourages everyone to document it.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Abundant storm energy brings flood and tornado risks Thursday
Thursday brings significant weather risks to eastern Ontario, southern Quebec and northern New Brunswick, as the recent high heat and humidity are providing ample storm energy across the regions. MUST SEE: Severe storms are expected in multiple rounds Thursday afternoon and evening, and after several days of heat and humidity above 30°C, the abundant moisture in the region could result in torrential downpours. Conditions may also align for potential tornado development north of the Ottawa Valley, across the Laurentians, and in the Gaspé Peninsula. A tornado warning covered the Pembroke, Ont. area just before the lunch hour, but was discontinued shortly after. Tornado-warned storms are likely throughout the day. You'll want to stay updated on the weather alerts in your area as conditions can change quickly when severe weather hits. Thursday: Risk of strong thunderstorms with heavy downpours and a possible tornado A low pressure system and a strong cold front will move through the Great Lakes Thursday, tracking eastward through the day. These conditions will bring the potential for severe thunderstorms in several areas, particularly in eastern Ontario, southern Quebec, and parts of the Maritimes. Storms moving through the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are expected to remain non-severe, as energy will peak further east ahead of the cold front by the afternoon. This increased energy, combined with ample moisture and notable wind shear, could fuel a strong cluster of storms. SEE ALSO: North of the Ottawa Valley, severe storms could begin in the afternoon. By evening, areas including eastern Quebec, the Gaspé Peninsula, and northern New Brunswick will also face a severe weather risk. Ottawa and Montreal residents should prepare for heightened storm intensity between 1–4 p.m., with the window extending from 1–7 p.m. for Quebec City and 3–9 p.m. for the Gaspé Peninsula and northern New Brunswick. Locally intense rainfall is possible, with 50–100 mm expected in some areas due to thunderstorms. This raises the risk of localized flooding. Conditions north of the Ottawa Valley, the Laurentians, and the Gaspé Peninsula may also support isolated tornadoes. DON'T MISS: It will be important to stay weather-aware throughout the day, and keep updated on any weather alerts or warnings issued in your area. Following Thursday's storm threat, relief from the heat is on the way, as cooler, drier air moves in for Friday. A more comfortable and seasonal weekend is ahead. WATCH: How storm chasers in Canada got into the action-packed job Click here to view the video Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across Ontario and Quebec.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tornado chance arises as eastern Ontario, Quebec sees severe weather threat
Thursday will be a day to watch closely in eastern Ontario and southern Quebec, as the recent high heat and humidity are providing ample storm energy across the province. MUST SEE: The Laurentians and areas near the Quebec-New Brunswick border will have notable, atmospheric conditions for tornado development on Thursday, while eastern Ontario and the Eastern Townships are at risk of flooding. You'll want to stay updated on the weather alerts in your area as conditions can change quickly when severe weather hits. Thursday: Ample thunderstorm energy leads to strong storms, tornado risk Forecasters are keeping a close eye on Thursday, with a low-pressure system and strong cold front expected to bring more severe weather to eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. The system will track over the Great Lakes Thursday morning and continue eastward through the day. Ample thunderstorm energy, fuelled by several days of 30°C heat and high humidity, could lead to strong thunderstorms with torrential downpours. Between 50-100 mm of heavy rainfall is possible under storms, increasing the risk of localized flooding. DON'T MISS: Non-severe thunderstorms are expected to move through the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) before peak afternoon energy develops. Thunderstorm energy will be abundant by the afternoon hours, with ample moisture, and signs of notable shear will result in strong and severe storm clusters over the Ottawa Valley and southern Quebec. Multiple rounds of strong to severe storms are likely for Quebec City. -4 p.m. will be the highest risk for severe weather in Ottawa with the cold front. 6 p.m. for Montreal. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for Quebec City. The Ottawa and St. Lawrence valleys will be concerned with flooding potential, while tornado ingredients may be present over the Laurentians and areas near the Quebec-New Brunswick border, although confidence is still low and conditions are being closely monitored by forecasters. The active weather will be followed by a welcome cooldown, offering relief from the heat. WATCH: How storm chasers in Canada got into the action-packed job Click here to view the video Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across Ontario and Quebec.
CTV News
13-07-2025
- CTV News
Woman, 73, dies after being struck by vehicle in front of a business in the Laurentians
The Sûreté du Québec logo is reflected on a vehicle in Montreal on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) A 73-year-old woman died on Saturday after being struck by a vehicle in the early afternoon while sitting outside a business in the Laurentians. Emergency services were called to respond to an incident in front of a business located on Sainte-Sophie Boulevard in Sainte-Sophie, Que. The victim, a resident of Saint-Jérôme, was taken to a hospital in critical condition after the collision, where she was pronounced dead a little later that afternoon. According to Sûreté du Québec (SQ) spokesperson Geneviève Bruneau, the driver is believed to be a minor. He was also taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure and is believed to have suffered a nervous shock. An investigator went to the scene to try to determine the causes and circumstances of the incident. An examination of the vehicle is also expected to take place at the request of the coroner. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 13, 2025.
New York Times
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘He's Nuts, Your Trump.' Canada Unites Against America.
Even here, among the sparsely populated lakes and thickly forested hills of the Laurentians, it is hard for an American not to feel the anger and incredulity President Trump has stoked with his tariffs, talk of a 51st state and offhand insults. Much of that may be lost on Americans buffeted by the ceaseless rush of crises and clashes generated by the president's agenda. But up here, in what used to be the most friendly neighbor a country could possibly ask for, the rage is tangible. Advertisers compete with claims that their products are 'proudly Canadian.' YouTube, news media and newsletters vigilantly follow the latest indignation. Polls track plummeting positive attitudes toward America and surging pride in Canada; the latest Pew poll found that 59 percent of Canadians now view the United States as the 'greatest threat' to their country. Bourbon and California wines are nowhere to be found, and Canadians are canceling trips south in droves. T-shirts display the latest anti-American slogan, whether 'Canada Is Not for Sale' or 'Elbows Up' — a classic hockey gesture that means 'stand up and fight back,' which the Canadian comedian Mike Myers famously (at least for Canadians) displayed on 'Saturday Night Live.' Even King Charles III, the British monarch and Canada's head of state, chimed in. Presiding over the opening of the Canadian Parliament and delivering the Speech from the Throne in May — only the third time a sovereign has done so and the first time in decades — Charles III was cautious not to assail Mr. Trump directly. But he offered clear support to Canada by quoting from the national anthem: 'The True North is indeed strong and free.' Here in the Laurentians, where I've been spending summers for much of my life, a French Canadian spots my District of Columbia license plate and offers, with a hint of sympathy, 'Il est fou, ton Trump!' ('He's nuts, your Trump!') Fortunately, Americans visiting Canada still seem to be generally regarded as fellow sufferers, not enemies. Not yet. It's all so sad. Because Washington's targeting of Canada is so unnecessary and so undeserved. A 'national emergency' that justifies huge tariff increases because Canada is purportedly failing to halt a 'tremendous' (Mr. Trump's word) flow of fentanyl and immigrants over the U.S.-Canada border? Only a minuscule fraction of the fentanyl seized in the United States, or of illegal crossings into the United States, come from Canada. But that doesn't stop Mr. Trump, or the Homeland Security secretary, Kristi Noem, or the F.B.I. director, Kash Patel, from trumpeting a northern border crisis. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
