Rick Searle's blog
What's Up at EKOS Communications?
June 11, 2011: As many of you know, seven months ago I took on a new challenge, that as Manager of Communications and Engagement with Ocean Networks Canada. This is a full-time gig for the next three - four years and possibly longer. As I've mentioned in a previous blog, the opportunity to work with VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada ocean observatories to advance ocean literacy among Canadians was just too great of an opportunity to pass up.
Ocean Literacy and Ocean Networks Canada
Much has happened since my last blog. On Aug. 14th, I set off a train of events that has resulted in me now serving as the Manager of Communications and Engagement for Ocean Networks Canada.- the not-for-profit organization created by the University of Victoria to provide governance and management of VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada ocean observatories.
Bear Mountain Owner Defaults on Langford Interchange Payment
This just landed in my in-box. Thought some of my Victoria and Southern VI friends might be interested.
PetroChina Picks Up 60% Stake in Two Canadian Oilsands Projects
a quick scan of the news headlines from today revealed that PetroChina, China's largest oil and gas producer and distributor, has just purchased "a 60 percent stake in the MacKay River and Dover oilsands projects" according to The Canadian Press. They quote Bill Gallacher, chair of the Athabasca Oil Sands Corp., the company that brokered the deal, as saying "[this] is excellent news for Alberta and the rest of Canada."
But is it?
An Open Letter from Alexandra Morton to Federal Fisheries Minister Regarding Missing Fraser River Salmon
Dear Fisheries Minster Shea:I am following the news that DFO is reporting 11 million sockeye salmon have vanished. The magnitude, social impact and trajectory of this fishery failure is on a par with the collapse of Canada’s Atlantic cod. Scientists have published on what went wrong within DFO to allow the cod, one of earth’s most abundant food resources to collapse. They identified political distortion of the science as a critical factor. They argue the public was not accurately informed as the collapse was underway.
Pacific Salmon Foundation Community Roundtables
The Pacific Salmon Foundation is developing a proposal that aims to identify probable causes of declines and to identify strategies to improve the production of Coho and Chinook stocks in the Strait of Georgia. They will be hosting 6 community meetings to inform the public about this proposed initiative, and to gather information regarding ongoing community initiatives, observations and ideas with respect to changes that have been noticed in the estuarine and marine environments of the Strait of Georgia.UNESCO NAMES JOGGINS FOSSIL CLIFFS AS NEWEST WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN CANADA
QUÉBEC, Quebec, July 7, 2008 -- The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, today welcomed the designation of Joggins Fossil Cliffs, Nova Scotia, as Canada’s newest World Heritage Site. UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee made the announcement at its annual meeting, which is being held in Quebec City this year. Shaw Communications (Victoria) To Support BC Parks 100th and Wild Coast Projects!
Yesterday was a very exciting day for the Wild Coast project. Daphne Goode and Mark McAmmond from the local Shaw cable station offered to assist with our public education and social marketing campaign with the in-kind airing of 30 sec. public service announcements, and possibly a 1:30 min. informational piece (you can actually convey alot in either of these two spots).
They have also agreed to assist with our BC Parks 100th project with in-kind air time, not just to local communities but province-wide, and maybe even into Alberta and Ontario!
The New Social Ecosystem and Saving the Real World Wide Web
It's intriguing, isn't it, how quickly social media and citizen journalism are revolutionizing communication and, by extension, education. I firmly believe that we who wish to preserve as much of the Real World Wide Web as possible must learn how to work with them. They are enabling the emergence of a fundamentally different social ecosystem. One in which people who care about something can come together across time and space to share their mutual passions; these people some commentors have called "tribes."
WCB and Conlficts with Wild Animals
Last Thursday afternoon, I met with the CAO of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and the City Manager for Port Alberni to discuss the Wild Coast project and to invite the participation of their respective jurisdictions in making it happen with financial support.
