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Learn & Live: Enriched Learning for All Ages

Climate change in our backyard

Special guest, Owen Bjorgan, will discuss the effects of climate change on the Niagara Region and NOTL, specifically.

Niagara-on-the Lake sits in a fortunate geopolitical position. Our town is comparatively shielded from the impacts of human-accelerated climate change compared to other areas of Canada and the world - for now. However, this does not mean that the effects of climate change are not strangers to NOTL and that such changes are worthy of discussion. As NOTL and the surrounding region have depleted 90% of the original forest and wetland coverage on the Niagara Peninsula, it is time for an inspiring conversation about what we can do better as a municipality and a region as a whole. With photos from the "Hidden Corners" nature documentary - from NOTL and across the region - this talk will guide you through a collective picture of what we're dealing with and what happens next in regards to our environment and society alike.  It will be followed by an engaging Q and A period.

Owen is a local from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. He's the owner and operator of Owen's Hiking And Adventures since 2017, a local hiking tour company specializing in getting people outside to experience the Niagara Peninsula's incredible ecosystems. This company also gives back to the community by means of tree planting and free educational experiences.   Owen successfully solo hiked the 890 km Bruce Trail on a 37 day expedition in 2014, raising over $27,000 for two local charities.  He has produced four “Hidden Corners” international nature documentaries, including work in Australia, Ecuador, Florida, and here in Niagara. Owen is an official TED Talk speaker and a 2X recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award from Rotary International.  When he graduated from the University of Guelph in 2016 with a B.Sc. in Biodiversity, he was a published scientific co-author and nature photographer. During this time, he also fought to protect the Thundering Waters Forest in Niagara Falls. He currently writes a nature column for The NOTL Local, works for the school board as an outdoor educator, and served one year as the Vice Chair of Niagara-on-the Lake's Environmental Advisory Committee.

Owen enjoys his time with his family and friends, ping pong, hockey, music, and, of course, the outdoors.

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