Have you ever wondered what Manitobans can do to mitigate the climate crisis? What roles do the different sectors play in the community?   

In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, the Manitoba Museum is hosting a panel discussion on Building a Climate Resilient Community. Hear from our panel of experts as they discuss the science and urgency behind climate change.

Panel admission is included in paid admission to any Manitoba Museum attraction for Saturday, April 22.

Get your tickets today!

Moderator:

James Beddome, Lawyer, Former leader of the Green Party of Manitoba 

James grew up on a mixed livestock farm in the heart of the Little Saskatchewan River Valley near Rapid City, Manitoba. This upbringing instilled in him a strong appreciation of nature. Some of his earliest memories are of hiking the river valley near the family farm and enjoying nature.

James moved to Winnipeg in 2001 to pursue his education, and he has lived here ever since. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in political studies and economics in 2006 and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 2013, both from the University of Manitoba.

James was called to the Bar of Manitoba in 2014, and has been practicing law ever since. In October of 2017 James and his business partner Seneca Longclaws founded the firm Beddome and Longclaws Law Corporation. James’ legal practice focuses on serving First Nation Governments, tribal organizations, and individuals with legal matters pertaining to indigenous law, environmental law, and civil litigation. More recently James’ practice has broadened to include representing clients through Legal Aid Manitoba with child protection, residential tenancy, criminal and civil litigation matters. James has handled matters before the Clean Environment Commission, the National Energy Board, the Independent Assessment Process established as part of the Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, The Residential Tenancy Branch, The Residential Tenancies Commission, Manitoba Provincial Court, Manitoba Small Claims Court, The Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench, The Manitoba Court of Appeal, The Federal Court of Canada, and the Federal Court of Appeal.

James is a person of many diverse interests and experiences beyond his legal practice. His hobbies include gardening and skateboarding, and experiences include: operating Wheely Green, Winnipeg’s Premiere Bike Taxi Service, with two other business partners between 2007 and 2009; co-hosting The Motel 6 radio show on CKUW 95.9 FM between 2008 and 2013; and serving as leader of the Green Party of Manitoba from 2008 to 2023. 

James passionately believes that addressing climate change is the most important issue of our time and is honoured to be moderating this panel. 

Panellists:

Curt Hull – Climate Change Connection 

Curt Hull, P.Eng. has a consulting practice in climate change sustainability in Manitoba and has been Project Director of Climate Change Connection since 2007. He works with NGOs, businesses, universities & colleges, as well as all levels of government to create climate change solutions. He currently serves on the boards of Sustainable Building Manitoba and the Climate Reality Project Canada. Since 2016, he has been working on clean energy and sustainability projects with diesel and winter road dependent First Nations in Northern Manitoba. Since 2018, he has been working with and advising Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba on their climate change initiatives. In recent years, he has been leading the Climate Action Team’s work on the Road to Resilience series of studies to define a pathway to a fossil fuel free, climate resilient future for Manitoba.

Dr. Danny Blair – Prairie Climate Centre  

Danny Blair is a climatologist and professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Winnipeg, where he has been teaching courses related to climate and weather since 1987. He is also a co-founder and Co-Director of the university’s Prairie Climate Centre where he leads the team that provides users of the online Climate Atlas of Canada with high quality data and visualizations of climate projections for all parts of Canada. He received his PhD from the University of Manitoba, and his MSc and BSc degrees from the University of Regina. 

Dr. Diana Bizecki Robson – The Manitoba Museum  

Dr. Bizecki Robson obtained a Master’s Degree in Plant Ecology at the University of Saskatchewan studying the rare plants of the mixed grass prairies. After a few years of working as an environmental consultant and sessional lecturer, she got her Ph.D. in Soil Science from the same University, this time focusing on phytoremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil using native and naturalized plants. Diana joined The Manitoba Museum team in 2003.

At the Museum Diana has continued her research on endangered prairie plants, documenting their distribution, habitat and ecological relationships with other species, including pollinating insects. Her current research is focused on prairie pollination and the conservation of wild crop pollinators, like bees and flower flies, in agroecosystems using wildflower plantings. When she has time, Diana also collects fungi, lichens and mosses to document their distribution and habitat needs in Manitoba, and assess their rarity.

Dr. Mario Tenuta – University of Manitoba  

Mario Tenuta (B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.), P.Ag., is the Natural Science and Engineering Council/Western Grains Research Foundation/Fertilizer Canada Senior Industrial Research Chair in 4R Nutrient Stewardship and Professor of Applied Soil Ecology at the University of Manitoba. His training includes a B.Sc. in Botany and Physical Geography, an M.Sc. in Soil Fertility, a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, and Post-Doctoral research in Plant Nematology. The 4R Industrial Research Chair Program is advancing research in nitrogen fertilizer management practices to give farmers and the agricultural industry solutions to achieving nitrous oxide (N2O) emission reductions and improved soil health and crop productivity. A key feature of the Chair program is conducting farm-based research with particular attention to the outreach of findings to farmers, industry and policy-makers to achieve national target reductions in emissions.

Dr. Randy Mooi – The Manitoba Museum 

Dr. Mooi received his Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Toronto working on the evolutionary history of coral reef fishes. Following a postdoctoral fellowship in the Division of Fishes of the Smithsonian Institution, he was Curator of Fishes and Section Head of Vertebrate Zoology at the Milwaukee Public Museum. While there he participated in several expeditions to Indo-Pacific coral reefs for fish research. Dr. Mooi joined the Manitoba Museum in 2004 focusing on fish evolution and post-glacial biogeography of snakes, toads, and frogs in the province. He was also involved with data collection and production of the Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas. His fieldwork has spanned the province, taking him from the southern to northern border of Manitoba and many remote places in between. Research has resulted 50 peer-reviewed publications including the description of well over a dozen species of fishes new to science and a new fish family. 

Support for this event is generously provided by

GenAction is an initiative of the Inspiring Youth to Climate Action project funded by The Government of Canada’s Climate Action and Awareness Fund.