3 minute read
First year of Environment Program Coordinator internship delivers many benefits
BY CASSIDY MAZUR, ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM COORDINATOR, LOWDSA
As 2021 comes to an end, it will have been the first full year of LOWDSA having an Environment Program Coordinator (EPC). I’d like to share some of what I have learned and highlight the value of the EPC role.
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The past year has given me a window into how the water and land has shaped people's lives in Lake of the Woods. Noted geographer and philosopher, Yi-Fu Tuan, said, “People make places,” and indeed, much of geography studies how people have influenced space. Cultural and human geography study how landscapes and people interrelate. They look at how we interpret and use our surroundings, how places develop meaning for us as we remember important events or associate a place with a particular characteristic.
As we make emotional connections, our experiences and perceptions of places help us make sense of who we are.
Indigenous creation stories shape and guide people to know where they came from and where they should go. In Ka’esi Wahkotumahk Aski: Our Relations With The Land; Treaty Elders’ Teachings, Volume 2, Elder Florence Paytner said, “As Anishinaabe, we are really interconnected to that land, we are interrelated to everything that is around us.” The elders talk about the holistic relationships between humans and places associated with teachings, spirituality, healing, and stories that tell rich histories, cultures, and heritage.
When I reflect on the relationship between people and places in the Lake of the Woods area, it is comforting to believe that the relationship is balanced. The reality is that places are rapidly changing across the world, and people are largely responsible for that change. Lake of the Woods is no exception, which is why I feel so passionate about everything LOWDSA has accomplished in our environmental work and why I cannot emphasize enough the value of LOWDSA's environmental stewardship.
Over the past year, I have come to understand that LOWDSA’s success is fuelled by many passionate people who volunteer their time behind the scenes. We are inspired by our members and driven by the stunning landscape we all strive to protect. It’s a blend of the land, water, community, people, traditions, and more, coming together.
The added value of an Environment Program Coordinator has led to many of our members' ideas and dreams being brought to life. Programs and initiatives such as: the Mobile Boat Wash Station, the zebra mussel community monitoring program, community seedling planting, digitizing our LakeSmart dock kit, enhancing LOWDSA's children’s environmental education programming, invasive species removal, grant applications, developing educational resources, improving our reporting systems, expanding the LakeSmart team and season, increasing the Association's social media presence on LinkedIn and TikTok, attending events such as the Open Market Days and Kenora Science Festival, and plenty more are all new developments from this year. This is all in addition to the pre-existing initiatives and programs, the work that happens behind the scenes, and the incredible relationships and connections we make that will continue to support LOWDSA into the future.
Title photo: On a day conducting the invasive species program for the Day Camp at the Kenora Rec Centre, Cassidy reflects,
Planting red pine seedlings with the LakeSmart team at Camp Stephens was a great day at work. Brie and Abbi carry various gear including seedling bags and shovels.
The benefits, of course, go both ways. This internship gave me valuable experiences through my involvement in LOWDSA's existing programs, as well as the freedom to expand my skills and knowledge in areas of my own interest. It has been incredibly rewarding to feel like the “go-to” source for all things environment, and I appreciate the connections and relationships I have made so far. To be able to take the time to find answers and information for our members or simply satisfying their curiosity to learn more is a reward in its own right. It has been really special to have a position surrounded by people who share my passion for the environment, connections to the Lake of the Woods area, and value my work. As my internship draws to an end, I just want to thank you for following along!
Looking to the future, I am excited for LOWDSA’s role in sustainability to continue expanding and adapting to reflect the needs of the environment and the values and passions of the community. I believe LOWDSA’s strength is in numbers, in membership, and beyond.
Cassidy and Seanna are busy during a day of dock visits.
All of the connections and conversations surrounding sustainability that each of us have increases the reach and strengthens the positive impacts on this shared space we all love and care for.
