MSDC Webinar Series
News and Registration Information
Previous Webinars:
“Grace & Speed: Muskoka Wooden Boat Stories”
Wooden boats, some of the best in Muskoka! Some of the best in the world! Twenty-four antique wooden treasures including launches, race boats and cruisers. Some of them have not been in a boat show for years. Muskoka is probably home to more highly valued premium antique wooden boats than anywhere in the world. In the comfort of your home, you can watch them in motion and hear ‘the story’ direct from the owner.
Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre in partnership with the Antique and Classic Boat Society Toronto is proud to present an exciting series of seven webinars, airing Wednesdays at 4:00pm March 23rd to May 4th, showcasing wooden works of art that have made Muskoka famous. The boats featured were made by all the famous boatbuilders including Borneman, Dispro, Minett, Minett-Shields, Ditchburn, Greavette, J.J. Taylor, Hutchinson, and Chris Craft.
Knowledgeable and professional volunteers spent many hours visiting the boats and owners in their boathouses and then filming the boats in motion to capture grace & speed on the water. Capturing wooden boats on video has never been done on this scale before in Muskoka. The boats and their stories will now be available on film in perpetuity.
Want to see more amazing wooden boats in-person? Visit the Muskoka Discovery Centre and the Murray Walker Grace & Speed Boathouse for North America’s largest collection of in-water antique and classic boats!
7 Part Series Originally Aired Wednesdays at 4:00pm: March 23, 2022 to May 4, 2022
Episode Recordings
More Webinars
The Best of Two Worlds
Lessons for sustainability from Indigenous ecological knowledge and western science
Join our speakers for a 5 episode series where we discuss sustainability with an Indigenous perspective. This series will provide a fascinating new look at how we approach sustainability.
Learn more about how we might increase our planet’s sustainability. Register now! Discover how Indigenous practises and western science can contribute to a heathier planet.
Meet thoughtful western and Indigenous environmental professionals and listen to their different approaches to stewardship of the environment based on their years of engagement in ecological management. In the case of Indigenous ways, thousands of years! By gaining a better understanding of the two approaches we can improve the potential for a more sustainable future.
Premiering January and February 2022
- All events will take place virtually using the Zoom Webinar Platform
- Registration is required for each session (registration links below)
- All sessions will have a Q&A section where attendees can submit their questions
- Talks will be recorded and made available for those that cannot attend the live event
“Best of Two Worlds” Webinar Recordings:
Episode 1 – What might Hillel, Hiawatha and Hippocrates have thought about the practice of western ecological science: reflections on half a century of research on Ontario lakes.
Presenter: Dr. Norman Yan
Date: Wednesday January 26, 2022 – 4:00pm
Hillel, Hippocrates and Hiawatha might have had a lot to say about the strengths, biases and weaknesses of western ecological science. In his introductory webinar, Norman Yan will reflect on his half-century of research on what ails Ontario’s lakes, pointing out where the knowledge and will needed to protect them could well benefit from a larger perspective, one which traditional ecological knowledge could help build.
Episode 2 – Anishinaabek Kweok N’bi G’giikendaaswinmin (Our Water Knowledge)
Presenter: Susan Chiblow
Date: Wednesday February 2, 2022 – 4:00pm
Anishinaabek have lived governing themselves based on their worldview and governance system in the Great Lakes territory since they were placed on Turtle Island by the Creator. The kendaaswin (knowledge) obtained from living in this territory are rooted in laws, cultural and spiritual beliefs, and management practices. Colonization has had devastating effects on these systems including ignoring Anishinaabek kweok (women) knowledge in water decision making regimes. Anishinaabek kweok have a unique relationship to and responsibility for N’bi (water) which can inform water governance.
Episode 3 – Case Studies – Working with Traditional Knowledge and Western Science Eyes
Presenters: Dr. Neil Hutchinson, Dr. Richard Nesbitt, Dr. Brenda Parlee, and Dr. Don Richardson.
Date: Wednesday February 9, 2022 – 4:00pm
Three colleagues from the consulting industry and academia will present case studies from across Canada which featured Indigenous and Western Science perspectives to improve the understanding, assessment and management of aquatic resources and economic development.
Richard Nesbitt, M.Sc., Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd. will present his experiences working with the Inuit of the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut in “THE ONE VOICE METHOD: Connecting Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit with western science to monitor Northern Canada’s freshwater aquatic environment”
Dr. Brenda Parlee, University of Alberta, will draw on her experiences working with the Dene Nation in the Northwest Territories for “Tracking Change in the Mackenzie River Watershed”
Dr. Don Richardson CEO of “IBA Braiding” will speak on building successful business ventures with First Nations by applying “Indigenomics”, braiding Indigenous environmental perspectives and economics to future land use planning and decision-making to support Indigenous economic development.
Episode 4 – Combining Indigenous knowledge with western science as communities in far northern Ontario seek ways to adapt to climate change.
Presenter: Dr. David Pearson
Date: Wednesday February 16, 2022 – 4:00pm
Dr. Pearson leads a small team that is interacting with six First Nation Councils across far northern Ontario as they explore ways to adapt to climate change. He will provide lessons on what the team has learned from this exploration.
Episode 5 – The Many Worlds of Knowledge.
Presenter: Dr. Henry Lickers
Date: Wednesday February 23, 2022 – 4:00pm
Shekon (Greetings)
In this world of crisis- covid, wildfires, hazardous weather, and political/social conflict, it is good to know that people are working together to understand these problems. Today we explore a friendship that began centuries ago but has languished over time. The friendship between Indigenous peoples and the newcomers has been fraught with misunderstandings and fear but today we will try to overcome the fear and ignorance to solve some of these problems using Indigenous and Scientific knowledge.
Skennen (In Peace)
“Love Muskoka Sustain Muskoka” Webinar Recordings:
The world is talking about Sustainability and Climate Change. Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre have assembled the best speakers to talk about the impact on Muskoka and the ways YOU can make a difference TODAY. In collaboration with 17 Regional Organizations, we have organized a range of virtual webinars on the most relevant and important topics. Get new insights! Get new ideas! Watch the recordings from this great series below.
Climate change starting with an international context, bringing it to Muskoka, and finally discussing policy tools to assist in the fight against climate change
Presenter – Dr. Dianne Saxe
Thursday April 22 – 5:00pm to 6:15pm
Watershed Management: Why not Manage Water as part of an Ecosystem?, How Cottage Owners Can be Nice to Mother Nature, and Muskoka GIS Explained
Presenters – Kevin Trimble, Dr. Richard Lammers, Rebecca Willison, Graham Good
Thursday April 29 – 5:00pm to 6:15pm
Links mentioned in the webinar:
Clean & Green 13: https://www.muskokawatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/CG13_2015_Web.pdf
Seguin Township 12 Steps to Success: https://www.seguin.ca/en/explore-play/resources/Rack-card.jpg
Love Your Lake self-assessment: http://loveyourlake.ca/self-assessment/
Lake Protection Workbook: https://watersheds.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Lake-Protection-Workbook.pdf
Shoreline Owner’s Guide to Healthy Waterfronts: https://foca.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/FOCA_Shoreline_Guide_FINAL_ed_2019.pdf
Muskoka GeoHub: https://map.muskoka.on.ca/
Terrestrial Spaces: the Importance of Conservation and Education, social norms, and research-informed climate change engagement
Presenters – Aaron Rusak and Dr. Ellen Field
Thursday May 6 – 5:00pm to 6:15pm
Climate Change – Is this really such a big deal for Muskoka?
Presenters – Dr. Peter F. Sale and Dr. Richard B. Lammers
Thursday May 13 – 5:00pm to 6:15pm
Indigenous Perspective: Reconnecting with the Natural World
Presenter – Larry McDermott
Thursday May 20 – 5:00pm to 6:15pm
Imagining a good future for our lakes despite climate change
Presenters – Dr. Norman Yan
Thursday May 27 – 5:00pm to 6:15pm
Partners and Endorsers 2020
Andrew Daniels Fish Stewardship Foundation
Builders for Climate Action
Clear Lake Property Owners’ Association
Climate Action Muskoka
District of Muskoka
Friends of the Muskoka Watershed
Georgian Bay Forever
Kahshe Lake Ratepayers’ Association
Lake of Bays Association
Lake of Bays Renewable Energy Co-op
Muskoka Watershed Council
Muskoka Lakes Association
Muskoka North Good Food Cooperative
Safe Quiet Lakes
Chambers of Commerce:
Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville/Lake
of Bays, Muskoka Lakes
