|
Green Horse Society |
|
44°N 60°W |
|
|
| Waves |
| Visiting Sable |
| Bibliography |
| Archives |
|
|
| Media |
 |
Archives |
|
August 2009: An artists’ expedition to Sable in August—lead by Susan Tooke and Richard Rudnicki—was a success with all involved expressing delight and enthusiasm. Fog delayed the group’s arrival by one day, but the weather was excellent for the remaining six days. The success of the project was largely due to careful and thorough planning by Rudnicki & Tooke. Although the visit had been conceived as a program of drawing and painting, not all the Paint Sable Island participants were visual artists. However everyone took away an expanded understanding and appreciation of the island. |
|
March 2009: On March 4th, the fifth annual Sable Island public meeting was held in Halifax. Like the previous four meetings, the event was organized by the Sable Island Green Horse Society and the Ecology Action Centre. Leonard Preyra (MLA Halifax Citadel-Sable Island) joined Saint Mary’s University, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Nova Scotian Institute of Science as a co-host. The meeting was chaired by David Richardson (Saint Mary’s University)—the program included three guest speakers each providing 25-minute illustrated talks, and Zoe Lucas reviewed highlights of year 2008. To mark five years of successful and well-attended annual meetings, Zoe concluded her talk with acknowledgements and thanks to individuals and organizations, beginning with graphic designer Tim Clarke who has volunteered his time and creativity to produce the handsome and informative posters for all five meetings. Sable Island Update, March 4th, 2009 - Announcement & Program. |
|
August 2008: The Sable Island Raffle is over. The two winning tickets were drawn during this year’s Read by the Sea event in River John on July 19th. Paula Munro (of Chester Basin) and Elizabeth Alexander (of River John) held the winning tickets. They will each, with a friend, visit Sable Island on August 25th. |
|
March 2008: On March 4th, the fourth annual Sable Island public meeting was held in Halifax. Like the previous three meetings, this event was organized by the Sable Island Green Horse Society and the Ecology Action Centre, and co-hosted by Saint Mary’s University, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Nova Scotian Institute of Science. The meeting was co-chaired by David Richardson (Saint Mary’s University) and Don Bowen (Fisheries and Oceans Canada). The program included three guest speakers providing 25-minute illustrated talks, and Zoe Lucas reviewed some highlights of year 2007. As usual, the audience represented a cross section of the Sable Island community. Sable Island Update, March 4th. 2008 - Announcement & Program |
|
October 2007: Sable Island was the theme for a fundraiser in support of the Astor Theatre. Organizer Marcia Harding has long been a friend and supporter of the island and the Sable Island Station. Her vision for the unique event was inspired by her passion for Sable combined with her devotion to the Astor Theatre. It was a long evening, but the audience was delighted and spellbound throughout. The evening was dedicated to Joyce Barkhouse, author of Pit Pony and recently named to the Order of Nova Scotia. Sable Island evening in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, October 20, 2007 |
|
May 2007: The Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History (Summer Street, Halifax) hosted two events associated with a book launch for Free as the Wind. This children’s picture book, illustrated by artist Susan Tooke, is about a letter-writing campaign that helped to reverse a decision by the Government of Canada to remove the horses from Sable Island. Roughly 100 people attended, and in the audience were several representatives of Red Deer Press of Calgary. |
|
March 2007: On March 21st, a third Sable Island public meeting was held in Halifax. It was organized by the Sable Island Green Horse Society and the Ecology Action Centre, and co-hosted by Saint Mary’s University, the World Wildlife Fund and the Nova Scotian Institute of Science. The program included three guest speakers providing 20-minute illustrated talks about island programs, and Zoe Lucas reviewed some highlights of year 2006. David Richardson, professor and former Dean of Science, Saint Mary’s University, chaired the meeting. Roughly 220 people attended, representing a cross section of the Sable Island community: scientists and students, authors, poets and visual artists, educators, mariners, the offshore industry, bureaucrats and politicians, and interested citizens. |
|
February 2006: A year had passed since the Government of Canada had announced its intention to maintain the Sable Island Station. On February 16th, a public meeting was organized by the Sable Island Green Horse Society and the Ecology Action Centre, and co-hosted by Saint Mary’s University, the World Wildlife Fund and the Nova Scotian Institute of Science. The program included three guest speakers providing 15-minute illustrated talks on several of the many programs underway on the island, and Zoe Lucas reviewed notable events of year 2005. |
|
May 2005: Although the Government of Canada had issued a public announcement of commitment to Sable Island in January 2005, the long-term problems had not been solved. The government found funding to maintain the Station for two or three years, and began a review legal statutes and designations for the Island, as well as the operational roles and infrastructure of the Station. Sable Island would continue to need the help and expertise of the Ecology Action Centre. .We need help to support continued action on behalf of Sable Island! |
|
March 2005: Following the successful public meeting in Halifax in October 2004, the Green Horse Society and the EAC organized a visit to Ottawa for February 2005. Representing Sable Island in Ottawa were Zoe Lucas, Bill Freedman (Chair, Biology Department, Dalhousie University), and Keith Betteridge (University Professor Emeritus, University of Guelph, Ontario). The group met with politicians and government officials to discuss Sable Island and the critical role of the Station. An evening event, open to the public, was held at the Canadian Museum of Nature. |
|
February 2005: On January 31st, 2005, the Government of Canada issued a news release announcing its intention to maintain the year-round human presence on Sable Island. Two federal departments, Environment Canada and Fisheries & Oceans, and the Government of Nova Scotia, agreed to jointly cover the shortfall of $500,000/year in order to keep the Station open until permanent funding could be arranged The Government of Canada makes a commitment to maintain the Station |
|
December 2004: On December 8th, 2004, John Duncan MP Vancouver Island North, Official Opposition Critic for Natural Resources, issued a press release that announced recommendations regarding the Sable Island Station. This initiated a small flurry of media coverage on the 10th and 11th. Unfortunately the coverage did little to clarify the situation, and repeated some oft-mentioned misconceptions regarding the role of the Sable Island Preservation Trust. |
|
November 2004: On November 17th, 2004, twenty-two Canadian scientists and conservationists signed an open letter to Minister Stéphane Dion (Environment Canada) and Minister Geoff Regan (Fisheries & Oceans Canada). The letter expressed concern regarding the possible closure or downsizing of the Sable Island Station, saying that either option “would be a grave and irreversible mistake.” |
|
October 2004: On October 5th, 2004, a public meeting about Sable Island was held at Saint Mary’s University, Halifax. It was attended by about 250 people, representing the broad Sable Island community. Both the attendance and the comments from the audience demonstrated a high level of public and professional interest in, and support for, the Sable Island Station. |
|
By early 2004, the future of the Sable Island Station had become very uncertain. Decreasing financial resources and on-going management issues had threatened the long-term security of the facility on the Island, and thus Sable Island itself was in jeopardy. After 200 years of continuous human presence and stewardship on Sable Island, discussions were underway regarding the future of the Station, and closing the Station was an option being considered by the Government of Canada. The following seven articles were prepared, in July 2004, to provide background information. Background: How We Got Here... “Risk Assessment” – Conservation Committee Roles of the Sable Island Station |