Every year on December 11th, the world pays special attention to mountain peoples and places for International Mountain Day, which was created by the United Nations to highlight the important environmental, economic, social and spiritual benefits of mountains. This year’s theme is mountain biodiversity, as the topography of mountain regions makes them cradles and refugia for abundant and diverse life. Mountain regions are critical for biodiversity conservation in a changing world given their extent and coverage…

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The Canadian Mountain Network (CMN) is now in its second successful year of operations as an independent not-for-profit organization supporting the resilience and health of Canada’s mountain peoples and places through research partnerships based on Indigenous and Western ways of knowing that inform decision-making and action. We have recruited a stellar Board of Directors and committees, released our Strategic Plan, launched an initial 16 exciting research projects across Canada, developed a variety of complementary training…

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The Canadian Mountain Network (CMN) has strongly advocated for bringing multiple ways of knowing to the table to inform and enhance decision-making, including Indigenous and Western knowledge approaches. This why CMN is investing $3 million dollars for a series of place- and/or theme-based Knowledge Hubs to support mountain research combining Indigenous and Western ways of knowing and doing. CMN is calling all interested researchers, knowledge holders, other experts, and knowledge users from across Canada to…

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Murray Humphries, CMN Co-Research Director The Canadian Mountain Network (CMN) is thrilled to announce that Dr. Murray Humphries has been appointed Interim co-Research Director. In this role he will work in close collaboration with fellow co-Research Director Norma Kassi, with whom he has a longstanding research relationship. Dr. Humphries is a wildlife ecologist with extensive experience working in mountain regions across Canada and a passion for conservation, teaching, supporting local communities and conducting academic research…

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Reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples requires an open and honest conversation to understand our diverse histories and experiences. Only through this process of reconciliation will we be able to address the urgent environmental challenges we face today, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and public health and wellness. Indigenous ways of knowing must be meaningfully integrated into stewardship policy and decision-making processes so that our lands, waters and resources to provide for us now and…

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Caribou conservation is one of Canada’s most important ecological challenges. For millennia, many Indigenous Peoples lived alongside and relied upon caribou, a species of great cultural and ecological importance. Unfortunately, caribou populations have severely declined across Canada due to habitat loss caused by human activities, such as logging, dams and roads. The recovery of caribou populations brings together on legal, ecological and human-rights issues. Although restoration of caribou holds great promise for both reconciliation and…

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Stan Boutin and Norma Kassi After more than two years with the Canadian Mountain Network, Dr. Stan Boutin has transitioned out of his roles as co-Research Director and President, effective July 1, 2020. CMN’s Board of Directors is grateful for Boutin’s service and record of accomplishment.In 2018, Boutin provided collaborative leadership with CMN co-Research Director Norma Kassi to develop CMN’s successful application to the Government of Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence program and secure…

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While tourists and outdoor enthusiasts were unable to partake in their favorite mountain activities during the COVID-19 shutdown, the pause has also affected the tourism-based economies of mountain destinations. Now that some tourism destinations are reopening, how will COVID-19 affect Canada’s mountain destinations like Banff, Alberta? How will tourists approach travel in general? On this episode of the Canadian Mountain Podcast, the Mayor of Banff, Karen Sorenson, discusses how the shutdown has affected her town,…

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In the past, researchers would take helicopters to Indigenous communities, extract the information they needed and leave, often exploiting the community in the process. In recent years, there has been a strong movement of Indigenous and co-led research, where Indigenous communities are the driving force behind the studies. This episode explores some Indigenous-led initiatives that are being undertaken in partnership with the Canadian Mountain Network (CMN). Guests Dr Courtney Mason, William Snow and Dr. Aimee…

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Climate change is expected to significantly disrupt ecological communities. Climate change directly affects species by altering their habitat. However, indirect effects of climate change on species interactions, such as predation and competition, may have equally important impacts on species. These indirect effects may also amplify or counteract the direct effects of climate change on a species. Sedum species, the larval food plant of P. smintheus Researchers at the University of Alberta used modelling to test…

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