Caring for Canada12CHAPTER

Think of a natural area that is special to you. What ifthere was a threat to your special place? What could

you do? You might take positive steps as DavidGrassby did recently.

David Grassby was 12 years old when he read anarticle about environmental threats to OakbankPond near his home in Thornhill, Ontario. Daviddecided to help protect the pond and its wildlife.

David talked to classmates and communitymembers. He discovered that writing letters andinforming the media are powerful tools to getaction. He wrote many letters to the TownCouncil, the CBC, and newspapers. He appearedon several TV shows, including The Nature ofThings hosted by David Suzuki.

In each of his letters and interviews, Davidexplained the problems facing the pond andsuggested some solutions. For example, peoplewere feeding the ducks. This attracted too manyducks for the pond to support. Davidrecommended that the town install signsasking people not to feed the ducks.

The media were able to convince people tomake changes. David Grassby learned that itis important to be patient and to keep trying.He learned that one person can make adifference.

Today, Oakbank Pond is a naturepreserve, home to many birds such as ducks,Canada geese, blackbirds, and herons. It is apeaceful place that the community enjoys.

312

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:50 PM Page 312

What David Grassby did is anexample of active citizenship.He noticed a problem in hiscommunity and took action tosolve it. He did so because hefelt responsible for makingsure his environmentremained healthy. AcrossCanada, individual citizens,companies, schools, andorganizations are choosing tohelp protect the naturalresources of our country.

Inquiring Minds

Here are some questions toguide your inquiry for thischapter:

• What would happen if some of Canada’s resourcesran out?

• How do parks and protectedareas help preserve ournatural environment?

?

Canada: Our Stories Continue

313

To preserve means to keepin good condition or protect.

words matter !

Our natural resources combine to give Canada a speciallandscape. The beauty of this landscape inspired Emily Carr.Why do artists paint pictures of the environment they seearound them? This painting is titled Skidegate, Graham Island,British Columbia.

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:50 PM Page 313

314

Katie’s Inquiry

My dad works for Parks Canada. Thissummer, I am going with him when hevisits different protected areas inCanada. I looked on the Parks CanadaWeb site, and there are so many placeswe could visit—not just parks, butWorld Heritage Sites and even WorldBiosphere Reserves. I wonder:

• Why do so many places in Canadaneed protection?

• How does Parks Canada help to dothis?

• Is Parks Canada the only group thatis helping our environment?

I am going to take a lot of photoson my trip. I am also going to interviewsome people. I know my dad caresabout the environment, and I wonder ifpeople across Canada have the samefeelings.

Canada’s World Heritage Sites include national andprovincial parks and historic sites. These are chosen bythe United Nations because they are important toeveryone. The Historic District of Québec (above) andSGaang Gwaii, an island in British Columbia, are two ofthirteen sites in our country. There are five WorldHeritage Sites in Alberta—what are they?

■ Research why we havenational and provincialparks in Canada.

Skill Smart

World Biosphere Reserves are areas chosen by the UNbecause they are special. Their natural resources areconserved or used in a careful way. People usually livein these areas, too. Clayoquot Sound in BritishColumbia is one of these reserves.

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:50 PM Page 314

315

SKILLPOWER Planning an Interview

Interviews are one way we can learn from others. In an interview, oneperson asks questions and the other person answers them. The questionsare usually planned ahead and focus on a specific topic. To plan aninterview, follow these steps:

Step 1Think of a topic about which you would like to learn more. Write a listof questions. Try to make your questions “open” instead of “closed.”

Step 2Find a person who knows a lot about yourtopic and who would be willing to answeryour questions. Arrange a time to interviewthe person. Be sure you have your list ofquestions ready.

Step 3During the interview, listen to what theperson has to say. Record the answers to yourquestions. You can do this by taking notes orby asking the person if you can record theirvoice.

Step 4After the interview, think about what youlearned. Are there questions you wish youhad asked?

Practise the Skill

On page 314, Katie mentions many ways of caring for Canada. Choose the one that interests you most. It could be Parks Canada, World BiosphereReserves, World Heritage Sites, groups that help the environment, or anothertopic. Write ten “open” questions. Find an expert on your topic and ask theperson if you can do an interview.

Closed and OpenQuestions

Closed questions arequestions that can onlybe answered with yesor no. One example is“Did you help protectOakbank Pond?”

Open questions give a person a chance to say more. They oftenbegin with how or why.An example is “How did you help protectOakbank Pond?”

More About. . .

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:50 PM Page 315

What If Some of Canada’s ResourcesRan Out?

Every day, we breathe the air. We use water to flushthe toilet, drink, and wash. We eat foods from plantsand animals. When we watch TV, play computergames, or turn on a light, we are using electricity. Ifyou think about it, we could not survive withoutnatural resources.

As we go through our daily lives, we often forgetthe impact we have on the natural resources thatmake up our environment. We forget that we leavean environmental footprint. This footprint is the effectwe have on the environment when we use resources,create waste, and cause other changes.

Dirty FootprintsDid you ever wonder where all of our garbage goes?Often it goes to a landfill like the one shown below. Itmight be hard to believe, but each Canadian throwsout about one tonne of garbage each year!

What kind of environmental footprint do youthink landfills create? How do they affect the landand animals? How do they affect our quality of life?

Showers and baths

35%

Toilet flushing

30%

Laundry

20%

Water Use in the Home

Cleaning

5%Kitchen andKitchen anddrinkingdrinking

10%10%

Kitchen anddrinking

10%

According to this chart, what doCanadians use the most waterfor? How do you think usingwater in these ways affects ourenvironment? How could youreduce the amount of water youuse at home?

316

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:50 PM Page 316

Caring About CanadaSince Canada is so huge, it is hard to imagine thatany of our natural resources would ever run out.But remember what happened to the bison onthe Prairies? They were overhunted anddriven out of their habitat by settlers and thebuilding of the railway. Today there arealmost no bison left. Can you think of otherexamples of natural resources running out or being destroyed in an area? What effects would this have?

Canadians are faced with a problem. Many ofour activities have a negative impact on theenvironment, and therefore, on us. But we cannotstop building houses, driving, making products,logging, and mining. We depend on theseactivities for the way we live. They also providemillions of people with jobs. How can we live in ourenvironment and protect it at the same time? Who doyou think is responsible for preserving our resources?

317

Cause Effects

Clearing land for lumber ➞ Fewer natural areas and to build houses ➞ Destroys animal habitats

➞ More endangered species

Cars and factories ➞ Polluted air/smog create air pollution ➞ Health problems for people

and animals

Industries dump waste ➞ Polluted water that is not safe into waterways to drink

➞ Animals that live in or use waterways die

➞ Water is unsafe for swimming

Companies mine where ➞ Animals cannot find foodanimals live or migrate ➞ Destroys animal habitats

What other causes and effects can you add to this chart?Which of these causes has an effect on your quality of life?

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 317

KluaneNationalPark

AulavikNational

ParkYuntut National Park

NahanniNational Park

Gwaii HaanasNational Park

JasperNationalPark

BanffNationalPark

TuktutNogait

NationalPark

Kootenay National Park

Mount Revelstoke National ParkGulf Islands National ParkPacific Rim National Park

GlacierNational

Park

Yoho National Park

WapuskNational

Park

Riding MountainNational Park

Prince AlbertNational Park

GrasslandsNational Park

Waterton Lakes National Park

Wood BuffaloNational Park

Elk IslandNational Park

Ivvavik National Park

A12-01_CAG_R2

UkkusiksalikNational Park

318

How Do Parks and Protected Areas Help?Canada’s National Parks, World Heritage Sites,and World Biosphere Reserves

Parks Canada is part ofthe government. This mapwill give you an idea ofhow important they are toall areas of Canada!

This is Forillon National Park inQuébec.

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 318

QuttinirpaaqNational Park

SirmilikNational Park

Auyuittuq National Park

Terra NovaNational Park

Gros MorneNational Park

Torngat MountainsNational Park Reserve

Cape Breton HighlandsNational Park

Forillon National Park

Mingan ArchipelagoNational Park

Prince Edward Island National ParkKouchibouguac National Park

Saguenay-St. LawrenceMarine Park

La MauricieNational Park

PukaskwaNational Park

St. Lawrence Islands National Park

Georgian Bay Islands National Park

Point Pelee National Park

Fundy National Park

Kejimkujik National Park

Bruce PeninsulaNational Park

Fathom FiveNationalMarine Park

0 250 500

kilometres

N

S

W E

Legend

National Park

World Heritage Site

World Biosphere Reserve

319

Fathom Five National Marine Parkin Ontario helps to protect animalsand plants of the Great Lakes. Itsclear water and more than 20shipwrecks attract divers.

Thinking It Through

■ Find the national park on the map that isclosest to where you live. Why is it importantto protect this area?

■ How do you think national parks helpCanadians appreciate their country?

■ Why do you think there is at least onenational park in every province and territory?

Kejimkujik National Park is in NovaScotia. It protects the endangeredBlanding’s turtle.

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 319

320

Interview with Pauline Scott(Communications Manager, National Parks in Nunavut)

How do parks help preserve naturalresources?

Canada’s national parks help to protectexamples of every natural region foundacross the country. Within national parks,communities of plants and animals areprotected. Life goes on naturally. Somespecies that are endangered get special protection. Parks can alsoact as nurseries for species that go missing in areas outside theparks.

Whose responsibility do you think it should be to preserveCanada's national parks

The Government of Canada thinks it should be a partnershipbetween the people of Canada and the Parks Canada Agency.Aboriginal people help to co-manage some of our national parks.There is a responsibility for visitors to use these parks wisely andfor all citizens to care about them.

What do visitors to the parks do that hurts the environment?

There are many fun and exciting activities to do in Canada’snational parks. These activities can be done safely and withouthurting the environment. It is important to know how to behavein a park. Remember to stay on the trails to avoid damagingfragile plants. Pack out what you pack in. Help keep animalswild by not approaching or feeding them. Keep streams and lakesclean by not polluting them with garbage or human waste.

What can citizens do to help preserve Canada's parks?

The best way is to learn about them and to enjoy them. In thisway, we will all care more about our parks. We will want to makesure that we have them in the future for our children andgrandchildren. We can also join organizations that supportnational parks, such as Friends of the Parks groups. We can letour government representatives know that national parks areimportant to us. Learn all you can and encourage your parents tovacation at national parks and national historic sites.

Kluane National Park coversan area of 22 013 squarekilometres in the YukonTerritory. It was created topreserve Canada’s highestmountains, longest glaciers,and spectacular wildlife.

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 320

Provincial ParksProvinces and territories set aside special areas, too. Theseareas allow people to enjoy the natural beauty of wherethey live, but also help to protect the animals and plants.Provincial parks and protected areas do not allow activitiesthat will harm the natural environment. Only activitiesthat leave a small environmental footprint are allowed.

321

Urban ParksImagine that there was no place in your community to playbaseball or soccer, or to meet your friends. Citygovernments often create urban parks. These are greenspaces within a city where people can walk, cycle, picnic,and enjoy nature. Many of these parks also protect naturalresources, such as trees, rivers, and animals.

The Traillength in theYukon will

be 1600 km! It is a realwilderness experience.Here you are more likelyto meet a dog team onthe Trail than a skier. You can watch salmonand Arctic char in theclear water.

Parc du Mont-Tremblant is a provincial park in theLaurentian Mountains of Québec. Wolves, bears, raccoons,otters, moose, bald eagles, wolverines, and beavers are justsome of the animals protected by the park. What mightthreaten these animals?

How do urban parks, such as this one in downtown Calgary, improve the qualityof life of people living in cities?

Boating and fishing are allowed, but controlled, inprovincial parks. Why do you think this is done?

Activities Allowed Activities Not Allowed (but Limited) in in Most Provincial Provincial Parks Parks

Hiking Logging

Camping Mining

Cycling Hunting

Boating Trapping

Fishing

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 321

322

How Else Do Canadians Care forTheir Environment?

In school we learn about reducing, reusing, and recycling as ways to care for our environment. As I talked with people on my trip, I learned that there are many other things Canadians are doing.

M a k i n g a D i f f e r e n c e

The SEEDS Foundation

The SEEDS Foundation teaches students to

conserve our land. This organization has

several programs that encourage students to

protect the environment. Students have found

hundreds of ways to help conserve natural

resources. They turn off lights, collect

garbage, build composting sites, educate their

parents on how to conserve at home, recycle

paper, and several other projects.

The SEEDS Water Challenge encourages

students to conserve water so that enough

water is available for everyone. A national

water challenge is due to come out. It was

such a great idea that the government of

Canada continues with a national water

challenge to help preserve this important

resource.

The SEEDS Foundation encourages schools

to become Green Schools by doing projects

that enhance the environment. Imagine if

every school in Canada became a Green

School. What a difference that would make to

our environment!

SEEDS stands for “Society for Environmentand Energy Development Studies.” TheSEEDS Foundation is a Canadianorganization based in Calgary.

■ How “green” is your school? How could you encourageothers to make it “greener”? Design a persuasive posterthat shows different ways of caring for your schoolenvironment.

Skill Smart

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 322

Environmental GroupsYou have already learned that Canadians have very diversebackgrounds and experiences. They also have differentinterests and concerns, including concerns about theenvironment. Wherever you go in Canada, you will findorganizations that are working toward protecting ourenvironment in various ways. Here are just a few of thehundreds of organizations in Canada:

Green Kids

This group focuses on environmental education inelementary and middle schools. They use live theatre to gettheir message across to kids. Why do you think this iseffective?

Pollution Probe

This group works to reduce air and water pollution, and toconserve water and energy.

The David Suzuki Foundation

This foundation works to find ways that we can live inharmony with our natural world. Its members use scienceand education to share their message.

Zoocheck Canada

This organization works to protect wild animals, especiallythose kept in zoos and aquariums in Canada. Often, theseanimals are very poorly treated. Many cannot stay healthyin our climate because Canada is so different from theirnatural habitat.

323

ThinkingIt Through

■ Why do you thinkthere are so manydifferentenvironmentalgroups in Canada?

■ If you were going tojoin a group thatworks to protect theenvironment, howwould you choosewhich one to join?What would youwant to know beforeyou make yourdecision?

Some zoos own large areas ofland. This allows them to buildspecial animal habitats that arevery similar to those found inthe wild. How are these zoos,such as the one shown below inQuébec, helping to protectnatural resources?

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 323

Canadian Companies

324

Voices of Canada

Environmental Report Card

Each year we set goals to try and make our company more environmentallyfriendly. It’s kind of like a report card, only it measures how well we are takingcare of the air, water and land... Our job is to help feed the 6.6 billion people who are on the planet today, and to manage our resources so that we may feedthe 8 billion people who will be on our planet in just 20 years.

Interviewee from PotashCorp, Saskatoon, SK

I know that some factories can create a lot of pollution. I also know that many of these factories—and other companies—are trying hard to take care of the environment. I did a phone interview with onecompany to find out how it does this.

What does your company do?

We gather [plant] nutrients, which are found in

nature, and provide them to farmers. Farmers around

the globe use our products to grow crops.

What natural resources is your company involved

with?

[One of the nutrients is called potash.] Potash is a

salt that was left over from oceans that evaporated

millions of years ago. We get potash from the

ground.

What does your company do to make sure we will

have enough resources in the future?

We put things back the way we found them. For

example, when we mine phosphate from the ground,

we not only replace any wetlands that may have

been [damaged], we also create additional wetlands.

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 324

325

Other SolutionsMany Canadian companies have come up with ways toprotect the environment and use our natural resources atthe same time. Several companies recycle, reduce, andreuse, just as you do at home and at school. Loggingcompanies plant new trees to replace the ones they cutdown. Hydro companies put young fish into the waterwaysthey use for electricity.

Some companies invent new products that are friendlierto the environment. Have you ever seen a hybrid car?Hybrid vehicles run on both gasoline and battery power.They create less pollution and use less fuel. How does thisaffect the environmental footprint they create?

Think about the items you use every day. Most of them were manufacturedsomewhere. What do you see here at this mill in Grand Forks, British Columbia?What are the workers doing?

Most hybrid cars look the same asnon-hybrid cars.

Thinking It Through

■ Find out if companies can be recognized for their effortsto minimize negative impact on the environment.

? Critical Inquiry TIP

Evaluating

When you find informationabout a company on itsWeb site, remember to askyourself:

• What is the purpose ofthe company’s Website?

• What informationmight a company notput on its Web site?

• Where can I go formore balancedinformation?

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 325

ViewpointsViewpoints

326

What Other Types of EnergyCould We Use?Have you ever thought about how you get the power that isused to run a computer or TV, or to heat your home? InAlberta, most electricity is produced from burning coal. Mosthomes are heated using natural gas. Both coal and naturalgas are non-renewable energy sources. Once they are used up,no more can be produced. Most cars and trucks use non-renewable energy sources—gasoline and oil.

Some people think we should look for and use renewableenergy sources. For example, one Canadian company calledHydrogenics is working on using hydrogen—a gas made fromwater—to power vehicles. Another company is experimentingwith using ocean tides to create electricity. What are someother ways we could replace non-renewable energy sourceswith renewable ones?

Drake Landing in Okotoks,Alberta, is the firstcommunity in Canada todepend almost completelyon solar energy. Solarpanels on every house willprovide 90% of thehouses’ energy needs.

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 326

327

1. Consider the viewpoints. What is each person trying to accomplish?

Over to You

327

Ontario has set a goal to shut down

coal plants altogether. They are very

serious about cleaning up the air, and

there simply isn’t a better energy

choice than wind.

Theresa Howland, Manager of Green Energy

Marketing at Vision Quest

I saw a commercial today fornuclear energy. It said that nuclearpower is cleaner than coal power.But isn’t it dangerous, too?

Food or Fuel?Corn is not only afood. It can also beused to make ethanol,a clean-burningrenewable fuel. FirstNation EthanolDevelopment insouthern Ontario plans to use locallygrown corn to make ethanol. The companyhopes to start similar businesses acrossCanada. These businesses will provide jobsfor hundreds of First Nations people. Theywill also help conserve natural gas andcreate less pollution.

Our power plant is burning coal tomake electricity and heat in a waythat doesn’t give off so manyemissions.

Genesee Generating Station, Alberta

The Seabird Island First Nation

housing project has provided us

with a unique opportunity to

incorporate our traditions but in a

modern way... The earth tubes

and radiant floor heating and

cooling system is far from new

technology; our ancestors built

their pit homes in-ground where

it was cool in the summer and

warm in the winter.

Marcie Peters, Seabird Island First Nation

Council

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 327

328

Plan an Interview

Choose a topic in this chapter that interests you. Think of someoneyou could interview to learn more about the topic. Follow these steps:1. Think. Come up with ten questions. They should help you learn as

much as possible about your topic.2. Pair. Review the Skill Power on page 315. With a partner, discuss

whether each of the questions is “open” or “closed.” Change eachclosed question to an open one whenever possible.

3. Share. Explain your changes to another pair of students.

Consider Your Environmental Footprint

Make a board game that shows what you have learned aboutenvironmental footprints. You will need • a game board with a Start, a Finish, and spaces in between• an object to represent each player• a way to decide how many spaces each player will move in a turn In some of the spaces on your game board, write things thatCanadians do to help the environment. In other spaces, write thingswe do that hurt the environment. Players should move forward orbackward depending on where their object lands.

Persuade an Audience

Research a park or a World Heritage Site near you. Find out itspurpose. Why is it important? What does it protect? What does itteach? What does it provide to the community? Create a brochureencouraging people to visit the site. Remember to use interestingimages and persuasive language.

Build Your Skills!

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 328

Inquiring Minds?

Take Time to Reflect

This year you have learned about the diversity of Canada’sresources. Animals, lakes, trees, and land are just a few.Which one means the most to you? Why? Write aparagraph about the resource you care about the most,and the ways in which you can help to protect it. Addyour work to your Canada Collection.

Review the inquiry questions for this chapter:• What would happen if some of Canada’s resources ran out?• How do parks and protected areas help preserve our natural environment?

Putting It All Together

329

My tour of Canada’s protected areas was amazing! I learned somuch about the environment and about how Canadians areworking together to help conserve our resources.

How Do Parks Help?

• protect specia

l areas of C

anada

and endangered specie

s

• help people enjoy and learn

about the enviro

nment

What Other Types of

Energy Could We Use?

• renewable energy sources:

ocean tides, sun, wind, nuclear

• can use hydrogen and

ethanol to run cars

Caringfor

Canada How Else Do Canadians

Show Their Concern?

• some companies take responsibility

for protecting the environment

• many different environmental

programs all over Canada

Why Should We Care?

• our use of resource

s leaves

an environmental fo

otprint

• need to

decide how to

use

resources b

ut protect t

hem, too

312-329_Ch12_F2 2/1/07 4:51 PM Page 329