2017 Conference Program

Monday, June 5^th

3:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Conference registration in Conference Office, first floor

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Pre-conference professional development: Partnership Brokering Course, (Victoria Room). Click here for more information.

Pre-conference field trips: Click here to view pre-conference field trip options (including June 4th trip to St. Andrews)

Noon – 4 p.m.

Meeting of the Low Carbon Funders Group (Carleton Room)

6:30 – 9 p.m.

Welcome Reception at Delta Hotel: Remarks begin at 6:50 p.m.

Welcome by Wolastoq Grand Chief Ron Tremblay

Remarks by Hon. Serge Rousselle, Q.C., Minister of Environment and Local Government, Attorney General,  Government of New Brunswick

Remarks by David Coon, MLA Fredericton South and Leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick.

Entertainment throughout the evening by Frantically Atlantic.

Tuesday, June 6^th

All plenary sessions for the conference will take place in the Grand Ballroom DE, with the exception of the conference dinner and the June 6th lunch.

6:45 – 7:30 a.m.

Optional Morning Activities:

Yoga: Begin your day with a 45-minute, beginner-friendly yoga class themed around building renewable energy in the body. Meet on the back lawn of the hotel.

Morning walk: Meet Molly Demma, St. John River Society, in the hotel lobby.

8 – 9 a.m.

Breakfast

8:15 – 9 a.m.

Day One Breakfast Conversations

These conversations are an optional opportunity to learn about issues and initiatives that may not be covered by the conference program.  No pre-registration required.

Confirmed conversations include:

• A Once in a Generation Opportunity – Reforming Canadian Environmental Laws. Co-hosted by Fred Ackerman-Munson, 444S Foundation and Jen Lash, New Venture Fund
• Our Living Waters: Tracking the Freshwater Community’s Progress Towards All Waters in Good Health by 2030. Hosted by Wendy Cooper, Tides Canada
• Opportunities for Ocean Funders (this is a funders-only discussion). Co-hosted by Amy Buskirk, Donner Canadian Foundation, and Meaghan Calcari Campbell, The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
• Connecting People and Nature. Co-hosted by Karen Shelstad, The Lawson Foundation and Karen Keenleyside, Parks Canada
• Where Are the Grant Dollars Going? What the Data Tells Us. Co-hosted by Sandy Hoang, CEGN, and Michael Lenczner, Powered by Data
• Nurturing More Sustainability Funding for Atlantic Canada. Co-hosted by Andre Chenard, Environment and Local Government, Government of New Brunswick, Sandy Thurber, Fundy Community Foundation, Colleen McNeil, Environment Canada, and Carolyn Scotchmer, TD Friends of the Environment

9  – 9:30 a.m.

Conference Opening

Welcome by Imelda Perley, Elder in Residence, Mi’kmaq Wolastoqey Centre, University of New Brunswick, and Miigam’agan, Elder in Residence, St. Thomas University

Welcome and Orientation by Conference Co-chairs: Burkhard Mausberg, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, and Megan Tate, The Winnipeg Foundation.

9:30– 10 a.m. 

Forging a Sustainable Future in Uncertain Times: Opening Keynote by Bruce Anderson, Summa Strategies.

10 – 10:45 a.m.

The Mouse and the Elephant: Perspectives on the Canada/U.S. Relationship and Implications for North American Environmental Goals. Panel discussion moderated by Dave Secord, Barnacle Strategies. The panelists are: Bruce Anderson, Summa Strategies; Erin Flanagan, Pembina Institute; Aileen Lee, The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; and Anthony Swift, NRDC.    Meet the panel

10:45 – 11:15 a.m.

Networking Break

11:15 a.m.  – 12:15 p.m.

Perspectives from Indigenous Leaders and allies on advancing a Sustainable Future. Panel discussion will be moderated by Dr. Heather Castleden, Canada Research Chair in Reconciling Relations for Health, Environments and Communities. The panelists are:  Merrell-Ann Phare, Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources; Lana Lowe, Fort Nelson First Nation;  Miigam’agan, Elder in Residence, St. Thomas University; and Patricia Saulis, Maliseet Nation Conservation Council. Meet the panel

12:15 – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch (Governor’s Ballroom AB)

Lunch will include brief presentations on three Sustainability Initiatives in Atlantic Canada. Meet the speakers

• The Peace and Friendship Alliance’s work to build common cause in support of a healthy environment for New Brunswick, with remarks by Wolastoq Grand Chief Ron Tremblay
• Ecology Action Centre’s work to transform fisheries to ensure the health of both the ocean and coastal communities, with remarks by Katie Schleit
• WWF Canada and ACAP Saint John’s work to ensure watershed health throughout New Brunswick, with remarks by Simon Mitchell and Graeme Stewart-Robertson

1:30 – 3 pm.

Conundrum Sessions: Wrestling with Thorny Problems in Advancing Sustainability. This session will be facilitated by Tim Merry. Participants need to pre-select their conundrum before the conference in response to on-line survey or at the registration desk. Meet the session leaders

• Grant Dollars Aren’t Enough: How Do We Harness Foundation Endowments to Advance a Sustainable Future? Co-hosted by Andrea Nemtin, The Inspirit Foundation, and Andrea Moffat, Ivey Foundation
• We’re on Board with Reconciliation, but How Do We Get There? Co-hosted by Wanda Brascoupé Peters, The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, and Bruce Lawson, The Counselling Foundation
• We’re Trying to Change Policy. How Do We Know if We’re on Track? Hosted by Jamie Gamble, Independent Evaluation Consultant
• The Science on Climate Change Is Clear, but Action Is Slow. How Do We Ramp Up Public Support to Ensure a Sustainable Future?  Co-hosted by Dr. Louise Comeau, Conservation Council of New Brunswick and Bernard Rudny, Independent Consultant
• Moving Forward, How Can We Ensure that our Sustainability Goals Are Intrinsically Linked to our Goals for Greater Social and Economic Equality? Co-hosted by Jenn Miller, Atkinson Foundation, and Saeed Selvam, Laidlaw Foundation
• The Federal Government’s Commitment to Ocean Health Is Impressive, Welcome, and Ambitious. How Can We Work Together to Ensure that Canada Meets the Goal of Having 20% of Canada’s Coastal Waters Protected by 2020? Hosted by Meaghan Calcari Campbell, The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
• The Irving Group of Companies Has a Major Influence on New Brunswick’s Economy, Politics, and Natural Resources. How Do We Work Collaboratively Towards Environmental Sustainability in this Context?  Co-hosted by Dr. Tom Beckley, University of New Brunswick; Lois Corbett, Conservation Council of NB, and Sabine Dietz, Nature NB
• Achieving a Sustainable Future Is a Task for All Generations. How Do We Engage Youth? Co-hosted by Renata Woodward, Nature Trust of New Brunswick, and Karen Shelstad, The Lawson Foundation
• We Protect What We Love, but Canadians Are Increasingly Disconnected from Nature. How Do We Restore the Relationship? Co-hosted by Paula Noel, Nature Conservancy of Canada, and Karen Keenleyside, Parks Canada
• Canada Needs to Be a Smarter Mouse When There’s a Bucking Elephant Down South. How Can Funders and NGOs Influence, Lead, Inform, and Defend Wise North American Policies and Decisions in Trumpish Times? Co-hosted by Dave Secord, Barnacle Strategies, and Aileen Lee, The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

3 – 3:30 p.m.

Networking Break

3:30 – 3:45 p.m. 

Personal Perspective on Advancing a Sustainable Future:  Ed Whittingham, Executive Director of Pembina Institute

3:45– 5 p.m.

Advancing a Sustainable Future: The Role for Funders.  Panel Discussion: A group of  funders will share stories of successes and challenges in grantmaking with a special focus on moving the sustainability dial. Panel discussion will be moderated by Tim Merry. Panelists include: Marcel Lauzière, the Lawson Foundation, Jenn Miller, the Atkinson Foundation, Stephen Huddart, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, and Andrea Nemtin, Inspirit Foundation. Meet the panel

5 – 5:30 p.m.

CEGN AGM.  Don’t miss this year’s AGM, which will have a special focus on CEGN’s new strategic plan (as well as local beer!). All participants are welcome to attend.

6:30  – 10 p.m.

Reception and Dinner at the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market (665 George Street). Reception will start at 6:30 and will include songs by Wolastoquey Sisters, Judie Miksovsky and Angee Acquin. Dinner will follow at 7:15 p.m. The evening will include a brief presentation by The Gordon Foundation and WWF Canada, Data To Action: Empowering Communities and Protecting Watersheds.

Wednesday,  June 7^th

6:45 – 7:30 a.m.

Optional Morning Activities: 

Yoga: Meet on back lawn of hotel.

Morning walk: Meet Paula Noel, Nature Conservancy of Canada, in hotel lobby.

8 – 9 a.m.

Breakfast

8:15 – 9 a.m.

Day Two Breakfast Conversations

These conversations are an optional opportunity to learn about issues and initiatives that may not be covered by the conference program.  No pre-registration required.

Confirmed conversations include:

• Canada’s Place in the Global Agenda to Save Biodiversity and Wild Places. How Is the Country Faring? Hosted by Justina Ray, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada
• Getting Results that Matter: Working in Partnership with Grantees to Generate Better Evaluation. Hosted by Ben Liadsky, Ontario Nonprofit Network
• Data-Driven Initiatives to Monitor and Improve the Health of Freshwaters. Co-hosted by Carolyn DuBois, The Gordon Foundation and Liz Hendriks, WWF Canada
• A Once in a Generation Opportunity – Reforming Canadian Environmental Laws. Co-hosted by Fred Ackerman-Munson, 444S Foundation and Jen Lash, New Venture Fund (offered a second time)
• Reconciliation and Philanthropy: The Conversation Continues. Hosted by Wanda Brascoupé Peters, The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada and Valerie Lemieux, The Catherine Donnelly Foundation
• Catalyzing Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Co-hosted by Karina Leblanc, Pond Deshpande Centre, University of New Brunswick and Stephen Huddart, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation
• Advancing a Low Carbon Economy: Shifting the Investment Priorities of Pension Holders. Co-hosted by Andrea Moffat, Ivey Foundation and John Cook, Greenchip Financial

 9 a.m.

Welcome and recap by Conference Co-chairs

9:15 – 10:30 a.m.

Public policy, Advocacy and Political Activities: Uncertainties and Possibilities. The panel will be moderated by Shari Austin. The panelists are: Hilary Pearson, Philanthropic Foundations of Canada, Tim Gray, Environmental Defence, and Susan Manwaring, Miller Thomson Meet the panel

10:30 – 10:45 a.m.

Networking Break

10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Frontline Perspectives on Advancing Sustainability

Panel Discussion of ENGO Leaders moderated by Lois Corbett, Conservation Council of New Brunswick. The panelists are: Justina Ray, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Josh Laughren, Oceana, Devon Page, Ecojustice, and Catherine Abreu, Climate Action Network. Meet the panel

Noon – 2 pm

Lunch with Keynote Speaker – Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Inuit activist and author of The Right to Be Cold

2 – 2:15 p.m.

Closing Remarks