Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
Danni Gartshore, Master’s of Biology candidate at Lakehead University
Danni is currently researching the impacts of the invasive Spiny Water Flea on the growth of fish. She conducted her field work in Quetico Provincial Park in the summer of 2021, and is also looking at historical data dating back to the early 1970s.
It was another different year for the program with the pandemic continuing to affect travel at the border and within Canada. This year 2 artists in residence were successfully scheduled for the month of August for 2-week residencies at the park.
Unfortunately, circumstances made it so that both artists canceled their residencies just before arriving. One artist canceled due to a family emergency and another canceled because of the fire and smoke situation at the park in late August. We are hoping to offer the artist in residence program for all of the peak season in 2022 after another unusual year this year.
by: Kelly Brigham (letter from this year’s winner of the Shan Walshe Bursary)
Dear Selection Committee,
This fall I will be attending the University of Guelph, as I have accepted my offer of admission. While just beginning my post-secondary education, I look forward to completing my Bachelor of Science specializing in Environmental Sciences. This is a four-year program, and I couldn’t be more excited to attend and learn more about our environment. I knew I was interested in environmental sciences as my career path because of how much I love the outdoors. I grew up living on a lake where I developed my love for hunting, fishing, camping, horseback riding, hiking, snowshoeing, canoeing and so much more at a very young age, much like Shan Walshe. Some of my favourite memories of these activities took place in Quetico Provincial Park.
by: Michael Rennie, Associate Professor Lakehead University; Canada Research Chair in Freshwater Ecology and Fisheries
We are now into our second year of work in Quetico Provincial Park to investigate the impact of spiny water flea (or Bythotrephes to us scientists). Thanks to generous funding from the Quetico Foundation, we initiated our first full year of fieldwork in Quetico, with some different approaches than originally planned and modifications due to COVID, but were highly successful in gathering critical information to answer our research questions. Much of the fieldwork this summer was focused on collecting aging structures for walleye from lakes that will help us to answer questions about the potential negative impacts of Bythotrephes on early growth rates of Walleye, being led by MSc student Danielle Gartshore.
by: Katie Tripp
Most of the summer was spent working on the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas and moving songbird meters around the park. In addition to this work, other projects completed this summer include collecting depth and water clarity information from lake trout lakes so that each individual lake trout population’s risk from climate change can be assessed; sampling lakes for the presence of invasive Spiny Water Flea and monitoring trends in salamanders in the park. We also assisted the Lakehead University Quetico Foundation Research Partnership students in data collection for their thesis.
It is with great sadness that I have to report the passing of William Sargant, known by all as “Sarge”. For many years Sarge had fought the good fight against illnesses related to his diabetes until they finally got the better of him on Wednesday, August the 18th, 2021.
He was the Executive Director of the Quetico Foundation from 1997 to 2005 and since then has remained as Trustee Emeritus. During his time as Executive Director, he achieved the highest level of fundraising ever recorded for the Foundation. Under his watch, the Foundation prospered and was highly effective.
By: David C. Toop
This year was a memorable one for Quetico Park. We entered the season with Province-wide Covid restrictions in place. Day use was allowed, while the opening of the Dawson Trial campground was delayed by several weeks. Many of our guests are American, and the USA border did not open until well into August. This was too late and too restrictive to open our remote entry stations this season. From June onward, forest fires caused the closure of the southern part of the backcountry, and by late August, the entire backcountry. The Ridley Library opened again to park visitors, many of whom were in awe of our collection of local and indigenous archives.
During the last couple of months, Quetico Foundation challenged paddlers and nature enthusiasts to “Portage, Snap and Share” to raise awareness and funding for Quetico, the Iconic Wilderness Class Park. Thank you to everyone who took part in the challenge and donated. Congratulations to the following #QueticoPortageChallenge winners. Thank you to all the sponsors, we really appreciate your support!
Luiza Moczarski from the Quetico Foundation joins Paddling Adventure Radio to talk about the Foundation, the #QueticoPortageChallenge, and her experience paddling in Quetico.
Why Quetico?
Quetico is more than a provincial park – it is a place of awe, of history, of rich culture, and unparalleled nature that allows you to experience true tranquility and separation from modern distraction and stress. Quetico continues to teach those who visit and revisit its lakes, streams, and vast wilderness, deep respect, and appreciation for nature and its place as a home to many.
