Issue 57
September 15, 2005

EnviroZine: Environmnent Canada's On-line Newsmagazine

You are here: EnviroZine > Issue 57 > Feature 3

First Class Citizens

Man sitting on the shore of First Lake, Sackville, Nova Scotia. Click to enlarge.

Imagine having unlimited access to a state-of-the-art ecology laboratory right next to your school. This was the dream of teachers at Sackville High School; to use nearby First Lake in Sackville, Nova Scotia to practice hands-on environmental learning in a real-life situation that was meaningful to their students.

Over the last year, their dream became a reality. This thanks to the hard work of a number of dedicated teachers, students and the sponsorship of the Nova Scotia Teachers' Union, and an Environment Canada-led project called RésEau.

Several classes became involved in the First Lake Ecology Project. Not only were the science classes involved with water sampling projects but students also developed a suite of communication materials including a website, brochures, posters and a bilingual film.

The Project

The idea arose from community concerns about the declining quality of First Lake. A poster created by students asks: "First Lake changed from pristine water to the province's 'biggest mud puddle.' Why did this happen?"

Students conducted water sampling to learn more about the scientific methods used to understand how ecological changes can occur. As part of the project, geography students developed a historical poster of First Lake dating back to the 1930s and 40s when the lake's ice was used for refrigeration. The poster contains historical aerial photos showcasing the changing environment surrounding the lake.

Map indicating location of First Lake, Sackville, Nova Scotia. Click to enlarge.

During the 1970s new housing development and urban expansion resulted in extensive erosion, turning the lake a deep muddy brown. So much so that the lake was known by pilots; its muddy brown colour acted as a landmark when flying over the area.

The First Lake Ecology Project culminated in an evening presentation at Sackville High School. The event drew many community members including elected officials, students, teachers and local residents. At the event, students presented a bilingual documentary film they produced on the project. The film showed footage of students collecting water samples, analyzing data, and interviewing each other on their experiences with the project.

Fast Facts

First Lake, once a community swimming area is now often an unsafe place to swim due to water quality.

Sackville's storm sewers carry runoff from the land into the lake.

Sackville High School students created online maps, a website and a video on First Lake water quality.

RésEau aims to demonstrate the sharing, discovery, access and use of water information over the Internet.

Related Sites

First Lake Ecology Project

RésEau

Sackville Rivers Association

Nova Scotia Teacher's Union

These activities have been overwhelmingly successful in immersing students in the collection, analysis, reporting and delivery of water quality information on a local scale. Teachers involved feel the project has the potential to offer an entirely new way to deliver the science curriculum. Students have learned about scientific principles and ecological processes in a real-life context that is expressly meaningful to them. This real-life application of scientific principles was one of the main reasons the project was supported by RésEau.

The RésEau initiative, led by Environment Canada, demonstrates the sharing, discovery, access and use of water information over the Internet. In the coming months, RésEau's website will be displaying water data from Environment Canada along with data collected from its sixteen funded partnership projects, including the First Lake Ecology Project.

Creating Awareness

Aerial photo of First Lake, Sackville, Nova Scotia. Click to enlarge.

The First Lake Ecology Project has also helped create a dialogue in the community to begin action to restore the lake's condition. Actions such as reduced use of fertilizers and pesticides are being promoted to encourage residents to reduce their impact on the lake. Signs warning people that the water is unsafe for swimming have already alerted the community to the health risks of the lake's reduced recreational capacity – once a primary use of the lake.

With the involvement of the Sackville Rivers Association who have championed awareness and cleanup efforts on the lake, and the engagement of local residents and decision-makers, expect to hear more about how grassroots action will make a difference in this community.

Print Version

E-mail This Story To A Friend

Also in this Issue

	\| What's New \| About Us \| Topics \| Publications \| Weather \| Home \|
	\| Help \| Search \| Canada Site \|
	The Green LaneTM, Environment Canada's World Wide Web site
		Important Notices

Issue 57 September 15, 2005

First Class Citizens

The Project

Creating Awareness

Issue 57
September 15, 2005