From the Ground Up

This episode has two segments. We also hear briefly about the impacts of oil and gas activities on Alberta farmers who have legal support from EcoJustice, and then we explore recycling in Saskatoon (and area) with Ann Goulding of SK Recycles (skrecycles.ca). She explains the organization’s role in building stronger recycling systems in Saskatchewan.

Join us for a special conversation with Mark Bigland-Pritchard as he reflects on 10 years of hosting and co-hosting From the Ground Up. Mark shares memories, lessons, and highlights from a decade of conversations about climate, community, and the people working for a more sustainable future. We wish Mark well on his future endeavours!

This week, Dr. Kimberlee Dubé talks to Daniel about the stratosphere, the science behind it, and what that has to do with climate.

Mark and Bill Darnell talk about the past and present of Greenpeace: "a network of independent organisations that use peaceful, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and develop solutions for a green and peaceful future."For more information, please visit:https://www.greenpeace.org/international/

This episode explores fossil fuel-related issues in Saskatchewan and Alberta. We’ll look at the costs and risks of extending coal-fired power generation in Saskatchewan, including a summary of a recent Pembina Institute report. Then, we’ll hear from Albertans living with the impacts of orphaned oil and gas wells, and fighting back on the industry's legacy with Ecojustice's support.

Join us for Part 2 of our discussion on AI and data centres in Saskatchewan. Hear directly from Saskatoon residents as they share their concerns and perspectives about the presence of data centres in our province.

Dr. Victoria Ng of the Public Health Agency of Canada has been monitoring the effects of climate change on mosquitoes - and the diseases they transmit - since 2004. She joined FTGU to talk about some of the changes she's seen over her career, and her work in forecasting the future.For more information on the TIMO-CS citizen science project, visit https://letstalkscience.ca/outreach/uwindsor/local-programs/timo-cs. You can follow along at the study's online dashboard, at https://timo-cs.shinyapps.io/timo-cs-meteo/.Papers discussed:Khan, Salah Uddin, Nicholas H. Ogden, Aamir A. Fazil, et al. 2020. “Current and Projected Distributions of Aedes Aegypti and Ae. Albopictus in Canada and the U.S.” Environmental Health Perspectives 128 (5): 057007. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5899.Ng, V., Ee Rees, Rl Lindsay, et al. 2019. “Could Exotic Mosquito-Borne Diseases Emerge in Canada with Climate Change?” Canada Communicable Disease Report 45 (4): 98–107. https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v45i04a04.Greer, Amy, Victoria Ng, and David Fisman. 2008. “Climate Change and Infectious Diseases in North America: The Road Ahead.” Canadian Medical Association Journal 178 (6): 715–22.https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.081325Pan, Tiffany, Michaela Seal, Hailey Shaw, et al. 2025. “First Record of Culex Pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) in Alberta: Expanding Distributions and Ecotype Patterns in a Western Canadian Province.” Journal of Medical Entomology 62 (2): 461–64. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjae150.Hongoh, V., L. Berrang-Ford, M. E. Scott, and L. R. Lindsay. 2012. “Expanding Geographical Distribution of the Mosquito, Culex Pipiens, in Canada under Climate Change.” Applied Geography 33 (April): 53–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2011.05.015.Ng, Victoria, Aamir Fazil, Philippe Gachon, et al. 2017. “Assessment of the Probability of Autochthonous Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Canada under Recent and Projected Climate Change.” Environmental Health Perspectives 125 (6): 067001. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP669.

Join us for a two part discussion on data centres in Saskatchewan. For part one DiLynn and Taya join us from Regina to talk about their organization No Data Centres on Treaty Land and their work with Saskatoon. In a coming episode we will hear from the residents of Saskatoon.