1. NS Rural Communities Foundation AGM Brennan Caverhill - April 30, 2009 - Truro, Nova Scotia EMPOWER!

2. Disclaimer

3. Outline About MTRI –Facility Main Building, Bunkhouse, and Portable Station –Research Aquatic Health, Forests, Species at Risk –Education Seminars, Workshops, and more! EMPOWER! –Partners, Timeline, Main Objective

4. Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve

5. Main Building

6. Bunkhouse

7. Portable Research Station

9. Research on Aquatic Health

10. Research on Forest Health

11. Research on Species at Risk

12. Education & Outreach

13. More outreach!

14. Community Monitoring

15. EMPOWER! “Creating a network of young environmental leaders in the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve”

16. EMPOWER! Partners –Kejimkujik National Park –Bear River First Nations –Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association –Nova Forest Alliance –North Queens Schools –Lakehead and Acadia Universities

17. EMPOWER! Timeline –Spring: program research and development Hire junior high students for farm market –Communication skills, continuity –Summer: program implementation Hire high school students to do the work –Technology, leadership, environmental/social issues –Fall: conference, retreat, summary, visioning Considerations –Canon Envirothon –Gulf Of Main Institute

18. EMPOWER! Main Objective: –“Empower youth and enrich our rural communities”

19. THANK YOU! Questions?