Southern Alberta Group for the Environment (SAGE)

Southern Alberta Group for the Environment (SAGE)

Rights for Rivers

Ecojustice campaign to recognize the Athabasca Basin as a legal person. Donations are being welcomed. From Ecojustice (https://ecojustice.ca/news/conservation-group-seek-legal-persohood-status-for-athabasca-river-basin/): Here’s what’s happening: Canadian Natural Upgrading Ltd (CNUL) has applied to the Alberta Energy Regulator to renew its permits for the Jackpine Mine, a massive open-pit oil sands mine 70 kilometres north of Fort McMurray. This industrial […]

News Release: MD of Taber breaks promise of protection. Votes for irrigation on native grassland.

This week, the Municipal District (MD) of Taber council voted in favour of proceeding with a planned irrigation project that would convert six sections of municipal public native grasslands into irrigated cropland, despite previous promises to not convert this grassland. Alberta Wilderness Association, along with conservation organizations, joined the Municipal District of Taber grazing lessees, […]

Grassland Conversion near Taber

SAGE Submission to Municipal District of Taber I appreciate the opportunity to address you today on the proposed conversion of 24 quarter sections of native grassland to irrigated cropland on public lands within the MD of Taber. My comments are relevant to Agenda Item 9.1 Scope Reservoir Joint Project – Bow River Irrigation District and […]

Lorne Fitch: The Discontinuity of Plastic

Lorne Fitch is a Professional Biologist, a retired Fish and Wildlife Biologist and a past Adjunct Professor with the University of Calgary. He is the author ofStreams of Consequence, Travels Up the Creek, and Conservation Confidential. Garlands of festively coloured plastic festoon the fences, shrubs, and trees. Intricate patterns accumulate on storm drains, in window […]

Lorne Fitch: Is Conservation Doomed?

Lorne Fitch is a Professional Biologist, a retired Fish and Wildlife Biologist and a past Adjunct Professor with the University of Calgary. He is the author of Streams of Consequence, Travels Up the Creek, and Conservation Confidential. In a world of climate-related disasters, mounting pollution, biodiversity loss, and loss of critical ecological functions it’s easy […]

Lorne Fitch Lethbridge Book Launch

Wondering what to do on a Friday evening in late September? Please join me for a launch of my third book, Conservation Confidential: A Biologist Investigates the Clash Between Progress and Nature. It’s a real life whodunit. Analog Books (322 6th Street South) is again hosting the event, on September 26, starting at 6:00 pm. Consider going […]

MD of Taber Reversing Course on Municipal Public Grassland Protection?

August 26, 2025 Conservation organizations, Municipal District of Taber Grazing Lessees and the Vauxhall Stock Grazing Association are concerned about current investigations by the MD into the feasibility of converting 6 sections (about 15 sq. km) of municipal public native grasslands into irrigated cropland. The Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Alberta Wilderness Association, Canadian […]

Changes to Selenium Standards Reduces Water Protection

[The federal government (Environment and Climate Change Canada ) is seemingly set to change the coal mine effluent regulations, dramatically increasing how much selenium can be released into streams, rivers, and lakes. These proposed new standards ignore the limits prescribed in the science of ecotoxicity. If adopted, this will have devastating impacts on water quality, […]