The University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, is hosting a public panel discussion on March 12, 2026, to talk about the future of protecting Canada’s natural environment. The event will begin at 1:00 PM in Room 442 of the University Centre, where a group of experts will gather to discuss the country’s climate goals and how to balance nature protection with community needs.
The panel includes several prominent figures, such as Catherine McKenna, who served as Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. She will be joined by Julie Gelfand, a former commissioner who worked on environmental and sustainable development, as well as conservation advocate Sabine Jessen and policy specialist Lisa McLaughlin.
The discussion will cover important national topics like the goal to protect 30 per cent of Canada’s land and water by the year 2030. The group also plans to talk about reconciliation with Indigenous communities regarding land management and how to ensure a fair transition for workers and industries as environmental policies change.
This event provides an opportunity for local residents to hear directly from people who have shaped environmental policy at a national level. The university frequently hosts these types of public forums because of its long history of research and education in environmental sciences.
