W A Ranches

One Health Summer Institute 2024

Program Description

The One Health Summer Institute (OHSI) 2024 is a week-long class and field-based program exploring a One Health approach to watershed planning. Learn how human activity impacts the Bow River Basin, which begins in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, and is a critical source of water supporting the basin’s human, animal, plant and ecosystem health and services as well as numerous economic activities in the region. Gain insight into the science, management strategies, and collaborative transdisciplinary skills necessary for sustaining the health and viability of the basin and the diverse ecosystems it contains. 

About

Climate, human activities and environmental change collectively pose an accelerating and complex threat to water supplies. There is an urgent need for transformative change by all water users to preserve the quantity and quality of water in our watersheds. The fourth annual OHSI aims to provide a program for participants from diverse backgrounds to come together and advance their understanding of the challenges facing global watersheds. Participants will develop their understanding of watershed science, foster collaborative skills and capabilities, and build transdisciplinary professional networks. This program is delivered jointly by the following University of Calgary organizations:

Program Details

  • Identify how to select appropriate indicators to measure and / or describe key hydrological, physical, chemical, and ecological indicators of change within the Bow River Watershed 
  • Explore how human systems interact with the physical, chemical, and biological processes in watersheds
  • Practice seeing the ecological relationships between human, animal, and environmental health 
  • Gain a scientific understanding of watershed management principles
  • Think critically about mitigation and adaptation responses to watershed change
  • Gain perspectives on Indigenous ways of knowing and its relationship with the One Health approach
  • Practice working collectively within a collaborative watershed governance scenario 
  • Date:  June 9 – 15, 2024
  • Time: Everyday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Format: In person, classroom sessions and field trips. All instruction and course materials will be in English.
  • Credit Information: This is a non-credit course. There will be no grades or assessments. There will be a group-based project with group presentation on the last day of the course. All participants will receive a certificate of completion.
  • Locations: This program is centered on the Bow River, from its source in the Icefields of the Rocky Mountains and following its course through Banff, the City of Calgary, and the surrounding prairie. 4 days will be held in Kananaskis area and 3 days in Calgary and area.
  • Travel to Calgary: Each participant will be responsible for the cost and arrangements for their travel to Calgary. For participants from outside Canada, please consult the Government of Canada website to learn more about applying for a visa. If you need a visa to enter Canada, please apply as soon as possible. Participants should be aware that it may be difficult to obtain your visa in time to participate.  
  • Travel during the course: For those requiring transportation to get to Kananaskis, we will provide a shuttle bus from UCalgary to the Barrier Lake research Station in Kananaskis on Day 1, June 9th. All other travels during the program will be by coach bus and is included in the cost.
  • Accommodation: For the Rocky Mountain portion of program (first 4 days and nights), classes and accommodation will be held at the Barrier Lake research Station in Kananaskis. It will be dormitory-style accommodation with shared rooms, bunk beds and shared washroom facilities. 

    For those requiring Calgary accommodations, we have reserved a block of 2- and 3-bedroom apartments in UCalgary student housing on the main campus. A room will be available at no cost to each participant on the night before the program begins, Saturday June 8 and for June 13 - June 15 (check out June 16). After registration closes, we will provide more information about how to reserve your bedroom.

  • Meals: For the Rocky Mountain portion of the program, all meals are included in the cost with the exception of one supper in the town of Banff where the participants will have free time for the evening and will be responsible for their own supper. 

    For the Calgary portion of the program, lunches will be provided but you will be responsible for your own breakfast and supper. 

  • Step 1: Fill out the application questionnaire: As spots in the program are limited, filling out this application is a crucial step. It helps us to understand your skills and competencies, enabling us to form a diverse group of participants and ensuring a meaningful and enriching experience for everyone involved. 
  • Deadline to submit your application: March 29, 2024. We review the applications as we receive them. 
  • Step 2: We will review your application and aim to communicate our decision to you via email by April 1, 2024, provided that you meet the criteria and are accepted. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
  • Step 3: Once we accept your application, you will receive the registration link from us. 
  • Cost: $500+Eventbrite registration fee ($533.83 CAD in total) for each participant. 

    This cost includes all learning materials, accommodation for entire duration of the program in Calgary and Kananaskis, all travels during the week of the program, food (except for one supper in the town of Banff and breakfast and supper for the Calgary portion). 

  • Contact: For questions regarding registration and payment, please contact Dr. Michele Anholt, rmanholt@ucalgary.ca.

Details are subject to change

Day 1: Sunday, June 9 - Staying in Kananaskis 

  • Morning: Meet at UCalgary and travel by bus to Kananaskis 
  • Afternoon: Introductions and ice-breaking activities; Indigenous opening and supper with Elders

Day 2: Monday, June 10 - Staying in Kananaskis 

  • Morning: Classroom and Field Study: Glaciers, mountains as water towers, and UNESCO chair; Chemical indicators and water testing
  • Afternoon: Classroom and Field Study: Biological indicators; Assessing the physical environment

Day 3: Tuesday, June 11 - Staying in Kananaskis 

  • Morning: Classroom: Water and environmental justice; Environmental law and governance Indigenous science and environmental policy-making
  • Afternoon: Travel to Bow Lake and Glacier: Water quality sampling and monitoring; Observe how human systems impact water quality and quantity; Dinner in Banff

Day 4: Wednesday, June 12 - Staying in Kananaskis 

  • Morning: Classroom: Introduction to dams, water treatment, sewage plants
  • Afternoon: Travel to Canmore: Tour Spray Lakes Reservoir, water treatment facility

Day 5: Thursday, June 13 - Staying in Calgary

  • Morning: Travel to Lafarge Cement Plant, Exshaw: Tour plant and meet with environmental manager
  • Afternoon: Other demands on the Bow River - tour and meet with managers: Lazy J Cattle Company; Harvey Passage; Western Irrigation District; Travel to Calgary

Day 6: Friday, June 14 - Staying in Calgary

  • Morning: Visit and tour Advancing Canadian Water Assets
  • Afternoon: Bow River Float Fish Creek to Policeman Flats; Discussion on fish habitat preservation and the sport fishery  

Day 7: Saturday, June 15 

  • All day: Travel to Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park on Siksika Indian Reserve; Meet with Knowledge Keepers and tour site; Project presentations; Indigenous Closing

Students, postdoc fellows and working professionals from all disciplinary backgrounds who are interested in:  

  • Learning about the implications of climate change and environmental degradation on global watersheds
  • Learning about the science supporting watershed management
  • Understanding how water users, communities, and governments can come together to make decisions, develop policies and improve watershed governance
  • Contributing to the discussions with their expertise, knowledge, and lived experience
  • Expanding their professional network of individuals working in diverse fields but with an interest in a One Health approach to complex problems

Testimonial

Heleen

I attended One Health Summer Institute 2022 which was an incredible experience! We learnt about the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to help address the complex problems we face today. The wide variety of expert speakers combined with the systems thinking approach opened my mind to the opportunities available when we work together. The experience enlightened me about the beautiful lifestyle of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the knowledge the Elders and community have to offer.

Heleen de Wit, International Student from the Netherlands


INSTRUCTORS

Michele Anholt

Consultant and Program Lead,

University of Calgary

rmanholt@ucalgary.ca

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Kelly Munkittrick

Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences

University of Calgary

kelly.munkittrick@ucalgary.ca

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Frederick Wrona

Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences

University of Calgary

frederickjohn.wrona@ucalgary.ca 

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Martyn Clark

Martyn Clark

Professor, Hydrology and Schulich Research Chair in Environmental Prediction

University of Calgary

martyn.clark@ucalgary.ca 

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Robert (Bob) Sandford

Robert (Bob) Sandford

United Nations University 

Institute for Water, Environment and Health 

robert.w.sandford@gmail.com

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Corinne Schuster-Wallace

Corinne Schuster-Wallace

Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Planning

University of Saskatchewan 

cschuster.Wallace@usask.ca 

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Tricia Stadnyk

Tricia Stadnyk

Professor, Department of Civil Geography, Chair: NSERC Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Hydrological Modelling, University of Calgary

Adjunct Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba

tricia.stadnyk@ucalgary.ca

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Kerry Black

Kerry Black

Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering

University of Calgary

kerry.black@ucalgary.ca

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Christine O'Grady

Christine O'Grady

Executive DirectorExecutive Director

Advancing Canadian Water Assets (ACWA)

christine.ogrady@ucalgary.ca 

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Benjamin Kissinger

Benjamin Kissinger

Lead the Water and Fish Program

fRI Research

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Myrle Ballard

Myrle Ballard

Associate Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment

University of Calgary

myrle.ballard@ucalgary.ca

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Niko A. Veriotes

Manager, Environment & Public Affairs

LafargeHolcim

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Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the One Health Summer Institute, or need any assistance in this regard, please contact us at onehealth@ucalgary.ca and we will assist you as soon as we can. 

Thank you! 

How can you support this program?

We are seeking donors to provide money for student scholarships. If you are interested in donating please contact Dr. Michele Anholt, Program Lead, at rmanholt@ucalgary.ca.