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The Secrets of the St. Lawrence revealed at the Musée de la civilisation
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| Photo: Musée de la civilisation, Idra Labrie (Perspective) |
The Musée de la civilisation de Québec will be the scene of a flurry of activities during a week-long event to be held from October 27 to November 2 devoted to revealing the secrets of the mighty St. Lawrence River. Activities planned during this special week organized by the government partners in connection with the 20th anniversary of the St. Lawrence Plan include scientific lectures, popular lectures, films, information booths, poster sessions, panel discussions and even a distance learning activity for young people.
The scientific lectures will give participants an opportunity to hear the latest news about the estuary’s beluga herd. Participants will learn about invasive alien species in the St. Lawrence and about recent physical changes as well as changes in the chemical and bacteriological contamination of the river. Shoreline erosion, the status of fishery resources and research in Lake Saint-Pierre will also be among the topics discussed. To bring this portion of the program to a close, scientists will hold a panel discussion on the environmental gains and set-backs affecting the St. Lawrence as well as the new challenges that lie ahead.
Meanwhile, all museum visitors, even those who may be less familiar with this great river, will undoubtedly find the popular lectures not only interesting, but fascinating. The program will include three presentations dealing with various aspects of the St. Lawrence organized by the Biosphere in connection with Quebec City’s 400th anniversary celebrations. These talks will be followed by six other presentations that will reveal the secrets of the riverbed and provide a glimpse of the future of the St. Lawrence based on environmental modelling. Journalist and author André Croteau will share his best anecdotes and will talk about the legends of the St. Lawrence. Visitors will also be able to discover what life is like on board a Canadian Coast Guard vessel, learn all about regulation of water levels in the seaway as well as endangered plants in the freshwater estuary.
The week’s events will also include a series of films, documentaries on various aspects of the St. Lawrence, such as its economic and human history, and the species that inhabit the St. Lawrence and its tributaries.
Finally, grade six students from Montreal, Quebec City and Rimouski will take part in a distance learning session that will encourage them to take an interest in the issues affecting the St. Lawrence. Through an electronic link, they will participate in discussions on various aspects of the river’s ecosystem.
Younger children will be invited by the interpreters at the Pointe-au-Père maritime historical site on board a 15-metre-long and 5-metre-high mini‑submarine. They will discover the marine depths of the St. Lawrence and its colourful plants and animals. Word has it that that the parents are also eager to participate in this fantastic voyage.
Finally, as part of the museum’s Sunday afternoon activities, well-known anthropologist Serge Bouchard will close out the week dedicated to the St. Lawrence by discussing Quebecers’ long love affair with the St. Lawrence River under the theme “I have loved you for a long time.”
More details about this exciting week are provided on the St. Lawrence Plan’s website at: www.planstlaurent.qc.ca.
Admission is free for all the activities related to the Secrets of the St. Lawrence, except for the Territoires permanent exhibit presented by the Musée de la civilisation.
Information:
Environment Canada
Communication Branch
Telephone: 1-800-463-4311
Date modified: 2008/10/27 – Important Notices
