Niagara College represents two of the 10 funded post-secondary projects for 2022

This spring, two new student-led ecosystem restoration projects will take root at Niagara College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, thanks to funding from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada.

Part of WWF-Canada’s 10-year plan to Regenerate Canada, the Go Wild School Grant supports primary, secondary and post-secondary student activities that protect or restore nature on campuses and in communities. Notably, students in NC’s Ecosystem Restoration graduate certificate program represent two of the 10 post-secondary projects from institutions across Canada that received funding.

“We are thrilled to be able to support the important conservation work happening at schools and campuses across the country, including Niagara College, and immeasurably proud to learn that the program is helping students acquire the skills and confidence to pursue careers in the conservation space,” said Elizabeth Hendriks, vice-president of restoration and regeneration at WWF-Canada.

Ecosystem Restoration students Alli Albin, Megan Coad, Hayden Fargo, Samantha Wilson, and Jared Sanders will leverage the funding to not only help local ecosystems thrive, but to leave a legacy for their peers. Supporting their efforts is Program Coordinator Martin Smith.

“Students graduating from colleges and universities come to Niagara College’s Ecosystem Restoration graduate certificate program to pick up important career training still not offered to most environmental undergrads across Canada,” said Smith. “The skills developed by our students during the demanding process of proposal development and submissions to real funders like the WWF are very important components of their resumes, not to mention their careers. Meanwhile, with their own funding in hand, future cohorts gain invaluable experience administering these funded restoration projects completed on- and off-campus.”

Albin, Coad and Fargo received $1,000 towards the installation of a MOTUS Wildlife Tracking System on campus to monitor animal migration through the Niagara Region. The new industry-standard radiotracking tower – to be installed on the roof of the residence building in late April 2022 – will allow students to collect, monitor and analyze important data on birds, bats and large insects. The total project includes three antennas for optimal coverage and is expected to cost $5,000; the balance of which students expect to raise through other grants and fundraising efforts.

Albin explains that the system could help inform conservation efforts on campus, such as building nesting structures or providing other supports to endangered bird species migrating in large numbers near campus. Beyond helping animal species thrive, the new technology is an investment in student learning. The project will allow NC to join the network of academic institutions across Canada monitoring animal migratory patterns using radio telemetry.

“Joining the Motus network creates the opportunity for the College and students to engage with researchers around the world,” said Albin. “It provides an opportunity for students to expand their knowledge of conservation and develop their leadership skills.”

Wilson and Sanders – with the help of and Ecosystem Restoration alumna Clara Greig – received $2,500 in funding to enhance the campus’s existing pollinator garden. Initially designed to attract insect pollinators such as bees and butterflies, the garden expansion will see 12 new native flower species which will provide nesting and foraging habitat for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. With the support of faculty and NC’s Office of Sustainability, Ecosystem Restoration students will assist with important preparations like invasive species removal, as well as planting, maintenance, data collection and analysis. The grant will also support educational tools like signage and photo monitoring.

While hummingbirds enjoy their new garden oasis, Ecosystem Restoration students can hone their animal monitoring skills to catalogue and monitor a wider range of species – one more way that the graduate certificate program is preparing NC students to be leaders in the preservation and restoration of the planet’s degraded ecosystems.

Smith explains the significance of the Go Wild School Grant funding for his students, many who have dedicated over four years in university. “Experiencing the thrill of landing real project funding through their own hard work reminds them and their peers that they are finally entering the working world of ecosystem restoration.”

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology and Conservation, Albin sought Niagara College to develop important practical skills – such as flora identification and hydrological assessment knowledge – to make her employable in her field.

“So far, I believe that the Ecosystem Restoration program has done an excellent job at teaching me these skills,” said Albin. “The program is very well-rounded, and I feel much more confident now to start my career as an environmental professional.”

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

NC_Ecorestor1: File photo of Niagara College Ecosystem Restoration program students Megan Coad, Hayden Fargo, Samantha Wilson taking samples of biological indicators present in a stream to assess the overall health of the aquatic environment.

NC_Ecorestor2: File photo of Niagara College Ecosystem Restoration program students planting trees in the community with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority in Mount Hope.