October Program

“An Evening with Our Conservation
Friends
Renny W. Grilz, PAg, Director, Conservation -
Meewasin Valley Authority &
Andrea Laughren, Regional Vice-President, Nature
Conservancy Canada, Prairies Region

In person and online!
Rm # HLTH 1A60, Health Sciences Bldg., U of S,

Thursday, October 15, 2026

7:30 PM

Renny leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for the stewardship, restoration, and ecological management of the Meewasin Valley. With more than 25 years of experience in conservation across the Canadian Prairies, Renny has worked with Meewasin, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and Ducks Unlimited Canada.
His work at Meewasin is helping advance a more integrated, science-informed approach to conservation that connects on-the-ground stewardship with ecological monitoring, research, GIS and data, partnerships, and public engagement. This includes prairie and wetland restoration, targeted grazing, invasive species management, native plants, and the restoration of natural ecological processes. Renny is a founding member of the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange. Renny is also co-owner of Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company, where his family has been growing native prairie wildflowers and producing native seed for more than 30 years.

 Andrea Laughren brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across the non-profit, charitable, public and private sectors. As Regional Vice-President for the Prairie Region, she provides strategic leadership to advance conservation across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, building partnerships that help conserve nature while supporting healthy communities and sustainable economies.
Passionate about nature, Andrea starts most mornings walking her dog, Rocky, taking time to appreciate the natural world before the day begins. She is inspired by the opportunity to help ensure future generations experience the same connection to nature and is proud to work alongside an exceptional team dedicated to conserving the landscapes that sustain both people and nature.
Thank you for joining us for An Evening with Our Conservation Friends — _an inspiring gathering celebrating the people, projects, and partnerships helping to shape the future of conservation. Learn more about the important work of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Meewasin and hear about exciting conservation initiatives happening
across the prairies and in Saskatoon!

Please note that if the link to join online requests a passcode, please enter SNS. If you have trouble connecting via the Zoom link, please text or phone LeeAnn at 306-880-9027. Please consider joining the meeting a little early so we can address any problems.

All members who have registered an email address with SNS will receive an email containing the link to join the meeting through Zoom. If you have not registered an email address with us, but would like to do so, please contact Claire Bullaro at c.bear@sasktel.net.

Monthly Meetings and Speaker Programme

Listen, learn, and share ideas with people who are passionate about our natural world! 

SNS offers a monthly speaker programme from September to April on the third Thursday of the month. All meetings are live streamed through Zoom.

During the fall and spring months presentations will be in hybrid format: speakers will present live at in-person meetings while being simultaneously streamed through Zoom. During winter months speakers may be streamed from outside the Saskatoon region and on these occasions, there will be no in-person meeting.

All are welcome to attend these meetings either in-person or through Zoom. Look for details about each month’s meeting in the SNS membership newsletter, confirming any in-person meeting time and place. A reminder email with the meeting details and Zoom link will be sent to each member whose current email address is on file.

Non-members who wish to attend through Zoom should provide their name and email address to Claire Bullaro at c.bear@sasktel.netfor each meeting. Please consider becoming a member of the Saskatoon Nature Society if you wish to receive the Zoom link automatically each month.

We will not be providing shared refreshments, so please bring your own drinks and snacks.

The monthly meetings include announcements from the SNS president. If you have an announcement or notice, please contact the president at least 2 days before the meeting.

Tracking Migratory Birds:Where Do They Really Fly? - Ernesto Carman

September 2022

Wetland Drainage and its Impacts on Biodiversity in the Prairie and Parkland Region of Canada

Kiel Drake

February 2022