Registration is now open for the 2026 Celebration of Nature, happening in Baddeck Cape Breton, May 29th-31st. Members are invited to take advantage of the earlier notice and reduced fee, available now! The Celebration of Nature is the annual symposium for naturalists in Nova Scotia and Nature Nova Scotia’s AGM. Join us May 29th-31st for another weekend of interesting talks and engaging guided hikes, this year in biodiverse Unama’ki/Cape Breton at the Inverary Resort! We have two ticket options, full conference for $200 or half (banquet) option for $75. Banquet-only ticket holders who choose to stay overnight may attend Sunday field trips if space allows, but please note that they tend to fill up, so we recommend registering for the whole symposium and to arrive Friday night for check-in. We are pleased to be offering a small number of bursaries for Young Naturalist Club families again this year and ask interested YNCers to contact Marina at ynccoordinator@gmail.com for more information. Please note, accommodations must be booked separately, either at the Inverary Resort or elsewhere, and are not included in the symposium registration fee. Contact the resort at 902-295-3500 ext. 1 and be sure to reference the Nature Nova Scotia room block. All meals and refreshments from Saturday breakfast to Sunday lunch are included, with snacks provided during a Friday night social. Talks this year will feature waterfalls, bird conservation, trail camera research, nature activism, and more! Field trip destinations will feature several options in the broader Baddeck area and will open for sign up Friday night during check-in. Following tradition, we will also offer some early morning birding and late night astronomy drop-in sessions on-site for those who need less sleep! A full detailed schedule will be available in the next couple weeks but we want to give members enough time to plan for their weekend adventure, so register now if you’re planning on coming, then give the Inverary a call to book your room(s)! Symposium tickets are available until we fill up and refunds are available until 2 weeks before the event but accommodations at the Inverary must be booked by April 29th to take advantage of the room block and reduced price. |
| Not Sure Of Your Membership Status? Current members should be able to log into a unique profile via our website to check on their membership status and renew with a credit card if needed. If you run into any hiccups online or if you prefer to renew the old-school way, give Becky an email at becky.parker@naturens.ca or call 902-412-2726. To avoid members missing out, we aren’t requiring a password or any other online verification to register for the Celebration, you can go ahead and register for the reduced ticket and, if necessary, we will figure out your membership details later. Memberships must be valid to vote at the AGM on Sunday morning. |
| Questions? Need Help? For membership and registration help, contact Becky at becky.parker@naturens.caFor the Young Naturalists Club, contact Marina at ynccoordinator@gmail.comFor any other inquiries, reach out to Jess at jess.lewis@naturens.ca |
Schedule
Speakers/Presentations
Speaker 1: Benoit Lalonde
Date: Saturday May 30th
Time: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Topic: Exploring Beyond the Trail: A Workshop on Finding Hidden Waterfalls and Natural Treasures
Bio:
Benoit Lalonde is an environmental scientist based in Nova Scotia, working with Environment and Climate Change Canada in ecological risk assessment. Alongside his professional work, he is an experienced outdoorsman and author who documents the natural beauty of the Maritimes. He is best known for his guidebooks Waterfalls of Nova Scotia and Waterfalls of Cape Breton, widely used by hikers and nature photographers. Through his writing and photography, he connects scientific understanding with public appreciation of the region’s wilderness.
Description:
Ever wondered what secrets lie tucked away in Nova Scotia’s hidden ravines and backwoods? Join Benoit Lalonde for an inspiring audio visual workshop filled with tips, stories, and techniques for discovering the province’s most breathtaking natural places. He will share insights from his exploration methods and offer practical advice to help you begin finding hidden natural gems of your own.
Speaker 2: Jean Robar
Date: Saturday May 30th
Time: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Topic: Monitoring Nova Scotia’s Biodiversity to Support Data Driven Decision Making
Bio:
Jean Robar is a wildlife biologist and ecological modeler whose work focuses on animal behaviour, ecology, conservation, and wildlife management. Her research spans primate social systems, movement ecology, and behavioural cooperation, combining field studies with ecological modelling to better understand how animals interact with their environments. She has held research positions at Concordia University, the University of Toronto, and the Government of Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, where her work supports evidence based conservation and biodiversity management initiatives.
Description:
The Department of Natural Resources has been trialling remote monitoring technologies, including trail cameras and autonomous recording units, to better understand biodiversity across Nova Scotia. This work has now expanded province wide. The goal is to model habitat use, track habitat availability, and monitor population changes across a wide range of species, strengthening the ability to use data to inform conservation decision making.
Keynote Speaker: Tuma Young, KC
Date: Saturday evening
Time: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Title: The Indigenous Worldview and Biodiversity: Incorporating L’nuwey Tplutaqan (Mi’kmaq Law and Legal Principles) into Conservation
Bio:
Tuma Young, KC, is L’nu (Mi’kmaq) from Malagawatch and a member of Eskasoni First Nation. He was born into the Attu’wej (Squirrel) clan for the Aplikjumuj (Rabbit) clan. He is the spouse of Nicolaas Honig and resides in Sydney River, where he teaches Mi’kmaq Studies at Cape Breton University and maintains a private legal practice.
Raised on his mother’s trapline at Malagawatch, Tuma learned L’nuwin Pisun at a young age and later studied Ethnobotany, the relationship between plants and Indigenous peoples. His current research focuses on traditional plant knowledge of the L’nu, including Maskwomin oil derived from Maskwi (white birch bark), used for treating skin conditions.
Tuma regularly leads L’nuwin Pisun medicine walks, sharing knowledge of medicinal plants and highlighting the importance of biodiversity within Mi’kma’ki.
Description:
This keynote explores how Indigenous worldview and Mi’kmaq legal principles can be meaningfully incorporated into conservation practice. Tuma will discuss the deep connections between biodiversity, land stewardship, and L’nu knowledge systems, offering a perspective that bridges cultural understanding and ecological conservation.
Field Trips: 2026 Celebration of Nature
FEATURED: Moth Night
By the end of May, over 120 species of moths are active in Cape Breton. Join naturalist and moth watcher Alicia Penney from Cape Breton University and the Cape Breton Naturalists Society at our lighted sheet to observe and learn about these often overlooked nocturnal beauties.
From cryptic moths that blend into bark and leaves like Curve toothed Geometer, Two lined Hooktip, and Sigmoid Prominent, to larger showy species like Cecropia, Rosy Maple, and White fringed Emerald, there is incredible diversity to discover. You may also spot unique species such as Harris Three spot, Scrollwork Pyralid, Small eyed Sphinx, and Yarrow Plume Moth.
This is a rare opportunity to experience Cape Breton’s nighttime biodiversity up close in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
