A Demonstration of Support for the Sable Island Station

(October 2004).

On the evening of October 5th 2004, a public meeting about Sable Island was held at the Sobey Conference Theatre, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax. The event was co-hosted by the Sable Island Green Horse Society, the Ecology Action Centre, the Nova Scotian Institute of Science, and the Environmental Studies Program of Saint Mary’s University. The meeting consisted of a 45-minute slide presentation and talk by Zoe Lucas (about the roles of the Sable Island Station), followed by a short break, and then a panel discussion, moderated by Marc Lamoureux, with input and questions from the audience.

The six panel members were:

Doug Bliss, Acting Regional Director, Environmental Conservation Branch, Environment Canada

Nancy Hurlburt, Director of Marine Programs, Canadian Coast Guard

Peter Underwood, Deputy Minister, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources

April Hennigar, Sable Island Preservation Trust

Bill Freedman, Chair, Biology Department, Dalhousie University

Zoe Lucas, Sable Island

Roughly 250 people attended the meeting and they represented the broad Sable Island community – including universities and research organizations, various departments in the federal and Nova Scotia governments, the offshore energy and marine services industries, the arts, nature and environmental organizations, and the public.

Both the attendance and the comments from the audience demonstrated a high level of public and professional interest in, and support for, the Sable Island Station. Hopefully the October 5th meeting will have sent a very clear message that the failure of the Sable Island Preservation Trust should not be interpreted as a lack of interest in Sable Island.

While the Sable Island Green Horse Society is a gathering of Sable Island friends, it has no official status and few resources. However, during the last six months the Ecology Action Centre, Halifax, has done a great deal to promote public awareness and concern about Sable Island and the crisis regarding the future of the Sable Island Station. Although Sable Island is only one of many issues addressed by EAC, the organization is committed and competent, and is providing very effective advocacy for the Island.

Persons who are concerned about the future of Sable Island and want to support efforts to ensure that the Sable Island Station continues to provide stewardship for the Island, should consider supporting the Ecology Action Centre www.ecologyaction.ca