FIRES, FLOODS ‘CLIMATE CRISIS’: GREENS HOST TALK JUNE 15

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

HUNTSVILLE Weary weather watchers beaten by fires and flooding the past year, remain vigilant as they keep leery eyes on daily forecasts.

Local Greens blame climate change, calling it a “crisis” and plan to talk about how it affects Muskoka Saturday, June 15.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry — much maligned in Muskoka this spring — are already battling localized wildfires just north of here, and continue to monitor late flooding levels to the north.

They are advising residents in Killarney, which was affected by last summer’s wildfires, that a “Flood Warning” has been further extended in the Sudbury and Parry Sound Districts until Friday, June 14.

The warning also applies to the West Arm area of Lake Nipissing, as well as the French and Lower Pickerel River Watersheds (St. Charles, French River, McConkey Township, Blair Township, Mowat Township and Henvey Inlet First Nation).

The Green Party says everyone can do something about climate change.

“As residents of Parry Sound-Muskoka we are already feeling the impacts of climate change.”

On June 15, in Huntsville, they offer an opportunity to learn more about the local impacts of the “climate crisis” and what we as local residents can do about,” Arleigh Luckett, president of the riding’s Green Party of Ontario Constituency Association, says in a release this week.

The event called Climate Change in Muskoka and Parry Sound – What to expect and what we can do about it.

It will feature keynote speaker Dr. Peter Sale, co-author of Planning for Climate Change in Muskoka, followed by speed-dating style Table Talks with other local experts and community leaders in the field of climate action.

Luckett says speakers will include the voices of those most vulnerable in our community.

The Table Talk segments will offer participants a choice of topics addressing local effects of climate change, reducing our carbon footprint or understanding larger issues.

Each mini-session will include a question and answer period.

The event will be held at the Active Living Centre in Huntsville on Saturday June 15 from 1-4 p.m. Admission is by donation.

Everyone is invited to this conversation hosted by the local Green Party of Ontario Association .

The organizers affirm, Climate Change is a non-partisan challenge. Participants are asked to bring their own water bottle.

For more information and to register to guarantee a space go to www.psmgreenparty.ca . Walk-ins welcome, space permitting.

“ Everyone can do something. No one can do everything. Together, we have to get it done,” said Luckett.