On June 13 and 14, a group of Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholars gathered in Canmore, Alberta, for an immersive learning experience organized by 2024 Mentor Sam Baardman.

Designed for Scholars whose work focuses on environmental issues, the gathering created a space for reflection, dialogue and mentorship around the ecological crisis, climate change, and the relationship between people and their natural environment.

The first day took place at the Coldwater Laboratory in Canmore, led by climate scientist Dr. John Pomeroy, who is internationally recognized for his work on water, snow, glaciers and the impacts of climate change. Participants had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Pomeroy and his team about the rapid transformation of mountain ecosystems, the risks linked to glacier melt, and the scientific responses to the climate crisis.

The following day, the group took part in a guided walk on the Athabasca Glacier, one of the most accessible glaciers in the Canadian Rockies and an important site for hydrometeorological research. Accompanied by Dr. Pomeroy, Ice Walks guides, and an Indigenous guide and educator, the Scholars were able to witness the effects of climate change on the land firsthand, while learning about the historical, cultural and contemporary significance of the Columbia Icefield through Indigenous perspectives.

Beyond the field experience itself, the initiative allowed Scholars to connect their research and commitments to the concrete realities of the ecological crisis. It also offered a meaningful opportunity to exchange with peers, expand their networks and reflect on their roles as researchers, leaders and changemakers.

This gathering is closely aligned with one of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation’s founding themes, People and their Natural Environment, by fostering an interdisciplinary understanding of the environmental, social, economic and political issues connected to climate change.

Photo credit: Sam Baardman