Paul Egginton has been involved in climate change research throughout his career until retirement in 2005 from the federal Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Program. Perhaps more significant to MVFN and the local area is Paul’s efforts as a volunteer to raise awareness of the effects of future climate change ‘in his own backyard’ in the Mississippi Watershed.
Paul’s efforts to encourage MVFN and local communities to start thinking seriously about the issue have been awe inspiring. As an MVFN board member Paul was the key force behind MVFN’s Climate Change Outreach program which initiated climate change awareness campaigns such as Spring Flower Watch, Frost Watch, and Albert’s Gardens –a Tulip Emergence Date project in collaboration with the National Capital Commission and horticultural societies. Paul also spearheaded MVFN’s cross-watershed 2006 August long-weekend Water Temperature Survey of the Mississippi Watershed (in collaboration with Mississippi Valley Conservation) as part of an Open Doors project for the 75th Anniversary of Ontario Nature. While creating and guiding these awareness programs, Paul was also embarked on a busy schedule delivering lectures on climate change to groups in the local area, including the introductory talk for MVFN’s 2005-2006: Change in our Natural World lecture series.
One of the most important contributions Paul made was his pivotal role in the weekend long “Weathering Climate Change” workshop held in Almonte in 2007 which brought together world class expert speakers and local stakeholders to talk about the issue of climate change for two days. Paul later went on to coauthor (with Beth Lavender) the workshop report and results: From Impacts to Adaptation: The Mississippi Watershed in a Changing Climate, 2008.
Paul Egginton (left) and Jim Bendell at awards ceremony. photo:Pauline Donaldson
