
Sable Island Conference 2021
A Series of Virtual Presentations
We continue our bi-annual conference dedicated to Sable Island National Park Reserve and the marine environment that surrounds and maintains it. In this year of ongoing physical gathering restrictions due to a pandemic it became too difficult to hold it in-person. Instead, we organized a series of weekly presentations via ZOOM on Saturdays at 2:00pm Atlantic (Halifax) time from January 15 to March 26, 2022 to showcase Sable Island from a variety of perspectives. And we followed the example of other esteemed institutions by delivering our Sable Island Conference 2021 in a year other than as named.
The conference sessions are posted below and include a brief description of the topic and a short bio of the presenter. More sessions are being added as presenters are confirmed and provide their topic descriptions. Completed sessions will also include a link to the 15-20 minute recording of the formal presentation on our YouTube channel.
The live ZOOM sessions consist of a formal presentation of 15-20 minutes – that is recorded – and a live question and answer period of 15-30 minutes – that is not recorded. To help keep these sessions manageable, and especially to enable lively conversation after the formal presentation, they are open exclusively to our members.
We are a charitable organization and the bi-annual conference is a fund-raiser for our education programs, and specifically for our annual scholarships. We are offering these sessions for free and welcome any contributions you are able to make. Please click here to donate and receive a charitable receipt for tax purposes immediately.
To become a member and receive a ZOOM invitation to the remaining sessions click here.
Sable Island Conference 2021 Sessions

SI2021-S11-Mar 26,2022: The Cultural Importance of Sable Island – Charles Burke
In the public sphere, Sable Island’s cultural importance leans towards its heritage as a Humane Establishment which from 1802, was the impetus for building and

SI2021-S10-Mar 19,2022: Visitor Experience on Sable Island – Mathieu D’Astous, A/Park Manager
Sable Island National Park Reserve has a long history of human use stretching back over the centuries. Visitors often arrived to the Island by chance,

SI2021-S09-Mar 12,2022: Freshwater afloat at sea: Integrating traditional and wireless monitoring techniques on Sable Island to reveal freshwater vulnerability – Julia Cantelon
Precariously located in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, Sable Island, has limited freshwater resources. Small surface water ponds that support the island’s unique ecosystem are sourced

SI2021-S08-Mar 5,2022: Sable Island and the Arts – TBD
These virtual presentations replace our bi-annual fundraiser. If you learned something new about Sable Island please consider a small donation towards our education programs at https://www.sableislandfriends.ca/product/donation/

SI2021-S07-Feb 26,2022: Annual Christmas Bird Count on Sable Island – Greg Stroud
Calling all bird lovers! The Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the longest running wildlife survey in the world. Every year, birdwatching enthusiasts of all

SI2021-S06-Feb 19,2022: The Freshwater Lens of Sable Island – Grace Nissen
The Sable Island ecosystem relies so heavily on the freshwater lens that it is critical that we understand the risks and work to support its

SI2021-S05: Insight into an Icon: Ecology of the Wild Horses of Sable Island – Dr. Philip D. McLoughlin
The Sable Island Horse is arguably an international icon, and is replete with mysteries. How did they really get to a sandbar in the north

SI2021-S04-Feb 5,2022: The Women of 19th Century Sable Island – Jill Martin Bouteillier
“A woman’s work is never done” – nowhere might this adage be more applicable than on Sable Island in the late 19th century. Residents on

SI2021-S03-Jan 29,2022: My Water-Related Interests on Sable Island – Terry Hennigar
Have you ever wondered how there can be fresh water on a sandbar widely surrounded by salt water? This presentation covers Terry Hennigar’s experiences of

SI2021-S02-Jan 22,2022: Visiting Sable Island for the First Time – Dawn-Marie Giles
Do you want to visit Sable Island? Experience it through the photos and voice of a recent first-time visitor. Dawn-Marie Giles will share stories of

SI2021-S01-Jan 15,2022: Hoofprints in the Sand – Abbie Branchflower
Free-roaming horses exhibit fascinating behaviours and live in complex societies. While the Sable Island horses are unique in many respects, able to live their lives