Awakened by Purpose: A Transformative Open House, Forum and Summit Experience
By Niabi Kapoor, Beaver Hills Biosphere Content Creator
As someone who isn't usually a morning person, I’m always looking for ways to feel motivated to start my day early. Attending last month's Beaver Hills Biosphere’s Open House, Forum and Youth Summit turned out to be exactly the spark of motivation I needed. For the first time in a while, I woke up at 8 a.m., feeling eager and ready to connect, listen and learn. This three-day event created the perfect space for it and left me with a renewed sense of curiosity and purpose.
As the content creator and newest member of the Biosphere team who joined in summer 2024, much of my work for the organization has been remote and online. While I’ve had the opportunity to attend smaller trade-show events and in-person meetings, the Open House, Forum and Youth Summit marked my first major in-person experience with the Biosphere. Initially, I was unsure of what to expect and felt slightly intimidated by the thought of networking and engaging with diverse professionals and organizations who are actively involved in projects and initiatives in the Beaver Hills. I found myself wondering: Will I ask the right questions? Will I contribute meaningfully to the conversations? Will I offer the right support to our team, presenters, attendees and trade show participants during the event?
Within the first hour of the first day - the Open House - all the nerves I had been quietly carrying with me started to disappear. As guests filtered in, I was immediately struck by the overwhelming sense of community, purpose and eagerness from everyone present. When Bruce Cutknife began his presentation on Indigenous Places and Place Names in the Beaver Hills, I found myself completely captivated by his words and the insight he shared.
Later, I, with my fellow attendees, had the opportunity to visit the trade show booths and learn about the diverse work being done by various organizations. It was a fantastic chance to connect, engage and network with others who share a passion for incredible work and collaborations underway in the region. Having the chance to talk about this shared passion face to face was inspiring as someone who is still new to the organization.
On the second day, Violet Whitford opened the Forum with an Indigenous prayer, followed by a warm welcome from Strathcona County and an introduction to the Biosphere by Brian Ilnicki. What followed was a series of insightful presentations from the people and organizations that work within the Beaver Hills, collaborate with and support the Biosphere. This included Parks Canada, the Beaver Hills Watershed Stewardship Society and Rural Residential Stewardship Program participants, all who shared insights into the meaningful projects they’re doing. I learned about the drastic changes in water levels across the province and the plans in place to address this from Ken Quackenbush, and about the intricate balance of invasive species management in Elk Island National Park from Parks Canada. I was inspired by Erin Anderson’s dedication to the State of the Biosphere, which was clearly reflected in her walk-through of the interactive story map she and the Beaver Hills’ team created over the last year. Attendees expressed their appreciation for the interactive, readable and engaging display of information in this project.
I was moved by Kyra Northwest’s presentation on the Bison Treaty, especially her recounting of a hike she took with fellow Indigenous women to reconnect with bison in Banff. Kyra painted such a vivid and beautiful picture for all of us, reminding us of the power held in deep connections to the land. I can’t fully do her story justice. You simply had to be there, and, at that moment, I was so grateful that I was.
The presenters offered an in-depth look at the ongoing work within the Biosphere, highlighting both current efforts and the exciting opportunities ahead. Learning about how these key projects are shaping the Biosphere as a learning place for sustainable development was truly inspiring, and the opportunity to ask questions and engage in thoughtful discussion during the speaker panel made the experience even more rewarding. The day concluded with the launch of the Biosphere’s Living with Wildlife Campaign and, as attendees collectively pledged their commitment to this campaign, I could feel the powerful potential it holds to help preserve the delicate balance between people and wildlife in the Beaver Hills.
On the third day, the Youth Forum, our first ever event focused on young professionals, attendees participated in a conversational ice breaker, followed by a series of presentations from CCUNESCO’s Zoe Compton who spoke about the broader UNESCO network, CCUNESCO’s Toolkit for Youth Engagement, and the Youth Advisory Group, composed of youth aged 18-30 from across the country, to support youth engagement actions and involve youth in the Biosphere’s programs and working committees.
I felt grounded and moved by the Indigenous storytelling led by Bruce Cutknife and Shauntee Fryingpan, and grateful to hear the rich, living histories they shared. It sparked reflection and a sense of responsibility to listen and walk forward with greater awareness. This session reinforced the Biosphere’s commitment to respecting Indigenous cultures, amplifying their voices and challenging outdated narratives. The Youth Summit wrapped up with an interactive "speed-dating" networking activity, with representatives from partner organizations engaging with participants on a range of topics including land, water, governance, culture/tourism, and wildlife. Overall, the event stood as a platform to share stories that foster connection, understanding and a shared vision for the future.
Even as someone who works for the Biosphere and engages with it regularly, the Open House, Forum, and Youth Summit still offered many new insights and brought everything together in my mind by connecting the dots between organizations I’ve interacted with on various occasions, revealing a complete picture of stewardship in action. It was a shining reminder of the incredible impact being made, and that I am a small part of the meaningful change taking place.
In a world often flooded with bad news, it's easy to forget about the positive and impactful work happening all around us. For me, this three-day event was a heartwarming reminder of the dedication, teamwork and effort that goes into caring for our landscape and environment in the Beaver Hills and beyond. Witnessing this collective effort filled me with pride, pride in supporting such a worthy cause, and affirmed that I am exactly where I need to be, contributing to the exact kind of work that is valuable and impactful.
