Dwelling in Nature, on Our Planet, in the Universe - Espace pour la vie Announces Its Human and Nature Encounters to Mark the International Day for Biological Diversity

MONTRÉAL - On this International Day for Biological Diversity, Espace pour la vie is announcing a very special program, a series of original experiences designed to get people thinking and talking about our relationship with nature: Human and Nature Encounters. At a time when habitat loss is one of the main threats to biodiversity locally and around the world, it is more important than ever to think about how we are dwelling in nature, on our planet, and in the Universe.

These Human and Nature Encounters will be an opportunity to engage in some thought-provoking experiences in urban nature, trade ideas with other Montrealers, talk about co-existing with nature, explore other ways of living in our homes, think about the possibility of eating differently, find ways of educating our children about nature in the city, and lots more. It's a bold program you won't want to miss! Registration starts today, on May 22, on the espacepourlavie.ca site. Space is limited, so don't delay! Please note that all these activities will be in French.

"Nature dwells within us much more than we might think! We are the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. Caring for nature means caring for ourselves. We can each do something as individuals to make a difference," says Laure Waridel, eco-sociologist and spokeswoman for these Human and Nature Encounters.

Human and Nature Encounters

July 14 - Dawn stroll

4 a.m. | Jardin botanique | Length: 3 hrs | $18 | 40 spots | In French

Beneath the many layers of mechanical and human noise in our urban surroundings, we can sometimes hear the sounds of nature… and some unexpected silences, too. How do we perceive these sounds and silences? How do they affect us? This special experience, accompanied by an enthusiastic biologist and ornithologist and a professor specializing in psychoacoustics, is a unique opportunity to reflect on questions of noise and silence in the heart of the city and a wonderful opportunity to directly experience our sound environment. To register: rhn-espacepourlavie.ca/ 

August 10 – A night in the garden

Lecture: 8 p.m. | Jardin botanique |Length: 90 min |  $18  | 60 spots | In French

A night in the garden: 40 spots reserved for winners of the #HumainNature contest

Spending a night in the garden will get you thinking about how we dwell on our planet, and what we consider essential or superfluous. What does living closer to nature mean for our physical and psychological health? The outdoor experience will start with a lecture on how we dwell on our planet by two traditional Algonquin elders. To register: rhn-espacepourlavie.ca/

And only for winners of the #HumainNature contest, the evening will continue with an exclusive two-part mini-adventure: a night outdoors in the heart of the garden to immerse yourself in nature, and a "forest bath" at dawn, a very popular Japanese practice known as shinrin yoku.

September 15 - Experts in residence

Free | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  | 10 spots per group | 8 discussion groups | In French

Are environmental protection and biodiversity matters only for committed ecologists? No, of course not! They concern and affect everyone interested in how we can better dwell in nature. Here, in a brunch formula, eight Montrealers will simultaneously open their homes to fellow Montrealers interested in sharing different ideas on how to get closer to nature in the city. Along with an expert to guide the discussion, each of the eight groups will consider a different topic (urban nature education, food of the future, co-existing with urban wildlife, urban agriculture, light pollution, urban noise, etc.). Want to join the conversation? Register at rhn-espacepourlavie.ca/

Great debates

7:30 p.m. | Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan | Length: 90 minutes | 85 spots per discussion | In French
$18 - Tickets available online only: rhn-espacepourlavie.ca

What is our connection with nature? How could we improve our relations with the world around us? Why should we consider making concrete changes to how we dwell in the city, on our planet, in the Universe? Mikaël Carlier, founding President of Novae, will host three evenings, each featuring a pair of experts with different backgrounds and viewpoints.

October 16 – Mieux habiter la nature
With Serge Bouchard and Jean-Philippe Pleau
What is our relationship with nature? How does it influence the way we dwell on our planet? The way we live? What sources of inspiration can we find in other cultures and other philosophies, to help us better dewll in our living world?

November 27 – Mieux habiter la planète
With Laure Waridel and Thierry Lefèvre
More and more of us are sharing increasingly limited resources. How can we make the individual and collective changes our Earth so desperately needs and reinvent the way we dwell on our planet?

December 11 – Mieux habiter l'Univers 
With Nathalie Cabrol and Marie-Hélène Parizeau
It won't be long before we discover life elsewhere in the Universe – a possibility that is raising tremendous interest and many questions. Who else is out there? What is driving this quest?

For more information on the Human and Nature Encounters: espacepourlavie.ca