A beluga whale, a loon, a wolverine and an astronaut head to Muskoka, Ont.
You can find out what happens next in the debut edition of a new Narwhal series, hot off the presses this week.
You might be familiar with the Proust Questionnaire, a set of questions the French philosopher Marcel Proust believed reveals an individual’s true nature. We’ve developed our own list of questions, which we believe reveals an individual’s true connection to nature. We’re going to ask as many interesting public figures — musicians, authors, athletes, politicians and the like — as we can think of to answer it.
We’re calling it the Moose Questionnaire.
Our inaugural Moose Q subject is Marc Garneau, because who better to launch something new than an astronaut? He’s just published a memoir about his storied life on both sides of Earth’s atmosphere, including his time as a federal politician.
Garneau shared insightful comments on his environmental hero (hint: The Nature of Things), on whose relationship with the natural world he’d most like to influence (hint: “his total knowledge of nature is probably what he sees on golf courses”) and on the best views of Earth from space. He also took it seriously when we asked him which iconic Canadian animals he’d kiss, marry — and kill (hint: “they’re sort of nasty and a little bit solitary”).
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There are a few reasons behind our introduction of the Moose. As a regular reader of The Narwhal, you know the topics we cover are often heavy. We publish in-depth environmental news about the intersection of communities, policy and power. That often means stories about governments and companies behaving badly, or people and wildlife suffering.
We’re going to keep doing that. It’s incredibly important. But sometimes, we all need a little breather. And a reminder that the reason we’re here — the root of why we at The Narwhal do what we do — is because of the beauty and wonder of the natural world.
We also hope hearing from actors, Olympians and others in the spotlight might encourage a wider range of people to talk about environmental issues more often. Studies show that while a sizable chunk of people think — and worry — about climate change regularly, we often don’t express it out loud. This means missed opportunities to build community, to put our heads together and protect the wild things we care about.
I think we’re onto something. And so, apparently, does the growing list of notable folks who have already said yes to a ride on the Moose. (We’re talking names like acclaimed novelist Waubgeshig Rice, indie music icon Neko Case — and more, as they say in the journalism biz, TKTK.)
I can’t wait to share with you their environmental heroes, their opinions on outdoor cats and the sights that fill them with awe.
We hope you enjoy Garneau’s interview, and that our shared love for the natural world lifts you up a little today.
Take care and take a break,
Denise Balkissoon
Executive editor
P.S. Who’s on your Moose Q dream list? Help us help you by replying to this email and letting us know whose answers to the questionnaire you’re just itching to know.
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Speaking of launches…
After nearly seven years of focusing all of her energies on her first baby — The Narwhal — our editor-in-chief, Emma Gilchrist, is taking a year away from her computer to focus on a baby of another sort: a human one, arriving any day now.
Emma recently reflected on the first baby in an interview on Alberta Unbound, Senator Paula Simons’ podcast. The two chatted about Emma’s own childhood, in the small northern Alberta town of Valleyview, and what it was like to chart a path as an environmental journalist in the heart of oil country.
“It would lead to some super interesting conversations,” Emma said, and talked about the importance of reaching across perceived political differences to get at a shared value of the natural world. “That’s really what inspires me to do the work that I do: to find those common values and start those conversations,” she said.
We’ll miss you, Emma, but we’ll do our best to look after your first baby while you dive into the next chapter!
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Swimming in the right direction
Behind the scenes at The Narwhal, we’ve lately noticed the suspicious hum of things moving along … rather smoothly. We lay the blame squarely at the feet of Kyla Fitzgerald, who took on the role of membership and operations coordinator earlier this year. She’s been making waves (or perhaps calming the seas) while tackling the important work that keeps us swimming in the right direction.
Her passion for people makes her a perfect fit to care for the growing community of more than 6,500 members who make our work possible with financial support. “Those people are just the lifeline — they’re the lifeline of any organization,” Kyla says.
And among a certain contingent of Narwhals, she’s become the go-to in those moments when you just have to talk some trash about some trash TV. Check out our Q&A with Kyla to get to know this indispensable pod member a little better.
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This week in The Narwhal
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Alberta placed fossil fuel insiders on board backing Danielle Smith’s renewables pause
By Mike De Souza
Three former VPs at TC Energy were appointed to Alberta Electric System Operator board, prompting criticism from experts in ethics and governance about bias.
READ MORE
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Bottled water giant BlueTriton — formerly Nestlé — closing Ontario operations
By Fatima Syed
READ MORE
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3 years, 2 deadly atmospheric rivers. Is B.C. ready for the next one?
By Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood
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‘We’re incredibly responsible’: Enbridge Gas president dismisses Canada’s emissions cap
By Fatima Syed
READ MORE
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