12-Jan-2009 It has already been three months since I began working at the QLF office in Montreal- time flies! I have really been enjoying my work here. The QLF staff seems to only include wonderful people, and the projects I am working on are interesting. Lately, I have been primarily working on two different projects. The first is a seal-fishery heritage project in La Tabatière, a small village on Québec’s Lower North Shore. The seal-fishery practiced in this area is different from the seal hunt, and involves catching seals in complex traps made of underwater nets attached in the path of migrating harp seals. The fishery is illegal now, but historically has been very important to La Tabatière’s culture and economy. I have been researching the seal fishery in order to make a booklet about it, which the community will then be able to sell to interested tourists to make a bit of income. The second big project I am working on, along with a couple of QLF staff members, is a business plan which will be submitted to the government with the hopes of starting up a Rivers Canada Foundation. This foundation would give out grants to support river conservation across Canada. Besides these two projects, I have also been involved in several other smaller projects, which keeps things from ever getting boring!  It’s a great experience to work at an office this small, since I am able to learn the ins and outs of non-profit life.

10-Nov-2008 Hello, everyone! My name is Maro Adjemian, and I recently began a "Culture and Conservation" internship at QLF's Montreal office. During my internship, I will be working with Adrienne Blattel on a few Cultural Heritage projects on Quebec's Lower North Shore, as well as helping to develop a Canadian National Heritage River Foundation. I have a BSc in Biology from McGill University, and just finished a Masters in Geography, also at McGill.

I am excited to be working with QLF because of its focus on conservation, people and culture- all things that are important to me! I am also happy to have a chance to learn more about Quebec's Lower North Shore, a place where I have never been, but would love to visit one day.

10-Nov-2008 I’ve only just started volunteering at QLF’s Montreal office, trying to help staff members coordinate the involvement of youth in the 6th Canadian River Heritage Conference. I’m especially looking forward to finding young participants from overseas committed to managing, restoring, or conserving riverine resources within their own country. I can’t wait to see what novel reflections will come from bringing together these young people (of very diverse backgrounds) with industry spokespeople, advocates, researchers, and First Nations representatives.

After only three days of work, I am getting into the nitty-gritty of fundraising, and surprisingly, having a really good time. Simone and Adrienne, QLF staff, are warm, focused, and helpful; they made me feel comfortable and valued from the very first day! 

10-Nov-2008 Hello everyone! My name is Negar, I am 28 years old and from a very far country from Canada: Iran. As part of my studies in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Graduate Diploma Program at Concordia University, I have been working at QLF’s Montreal office since September 2008.

I always enjoy working in environmental NGOs and have a similar experience in Iranian environmental NGOs. When I was planning to start my internship at QLF, my goal was to support QLF’s emerging work in the Persian Gulf and to explore relevant EIA issues in that region. I proposed a project which has both the required characteristics of Graduate Program and is useful to QLF.

Since I am interested in the activities of environmental NGOs and believe in their crucial role in conserving the environment, I am researching the potential for environmental NGOs in eight countries around the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea to engage in the process of Trans-boundary Environmental Impact Assessment. Making a connection between different NGOs in this region, especially NGOs in different countries, provides a valuable opportunity for these NGOs to share their experiences and knowledge and to support each other in the conservation of the environment beyond political borders.

Because QLF has international programs in Latin America and Caribbean, Central and Southern Europe and Middle East, I believe that it can provide opportunities for interns and volunteers who are interested in these regions.

I am working with incredible and nice colleagues at QLF Montreal office. I have a month left here and I will miss my colleagues very much.