The Annual General Meeting for BLESS will be held at VASA (Visual Arts Studio Association, 25 Sir Winston Churchill Ave., St. Albert) on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026, at 7:00 pm. The meeting will feature:

• Big Lake and the Sturgeon River — A Lost Ecology and the Path Back

  • A 45-minute presentation by BLESS Vice President Kevin Aschim

“If you care about Big Lake and the Sturgeon River, this is a talk you should not miss.

Kevin Aschim will present a 45-minute talk titled “Big Lake and the Sturgeon River — A Lost Ecology and the Path Back.” The presentation examines the ecological and climate history of the watershed over the past 200 years.

More importantly, it explores how land use, watershed management, and nutrient loading have shaped the present condition of the river and lake. Particular focus is given to how nutrient-driven water chemistry affects riparian and wetland ecology, and how these processes have degraded Big Lake and the Sturgeon River.

The talk will also outline practical ways this damage can be mitigated and how the ecological function of the watershed could gradually be restored.”

Everyone is welcome to attend!