Alexis Chislett-Rowsell

This summer I worked with the QLF as the coordinator of the Chevery Festival of the Arts, the annual Chevery Summer Festival and the summer film camp. Chevery is located on the Lower North Shore, which is located just after Natashquan and just before the Labrador. Some of the tasks I had to complete this summer were calling people to volunteer their time to work at the door, bar or kitchen for the summer festival. I had to write up different documents for the summer festival, the festival of the arts and the film camp. I had to fax different documents and I had to get the community hall ready for the different activities. Overall, my summer was good and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was a lot of work but I didn't mind all that much and I got to learn a lot of new things and I got better at the things I already knew how to do. For example, I now feel more comfortable doing public speaking and I now know I can keep myself extremely organized! My experience working with QLF this summer was really good and whenever I needed help Ana was there to help and guide me all the way. This being said I have to give a big thanks to each and every person who helped me this summer! Thank you all so much !

Curtis week 9

This was the week of the marine conservation camp for children aged 6-12. We spent most of last week planning for the camp in hopes that the kids would have fun while at the same time learn about marine species at risk and the ocean environment. Of all the weeks I have worked so far, this one would have to be the most rigorous but also the most fun. We had many different learning activities for the campers inside and outdoors. We did a number of crafts such as using recycled material to create a marine species at risk and tie dying an old item of clothing. We also had the campers split into groups, pick a marine species at risk and make a poster about the animal including interesting facts, threats, etc. We had outdoor activities which included a beach clean-up and assessment of marine debris, swimming in the Blanc-Sablon River, hiking up Mt. Parent to learn about the rare Fernald’s Milk-Vetch, scavenger hunt, and other fun activities. We were supposed to go for a camping trip on Greenly Island but unfortunately the weather did not permit us to go this year. We did however, have a sleep over at the QLF office where we had a campfire, told ghost stories, and watched Free Willy 4 with the kids.


Becoming a future teacher, I think this camp was great for kids to have fun but learn about the importance of the marine environment around them. We had discussions with the kids about the marine environment, the animals in the ocean, pollution, and global warming. The camper’s learned a lot. It was really great working with the kids and I really enjoyed myself this week. The photo above is a picture of all the campers and the interns in a group photo next to a banner we created with the kids (photo taken by Trish Nash).

Curtis week 8

This was the second week of our observer recruiting trip across Newfoundland. After the Burin Peninsula we moved on to the Avalon Peninsula and visited more fishing villages in this area. We also went to a place called Cape St. Mary's which is a seabird ecological reserve and also a place where whales frequently go. We talked to the person in charge and he was telling us about the different whale species that they get in the area. We left him a kit and went on the trail that led to the main lookout. It was definitely a beautiful sight that held thousands of birds. Some of the species found in this area are Gannets, Kittiwakes, and Murres. It was a really interesting visit on our tour across Newfoundland.

One of the final stops on our recruiting trip was in Bay Bulls. This place did not have many fishermen for us to talk to but it was a big whale watching area. There were 4 different whale watching tour companies. We dropped off observer kits because their sightings information can help with the program as well. We went on a whale watching tour ourselves, which was really interesting. We saw a group of 4 humpback whales. We also saw several islands on the tour which comprised a sea bird colony – Witless Bay. Overall the trip was a great success as we recruited many observers for our program, learned a lot about marine species at risk, and got to take in some beautiful sights at the same time. The picture I have this week is of me, Stefen, and Phoebe at Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve.

Curtis week 7

This is the week that we went on our field trip across the southern coast of Newfoundland. Our job was to recruit observers for our Marine Species at Risk program to get a better knowledge of some of the endangered sharks, sea turtles, and whales around these areas. We visited many different fishing villages along the southern Newfoundland coast. Harbour Breton was one of these areas which is on Connaigre Peninsula. We were able to recruit some observers from this area and some of these fishermen have amazing stories about what they see. The fishermen were very friendly to talk to and were eager to share their information with us.

Our next stop was on the Burin Peninsula where we visited such villages as Grand Banks, Fortune, Garnish, and St. Lawrence. We were able to recruit observers from these areas as well. We also visited St. Pierre and Miquelon which is an island off the south coast of Newfoundland that is owned by France. It was a whole different culture there with different rules and regulations when it came to the fishing industry. We were lucky enough to talk to a group of people from St. Pierre that are involved in programs involving marine species at risk. They have a group called SPM Fragile and they work with marine species and sea birds. It was a very interesting meeting and it was agreed that QLF and SPM Fragile would work together in the future. We also recruited some observers from this area as well. On our way back from St. Pierre white beaked dolphins jumped up along side of our boat, it was a nice end to a great week. The picture I have this week is me and another intern I'm working with Phoebe Howe from Brooks School in St. Pierre outside a restaurant.

Curtis week 6

This week we were lucky enough to go to a town in Labrador called Red Bay. This village is about a hour and a half drive from Blanc Sablon where I work. Red Bay has a rich history in whale hunting. Basque whalers hunted whales in Red Bay in the 1500’s and early 1600’s. The type of whale that was hunted is called the right whale, which is an endangered whale species today. The right whale was given its name because it was the “right” whale to hunt because of its slow movement and the ease of killing them. The whales were hunted for the blubber which was used for oil to light lamp posts all across Europe in 1500-1600. Red Bay has a beautiful museum with all sorts of interesting artefacts about the Basque fishery that was once there.


After the tour of the museum we attended a meeting about the eider duck. This is a common sea duck found along the coast. The reason for the meeting was because of concern for the protection of the eider duck population in the area of Red Bay. The eider duck mother does not leave her nest until her babies hatch but with human disturbance the ducks are more easily scared off. The meeting that we attended proposed the building of small wooden boxes that would protect the eggs from being predated by gulls. A box that would be big enough for the eider duck to get in, but not the gull. The meeting was a success and the boxes will be built this fall for the next eider duck nesting season. It was definitely an interesting trip to this area with a very rich history.

Curtis week 4

This week consisted of my fellow intern Stefan and I phoning the Marine Species at Risk observers from areas in Newfoundland, Labrador and Quebec. The calls were mainly to follow up on the past season of 2009 and to see how things are going for 2010. Many of the observers we called were fishermen who all had an observer kit that included such things as species identification charts, a log book and disposable camera. The fisherman were asked to keep track of any whales, sharks, turtles, or wolfish that they see when they are out fishing. This information is important to gather for the recovery of marine species at risk and to keep track of marine life on different parts of the St. Lawrence and Northern Gulf.



We also ask the fishermen if they need us to send any materials for their kit. We have to keep track of this because we are visiting many of these towns and will have to bring the kits with us. Although not all of the fishermen that we call have kept track because they either forgot on were not out fishing many were eager to tell us what they saw. One man claimed he saw a sun fish which is extremely rare. Its useful information like this that can really help with the marine species at risk program. That's all for now.

Curtis week 3

During this week I got myself familiar with the Ocean Adventure Camp that the QLF has every summer. For one week the QLF holds a camp for children and has many activities dealing with marine species. This camp also includes an overnight stay on Greenly Island which used to be inhabited by people but has since been abandoned. Greenly Island is now a bird sanctuary including such birds as the puffin. The kids get a one night camping trip to this island and it is the job of the interns to help organize it. I have worked in a summer day camp with QLF before and really enjoyed working with the kids so this should be interesting. The camp runs from July 26th-30th. We have a local television channel for our community and I was able to set up a time slot where they show documents on marine species at risk to educate the local community. At the end of this week my fellow intern Stefen Crampton came in and I showed him around the different sites in our area. Stefen is from Toronto so this area is nothing like what he is familiar with but he seems really excited to get started