Keith Christmas

Unama’ki Guardian Program Liaison Coordinator

Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird...it’s a plane...NO it’s Keith Christmas! Skydiving is just one of the things Keith has tried over the years, but nowadays he likes to keep his feet firmly on the ground. During his time off from his work as UINR’s Unama’ki Guardian Program Liaison Coordinator, you can find him camping with his family, enjoying a round of golf or bowling. He holds the house bowling record in Sydney and, he is quick to mention, afterwards they tore the bowling alley down!

After working for almost 20 years as a Fisheries Guardian in Membertou, Keith was well prepared for his Guardian Coordinator role at UINR. Identifying opportunities for Guardians to participate in various science and research projects and arranging training for them, Keith has been busy in a diverse range of projects such as invasive species research, water quality monitoring, environmental remediation, salmon research and management planning.

Keith’s training includes a two-year Natural Resources program at CBU, a Leadership/Supervision program at Nova Scotia Community College and Aboriginal Fishery Guardian training with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

In his first year at UINR, Keith also worked on a wide range of projects including the smolt wheel in Middle River, Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP) in the Bras d’Or Lakes and the Canadian Biomonitoring Network Program (CABIN) in freshwater streams in Unama’ki. He also participated with Unama’ki communities and Guardians on Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledge workshops on various fish species.

“The work environment at UINR is great. It is a pleasure to work directly with people I have been associated with for so long."

 

Keith: In the News

What is Killing the Eagles?

What is Killing the Eagles?

May 10, 2017Guardian Program, News

We are! We are finding sick and dying eagles in the Highlands and elsewhere and there is no secret to the cause. Eagles are being exposed to highly toxic lead by eating shotgun pellets, bullet fragments or lead fishing tackle. Eagles ingest lead when fishing or scavenging dead animals. Dangers of lead are well-known and … Read More

Look what we found! 

Look what we found! 

January 11, 2017Guardian Program, News

Here is a couple of photos of an American Marten taken by one of the wildlife cameras in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. UINR’s Unama’ki Guardian Coordinator Keith Christmas, with Unama’ki guardians, helped Parks Canada with this project last year. In March 2016 we set out eight trail cameras at various locations across the … Read More

Get the LEAD OUT of the Highlands

Get the LEAD OUT of the Highlands

October 3, 2016Guardian Program, Moose

A free exchange of lead ammunition and fishing tackle will be held during UINR’s annual Blair J. Bernard Memorial Feast in the Highlands on Hunter’s Mountain on Thursday, October 6, 2016 on the Hunter’s Mountain. Bring your dangerous lead bullets and fishing gear and exchange for copper ammunition and eco friendly fishing tackle. Clifford Paul, … Read More

CSI Cape Breton

CSI Cape Breton

May 5, 2016News, Partnerships

UINR hosted a meeting of members of Cape Breton Collaborative Salmon Initiative. The partnership meets regularly to talk about the state of salmon in Unama’ki and work on projects together. In attendance (and pictured in the photo below) are: Bob O’Quinn–St. Ann’s Bay Wildlife Association, Greg Lovely–Margaree Salmon Association, Carter Stevens–CB Island Wildlife Association, Lewis Hinks–Atlantic … Read More

Culvert Remediation

Culvert Remediation

April 21, 2016Guardian Program, News

UINR’s Keith Christmas shows some students our work on culvert remediation. The high school students are in the Options and Opportunities program which offers students more hands-on learning experiences with a career focus, and prepares them for successful transitions from high school to work, a career path, or a post-secondary program.   keith@uinr.ca

How Old is That Moose?

How Old is That Moose?

March 24, 2016Guardian Program, Moose, News

Guardians from Unama’ki gathered at a day-long workshop in Baddeck to learn how to determine a moose’s age based on a close examination of its jaw bones. Jeremy Smith, Wildlife Technician with Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, conducted the workshop using material from the recent Parks Canada moose harvest in the Highlands. keith@uinr.ca

Thinking Outside the Box

Thinking Outside the Box

March 12, 2016Guardian Program, News

Tom Howe, Fisheries & Oceans Canada; Tom Johnson, Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife; Joyce Patel, Fisheries & Oceans Canada; Derek Quann, Parks Canada; Annie Johnson, UINR; Norman Basque, Potlotek Guardians, Darryl Murrant, Nova Scotia Fisheries & Aquaculture; Marlene Doyle, Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada; Hubert Nicholas, Membertou Fisheries; Keith Christmas, UINR; Lisa Young, UINR; Charles Doucette, … Read More

Welcome Keith Christmas

Welcome Keith Christmas

February 7, 2012Guardian Program, News, People

UINR is pleased to announce that Keith Christmas is joining our staff as Unama’ki Guardian Coordinator. With a wealth of experience in natural resource management, Keith has been a Guardian in Membertou for almost 10 years. Here’s what Keith has to say: “I am very excited to work with such a highly-respected organization as the … Read More

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