Honouring the Legacy of a Founder, Colleague, and Friend
In mid-September, East Coast Environmental Law staff and Board members were shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our friend and colleague Meinhard Doelle.
Meinhard was a visionary who saw the need for a public-interest environmental law organization in Atlantic Canada and turned that vision into a reality by orchestrating the establishment of East Coast Environmental Law in 2007. He was the first Chair of our Board, and he remained a stalwart supporter and trusted advisor, providing perspective, insight, and encouragement as the organization grew and evolved.
In the days following Meinhard's death, grief pervaded our work. At times, it was difficult to focus. In other moments, projects were a welcome distraction. Like others who were touched by Meinhard's generous spirit, we know that we will feel his loss for a long time. But, in the midst of our grief and sadness, we also feel a renewed sense of responsibility as we reflect on the legacy that our founder, colleague, and friend has left behind. During the difficult days, we take comfort from the sense of purpose that drives our work, knowing that purpose is the shared vision of a more just and sustainable world that motivated Meinhard to champion East Coast Environmental Law fifteen years ago and in all the years since.
We will miss Meinhard deeply and look for ways to pay further tribute to him in the weeks and months to come. In November and December, we plan to publish a series of blog posts reflecting on the early years of East Coast Environmental Law and Meinhard's contributions to the organization.
Meinhard's obituary can be found online on the website of East Coast Memorial, where readers can also find details of opportunities to plant trees in his honour or contribute to the establishment of the Professor Meinhard Doelle Memorial Award at the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University.
Highlights of Our Work in September and October
Welcoming New Student Arrivals
In September, we welcomed a new placement student joining us remotely from the Environmental Justice and Sustainability Clinic at Osgoode Hall, York University, to assist with our ongoing work on regional assessment processes proceeding under Canada's Impact Assessment Act. Two law students from the Faculty of Law at the University of New Brunswick have joined us as students volunteering under the Pro Bono Students Canada program, and four law students from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University have joined us as students volunteering under the Pro Bono Dalhousie program. It's always wonderful to see so many students who are keen to explore environmental law in the public interest, and we look forward to working with all of our new arrivals throughout the academic year.
Developing an Accessible Guide to Environmental Laws in New Brunswick
Through funding provided by New Brunswick's Environmental Trust Fund, East Coast Environmental Law staff are working to develop a guide to environmental laws in New Brunswick. The guide is designed to be an accessible public legal education resource that members of the public will be able to access on our website at no cost when it is published in the winter of 2023.
Monitoring Legal Protections for Species at Risk in Prince Edward Island
East Coast Environmental Law staff continue to monitor the state of legal protections for species at risk in Prince Edward Island and look forward to seeing if the House of Assembly moves forward with amendments to provincial species at risk legislation that were under discussion this summer.
Participating in the Provincial Review of Aquaculture Regulation in Nova Scotia
The Government of Nova Scotia is currently conducting a substantial review of aquaculture regulation in Nova Scotia. East Coast Environmental Law has been participating actively and collaborating with community partners and other environmental organizations to advocate for processes that protect environmental health and community wellbeing and enable more meaningful public participation in decision-making.
Participating in the Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador Regional Assessments of Offshore Wind
Regional assessments of wind energy development in offshore Nova Scotia and offshore Newfoundland and Labrador have been initiated under Canada's Impact Assessment Act, and East Coast Environmental Law staff are participating in both processes. We look forward to collaborating with community partners, Indigenous groups, and other environmental organizations as we work collectively to encourage meaningful and effective assessments.
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