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Sites across Canada
Late this past October, we hosted our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Gatineau, QC, at the UQO Campus. The event brought together over 60 in-person attendees and nearly 20 virtual participants over Zoom. The AGM was buzzing with energy, featuring presentations, a poster session, a meet-and-greet, an informal dinner, and an in-person field tour.
The excitement began a day earlier, on October 27th, with a special HQP (Highly Qualified Personnel) day. Around 20 of our HQPs joined us for a day of icebreakers, learning, and connecting, designed to help them get to know each other and deepen their understanding of the DIVERSE project. A highlight of the day was a Masterclass led by our Principal Investigator, Christian Messier (read more here). The HQPs also teamed up in small groups to create videos on DIVERSE-related topics—stay tuned to our website and social media to see their creative work!
The HQP day concluded with a powerful experience led by John Henri Commanda of Mahingan Consulting: a Kairos Blanket Exercise (learn more here). This interactive activity explored Canada’s history through the perspective of Indigenous Peoples, fostering a deeper understanding of colonialism and its impacts. As part of DIVERSE’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), this exercise was a meaningful step in training our students to be stewards of EDI values.
Left: MSc student Simon Nadeau presenting during the AGM poster session, Right: MSc student Geneviève Dorrell presenting her research on the AGM stage.
The AGM officially kicked off on October 28th with an inspiring keynote from Dr. Jürgen Bauhus (University of Freiburg), titled Adapting Forests to Global Change – Challenges, Research, and Governance Approaches. Guest speakers Dr. Peter Reich (University of Michigan, University of Minnesota) and Kate Lindsay (Forest Products Association of Canada) also delivered engaging talks. Our HQPs shone as they presented their research, both on stage and during a two-hour poster session.
One of the day’s highlights was a workshop on the concept of “Functional Complex Networks”. Through a panel discussion and small group conversations, we explored the varied interpretations of this concept. MSc student Tali Pukier shared survey results showing differing understandings among DIVERSE members. The session fostered collaboration and brought us closer to a shared definition.
The day wasn’t all work—attendees enjoyed a lively meet-and-greet (complete with a competition to win Dr. Messier’s famous maple syrup!) and an informal dinner to wrap up the day.
On October 29th, the AGM wrapped up with a field tour to the Petawawa Research Forest (PRF). About 50 attendees joined us for this hands-on experience, led by Nelson Thiffault, Katalijn Macafee, and Jeff Fera of Natural Resources Canada. We explored Permanent Sample Plot 1 and an Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) trial site, gaining valuable insights into forest research and management.
Photos from the Petawawa Field Tour on October 29th
Meeting so many members of the DIVERSE community made this AGM an unforgettable experience. It was a time of learning, collaboration, and connection. We can’t wait to see everyone again at the next AGM!
