Explore the Green Side of Edmonton
A Guide to Natural Areas and Environmental Sustainability in the Edmonton Area
by Michelle Harris

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For anyone who has ever wanted to embrace or enhance an environmentally conscious lifestyle in the city but doesn’t know where to start, Michelle Harris’s Explore the Green Side of Edmonton is here to help. For long-time Edmonton residents and first-time visitors alike, Michelle channels her in-depth knowledge and expertise into this comprehensive handbook geared towards Edmontonians seeking to foster a connection with nature. Discover well-known highlights and hidden gems, both in the heart of Edmonton and the surrounding areas. Providing opportunities to learn about environmentally conscious activities and to engage with them, Michelle covers all aspects of a nature supportive lifestyle, breaking down environmental silos and compiling a wide variety of subjects into one all-encompassing resource. Some of these topics include: • Green spaces and gardens, both cultivated and wild • Seasonal and year-round outdoor activities • Engaging with Indigenous stewardship and ways of knowing • Outdoor and nature focused gear and other resources • Taking climate action and increasing sustainability Michelle takes into account folks of all ages, abilities, and budgets. Whether you’re just beginning to explore environmental action or already an avid eco-adventurer, you’ll find tools and ideas to help grow your impact and increase your engagement with the natural world. From adrenaline-inducing adventures to calming nature therapy and everything in between, this practical, hands-on guide covers it all. Explore the Green Side of Edmonton offers a path towards conserving and connecting with nature in a way that is meaningful and caters to individual needs. Discover how to get outdoors more, join in community, and make the most of Edmonton’s environmentally focused offerings with this engaging and educational guide.

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For Michelle Harris, environmental connection isn’t just a career; it’s her passion, her lifestyle, and a key part of her identity. With fifteen years of experience in environmental education, Michelle has built strong relationships within the local environmental community and gained extensive firsthand knowledge. She has become known as a local expert in fostering environmental connection, which inspired her to write this book. Michelle has worked in a variety of environment-related roles, including as a conservation coordinator, environmental educator, and a manager of a youth environmental leadership program, where she also mentored other environmental educators. She is formally trained as a biologist, having studied at both MacEwan University and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) where she also has won the Spirit of NAIT Alumni Award. She is also recognized as an Environmental Professional (EP®) specializing in education and training, through ECO Canada. Michelle has been a key contributor to four teams recognized with Alberta’s Emerald Award, celebrating significant achievements in environmental stewardship and public engagement across the province. In her free time, Michelle can be found hiking, kayaking, and searching for wildflowers in the summer, and downhill skiing or recharging her batteries at the lush Muttart Conservatory in the winter. Michelle lives in Edmonton with her husband, Matt.

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Contributors

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Michelle Harris