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Welcome to Bluedot Living Canada, a newsletter that gathers good news, good food, and good tips for living every day more sustainably.
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Welcome to Bluedot Living Canada, a newsletter that gathers good news, good food, and good tips for living every day more sustainably.
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If you purchase anything via one of our links, including from Amazon, we may earn a small commission. All Dear Dot illustrations by Elissa Turnbull
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SIMPLE / SMART / SUSTAINABLE / STORIES
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The View From Here |
“I took the picture from my house in Escuminac, N.B.; we are a little fishing village at the southeastern shore of the Miramichi River,” Bluedot reader Elizabeth Lewis wrote to us. “We are seeing more erosion, high seas — it’s always been windy here but getting windier. The shores around home are eroding, mostly to the west of the wharf. We saw an increase in wildfires last summer with very little rain. We are hoping it’s different this year.” We hope so too, Elizabeth. Read about what homeowners in parts of Canada and the U.S. are doing to prevent wildfire damage and limit its spread.
P. S. Show us “The View” from where you are, and share the issues and ideas that are front and centre for you, whether they make you concerned, excited, or hopeful. Send us your photo and a note to CANeditor@bluedotliving.com.
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On Imagine If, the Bluedot Living podcast, you’ll hear stories of forests restored through smarter fire management, cities uniting to cut emissions, invasive species transformed into sustainable cuisine, and farms rebuilding soil and community. Each episode explores real progress — from everyday choices to global policy shifts — reminding us that meaningful climate action is not only possible, it’s already in motion.
Click now to listen on your favorite listening platform!
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Quick Links |
Skip scrolling! Here’s what you’ll find in today’s Bluedot Living Canada newsletter:
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Featured Stories |
“Canada is slowly waking up to a worrisome trend already entrenched in the U.S.,” writes contributor David Silverberg. “AI data centres are starting to dot the country. It’s been reported that Toronto is host to more than 70 existing or planned data centres. Canada is
standing at around 287 data centres in total.” Read his story to learn more. Plus, when it comes to what goes on deep in the ocean, most of us are a little in the dark. But researchers at the University of Victoria are excited to have a new technique to identify fish deep in the sea based on the sounds they make.
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– Illustration by Elissa Turnbull
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Dear Dot,
Help me build a small garden bed. I would also love some tips to help the vegetables grow more prolifically and heartier.
– Royce Ann
Dear Royce Ann,
Since my own attempts to start a garden have been dismal, Dot has enlisted Bluedot’s delightful, talented, and green-thumbed copyeditor Laura to answer your question. Laura’s advice gets you started on how to locate your plot, protect it from animals, and boost soil nutrients with compost and garden soil. She also advises sticking to space-efficient plants you actually enjoy eating, such as herbs, root vegetables, leafy greens, and climbing plants on trellises. Keep reading and get ready to dig in!
Write to Dot with your questions at at deardot@bluedotliving.com.
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We are emerging from winter, and potholes and cracks are on full display. As we head into our other season (construction season), take a look at this research out of McMaster University that hopes that self-healing concrete can make infrastructure more durable. And if you’re looking for an active, made-in-Canada summer (or spring)
adventure, consider PEI’s Island Walk, modeled on Spain’s El Camino.
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If you make a purchase through our links, including from Amazon, we may earn a small commission.
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Sans Savon is rethinking cleansing with soap-free formulas that lift dirt and sweat while preserving the skin’s natural
barrier. The latherless Hand Wash, Body Wash, and Body Bar leave skin clean and soft, with scents inspired by Charlevoix, the region of Quebec the brand’s owners call home. Bottles are 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, and refill pouches cut down on waste and shipping. The brand also gives back to non-profits in Charlevoix.
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But what we’re swooning over is the scent! Fir and spruce essential oils mingle with notes of
Labrador tea, citrus, geranium, and lavender, adding depth and nuance to the coniferous base. The Hand Wash, our favorite, evokes the dynamic scent of a forest across the seasons. A wonderful gift for a friend — or yourself.
Try This New Canadian-Made Brand
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Check out the latest edition of Bluedot Living Kitchen magazine! The magazine features easy-to-make recipes, inspiring stories, and smart tips to reduce food waste and shop sustainably. Subscribe now
and get 6 digital issues per year!
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Weekend batch cooking might be the best solution for weekday survival. A strong contender for second is breakfast cookies. So we are happy to share this recipe from Fredrika Syren, the Sweden-born environmental writer, activist, public speaker, and founder of the The Zero Waste Family. Made mostly with bulk ingredients you can find in your pantry, these cookies come together quickly, and will give your mornings a boost as you head out the door. Make them today and enjoy them all week.
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Parting Thoughts
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Today’s “Parting Thoughts” are, for me, really about parting. After three years in the Bluedot universe, I’m moving on. But don’t worry, my co-editor Leslie Garrett (you know her as our Dear Dot) will continue delivering good news and ideas to your inbox from across the country and
beyond.
As I wrote in the very first newsletter we made for Canadian climate-conscious readers, “From the things we choose to eat, to the conversations we have, from what we buy, to what we stop to notice … these are the things that matter. And not only that, they can be exciting and joyful and just plain fun.”
Furthermore, when we share our enthusiasm for what we’re doing to make the planet healthier, we combat feelings of isolation. We’re part of a community, just like communities all over the world, full of people who are choosing thoughtful, joyful lives. These actions don’t make headline news, but they’re happening. We’re not alone, and every day with our choices, we’re making a difference, plus signalling to others that we care, and that it’s not weird to care.
Leslie will keep the home fires burning, and she’ll be joined by the fabulous and talented Char Kelly, who you may already know as a Bluedot writer (see her story about Friendlier, a Canadian company that makes reusable, returnable containers for takeout), and also as one half of our Secondhand Sisters team, actual sisters who love finding ways to thrift, vintage shop, and upcycle fashion finds. You’re in good hands with the two of them.
Thank you for being a reader. And happy trails!
– Liann Bobechko (and Leslie Garrett), the BDL Canada team
Send us a note at CANeditor@bluedotliving.com to tell us what you think of the stories we’re sharing, and to tell us your own.
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Liann Bobechko has spent the last 25 years as a writer and editor for Canadian print and digital publications, sharing stories about nature and the environment and the people who love them. She lives with her family in the Humber River watershed of Lake Ontario.
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Leslie Garrett has been covering climate stories for close to two decades and is the author of 16 books. A former Torontonian, she now lives in London, ON but always manages to find her way (with her dogs) to the closest body of water.
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