Chesterville pride in a UNESCO World Heritage Site
by Philippe Thomas
My name is Phil Thomas, and I am a proud resident of Chesterville. I was born in Embrun, on a family-operated dairy farm, and was lucky to pursue higher education at the University of Ottawa, graduating with a PhD in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology. Since 2010, I have been employed by the federal government (Environment and Climate Change Canada) working as a wildlife toxicologist. A wildlife toxicologist is a scientist that works on evaluating the impacts of toxic substances on the health of animals (and indirectly, people). Initially, most of my work was conducted on pesticides, working in agricultural settings in our very own backyard in the South Nation Watershed, but also in Prince Edward Island (in potato fields), and in Quebec and Western Canada on rodenticides. Since 2012, my work has taken me to the oil sands region of Alberta, where 75% of my time is spent working with Indigenous communities on the impacts of oil and gas pollutants on the health of animals with fur (from muskrats to caribou). I also do this in Northern Ontario and Northern Quebec in landscapes dominated by critical mineral mining projects. I really enjoy my line of work, and it makes me feel like I’m helping people make more informed decisions on the foods they eat and the water they drink… Yes, many, many people eat muskrats, and it is a staple in many Indigenous diets (and quite tasty – you should try it!).
I am fortunate to work with the Cree, Dene and Metis communities in Northern Alberta, including in the Peace–Athabasca Delta (PAD) and Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP): ecological treasures in northern Canada that support incredible biodiversity and are deeply tied to Indigenous cultures and Treaty rights. The PAD, formed where the Peace and Athabasca rivers meet Lake Athabasca, is the largest inland freshwater delta in North America and a critical stopover for migrating birds. Much of it lies within WBNP – the country’s largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the world’s largest wild wood bison herd and the last natural nesting ground of the endangered whooping crane. But these areas are under serious threat. Hydroelectric dams, oil sands development, and climate change are disrupting natural water flows, drying wetlands, and impacting traditional land use. In 2023, UNESCO warned that without urgent action, WBNP could be added to the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger. Indigenous leaders and scientists are calling for stronger protections, and Canada has pledged new funding for monitoring and restoration.
So it is with a sense of responsibility, urgency and genuine concern for the health of their lands that the Nipîy Tu Research and Knowledge Centre (NTRKC), a nonprofit organization based in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, was created in 2019 by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Fort Chipewyan Métis, and Mikisew Cree First Nation. Its name – “Nipîy” (Cree) and “Tu” (Dene) – means “water,” reflecting its focus on protecting the Peace–Athabasca Delta, one of the world’s most important freshwater ecosystems. The Centre brings together Indigenous Knowledge and Western science to monitor water, wildlife, and environmental change in the region. It also supports community programs and education to keep local cultures and ecosystems strong for future generations.
NTRKC then partnered with Laboratories Canada to increase collaboration and research capacity in the PAD. The partnership supports federal and Indigenous scientists operating in Fort Chipewyan to expand existing research and monitoring capabilities and to keep pace with the evolving challenges and opportunities in scientific development. Scientists like myself, who regularly work in the PAD and WBNP, really benefit from these partnerships. They become even more critical in areas of our country that are remote and not serviced by roads.
Through this partnership with Laboratories Canada, a pilot project was advanced to design and construct a mobile laboratory for northern climates to be tested by NTRKC in Fort Chipewyan. Funding was provided by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISEDC) through the Innovation Solutions Canada program to build the laboratory. NTRKC recently unveiled its new mobile laboratory in late February 2024, delivering it to Fort Chipewyan via three trucks traveling the winter ice road from Chesterville, Ontario… yes, you heard me right! This state-of-the-art facility was designed in our very own backyard, in Chesterville! You cannot imagine the pride I felt when I came into this news. IDP Group Inc. (who operate in the old Nestle Factory on Main St) was contracted to carry out the development, construction, mobilization and set-up of the mobile laboratory. Representatives from Laboratories Canada, NTRKC, Parks Canada Agency (PCA), and Environment and Climate Change Canada assisted in the design process of the laboratory. Once assembled on site, the lab – complete with both wet and dry workspaces, a kitchenette, and sleeping quarters – began offering on site water and wildlife testing directly in the community. This portable science hub blends Indigenous knowledge with Western research methods, helping local stewards closely monitor changes in the Peace–Athabasca Delta year-round.
While I’ve never met anyone from IDP Group, they may not realize that one of the main users of the new lab they built lives just five minutes away from them. As a Chesterville resident, I know many of us still miss having Nestlé in our community. That’s why seeing the incredible work by IDP Group, hearing the positive feedback from people using the lab, and feeling pride in a local business meant so much to me. Nestlé left behind some big shoes to fill – and a big piece of real estate – but I’m proud of the role IDP Group is now playing in our town. They’re helping fill those shoes in a meaningful way.