Lacombe County’s citizen science initiative receives support from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation

 Lacombe County was selected as a recipient of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) Grant, receiving $6,300 to support Changes in the Natural World: A Citizen Science Project.

This funding will support Lacombe County’s Chronolog Time-Lapse Photography Project, a citizen science initiative that invites residents and visitors to help document environmental changes across the County’s diverse landscapes. Chronolog stations allow participants to take photos using their phones and upload them to create evolving time-lapse videos that illustrate how our natural world shifts throughout the seasons and years.

With support from TD FEF, Lacombe County will install photo stations at Buffalo Lake, Gull Lake, Blindman River, Medicine River, and Crooker Wetland, expanding the County’s existing network of environmental monitoring sites.

“The TD Friends of the Environment Foundation has been a strong supporter of local environmental initiatives across Canada, and Lacombe County is thrilled to work with them,” said Reeve John Ireland. “This grant allows us to grow a project that directly connects people with the environment, which will turn everyday observations into valuable, long-term environmental data.”

"We're so proud to help Lacombe County bring this vital environmental initiative," said Mandip Kharod, Regional Manager, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. "TD FEF is committed to supporting programs that help to grow and steward quality green spaces in urban and suburban areas for everyone to enjoy."

The grant will also fund the installation of interpretive signage at each location, helping to educate the public about the importance of environmental observation and local ecology. In addition, 150 trees and shrubs will be planted as part of the project, contributing to long-term sustainability and habitat enhancement.

About the Chronolog Time-Lapse Photography Project

Through the use of Chronolog, a time-lapse photo monitoring system, participants can contribute to ongoing environmental stewardship by simply snapping a photo. Chronolog’s mission is twofold: First, to engage people with nature in an interactive new way. Second, to keep a record of phenological change for scientific use. By making environmental conservation a collaborative activity, people become interested in participating and compelled by the findings.

For More Information

To follow along and learn more about the Chronolog Time-Lapse Photography Project, visit www.lacombecounty.com/chronolog, or explore the work of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation at www.td.com/fef.