Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and welcome to all our witnesses.
Your testimony has been fabulous, particularly for some of us who are not as familiar with this study. The reason for our study is to understand the important contribution of citizen scientists. Your testimony is terrific. I actually wrote a couple of things down regarding working with local people and local economies to target action. I think those were your words, Mr. Woods. Also, I wrote “a sense of community and a sense of place”. That was the same kind of idea, as well, from Mr. LeBaron.
Mr. Ennis, as a former detective, I very much appreciate that you are a detective, using your skills to investigate the universe.
I've been fortunate to organize guided nature walks in my community with Dr. Martin Willison, who's a retired biology and environmental studies professor at Dalhousie. I've also done a couple of nature hikes—it's only been two—with board members of Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes, which is one of the most important natural spaces in my riding and, frankly, in Nova Scotia.
Your questions and what we're studying today have gotten me to think about how these kinds of leisure activities and walks in nature can also be data collection exercises, whether it's birdwatching or geocaching. Can you talk to us about how you envision regular Canadians and non-academics being able to contribute to our scientific inquiry through recreation or leisure pursuits?
I guess I could probably ask everyone that, but how about I start with Mr. LeBaron to give you, Mr. Wood, a moment to breathe.