Can-Peat highlights from the Canadian Geophysical Union Conference in Halifax

Each year, hundreds of Canadian geoscientists, hydrogeologists, engineers, and researchers come together at the CGU (Canadian Geophysical Union) Annual Meeting  to share research and make connections. Last May, Can-Peat researchers had the pleasure of attending the Joint CGU and IAH-CNC (International Association of Hydrogeologists-Canadian National Chapter) Annual Meeting 2026, where they shared new findings and connected with colleagues from across the country. Can-Peat showcased a sample of the latest peatland research through eight presentations across four different sessions: 
 
In the first session, “Peatland Disturbance and Policy in Canada”, Melanie Bird (PhD candidate), Savanna Cherry (MSc candidate), and Abby Wang (Post Doctoral Fellow) from UWaterloo presented new findings on restoration outcomes and forestry impacts. Their research helps fill knowledge gaps on the effects of disturbance and the success of subsequent restoration on various peatland functions, including hydrology and carbon cycling. Together, these studies are improving our understanding of how peatlands respond to both disturbance and recovery efforts. 
 
Next, Akshara Withanage (PhD candidate, UWaterloo) and Josie Mallet (MSc candidate, Carleton), presented new insights in the session “Methane Emissions and Measurement Techniques Across Canada”. Their work quantified methane emissions and their drivers at different wetland types. These findings help strengthen our understanding of greenhouse gas dynamics in Canadian peatlands. 
 
In the session “Land-atmosphere fluxes and feedbacks to climate change”, Adriana Caswell (MSc candidate) and Zhiguang Chen (PDF) from Carleton presented their work on modeling carbon, water, and energy cycles and their responses to climate change. Their findings advance our ability to model these relationships and provide a more robust understanding of the effects of climate change on peatland carbon stocks. 
 
Lastly, project manager Kim Domaratzki shared Can-Peat’s Canadian Peatland Data Portal in the session “From Data to Solutions: Harnessing Distributed Data and Network Science to Drive Climate Action in Canada”. The Canadian Peatland Data Portal is a centralized metadata repository for all things peatland-related. Sharing this tool helps us grow the repository, expand awareness of available peatland datasets, and develop updates based on end-user feedback. As the portal continues to evolve, it will support greater collaboration and data accessibility within Canada’s peatland research community.