About Our Fragile Environment
Our Fragile Environment is a resource for identifying species found in Hamilton, Ontario. It is a series of public documents with images and text produced by Karen Logan Art to showcase the amazing biodiversity found in our city.
The research and development of the services of inventories being created relies on the expertise and dedication of many individuals and organizations, including the Hamilton Naturalists Club and the HIEA.
These documents are available to the public and can easily be downloaded. Click the button below to start learning about the beautiful animals, insects, plants, and other species that create our beautiful ecosystem in Hamilton.
About the Hamilton Industrial Environmental Association (HIEA)
The Hamilton Industrial Environmental Association (HIEA) and its members care about Hamilton’s environment and work to improve the quality of life in our communities through sustainable operations, open dialogue with our neighbours, and local partnerships that support environmental education for Hamilton students. Through their financial support for the development and implementation of the “Our Fragile Environment” website HIEA has enabled the project to be shared throughout the Hamilton community and beyond.
HIEA's support of the Our Fragile Environment project has allowed us to connect artistic interpretation with reliable environmental data, helping to present a thoughtful and informed depiction of species that exist within the city of Hamilton.
The City of Hamilton Supports
Our Fragile Environment
The City of Hamilton, City Enrichment Fund (CEF) is a municipal investment program in Hamilton that supports a variety of community initiatives across seven key sectors, including arts, culture, environment, and community services. It is designed to support the City of Hamilton's Strategic Plan and 25-Year Community Vision by providing financial assistance to not-for-profit organizations, registered charities, grassroots groups, and professional artist projects. The fund aims to enhance community well-being and vibrancy through various programs and initiatives.
The CEF Creation and Presentation Grant played an essential role in supporting this work. The grant helped provide the necessary matching funds that made this project possible and helped to support part of the work needed to compile the information for each of the freely available resources provided in this project.
This collaboration allowed me to create these freely available resources that celebrate the beauty and importance of protecting Hamilton’s ecosystems for generations to come.
Meet The Artist & Illustrator: Karen Logan
As an artist, my journey has been deeply influenced by my early experiences in drafting and mechanical design, which instilled in me a passion for precision and detail. Throughout my career, I've strived to bring these qualities into my artwork, creating highly realistic and detailed paintings that capture the essence of my subjects. My childhood drawing lessons taught me the importance of observation and patience, skills that have remained central to my artistic practice.
I hold a deep reverence for the interconnectedness of all living beings. Indigenous leaders remind us to honor the land, air, and water, cautioning that harm to the natural world inevitably affects humanity. I am driven to amplify this message, endeavoring to raise awareness of Hamilton's indigenous species through my artwork.
In addition to my illustrations for the "Our Fragile Environment" project, I also enjoy creating coloured pencil botanical illustrations and pastel paintings.
About The Hamilton Naturalists' Club
The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club has been at the heart of this project, providing the scientific foundation and research that make each inventory possible.
Their members’ field expertise, data collection, and decades of local ecological knowledge form the backbone of the Our Fragile Environment series. Through careful study and documentation, they help ensure every species listed—from the smallest wildflower to the tallest tree—is accurately represented and accessible to the public.
Their commitment to conservation, education, and community involvement has made it possible to bring Hamilton’s natural history to life through art and open-access learning
