CEO of Certified General Accountants of Ontario returning home to host annual charity dinner and auction
A native son of South Huron, who has served in senior administrative positions at the provincial and national levels, is returning to his home watershed as special guest and evening host for the annual Conservation Dinner auction on Thursday, April 19, 2012. Doug Brooks is CEO of Certified General Accountants of Ontario and has also been a senior executive for NHL, CBC, and Coca-Cola. He joins a long line of distinguished special guests and emcees who have supported local conservation efforts at an event that has raised more than $600,000 over its more than 22-year history. For more information visit www.conservationdinner.com or click on this link: http://abca.on.ca/newsfull.php?NewsID=262
|
Vote now for a valuable local conservation project
Your online vote can help the Ausable Bayfield Base Mapping Project earn valuable financial support through the Shell FuellingChange program. Visit http://abca.on.ca/newsfull.php?NewsID=255 to find out how. The water from our watershed empties into Lake Huron, upon which millions of people in Canada and the US rely for drinking water, so understanding how water flows across the landscape is imperative to helping protect it. High quality digital elevation models are needed in small watersheds to determine where potential pollutants originate and where to conduct stewardship activities to best mitigate impacts to watersheds. Simply go to http://fuellingchange.com/main/project/208/ and show your support. |
Fundraising campaign begins for Woodland Reflection Shelter
The generosity of patrons and donors at the Collector to Collector event in November raised more than five thousand dollars towards the creation of a new Woodland Reflection Shelter pavilion at the Commemorative Woods at Morrison Dam Conservation Area along the South Huron. Fundraising efforts for this special pavilion along the South Huron Trail will continue this year and next to make the dream reality. To find out how you can support this fundraising effort, and information on naming recognition opportunities, visit: http://abca.on.ca/page.php?page=shelter |
Family Day WinterFest returns for second year
Children may be looking out their windows wondering if there will be a White Christmas this year, but community groups in South Huron are hoping for snow on a different day – Family Day Holiday Monday, on February 20, 2012. A committee of community organizations has announced that last year’s inaugural Family Day WinterFest South Huron was so successful the South Huron and area community is doing it again in 2012. Last year's successful event for families and individuals included winter fireworks, free skating, a Lions Club breakfast, snowshoeing, hiking, tobogganing, and much more. The list of community groups taking part in WinterFest is growing every week. The organizing committee has held two organizational meetings so far and the next one takes place at Morrison Dam Conservation Area at 71108 Morrison Line on Tuesday, January 24 at 7 p.m. The Exeter Lions Club started the snowball rolling in 2010 with Family Day with the Exeter Lions Club and other community organizations and service clubs joined with them in 2011 to build the event into a well-attended celebration of family, community, and the great outdoors. For information and updates on events visit www.familydaywinterfest.ca |
|
Spring tree order form now available
Mail-in orders due January 31, 2012; Over-the-counter orders with payment due by Wednesday, February 29
It may seem early to think about spring but it's already spring tree order form time at Ausable Bayfield Conservation. For spring tree order form visit: http://abca.on.ca/trees.php Participation in the spring and autumn tree programs is one of the ways landowners and residents of Ausable Bayfield watersheds are helping to improve forest conditions, according to forestry and land stewardship specialist Ian Jean. Local people may have many reasons to plant trees. They may want to help improve air and water, create windbreaks, have more birds and wildlife, or better mark property lines. “Windbreaks can be very helpful to a landowner. They can keep drifting snow away from homes and farms, reduce winter heating costs, reduce soil erosion, protect livestock from extremes of heat and cold, increase yields, provide habitat for birds, and moderate soil and air temperatures,” Jean said. Trees have benefits in both winter and summer. “It’s been said that one mature deciduous tree can cool the air as much as ten room-sized air conditioners,”
Jean said. ABCA staff members can help landowners in many modes of land stewardship, "such as planting plans, site preparation, forest management plans, wildlife habitat improvement, and erosion control – people can give us a call to find out more.” For more information on the ABCA's tree planting programs contact Forestry and Land Stewardship Specialist Ian Jean. You can phone him at: 519-235-2610, ext. 238 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610. Or, you can contact him by e-mail at ijean@abca.on.ca
|
Looking for Ausable Bayfield watersheds' Conservationist of the Year
Do you know a person or organization who is improving the natural health of Ausable Bayfield watersheds? If so, the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) invites you to nominate them as Conservationist of the Year. For information and nomination form visit: http://abca.on.ca/newsfull.php?NewsID=260 The ABCA has presented this award to a deserving recipient every year for more than 25 years. The award will be presented at the March 15, 2012 Conservation Awards at Ironwood Golf Club east of Exeter. Let us know if you would like to attend this partner appreciation evening. |
Keep posted to ABCA website over the year for flood messages and low-water advisories
At the time of release of this electronic newsletter, there are no active flood messages or low-water advisories in Ausable Bayfield watersheds. People are encouraged to watch the ABCA website's flood icons on the home page at www.abca.on.ca for the most current information on high water or low water. For information on low water advisories visit: http://www.abca.on.ca/lowwater.php For information on flood messages visit: http://www.abca.on.ca/floodbulletins.php |
|
Dr. Ralph Martin to speak at awards night
A guest speaker at an annual conservation awards night near Exeter will discuss links between the health of the natural environment and the health of people and species. Ralph C. Martin is a professor and Loblaw Chair in Sustainable Food Production at Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), University of Guelph. He is scheduled to be guest speaker on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at the annual Ausable Bayfield Conservationist of the Year awards evening, held this coming year at Ironwood Golf Club, at 70969 Morrison Line, just east of Exeter. For more information visit this link: http://abca.on.ca/newsfull.php?NewsID=261
|
Snowshoes for rent
What's more Canadian than snowshoeing? Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) allows you to appreciate the great outdoors by renting snowshoes. The cost is only $5 per day or $10 for the weekend.
A group rate for 30 snowshoes is only $70. Enjoy nature even after the snow falls. Call ABCA at 519-235-2610 or 1-888-286-2610 for information.
|
Students help plant dune grass
Forty-eight students from Bosanquet Central Public School in Thedford improved their local environment last month, and learned about the role of dune grass in protecting a coastal ecosystem, by helping to plant dune grass to protect against coastal erosion caused by waves and wind, help to filter pollutants, and provide habitat for species. The Grades 6-8 students, along with teachers Julie Quenneville and Leo Alber, planted the species in Port Franks. The students helped stabilize the dune ecosystem by planting about 5,200 stems. Community support for the dune grass project, including purchase of dune grass, busing for the students, and planting support, came from community the Port Franks Beach Homeowners’ Association and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA).
|
Community team completes Proposed Conservation Strategy
A diverse group of 34 people from the watershed community has finished a year of work and approved a proposed conservation strategy for consideration of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority Board of Directors. If approved, this document would guide conservation work in Ausable Bayfield watersheds for decades to come. The board will consider the document at the December 15 board meeting and, if approved, the document would be printed in the new year and released at the March 15, 2012 Conservationist of the Year partner appreciation and awards evening, to be held at Ironwood Golf Club.
|
|
