Ausable Bayfield Conservation
names Davin Heinbuck as new General Manager, Secretary-Treasurer
ABCA appoints former Water Resources Coordinator Davin Heinbuck to GM role; The St. Marys resident, formerly of Mitchell, has worked for ABCA since 2003
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has named Davin Heinbuck as the ABCA’s new General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer. He assumes his duties as General Manager on February 12, 2024. The St. Marys resident and Mitchell native was Water Resources Coordinator prior to his new appointment. He has worked at Ausable Bayfield Conservation since 2003.
Marissa Vaughan is Chair of the ABCA Board of Directors. “On behalf of the Human Resources Committee and the entire Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce our new General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer is Davin Heinbuck,” she said. “Davin has the technical skills and watershed management knowledge required for this position and he has the team-building and organizational skills needed to lead us confidently into the future.”
The new General Manager has more than 20 years of experience in conservation and watershed management. Locally, he has worked closely with municipal representatives and staff and community partners in his previous role as Water Resources Coordinator. “He brings extensive subject-area knowledge to his new role and strong inter-personal skills,” Chair Vaughan said. “Davin is skilled in all aspects of watershed management. He knows the watershed and our local communities.”
In addition to his work on local programs such as flood forecasting and warning and groundwater monitoring, Heinbuck has played significant roles in provincial conservation. He has served as Chair of the Southwestern Ontario Flood Forecasting and Warning Alliance and as Chair of the Southwest Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network Working Group. He has also instructed workshops for drainage engineers and drainage superintendents.
“Davin has been a leader in conservation locally and he has been recognized province-wide for his contributions to effective watershed management across Ontario,” Chair Vaughan said.
Outgoing GM Brian Horner remains at ABCA to assist in the transition to the new General Manager and he will return to his former role as Financial Services Supervisor. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Brian for his successful ten years as General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer at ABCA,” Chair Vaughan said. “The ABCA is highly regarded in the community and much of this is due to his fine leadership. We are grateful that he will continue at ABCA. He will be an asset in the transition to a new General Manager.”
The selection of the new General Manager took place after a job competition that attracted numerous excellent candidates from within the organization and from outside the organization, according to ABCA. After in-depth interviews with several candidates, the conservation authority found their preferred candidate from within the organization.
It is an honour and a privilege to step into the role of General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer with Ausable Bayfield Conservation, Davin said.
“I look forward to working closely with our member municipalities and our other community partners as we continue to protect life and property and watershed resources, and build healthy, resilient watersheds, in the years to come,” he said. “One of the great strengths of ABCA is our dedicated and knowledgeable staff. I look forward to working with the entire staff to realize the mission and vision the community has provided for us.”
Outside of his professional work, Heinbuck is an avid angler who is National Research Director for Muskies Canada Inc. and Chair of the Muskies Canada Science Advisory Committee. He received the Paul Gasbarino Distinguished Service Award in 2022. He was inducted into the Muskies Canada Hall of Fame in 2023.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority is an independent, corporate body in Southwestern Ontario on the southeast shores of Lake Huron. It is one of Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities with the mandate to ensure the conservation, restoration and responsible management of Ontario’s water, land and natural habitats through programs that balance human, environmental and economic needs.
To learn more visit the website.
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Order Trees
Spring is not far away and Ausable Bayfield Conservation staff say a sure sign of spring coming is the Spring Tree Order Form.
Interested landowners may purchase trees, accompanied by payment, until February 29, 2024.
The tree order form is posted at the conservation authority website at abca.ca on the Order Trees web page.
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Conservation Dinner Committee selects Stephanie Denomme, owner of Blush and Blossom Floral, as 2024 Feature Artist
Floral artist is 25th person selected as feature artist in 34-year history of Conservation Dinner; featured artists have worked in wide range of media from visual arts to other media including woodwork, sculpture (wood, metal and ice), quilting, culinary arts and wine-making
The Conservation Dinner Committee has announced that the 2024 Feature Artist, for the 34th Conservation Dinner, is Stephanie Denomme, owner of Blush and Blossom Floral.
Chris Keller, of Exeter Lions Club, is Chair of the Conservation Dinner Committee.
“On behalf of the whole Conservation Dinner Committee, we are excited to announce that the Conservation Dinner featured artist in 2024 is Stephanie Denomme,” he said. “Stephanie’s floral designs are works of art and having her creative talents showcased at the 34th Conservation Dinner is sure to make this year’s Dinner and Auction a special one indeed.”
The Conservation Dinner community fundraiser and auction takes place on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at South Huron Recreation Centre at 94 Victoria Street East in Exeter.
Each year, the Conservation Dinner Committee selects a featured artist. Past Dinner artists have worked in a range of media including visual arts, culinary arts, wine-making, ice sculpture, metal sculpture, quilting, and wood-working. In the 34-year history of the Dinner, Stephanie is the 25th person to be named a feature artist.
“I am very honoured to be selected the 25th featured artist,” she said. “This community has been extremely supportive of both my business as well as family. I am so excited to showcase my talents to everyone attending the Dinner.”
The Seaforth-area native and Exeter resident has been designing floral arrangements since 2018. In 2023, she opened her own shop, specializing in weddings and events.
“I have put a lot of hard work driving my business to where it is today, whether it be furthering my skills at the Canadian Institute of Floral Design in Toronto, as well as overcoming the hurdles of opening a small business.”
Floral design is a creative endeavour. Every creation is unique with different flowers and textures. “No two pieces are the same,” Stephanie said. “I like the challenge,” she said of putting her own creative twist on design concepts.
This year’s feature art is a spring seasonal insert with planter included as well as three other inserts to be filled in future (summer, autumn, and winter) plus one vase arrangement and a $100 gift card used for future purchases.
This year’s feature artist has had a winding career road to become a florist. She once studied to be a police officer before embarking on her current career.
She and her husband Marc have four young children so her floral design studio, constructed in 2023, is part of her home. “If I need to be inside I’m a few feet away,” she said.
The Conservation Dinner is the unofficial start of spring and the colourful “coming out of winter and into spring” motif is something that may find its way into this year’s feature art.
To find out about Blush and Blossom Flora visit the firm’s website.
Previous feature artists include:
- Dark Horse Estate Winery Inc. (2023)
- Diane Carson, The Electric Quilter, Exeter (2022)
- Wood craftsman David Loerchner, D. L. Creations, Bayfield (2018)
- Iceculture Inc. of Hensall (2017)
- Jim Dawe, Murals in Metal (2016)
- Culinary feature artist Chef James Eddington (2015)
- Tammy Laye (2014; 1990-1995)
- Madeleine Roske (2013)
- Martin Zimmer (2012)
- Catherine Weber (2011)
- Fran Roelands (2010)
- Bill Nieuwland (2009)
- David Bannister (2008)
- Tim Clark (2007; 1997)
- Teresa Marie (2006)
- Rae Ann Ladouceur (2005)
- Elisabeth Tonner-Keats (2004)
- Randy Jones (2003)
- Carver Fred Negrijn (2002)
- Ken Jackson (2001)
- Kent Wilkens (2000)
- Barry Richman (1999)
- Flora Doerr (1998)
- Peter Etril Snyder (1996)
To learn more visit the Feature Artists web page.
About the Conservation Dinner
The Conservation Dinner is a dinner, auction and fundraiser that has raised more than $1.335 million for needed community projects over 33 years.
The 2024 Conservation Dinner is the 34th event since 1990. The Exeter Lions Club has been co-partner, with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and the watershed community, on the Dinner, since 1991. Net profits are split 50-50 between community conservation projects of the Conservation Foundation and community conservation projects of the Exeter Lions Club.
Tickets are available now for the Conservation Dinner. To buy tickets to the Conservation Dinner, or to donate, phone 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 or email info@abca.ca or visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation office east of Exeter at 71108 Morrison Line (just south of Highway 83). Tickets are $100 each and patrons receive a charitable gift receipt, for income tax purposes, for a portion of that amount.
People can buy their tickets from a Conservation Dinner Committee member or from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation office. People can pay for their tickets by cheque, cash or credit card. They can even pay by e-Transfer. (If you are buying your ticket by e-Transfer, be sure to use the dinner@abca.ca email address and include your mailing address and/or email address in the e-Transfer message box and specify if the payment is for a Conservation Dinner ticket or if the payment is a donation to the Dinner).
The auction and dinner supports projects such as a family-friendly fishing derby, accessible nature trails in Bayfield, Clinton, Parkhill, Lucan, Arkona, Exeter, and Varna; opportunities for students to experience outdoor nature education; a $1,000 student environmental grant for students in local communities; a summer job at Ausable Bayfield Conservation for a senior secondary school student; turtle monitoring and events in Port Franks and Ailsa Craig; aquatic habitat studies in Old Ausable Channel, Grand Bend; nature day camps; Owl Prowl; and parks and conservation areas.
The annual event features live and silent auctions of art and distinctive items such as travel packages and sports and entertainment memorabilia. The Dinner has special raffles, general raffles, appetizers, wine tasting, fun and fellowship, and a wonderful meal.
Find out more at conservationdinner.com and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation’s Conservation Dinner web page.
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WILD Summer Nature Day Camps return in 2024 with more locations
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) brings back popular Summer Nature Day Camps with some added locations; WILD nature day camps are to take place at Rock Glen Conservation Area, Morrison Dam Conservation Area and five other sites
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is bringing back Summer Nature Day Camps in 2024. This year there are even more sites throughout the watershed where young people may attend the day camps.
There are WILD (Wonder, Investigate, Learn, Discover) day camps at:
- Rock Glen Conservation Area and
- Morrison Dam Conservation Area
There are also one-day camps at five other locations:
- Warner Preserve in Grand Bend
- Clinton Conservation Area
- Lucan Conservation Area
- Bannockburn Conservation Area (near Varna); and
- Ausable River Cut Conservation Area (Port Franks).
Cassie Greidanus is ABCA Conservation Education Coordinator. She said the return of popular summer nature day camps is exciting. She said it’s also exciting that day camps will take place at seven different locations across the watershed.
“We are really excited to expand our current day camp offerings across the watershed this year,” she said. “After hearing feedback from kids, staff and guest speakers, we are doing what we can to offer the children of our watershed a chance to see areas they do not normally get the chance to see. This is all while learning, playing and creating memories they will never forget. We look forward to learning about topics such as: water, forests, habitats, invertebrates and all forms of wildlife,” she said.
The Summer Nature Day Camps take place in July and August.
The first two camps are at Morrison Dam Conservation Area east of Exeter:
- Week 1) July 8-12 for Ages 6-9; and
- Week 2) July 15-19 for Ages 9-12.
Camp weeks three and four are at Rock Glen Conservation Area near Arkona:
- Week 3) July 29-August 2 for Ages 9-12; and
- Week 4) August 12-16 for Ages 6-9.
Day camps between August 19 and 23, for Ages 6-12, take place at five different locations.
- Day One (August 19), takes place at Warner Preserve in Grand Bend with the theme of Harmonious Habitats.
- Day Two (August 20) takes place at Clinton Conservation Area with the theme Wonderful Water.
- Day Three (August 21) is at Lucan Conservation Area with the theme Amazing Adaptations.
- Day Four (August 22) is at Bannockburn Conservation Area (near Varna) with the theme Into the Woods.
- Day Five (August 23) is at Ausable River Cut Conservation Area (Port Franks) with the theme Natural Curiosity.
To learn more visit the WILD Summer Nature Day Camps web page.
To register for Summer Nature Day Camp click on the Google Forms link.
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Eco Exeter students to present at Partner Evening
March 21, 2024 is the Partner Appreciation Evening.
Local youth from Eco Exeter are to present at Ausable Bayfield Conservation’s Partner Appreciation Evening in March.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) welcomes Eco Exeter students’ presentation, on moving away from pollution towards solutions, at the partner appreciation night on March 21, 2024 at Ironwood Golf Club
Students from Eco Exeter are presenting at Ausable Bayfield Conservation’s Partner Appreciation Evening. The event takes place on Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Ironwood Golf Club, 70969 Morrison Line, 2 km east of Exeter.
The topic of the presentation is Away from pollution, towards solutions: Keeping plastics and other contaminants out of our water. The Eco Exeter students are from South Huron District High School in Exeter.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation will present the Conservationist of the Year Award, for the 41st consecutive year, at the evening.
Marissa Vaughan is Chair of the ABCA Board of Directors.
“We are thrilled and honoured to welcome the Eco Exeter students to present on moving from pollution to solutions, and protecting local watercourses from plastics and other contaminants, at our annual Partner Appreciation Evening,” she said. “These young people are truly inspiring and they show the promise of the next generation of watershed stewards. We look forward to this evening where we will announce the Conservationist of the Year Award winner, honour our valued community partners, and present years of service awards to directors and staff.”
In order to attend the evening, guests must reply (RSVP) in advance, by March 14, 2024, to Sharon Pavkeje at spavkeje@abca.ca
To learn more about the Conservationist of the Year Award, and the Partner Appreciation Evening, visit the Conservation Award web page.
To attend the partner appreciation evening please reply (RSVP) by email (spavkeje@abca.ca) or phone (519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610) to Sharon Pavkeje, by March 14, 2024.
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World Wetlands Day was February 2, 2024
Ausable Bayfield Conservation, ‘your local wetland expert,’ has links to funds and encourages residents to consider local wetland restoration
Ausable Bayfield Conservation has helped 245 local landowners, since 2008, to create 131 wetlands totaling almost 1,000 acres (including riparian/riverbank plantings).
Angela Van Niekerk is Wetlands Specialist with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA). She said these wetland projects have been possible with low or no costs to the landowners thanks to the support of funding partners.
Staff make it easy for landowners to do these projects with little or no paperwork, she said. The conservation authority provides local wetland expertise and facilitates the funding for landowners to support their projects. ABCA encourages local landowners to contact staff for all their wetland project questions and needs.
World Wetlands Day was celebrated, in 2024, on Friday, February 2.
As part of a #WorldWetlandsDay public information campaign, leading up to February 2, staff thanked all the landowners and residents and community groups and funding partners who have contributed to enhancing local wetlands in the watershed.
“We would like to thank all the people who are helping to conserve natural areas, woodlots, wet areas, and grasslands on their properties," Angela said.
Mels and Ruthanne van der Laan, of Cold Stream Ranch, Denfield, are some of the local landowners enhancing wetlands on their property. In 2010, they contacted Ausable Bayfield Conservation to see if it was possible to restore four acres of what was once pastureland for their Texel sheep. ABCA staff helped them turn the four acres into attractive wetlands.
“The wetlands attract wildlife such as deer, ducks, and a variety of birds,” according to Ruthanne. “There is a muskrat house in the pond. There are lots of frogs, snakes and a resident Heron and many wildflowers to admire. Neighbours stroll through at any given time just to admire the changes that have taken place over the years.”
The Denfield couple says the wetland is beautiful, even in the wintertime, and it leaves a legacy for the future. “The family is taking over from us and it is perfect to leave a legacy for them,” Ruthanne says. “The grandkids will remember Opa taking them outdoors and talking about the environment and all of nature’s wonders.”
They loved the first wetland so much, they did a new project in 2023. They restored an additional 3.6 acres by planting trees and constructing a second wetland.
Do you think a wetland may enhance your property?
“Call Ausable Bayfield Conservation for a site visit and to see about funding for your project,” Angela said.
To learn more visit our wetlands web page or contact our staff or phone 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.
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Kirkton-Woodham Optimists host Water Wise well water testing event on Feb. 27
Kirkton-Woodham Optimist Club is hosting the next Water Wise well water sampling and testing event.
They are helping to make it easier for people to have their well water tested by Huron Perth Public Health.
Get a water sample bottle at Kirkton Market, Kirkton Library or Kirkton Post Office.
Or you can get your sample bottle at the Feb. 18 Optimist breakfast, or at the Feb. 27 Water Wise event.
Take your water sample and then return it to Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre, 70497 Road 164, Kirkton on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Then we'll get your water sample to Huron Perth Public Health for testing.
Find out more and visit the best practices web page.
#BestPractices #TestProtectMaintain #WaterWise #WellWise
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Notice of Section 34 Amendments to Source Protection Plan (Maitland Valley) and Notice of Public Consultation and Opportunity to Provide Comments
Proposed updates to the Source Protection Plan (SPP) and Assessment Report, for the Maitland Valley Source Protection Area, are now available for review and comment.
The plans have been prepared under the Ontario Clean Water Act, 2006 to protect municipal sources of drinking water and ensure their sustainable use into the future.
The updates are being completed under Section 34 of the Clean Water Act, 2006 and have been developed under the direction of the Source Protection Committee (SPC) for this Source Protection Region (Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley).
Learn more and visit the drinking water source protection consultation web page.
Key Changes:
- Revision of the Century Heights Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA) to include new municipal well #3 in the community of Saltford, Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh.
- Revision of the Lucknow Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA) to reflect an increase in the Permit to Take Water for the Lucknow drinking water system in the Township of Huron-Kinloss.
- Revisions to Chapter 4 of the Maitland Valley Assessment Report to reflect the changes to the Century Heights and Lucknow drinking water systems, including updated risk assessment.
- Updated mapping for managed lands, livestock density and impervious surfaces as a result of the changes to the Century Heights and Lucknow wellhead protection areas.
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