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New Chair and Vice Chair for Ausable Bayfield Conservation
The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) Board of Directors held its Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 16, 2023 and elected a new Chair and Vice Chair.
This photo shows new Chair Marissa Vaughan and new Vice Chair Ray Chartrand.
The new Board of Directors of ABCA is Adrian Cornelissen (North Middlesex); Dave Marsh (Lambton Shores and Warwick); Greg Lamport (Bluewater); Jaden Hodgins (Lucan Biddulph); Jim Ginn (Central Huron); Marissa Vaughan (South Huron and Perth South); Ray Chartrand (Huron East); Steve Herold (West Perth); and Wayne Shipley (Middlesex Centre and Adelaide Metcalfe).
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Conservation Dinner Committee announces 2023 Feature Artist is Dark Horse Estate Winery Inc.
Each year, the Conservation Dinner Committee selects a feature artist. Feature artists over the years have included painters and other visual artists, an ice sculptor, craftspersons, a culinary artist, a quilter, and other creative disciplines. This year, in 2023, the Committee has named its first feature artist in the field of winemaking.
“The Conservation Dinner is honoured to name Dark Horse Estate Winery Inc. as the Feature Artist for 2023,” said Dave Frayne, Chair of the Conservation Dinner Committee. “Dark Horse Estate Winery has excelled in the art of winemaking and combines their artistry in creating fine wines and memorable wine appreciation and culinary experiences with their personal dedication to their local community.”
Read the entire article here:
Tickets are now available for the Conservation Dinner charitable auction, dinner and community fundraiser.
The Conservation Dinner takes place on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at South Huron Recreation Centre at 94 Victoria Street East in Exeter. Tickets are $100 each. Patrons receive a charitable gift receipt, for income tax purposes, for a portion of that amount. 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).
Find out more at conservationdinner.com and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation website.
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Happy Family Day
Everyone here at Ausable Bayfield Conservation wishes you and your loved ones a very happy Family Day holiday weekend.
Our office is closed for the Family Day Holiday Monday on February 20, 2023 but we are reopening for regular business hours on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.
As a result of weather forecasts, the Friends of the South Huron Trail's free family snowshoeing event will not be taking place this year but people are encouraged to walk the South Huron Trail (weather permitting), check out the tree identification plaques, and brush up on your tree knowledge!
Snow or no snow, there are lots of Family Day activities in our local watershed communities including a number of activities as part of Family Day WinterFest South Huron.
Learn more:
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Ausable Bayfield Conservation partner appreciation conservation award evening returns in person in 2023
Annabelle Rayson, Stockholm Junior Water Prize winner, to present about harmful algae blooms and her research to reduce them in Great Lakes
Ausable Bayfield Conservation has announced the return of the Partner Appreciation Evening. This annual early-evening event, to honour community conservation partners and to present the Conservationist of the Year Award, was last held in 2019. The event was not held in 2020-2022 during the early years of the pandemic.
The Partner Appreciation Evening takes place on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at Ironwood Golf Club, 70969 Morrison Line, 2 km east of Exeter.
This conservation awards event will feature a presentation by Annabelle Rayson, 2022 Winner of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. She is to speak on harmful algae blooms and her research to treat them and prevent them in Lake Huron and the other Great Lakes.
“I’m excited to present at the Partner Appreciation evening about my research,” Annabelle said. “Lake Huron is very important to me and I look forward to sharing some information on strategies we might use to protect our Great Lakes.”
Annabelle is a Grade 12 student from St. Patrick’s Catholic High School in Sarnia. She received the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, in person, from HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. Annabelle has attended three national, Canada-wide Science Fair competitions, including 2022, and has been an award winner. Annabelle took part (2022), in the Netherlands, in the European Union Contest for Young Scientists.
Annabelle has researched how distinct genotypes of Daphnia magna (a type of Zooplankton, a tiny organism that eats algae, and a naturally occurring keystone species to our Great Lakes), could be used to eat algae and reduce algal blooms.
Staff at Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) will also provide an introduction to the 2023 Ausable Bayfield Watershed Report Cards. The report cards are to be released on World Water Day (March 22).
Ausable Bayfield Conservation is to present the Conservationist of the Year Award, for the 40th consecutive year, in 2023. 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 9, 2023.
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Landowners share their experience enhancing wetland
Ruthanne and Mels van der Laan tell us about constructing their mini-forest and wetland and the joy it has brought for them and their family.
Read their story here:
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Order Trees
Tree orders, accompanied by payment, are received until February 28, 2023.
For the tree order form and to learn more visit our tree orders page:
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It always pays to call first
Calling conservation authority staff first can help property owners and contractors to avoid costly and avoidable fines, the costs of removing unapproved works and restoring a property, and even time in court.
“If you are considering possible development on your property, call us first to find out if a permit is needed,” said Daniel King, ABCA Regulations Coordinator and Provincial Offences Officer. “Contacting us early prevents unnecessary costs later.”
Staff say property owners and agents are invited to contact the following staff at ABCA at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610: Daniel King, Regulations Coordinator and Provincial Offences Officer, extension 224, email dking@abca.ca.
“Our staff work hard to ensure anyone who contacts us receives a timely response,” Daniel said.
Construction and other development requires conservation authority approval in all regulated areas.
Most property owners and contractors wisely contact ABCA early on in a proposed project.
Unfortunately, in some other cases, if work has taken place without the necessary permits and other avenues are exhausted, it is sometimes necessary to take matters to court and prosecute.
This is one of those cases:
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