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Calypso Orchid
Ontario Nature Nurtures: Your donations in action…
Nature Guardians
Our Nature Guardians are energetic young people working to plan, implementand lead their own conservation program. You are helping the Nature Guardians learn the skills needed to lead their peers and foster future generations that will care for and protect our environment.The Nature Guardians Youth Council is planning for a very ambitious 2011. Thank you forhelping nurture the environmental leaders of tomorrow.
You can meet some of our youth council on You Tube here and here
“Nature Guardians is important to me because I want to make a difference and inspire others to make a difference. Working towards a common goal will help stop environmental destruction.” Melissa
New Nature Reserves
A lot of activity on Lost Bay
Thanks to your generous support, in 2009 we were able to double the size of our Lost Bay Nature Reserve by acquiring 59 hectares and in 2010 started an intensive inventory focusing on eight at-risk reptiles believed to be living there. We found seven of the eight species – four turtles and three snakes – in remarkably high numbers! The only species not found yet is the five-lined skink, although the study identified some excellent skink habitat. Our mission for next year is to search the reserve for this species. Thank you for providing a home to so many Ontario reptiles and amphibians!
Momentum for Malcolm Bluff Shores
Two conservation organizations you love – the Bruce Trail Conservancy and Ontario Nature – have come together to protect 423 hectares of spectacular wild space at Malcolm Bluff Shores. Our campaign is well under way, but we still need to raise $900,000 before March 2012. Success is on the horizon because of donors like you. Together, we are all helping to protect some of the most significant and imperilled species and habitats in Ontario. Your action demonstrates that we can protect our wild spaces for our children and grandchildren to explore and adore. Thank you for helping to nurture nature on this magnificent property.
A party for the animals
Seven-year-old Kali Noonan did a remarkable thing for animals in Ontario. For her birthday this year, instead of gifts Kali asked guests to bring a donation for Ontario Nature to her party.
“It’s important to protect the environment because, if we didn’t, then all the trees would be cut down and we couldn’t breathe,” says Kali. “It’s also important to help the animals because they help the environment, too.”
Kali – we couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Happy birthday and thank you for helping to protect nature this year!
A lasting legacy
Suzanne and Peter Whistance-Smith have made an extraordinary gift to honour their son Graeme, who died at the age of 19 after a struggle with a very rare form of bone cancer. Ontario Nature is now the beneficiary of a life insurance policy from which the income will be used to purchase a nature reserve in Graeme’s name. This story inspired us to create a Legacy Grove in our Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve to honour people who have included Ontario Nature in their will.
This fall we planted our first tree in honour of Graeme. In the spring we will plant more trees in memory of people who cared so much and are protecting nature forever. Thank you, Suzanne and Peter, for letting us share your story with others and for inspiring the Ontario Nature Legacy Grove!
Newsletter, January 2011
Advocating for nature
Birds and Buildings
Each year in Toronto at least one million birds die after flying into buildings during migration. These deaths are a tragedy. Many of our migratory bird species are declining, and collisions with buildings and other structures are a major cause of bird mortality.
Your support for Ontario Nature is helping us work with lawyers from Ecojustice in prosecuting the owners of the building complex in Toronto at which the highest number of bird deaths occurs. This case will go to court in April. We will keep you updated on our progress.
By helping Ontario Nature force building owners to take action on this issue, you are helping to prevent the deaths of many birds that pass through Toronto. We may set a precedent among North American cities.
Ring of Fire
A vast area in the James Bay lowlands, the Ring of Fire is slated to become one of Canada’s largest ever mining developments, which will have huge implications for the health and well-being of the wildlife, fish and people who live in the far north of the province. Ontario Nature staff in Thunder Bay are working to help northern communities achieve sustainable land use and careful stewardship of natural resources. Meanwhile, staff in Toronto are working with the provincial government to ensure that the environment in Ontario’s far north is protected before and during all stages of mining activity. Large-scale mining development in the area cannot continue without proper protection of the environment and those who depend on it. You are helping the conservation voice grow louder and stronger in far northern Ontario.
Caroline Schultz
Executive Director
