On September 29, 2021 a new sign was unveiled at the Clendenan Conservation Area. With the generous support of the local Nature League, Grey Sauble Conservation Authority (GSCA) staff were able to research, design and have a new sign fabricated. This sign highlights history of the dam, the property features and a local hero for the environment and past Nature League member – Malcolm Kirk. Mac Kirk worked throughout his career to secure lands for conservation and appreciation and was instrumental at GSCA in this role. The Nature League directors took part in a cheque presentation and their President Rose Feaver along with Tim Lanthier, CAO for GSCA unveiled the new sign. Rebecca Ferguson, Lands Manager for GSCA, shared the history of the property along with information about the dam’s role in flooding/frazil ice management and fish migration and then took members on a guided hike along the trails on the property.
Support from groups like the Nature League is so very much appreciated, it allows GSCA to create new interpretive signage that provides a great engagement and education opportunity for the public when they visit a Conservation Area. The Nature League also sponsored a sign at GSCA’s Feversham Gorge – Madeleine Graydon Memorial Conservation Area in 2019.
Due to Covid restrictions, the Grey Sauble Conservation Foundation is rescheduling the 5th Annual Earth Film Festival, which was to be held on October 8, 2021 at the Roxy Theatre in Owen Sound. The new date for the festival is Thursday May 16, 2022 and will follow many Earth Week activities to be held in April.
The film presented at the festival will be the Canadian production, “Flight of the Butterflies”. An interactive butterfly presentation by Audrey Armstrong and photographer, Willy Waterton, will also be featured at each presentation. Audrey Armstrong is a knowledgably researcher who has devoted many years to studying the migration and habitats of monarchs and has tagged hundreds of butterflies. Her presentation titled “Bruce Grey Monarchs” will be featured followed by the film.
Students from Grades 6 to 8 will be invited to attend two daytime presentations. Each classroom teacher will receive research material and a butterfly kit to teach students about gardens and native plants that attract monarch butterflies.
The evening presentation, which is open to the public, will include draw prizes, a silent auction, and conservation displays during a social hour held in the Roxy Lobby. Representatives from SK films will be in attendance for the evening presentation to share the filming skills and techniques used in “Flight of the Butterflies”.
All funds raised from the evening presentation will benefit local conservation projects and student education grants supported by the Grey Sauble Conservation Foundation.
July 8, 2021
For Immediate Release
The Grey Sauble Conservation Foundation awards an annual $1000 scholarship to a graduating secondary school student entering a post-secondary program in an environmental or resource management related field. The scholarship is named in honour of Malcolm Kirk, who passed away in 2012. Mr. Kirk was instrumental in acquiring 80% of the lands that Grey Sauble Conservation Authority owns and manages today.
This year, the recipient of the Malcolm Kirk Environmental Scholarship is Janna Wardell, a student from Owen Sound District Secondary School who will be pursuing post-secondary education in Environmental Engineering at the University of Guelph.
In the recommendation letter for this scholarship, Janna is described by one of her high school teachers as a highly deserving individual who “always demonstrated an excellent work ethic, and as a result was always successful at achieving her goals. Her positive attitude and inquisitive nature were a wonderful addition to the class.” Janna is also an outstanding athlete and a valuable member of many school and community teams, including skiing, mountain biking, lacrosse, and hockey.
Janna’s future goals are to have a career in the field of water resources and environmental protection, and she plans to continue supporting her community after finishing university. “When I graduate, I hope to return to the Grey Bruce area to live and work. This is a wonderful area, and I would love to keep it healthy for future generations” Janna Wardell.
Each year through an application process, students may apply for this valuable scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to a graduating student in the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority watershed who plans to enter an environmental program at a college or university. The deadline for applications for next year’s scholarship is May 31, 2022.
For more information:
Don Sankey, Chair
Grey Sauble Conservation Foundation
foundation@greysauble.on.ca
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Open PDF here: https://www.greysauble.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Grey-Sauble-Conservation-Foundation-Awards-2021-Scholarship_JULY-8-2021.pdf
June 2nd, 2021
For Immediate Release
Owen Sound Family Teams up with GSCA to Offset their Carbon Footprint!
Conversations with his youngest son inspired Jeff Graham to consider ways to reduce his family’s impact on
climate change. “As an engineer, I wanted to know the basic data such as what our average carbon emissions
are. And what we could do to reduce our carbon footprint” said Jeff Graham. After some research, the carbon
absorption capacity of trees seemed like an accessible and cost-effective place to start!
His initial research also indicated that wealthy countries, like Canada, have much higher carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions, per person, than people living in developing countries. According to Graham, “It struck me that
Canadians have a moral duty to take responsibility for their emissions, and if affordable, help pay to reduce or
offset their carbon emissions”.
Given that each Canadian produces about 20 metric tons of CO2 per year and a young growing tree absorbs
around 20 kilograms of CO2 per year; Graham calculated that 6,000 trees would need to be planted to help
offset the carbon footprint of a family of six. The Graham’s did not let the space limitations of their urban lot in
Owen Sound stop them and, instead, they contacted Grey Sauble Conservation Authority (GSCA) with their
plan and to help make the tree planting project a reality.
The Graham’s financial donation will now fund the planting of over 6,000 trees on two GSCA properties this
spring – Isaac Lake in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula and Griersville in the Municipality of Meaford. Both
projects will be completed by GSCA staff with some assistance from the Graham family. The native tree
species planted will remove CO2, improve soil retention across the watershed and, in combination with ongoing
tree planting by GSCA, help increase resilience to the impacts of flooding, drought and severe weather events.
This tree planting project will also help restore and increase forest cover, create more wildlife habitat, and
improve water quality.
“This is a fantastic act by the Graham family! By working together, we can all help mitigate the impacts of
climate change and planting trees is great way to start” said Michael Fry, Forestry Coordinator at GSCA.
The trees were selected based on growing needs such as soil type and moisture requirements and it is
intended that they will grow for at least the next 80 years. The benefits of this generous donation from the
Graham family will be felt for many generations to come!
To find out more about tree planting efforts at Grey Sauble Conservation visit:
https://www.greysauble.on.ca/forestry-services/.
If you are interested in offsetting your carbon footprint through tree planting, contact:
forestry@greysauble.on.ca.
For more information about this project: Graham Family Tree Planting and Carbon Sequestering Project
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For more information:
Mike Fry, Forestry Coordinator
Email: m.fry@greysauble.on.ca
Background:
Our vision is a healthy watershed environment in balance with the needs of society.
Our mission, in partnership with the stakeholders of the watershed, is to promote and undertake sustainable
management of renewable natural resources and to provide responsible leadership to enhance biodiversity
and environmental awareness.
Open PDF here: https://www.greysauble.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/MEDIA_RELEASE_GRAHAM_PLANT_JUNE2_2021.pdf
