here - Carolinian Canada

CAROLINIAN CANADA COALITION
FORUM 2009
CARING FOR OUR COAST
Envisioning a Lake Erie Community Stewardship Trail Network
OCTOBER 22 & 23, 2009
POINT PELEE NATIONAL PARK & PELEE DAYS INN, LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2009 FORUM SPONSORSHIP ......................................................................................................................... 3
IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS ............................................................................................................................. 3
FORUM COMMITTEE..................................................................................................................................... 4
CCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ........................................................................................................................... 4
KEYNOTE ....................................................................................................................................................... 5
CHAIR’S WELCOME ....................................................................................................................................... 6
THE LAKE ERIE STEWARDSHIP TRAIL CONCEPT ............................................................................................ 7
LANDSCAPE CONTEXT ................................................................................................................................... 8
DAY 1 – THURSDAY OCTOBER 22 .................................................................................................................. 9
FORUM AT A GLANCE – DAY 1 .................................................................................................................... 15
FORUM AT A GLANCE – DAY 2 .................................................................................................................... 16
DAY 2 – FRIDAY OCTOBER 23 ...................................................................................................................... 17
PRESENTER BIOGRAPHIES ........................................................................................................................... 24
CCC LAKE ERIE COASTAL ZONE PROGRAM ................................................................................................. 28
CCC FORUM 2010........................................................................................................................................ 30
HOTEL LAYOUT ............................................................................................................................................ 31
Forum Cover Collage pictures supplied by Parks Canada and Kathryn Arthur [1]
2009 FORUM SPONSORSHIP
IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS
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FORUM COMMITTEE
CAROLINIAN CANADA COALITION
Cathy Bingham
Caroline Biribauer
Bronwen Buck
Brian Craig
Megan Ihrig
PARKS CANADA
Dan Dufour
Virginia Lambdin
Michelle Kanter
Gordon Nelson
Scott Peck
Nancy Walther
ESSEX REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
Kevin Money
CCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REPRESENTATION
Individual
Group
Peter Banks
Cathy Bingham
Caroline Biribauer
Tara Borwick
Peter Carson
Alice Casselman
Brian Craig
Wendy Cridland
Dr. Gordon Nelson
Scott Peck
Nancy Walther
Kerrie Wilcox
Ron Wu-Winter
Paul General
Bill Graham
County of Oxford
Conservation Ontario
Stewardship Ontario
Ontario Nature
Association Canadian Educational Resources
Parks Canada
Nature Conservancy of Canada
University of Waterloo
Ontario Professional Planners Institute
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Bird Studies Canada
Ontario Forestry Association
Carolinian Canada Mission
Protect and restore natural heritage in the Carolinian Life Zone for healthy, balanced and sustainable
landscapes through stewardship, cooperation and research.
Big Picture Vision
A network of Habitat Cores and Corridors is critical green infrastructure for thriving wild and human
communities. CCC programs use the Big Picture as a basis for exploring key issues, networking between
stakeholders, promoting a researched understanding and catalyzing effective action.
Explore Carolinian Canada: www.carolinian.org
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KEYNOTE
Working Together To Leave No Child Inside
7:30 p.m., Thursday, October 22, 2009, Pelee Days Inn [Theatre], Leamington, Ontario
Martin LeBlanc¹s keynote will focus on how community-based strategies can be utilized to connect
children with the outdoors. The keynote will begin with a history of the Leave No Child Inside
Movement.
It will then focus on the current actions being taken in both the public and private sector that focus on
giving every child a special place in nature.
Participants will receive information on how to empower their local communities, strategies to influence
policymakers, and tips on how they can create non-traditional partnerships to ensure that every child
has an opportunity to experience nature.
M
artin LeBlanc is the
National
Youth
Education Director for
the Sierra Club, where he
oversees the Sierra Club¹s youth
programs and advocacy efforts
relating to children and nature.
His advocacy work has been
focused on California, New
Mexico and Washington State, as
well as at the federal level.
Martin has also been instrumental
in forming partnerships with the
military and health organizations.
Martin is a founding Board
member and Vice President of the
Children and Nature Network,
(www.Childrenandnature.org).
He is responsible for helping build youth leadership with the Leave No Child Inside Movement. Martin
was a troubled youth who had his life turned around through an outdoor experience as a teenager. He
truly believes that we owe the next generation of children a special place in nature so they can be
empowered to solve the environmental challenges of the future. Martin has worked as an outdoor
educator in Seattle, Washington, as well as an outdoor-education advocate for Texas Parks and Wildlife
in Austin, Texas. He is the Chairman of the No Child Left Inside Committee in Washington State and a
member of the North American Association of Environmental Education’s Advocacy Committee.
- Entry by Donation [Suggested $10] We extend a welcome to our local high schools students
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CHAIR’S WELCOME
Saving the Lake Erie Coast: Conservation, Restoration and Sustainable Use
Welcome to Forum 2009,
As a researcher, this year’s theme of Caring for our Coast is one that I have been working on for over
30 years. Now, thanks to a significant contribution from Parks Canada, the Carolinian Canada Coalition is
launching an ambitious project that unites coastal stewardship, species at risk recovery and community
engagement. The Coastal Stewardship Trail is a potential tool that, through collaborative effort, could
help achieve this goal.
There has been a great deal of environmental and conservation work focused on the Great Lakes. Yet
the future ecological health of the Lake Erie coastal ecosystem (and consequently the well-being of
those who depend upon it), is still precarious. Historic and growing new pressures on the coast include
fluctuating lake levels, flood and erosion, extensive land use change, decreasing water quality and loss
of natural areas and biodiversity. We risk severely damaging or losing the many remaining natural
qualities and ecological services the coastal zone offers. This could happen in less than a decade if
present development trends continue.
Since the 1950s, governments on both sides of the border have expressed concern about the state of
the Lake Erie Coast, especially regarding the various flood and erosion patterns or "hazards" arising from
fluctuating Lake water levels. The resulting U.S. Coastal Zone Act passed in 1972 and The International
Joint Commission and the Lake Erie Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) are examples of such initiatives.
Though less prominent in Lake Erie, the LaMP process could play a role in building bridges to address
watershed, coastal and island issues and planning.
Despite these policy and planning efforts, the loss of biodiversity and ecological integrity is continuing
along the Lake Erie Coast (for example at Pt. Pelee National Park). The lack of any overall civic
assessment of the last decade’s challenges and opportunities has led Carolinian Canada Coalition to
identify a need to focus on the urgent issues here. By using a Stewardship Trail to highlight the geologic,
biologic and human dimensions of the coast, we hope to Care for the Coast using an ecosystem, or
integrated approach. We plan to focus on three interrelated areas: changes along the shore; changes in
the watersheds; and changes in the islands. With this in mind, I ask you to carefully consider the needs
and opportunities for linking public and private stewardship in a search for better future directions.
We are holding this working conference in order to determine what has or has not worked and
recommend a more fruitful way forward. By bringing together experts, concerned citizens and decisionmakers from both sides of the lake, we will lay the groundwork for building sustained awareness and
commitment for a healthy coast.
Over the next two days, I invite you to investigate, discuss and brainstorm ways to care for Lake Erie’s
Carolinian coast.
Sincerely,
Gordon Nelson, Chair, Carolinian Canada Coalition
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THE LAKE ERIE STEWARDSHIP TRAIL CONCEPT
CCC’s new initiative is currently a concept, to be fleshed out through this conference and follow-up workshops
over the next 2-3 years. We want to know how you envision this project taking shape.
The following is up for discussion.
What is a Stewardship Trail?
Can it be used to promote natural and cultural heritage with
emphasis biodiversity and species at risk?
Can it be used to further links between public and private
stewardship, for example by development of natural and cultural
corridors?
Goals of Carolinian Canada
Coalition’s Environment &
Sustainability Forum
CCC Strategic Direction:
Work with diverse partners to host a
series of collaborative workshops.
 Explore Key Issues Associated with
Natural Heritage Research and
Stewardship
 Examine New Science and how it
Applies to Southwestern Ontario
 Provide Links Between Specialists,
Professionals, Decision-Makers and
Citizens
 Build Capacity of Groups and
Communities to Deal with Growing
Issues of Landscape Sustainability
 Promote Multi-Stakeholder
Participation to Develop and Share
Strategies
Further Goals of Forum 2009:
Caring for Our Coast
 Highlight Serious and Longstanding
Challenges in the Management of
Great Lakes Coasts, focused on Lake
Erie
 Launch the Lake Erie Community
Should there be a Lake Erie Community Stewardship Trail Network?
What is included in the ‘coast’?
Is it one connected trail or a web of trail opportunities?
Does it include multiple forms of enjoyment e.g. walking, biking,
birding, geo-caching, driving, boating?
How do we link with public trails vs. voluntary landowner sites?
Does it include roads?
Who should be involved in each area?
What type of interpretive material is needed?
What key conservation, heritage and stewardship messages should
be associated with it?
How can we implement it together?
How can we promote it together?
Some criteria & features to consider:
Biodiversity; Species at Risk; Critical Aquatic & Terrestrial Habitat
Geologic, Geomorphic and Ecological Integrity of the Coast
Linkages Between Watersheds and Coastal Processes
Sites of Interest for Historical Ecology or Landscape History
Examples of the Water Quality, Climate Change and Ecological
Services Provided by Carefully Managed Woodlands, Wetlands and
Protected Areas
Examples of Effective Private Stewardship; Examples of Effective
Approaches by First Nations
Examples of Governance Systems that Contribute to Environmental
Conservation, Sustainable Land Use and Economy
Big Picture Habitat Cores and Corridors
Opportunities to engage trail users, managers and new audiences in
conservation
Stewardship Trail Initiative
 Inform, Inspire and Engage Coastal
Stakeholders and Potential Partners
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LANDSCAPE CONTEXT
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Envisioning a Lake Erie Community Stewardship Trail Network
DAY 1 – THURSDAY OCTOBER 22
POINT PELEE NATIONAL PARK [VISITOR CENTRE]
Refreshments Compliments of Friends of Point Pelee
9:30
A.M.
A. PLENARY PANEL: Exploring Lake Erie’s Carolinian Coast [VISITOR’S CENTRE]
MASTER OF CEREMONIES: DR. GORDON NELSON
Sandy beaches, unsurpassed bird watching, delicious local food and historic settlements. These
attractions characterize Lake Erie’s Carolinian Coast, enriching the area for residents and visitors
alike. Canada’s southernmost shore is also critical habitat for abundant wildlife and native plants,
terrestrial and aquatic, common and rare. The coast has many important functions in protecting our
environment, economy and quality of life in the region. Yet changing lake levels, erosion and other
pressures threaten this landscape. Can a Stewardship Trail Network be part of the solution to these
issues? Can it link communities through collaborative conservation and provide health-laden
recreational benefits while revitalizing tourism? Are these ideas far-fetched or realistic? By
introducing you to coastal zone processes, best trail management practices and the Stewardship Trail
concept, our panelists challenge you to be the judge. This plenary will whet your appetite for the
upcoming sessions, where you will have ample opportunity to express ideas of your own.
Opening Remarks
MAYOR JOHN ADAMS, Mayor of Leamington
KEN SCHMIDT, General Manager, Essex Region Conservation Authority
MARIAN STRANAK, Park Superintendent, Point Pelee National Park
Defining the Coastal Zone
Dr. Gordon Nelson, Carolinian Canada Coalition
Dr. Nelson sets the stage for the two-day forum. The CCC Lake Erie Coastal Zone Program is a potential way for
public and private partners to work together, to manage the coastal zone in a way that allows for multiple land
uses, recreation and tourism opportunities, and education and demonstration areas, all the while considering the
ecological integrity and conservation of the coastal zone. One way to highlight the beauty and significance of the
coastal zone is through a Lake Erie Community Stewardship Trail Network.
With the aid of trail groups, public and private landowners, conservation groups and all interested stakeholders,
the basis for a strong coastal zone trail for all partners can be identified. Implementation of a suitable network will
provide youth, trail, land owner, visitor and other groups with stewardship and educational opportunities. The
important agricultural contributions of this highly productive zone can be highlighted through this project, along
with natural areas that provide sites for maintaining rare species, biodiversity and valuable ecosystem services.
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DAY 1, THURSDAY OCTOBER 22 [CON’T]
The Thin Green and Blue Line: An Overview of Coastal Processes and the Nearshore of the Lake Erie
Dr. Patrick Lawrence, University of Toledo
An essential, yet often ignored or forgotten, element of Lake Erie is the important roles and functions of the
coastal and nearshore environments. The bluffs, beaches, dunes, shorelines, barrier islands, wetlands, rock cliffs
and platforms, river mouths, and other critical natural ecosystems along the Lake Erie coast are a key aspect of
maintaining the ecosystem health of the lake and associated watersheds. However, since European settlement,
the coast has also experienced significant impacts and dramatic changes through the alteration by human activities
and land uses. So much of the coast has been altered to make way for urban and residential development,
industrialization, dredging and infilling, cottages and marinas, recreational access and usages, resource extraction,
and other changes wrought by economic growth and land use. Our planning and management efforts to address
these problems and advance improvements as to decisions made in regards to the Lake Erie coast have not always
been very effective or resulted in reducing the human footprint. This presentation will focus on the current “state”
of the Lake Erie coast and nearshore and ongoing challenges and opportunities. Issues to be discussed include key
natural processes and landforms, water levels and climate change, land uses and impacts, shoreline hazards and
impacts, conservation and public access, and emerging future concerns. An examination of how critical the coast is
to the environmental well being of Lake Erie will also allow for consideration of the changes and impacts driven by
human issues and reflect on progress and envision a new future for the Lake Erie coast.
Wetland Water Quality & Biodiversity on the Georgian Bay & Lake Erie Coasts
Dr. Pat Chow- Fraser, McMaster University
Coastal wetlands are highly productive, biodiversity hotspots in the Great Lakes basin. Unfortunately in many
settled areas of Lakes Ontario and Lake Erie, these wetlands have become degraded by agricultural and urban
development, marina operations, and introduction of exotic invasive species. My research confirms clear linkages
between marsh degradation and land-use activities related to agricultural and urban development in wetland
watersheds. There is, however, little evidence that cottage development or expansion of road networks in
sparsely populated areas of the Great Lakes basin can affect wetland quality. Consequently, much of the existing
science does not apply to areas where human disturbance is limited to recreational properties along the shoreline
of primarily forested watersheds (such as Georgian Bay, Lake Huron). Our research shows that road density is an
effective measure of human disturbance for 59 quaternary watersheds that include heavily impacted areas of
Lakes Erie and Ontario, and relatively unimpacted areas of Georgian Bay. Primary nutrients and specific
conductivity increased significantly with RD (p<0.05), both when data were analyzed separately for Georgian Bay
and when they were combined with more degraded sites in Lakes Erie and Ontario. The number of exotic fish and
plant taxa also varied significantly with RD as did index scores of three published ecological indices. While marshes
in the majority of Georgian Bay watersheds are currently in very good to excellent condition, a few areas with
heavy cottage development contain wetlands showing signs of water-quality impairment similar to those in settled
areas of the lower Great Lakes. Wetlands showed signs of degradation above a RD threshold of 10 m•ha-1, and
we recommend that this level be used to guide conservation efforts to protect Great Lakes coastal marshes.
Best Practices for Increasing Trail Usage by Hikers and Walkers
William M. C. Wilson, Hike Ontario
The five "best practices" discussed in Hike Ontario’s manual were adapted from strategies found to be successful
by other individuals and organizations that have planned and managed trails and activities using them. Their
experiences were solicited and many were interviewed. Their success stories , along with others researched in
print and Internet sources, were then presented and discussed at a workshop of experienced hikers and trail
builders at Hike Ontario's Annual General meeting in Oct. 2006. The outcomes of those discussions were
organized, analyzed and consolidated into the five "Best Practices" described in this manual.
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DAY 1, THURSDAY OCTOBER 22 [CON’T]
The Bruce Trail Conservancy: Demonstrating the Concept of Trails as a Link between Community and
Conservation
Beth Kümmling, Bruce Trail Conservancy
As Canada's oldest and longest footpath, the Bruce Trail is a well-known, natural icon in the Province of Ontario.
Thousands visit the Bruce Trail each year to enjoy the scenery and participate in an active, healthy lifestyle. What
is less well known is the role the Bruce Trail has played in conservation of a natural resource - the Niagara
Escarpment. The talk will provide an overview of the origins of the Bruce Trail Conservancy as a fledgling
conservation organization, and the role that the Trail played and continues to play in raising public and political
awareness and support for conservation of the Niagara Escarpment .
11:00
A.M.
ATTENTION: OUTDOOR WORKSHOP DIRECTIONS
B3 ONLY – BOARD SHUTTLE @ POINT PELEE NATIONAL PARK VISITOR CENTRE [BOX LUNCH PROVIDED EN ROUTE]
B1, B2, B4 - DRIVE TO PELEE DAYS INN
HEALTH BREAK [BREAKFAST AREA]
B1 & B2 ONLY – PICK UP BOXED LUNCH BEFORE BOARDING
ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE TO BOARD BUSES PROMPTLY @ 11:20 A.M.
11:30 B. OUTDOOR WORKSHOPS: Investigations in Community Stewardship along
Canada’s Southern Shore [CONCURRENT BUS TRIPS - WITH LUNCH]
A.M.
Time to go outside and explore Carolinian Canada’s coastal southern gems! If a picture is worth a
thousand words, a field trip is worth a million. Regardless of which outdoor adventure you choose,
you will experience first-hand the opportunities and challenges associated with the stewardship of
ecosystems, habitats and trails. Hear from experts in the field and compare with your own
experiences. Shoreline management, significant habitat recovery, eco-tourism, creating community
linkages, climate change and sustainable green economics are just some of the issues that will be
tackled enroute. Discuss how these factors are all connected on the landscape; and how we can
work together to enhance those connections.
B1. Saving Our Coast [Conserving Coastal Ecosystems – Interaction of Geologic, Biologic, and Human Processes]
[BUS 1 @ PELEE DAYS INN – PICK UP BOX LUNCH BEFORE BOARDING]
Field Leaders: Brian Craig (Parks Canada), Jeremy Wychreschuk (Essex Region Conservation Authority)
Now you see it, now you don’t. How and why is Lake Erie’s Carolinian shoreline disappearing at an alarming
rate? Your workshop leaders will unravel this mystery during a tour of the southeast Leamington coast, once
part of a large wetland complex. (Clue: shoreline actions can have significant effects as far as 30 km away).
After discussing coastal erosion and wetland restoration, your field trip leaders will also address economic
challenges related to infrastructure needs. In spite of the complexity of the situation, this workshop will
illuminate viable options for economic, ecological and social sustainability.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
East of Wheatley Park, Zion Sideroad
Wheatley Harbour (northeast side: mouth of Muddy Creek)
North Beach Hillman
Overlooking Point Pelee Wetland & Marentette Marsh
Point Pelee National Park/ Tip Erosion
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DAY 1, THURSDAY OCTOBER 22 [CON’T]
B2. Habitat Restoration [Leading Edge Approaches to Recover Rare Habitats and Unique Ecosystems]
[BUS 2 @PELEE DAYS INN – PICK UP BOX LUNCH BEFORE BOARDING]
Field Leaders: Kathryn Arthur & Mike Nelson (Essex Region Conservation Authority), Brett Groves (Essex
Stewardship Council)
Tour important Essex sites where the first steps in restoring habitats are taking place. This workshop will
demonstrate how science and species at risk recovery planning are used to direct and inform habitat
restoration initiatives across the landscape, in partnership with local communities. The Essex Region
Conservation Authority and the Essex County Stewardship Network are working across the county with
different partners to recreate and restore habitats for many reasons. Whether for recreation, agriculture or
water quality and quantity the fragmented habitats of Southwestern Ontario need the help of these groups to
be reconnected and to restore functions needed by the whole community.
1) Hillman Marsh
- Shorebird Cell and tree planting
- Migration stop over – benefits to all wildlife including rare species
- Eastern Foxsnake projects – presentation over lunch hour
2) Hickson Farm
- Large scale, multi-partner habitat creation initiative
- Wheatley Harbour Area of Concern
- Watershed approach to habitat restoration
B3. Preserving and Presenting Point Pelee National Park
[SHUTTLE 3 @POINT PELEE NATIONAL PARK VISITOR CENTRE – BOX LUNCH PROVIDED]
Field Trip Leader: Dan Dufour (Parks Canada)
For a National Park, Point Pelee is small. But it is well-loved. Each year, over 250,000 visitors enjoy relaxing on
the beaches and exploring the habitats this 15 square km peninsula has to offer (note: two-thirds of the park is
marsh). It probably comes as no surprise that ensuring a quality experience for visitors while striving towards
ecological integrity is therefore a tricky business. By taking you to some of the Park’s nationally significant
features, leader Dan Dufour will reveal how Park Staff use innovative methods to ensure visitors have access
to nature while preserving it at the same time.
1) Tip Trail Walk – Discuss means of controlling visitor access to unique natural experiences.
2) Henry Community Youth Camp – Lunch and video
3) Species at Risk at Point Pelee – Home to significantly more Species at Risk than any other national park.
4) Marsh Boardwalk – Walk Point Pelee’s iconic floating boardwalk and experience the UNESCO “Wetland of
International Significance.”
B4. Linking the Landscape through Community Trails [Landscape Stewardship through Cooperation]
[BUS 4 @ PELEE DAYS INN – RESTAURANT LUNCH INCLUDED]
Field Trip Leader: Kevin Money (Essex Region Conservation Authority]
This tour showcases the ways trails enhance the community and our way of life. Participants will see what
trails are currently being built in the Essex Region, how businesses can flourish when connected to trails, and
how trails can allow you to experience the best of what nature has to offer.
1) Leamington Trail Development – with Alex DelBrocco, Municipality of Leamington
2) Ruthven Greenway extension
3) Mettawa Train Station – with Anthony DelBrocco, restaurant owner
4) Schwab Chrysler Canada Greenway Entrance – walk/drive to Cedar Creek Bridge
5) Pelee Island Winery – with Vineyard Manager
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DAY 1, THURSDAY OCTOBER 22 [CON’T]
PELEE DAYS INN [THEATRE]
2:30
HEALTH BREAK
P.M.
3:00
P.M.
C. ROUND TABLE WORKSHOPS: Connecting Trails to Landscape Health [CONCURRENT]
What exactly is a Stewardship Trail? How does it apply to the Lake Erie coast? Can you apply this
concept in your area? These small round-table sessions will give you a chance to distill thoughts from
the day, share examples, brainstorm a coastal vision and hammer out some of the social,
environmental and logistical best practices for a strong trail network that enhances, rather than
impacts, a significant landscape. Whether you are creating habitat, awareness, trails or tourism, we
anticipate you will uncover ideas and suggestions that you can apply in your own work. Participants
will take part in:
5 minute updates - find out what’s happening in the Big Picture neighbourhood (please register in
the morning and bring maps).
Big Picture community mapping with a focus on the coast & watershed connections
Best Practices Brainstorm – your perspective is wanted for identifying criteria that should shape a
community stewardship trail network.
C1. Coastal Stewardship [THEATRE]
Facilitator: Dr. Patrick Lawrence (University of Toledo)
Special Guest: Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation
How can a trail network protect shorelines? Participants will work together to identify effective ways that
trails can create opportunities to restore degrading ecosystems.
C2. Save Our Species [BOARD ROOM]
Facilitator: Mike Nelson (Essex Region Conservation Authority)
Special Guest: Jarmo Jalava, Carolinian Woodland Recovery Team
How can a trail network protect, restore and interpret significant habitat and enhance stewardship for aquatic
and terrestrial species at risk?
C3. Inspiring Community [DINING ROOM]
Facilitator: Caroline Biribauer (Essex Region Conservation Authority)
Special Guest: Martin LeBlanc, Sierra Club
How can a trail network engage landowners, youth, cottagers & community in healthy landscapes?
C4. Social Marketing & Tourism [BREAKFAST AREA]
Facilitators: Bronwen Buck (Carolinian Canada Coalition) and Chris Lemieux (Ministry of Natural Resources)
How can a stewardship trail network attract visitors to the region and promote environmental and economic
development?
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DAY 1, THURSDAY OCTOBER 22 [CON’T]
4:30
P.M.
D. WRAP UP: Coastal Evolutions [THEATRE]
MC: Brian Craig, Parks Canada
Round Table Report
Find out what happened in other round-table sessions and compare results.
Perspectives on Day 1
Guest: Jim Oliver, Norfolk County Councillor, Honorary Director, Carolinian Canada Coalition
Insights from the day about working together for a coastal vision that offers opportunities to build awareness,
enhance biodiversity and inspire stewardship action.
6:00
P.M.
100 KILOMETRE BANQUET [THEATRE]
CHEF: Mike Ingratta
Salad -------- Garden
Entrée Options -------- Lake Erie Perch or
Grilled Chicken Breast with Roasted Red Peppers
Vegetarian Entrée -------- Eggplant Parmesan
Vegetable -------- Leamington Baked Potato & Locally Grown Vegetables
Dessert -------- Apple Crisp
Cash Bar -------- Try local wines
7:30
P.M.
E. PERFORMANCE & KEYNOTE [THEATRE]
MC: Scott Peck, Carolinian Canada Coalition
BKEJWANONG ECO-KEEPERS, WALPOLE ISLAND FIRST NATION
“BEK IT UP!”
This skit will creatively depict youth working with species at risk on Walpole Island First Nation portrayed through
the experiences of the Bkejwanong Eco-Keepers youth stewardship group. This fledgling program uses
community-based, holistic, approaches and Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge to provide valuable experience,
knowledge, and skills to young community members in the hopes that they might choose educational or career
paths related to the environment.
The Bkejwanong Eco-Keepers are Aimee Johnson, Stewardship Coordinator; Ciarra Classens, Bkejwanong EcoKeeper crew leader; Tyler White, Bkejwanong Eco-Keeper crew leader; Harmony Blackbird, Bkejwanong EcoKeeper; Luke Isaac, Bkejwanong Eco-Keeper; Oakis Isaac-Sands, Bkejwanong Eco-Keeper; Suzi Isaac, Bkejwanong
Eco-Keeper
KEYNOTE
MARTIN LEBLANC, NATIONAL YOUTH EDUCATION DIRECTOR, SIERRA CLUB
“WORKING TOGETHER TO LEAVE NO CHILD INSIDE”
We invite you to join us for a very special evening with Martin LeBlanc, as he speaks on a topic that is important
to all of us! Martin LeBlanc, National Youth Education Director for the Sierra Club believes that "the next
generation of children deserves a special place in nature so they can be empowered to solve the environmental
challenges of the future."
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FORUM AT A GLANCE – DAY 1
THURSDAY OCTOBER 22
8:30
9:30
POINT PELEE NATIONAL PARK [ADMISSION INCLUDED IN REGISTRATION]
FORUM
Registration, Networking & Refreshments [VISITOR CENTRE]
SPONSORS
A. PLENARY PANEL: Exploring Lake Erie’s Carolinian Coast [VISITOR CENTRE]
By introducing you to coastal zone processes, best trail management practices and the Stewardship Trail concept, our panelists challenge you to be the judge.
This plenary will whet your appetite for the upcoming sessions, where you have ample opportunity to express ideas of your own.
DR. GORDON NELSON, Carolinian Canada Coalition
DR. PATRICK LAWRENCE, University of Toledo
DR. PAT CHOW-FRASER, McMaster University
BILL WILSON, Hike Ontario
BETH KÜMMLING, Bruce Trail Conservancy
11:00
PELEE DAYS INN
HEALTH BREAK & BUS DEPARTURE [BREAKFAST AREA] / DISPLAY SET-UP [THEATRE]
B. OUTDOOR WORKSHOPS: Investigations in Community Stewardship along Canada’s Southern Shore [CONCURRENT]
11:30
B1. Saving Our Coast [BUS 1]
B2. Habitat Restoration [BUS 2]
Conserving Coastal Ecosystems –
Interaction of Geologic, Biologic,
and Human Processes
Wheatley to Pt. Pelee
Implementing the first steps to
recovering rare habitats and unique
ecosystems.
Essex area
2:30
PELEE DAYS INN
B3. Innovative Park Trails
[PARK SHUTTLE 3]
B4.Linking the Landscape through
Community Trails [BUS 4]
Building Awareness and
Stewardship Through Trails
Pt. Pelee National Park
Landscape Stewardship Through
Cooperation
Cedar Creek to Kingsville
HEALTH BREAK & VISIT DISPLAYS [THEATRE]
C. ROUND-TABLE WORKSHOPS: Connecting Trails to Landscape Health [CONCURRENT]
3:00
Participants will share perspectives on current trail systems, recovery challenges, collaborative opportunities and criteria for trails that promote
understanding and conservation. Trail networks may include multiple forms of enjoyment e.g. walking, biking, birding, geo-caching, driving, boating.
Participants are invited to bring 5-minute updates.
C1. Coastal Stewardship
[THEATRE]
C2. Save Our Species
[BOARD ROOM]
C3. Inspiring Community
[DINING ROOM]
C4. Social Marketing & Tourism
[BREAKFAST AREA]
How can a trail network protect
shorelines?
How can a trail network protect,
restore and interpret significant
habitat and enhance stewardship for
aquatic and terrestrial species at risk?
How can a trail network engage
landowners, youth, cottagers &
community in healthy landscapes?
How can a stewardship trail network
attract visitors to the region and
promote environmental and
economic development?
D.
4:30
6:00
7:30
WRAP-UP: Coastal Evolutions - Insights from the day & working together for an ambitious coastal vision [THEATRE]
100-KILOMETRE BANQUET [THEATRE]
E. KEYNOTE [THEATRE]
MARTIN LEBLANC, CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK & NATIONAL YOUTH EDUCATION DIRECTOR, SIERRA CLUB, UNITED STATES
“WORKING TOGETHER TO LEAVE NO CHILD INSIDE”
CCC Forum 2009:
CARING FOR OUR COAST
P a g e | 15
FORUM AT A GLANCE – DAY 2
FRIDAY OCTOBER 23
PELEE DAYS INN
FORUM
SPONSORS
7:30 – 8:30
BREAKFAST [BREAKFAST AREA]
8:30
Registration, Networking & Display Set-up [THEATRE]
F. PLENARY PANEL: Managing Rare Species and Rare Experiences along the Coast [THEATRE]
9:00
This expert line-up will focus on uncovering the potential of a coastal Community Stewardship Trail.
SCOTT PARKER, Fathom Five National Marine Park
DAN KRAUS, Nature Conservancy of Canada
10:30
11:00
MYEENGUN HENRY, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation
MARLAINE KOEHLER, Waterfront Regeneration Trust
HEALTH BREAK & VISIT DISPLAYS [THEATRE]
G. PANEL WORKSHOPS: Developing New Cooperative Approaches to Habitat Protection and Enjoyment [CONCURRENT]
G1. Exploring Eco-Trails [THEATRE]
G2. On the Path to Recovery [DINING ROOM]
Many trails exist or are in development in Carolinian Canada. How can local
trails be linked to landscape and species recovery?
In Carolinian Canada, habitat stewardship is closely tied to human dimensions.
Can trails play a role in recovery of species at risk and healthy ecosystems?
Can they be used to enhance awareness, understanding and stewardship in
the coastal zone?
12:30
100-KILOMETRE LUNCH & SPECIAL GUEST: PATRICK CONNOR, Ontario Trails Council [THEATRE]
H. ROUND-TABLE WORKSHOPS: Growing a Trail Network for Ecosystem Recovery [CONCURRENT]
1:30
Participants will examine innovative approaches to map a trail vision for Lake Erie’s unique coastal landscapes.
H1. Erie West [THEATRE]
H2. Erie Centre [DINING ROOM]
H3. Erie East [BOARD ROOM]
H4. The Big Picture [BREAKFAST AREA]
Discovering Islands, Marshes & an
Agriculture Heartland from Essex to
Chatham-Kent
Exploring Cliffs, Beaches and
Hidden Creeks from Elgin to
Norfolk
Uncovering Estuaries, Sloughs and
Salamanders from Haldimand to
Niagara
Linking across the Coastal Zone Regions
I.
3:00
4:00
PLAN A
WEEKEND
GETAWAY
WRAP-UP: Stepping Forward - Linking Workshop Results and Identifying Next Steps [THEATRE]
CLOSE
Legends of the Night, Point Pelee National Park, October 23 and 24, 6:30 p.m. Sit around the campfire. Listen to creatures of the night while
an interpreter guides you though story-telling and exploration about the true tales of these mysterious animals.
All conference participants will receive a complimentary park pass, courtesy of Parks Canada.
MARK YOUR
CALENDARS
CCC Forum 2009:
Carolinian Canada Coalition & Ontario Nature FORUM 2010, Exploring Our Watersheds, May 28 & 29, 2010, Sarnia, Ontario
CARING FOR OUR COAST
P a g e | 16
Envisioning a Lake Erie Community Stewardship Trail Network
DAY 2 – FRIDAY OCTOBER 23
PELEE DAYS INN, LEAMINGTON
9:00
A.M.
F. PLENARY PANEL: Managing Rare Species and Rare Experiences along the Coast
[THEATRE]
Drawing from personal and professional experience, this expert line-up will focus on uncovering the
potential of a coastal Community Stewardship Trail. By providing case studies, historical perspectives
and trail-building tools, they will focus on how to anticipate and overcome challenges while
capitalizing on new opportunities. Building upon yesterday’s momentum, this panel will set the stage
for today’s conversations by highlighting strong connections between culture and nature.
The Coastal Conservation Approach at Fathom Five National Marine Park, Lake Huron
Scott Parker, Fathom Five National Marine Park
Canada’s National Marine Conservation Area program was launched in 1987 with the establishment of Fathom
Five National Marine Park at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula on Lake Huron. As one of the few aquatic protected
areas on the Great Lakes, Fathom Five has charted its own course in coastal conservation. The obvious first steps
of conservation such as outreach and coastal zone planning have been implemented with some measure of
success. The ongoing challenge of sustaining the seemingly unsustainable such as invasive species and biodiversity
loss remains. Our advantage as a protected area is in the opportunity we create for authentic ecological and
cultural experiences and as a source of knowledge (e.g., research, monitoring) in which to learn. Given the
complexity and importance of our conservation issues, a well informed, morally generous, and committed society
is needed. Fathom Five’s role in lake wide planning initiatives will also be discussed.
Coastal Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Species at Risk on the Lake Erie Shore
Dan Kraus, Nature Conservancy Canada
Ecosystems along the shores of Lake Erie are formed and influenced by their proximity to the coast. The unique
environmental conditions of the coast result in a very high diversity of rare vegetation communities and species.
Lake Erie has over 2,600 km of coast, 1,770 islands, four major sand-spits, extensive coastal wetlands and a
diversity of shoreline types including sand beaches and dunes, bluffs, bedrock shores and cobble beaches. The
coast supports high numbers of species at risk and provides important migratory stop-over habitat for birds. Land
use within this coastal band can have a significant influence on biodiversity and water quality within the adjacent
nearshore zone. While the Lake Erie coast is more altered that all the other Great Lakes, it offers extraordinary
and urgent conservation opportunities. In both Canada and the US, federal, provincial and state obligations to
conserve biodiversity and Great Lakes water quality cannot be achieved without a coordinated focus on Lake Erie
coastal conservation.
Use of Trails by First Nations
Myeengun Henry, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation
Trails were historically used by First Nations as travel routes and to disperse news, medicine and other important
items. Trails had to be designed around various landscape features, such as access to water and food. Myeengun
will provide both a historical and a current day perspective on how trails currently fit into the landscape and play
various roles, including stewardship and education.
CCC Forum 2009:
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DAY 2, FRIDAY OCTOBER 23 [CON’T]
The Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail: 20 Years of Trail Building—How We Did It and Continue To Do It
Marlaine Koehler, Waterfront Regeneration Trust
2009 marks the 17th Anniversary of Regeneration the Royal Commission Report that set into motion the creation
of a Waterfront Trail along Lake Ontario. The Trail was part of a larger strategy to regenerate Lake Ontario’s
waterfront. Since that time the Waterfront Trail has tripled in scope and now connects 41 communities from
Niagara to the Quebec border along the Canadian Shores of Lake Ontario and the provincial shores of the St.
Lawrence River. What mechanisms and processes were used to implement the ambitious vision set out in
Regeneration? What are the operating principles of waterfront partnership and why have they been instrumental
in making it so effective? How have we fared in our journey to realize our objectives and what have we learned
about building community support to advance the work? How does the Trust work with the various landowners?
Most important, how can these lessons serve the Lake Erie community? In sharing the ongoing story of the
Waterfront Trail with attendees, we hope to offer one possible model, ideas and resources to inform the work to
create a Trail network for Lake Erie.
Report Back on Day 1 Results
Megan Ihrig, Coastal Program Coordinator, Carolinian Canada Coalition
10:30
HEALTH BREAK [THEATRE]
A.M.
11:00
A.M.
G. PANEL WORKSHOPS: Developing New Cooperative Approaches to Habitat
Protection and Enjoyment [CONCURRENT]
What is happening on the ground to promote recreation, conservation and tourism? These concurrent
sessions will update you on significant initiatives in eco-tourism and ecosystem recovery and how they
overlap. Management principles, transferable lessons, best practices and mutual benefits are key takeaways for participants.
G1. Exploring Eco-Trails [THEATRE]
Facilitator: Cathy Bingham, Oxford County
Discover what is happening with eco-trails across southwestern Ontario. Local and provincial groups will
report on how they are successfully promoting nature-based recreation and tourism in their neck of the
woods. In particular, they will delve into the role trails can play in promoting overall ecosystem health.
Organizational Structure, Partnership & Education: Links to Landscape & Species Recovery in
Chatham Kent [A Case Study: Bicycling, Birding and Bed and Breakfasts in Chatham Kent]
Jan Marquez & Tom Beaton, Municipality of Chatham-Kent
There are excellent Bed and Breakfasts in Chatham Kent; new and exciting bike routes, canoe routes and
beautiful trails which are being created. The birding in this part of Southwestern Ontario is amazing, to say the
least. Take all of these wonderful gifts and combine with them the fact that they can all be found in a region
brimming with Carolinian forests and you will find the perfect concoction for a great tourism opportunity for
travellers to Southwestern Ontario. Partnerships across the province are being forged and the experiences
await their audience. Trail development is intrinsically tied to our natural environment. Chatham Kent is
uniquely positioned to influence a great area of development due to amalgamation. 23 former entities
became Chatham Kent under a single tier government. The ability to create and manage trails over 115
kilometres of Lake Erie Shoreline advantages us from the perspective that we can affect organizational
structure, partnerships and education over that great area. Our relationship with the Lower Thames Valley CA
through our Greening Strategy and Council's support of an Active Communities Strategy and through its
Strategic Direction and Goals positions us to be a strong partner for this exciting opportunity.
CCC Forum 2009:
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DAY 2, FRIDAY OCTOBER 23 [CON’T]
Trails, Tourism, Technology, and Taking Care: The Promise and Pitfalls of Facilitating Access to
Natural Heritage Destinations
Dr. David Brown, Brock University
Recent developments in digital technology (including Internet, GPS, and personal digital devices) have made it
easy to discover, locate, and visit natural and cultural heritage destinations, including unmarked trails and
unsigned natural areas. Site managers, NGOs, and user communities can harness these sophisticated tools to
develop dynamic, community-focused databases of educational and interpretive information about these
areas, their features, and their conservation. Many possibilities also emerge for economic development by
promoting sustainable tourism, encouraging low-impact visitor activities, and championing alternative
transportation (including hiking and cycling trails, and rail or public transit where available). Developing these
tools also amplifies the debate about the wisdom of facilitating public access into environmentally sensitive
areas. The Niagara Greenbelt Gateway Website (www.niagaragreenbelt.com) is one such interpretive
resource. Using online and other digital resources, site users are able to obtain information about individual
destinations, trails, features, or other points of interest (POIs) in the Greenbelt, and to construct custom trip
itineraries. The site features a comprehensive variety of options for users to enhance their personal tours,
including audio multimedia tours for download, tips and reviews from other users, and thematic tours for use
or modification. Interpretation on the tour is also a possibility based on new locational multimedia
technologies which trigger interpretive information on portable digital devices. An overview of the multitude
of options offered by this project will be discussed.
Why Trails? Looking At Social, Economic, Health and Environmental Benefits of Trails
Mark Schmidt, International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Canada
In recent years the importance of trails has come to the attention of various groups from many different
sectors. As an active participant in the concept, creation and trail-building of many trails throughout Canada, a
personal and professional view of the benefits of trails for communities and individuals will be discussed.
Considerations relevant to the trail concept phase will also be examined, including examples from previous
work with trail-building near Species at Risk and with Parks Canada.
Trails as a means of Strengthening Conservation Efforts - Two Examples
Alan Ernest, Conservation Support Services
Alan Ernest draws upon his experience with the Bruce Trail Association and the Hamilton Naturalists' Club to
discuss examples of how the creation of new trails can support and enhance efforts to protect, conserve and
link key natural heritage areas and related features. Successes and challenges from the early days of the
Bruce Trail show how trails can create constituencies for conservation and mobilize public support for the
protection of natural features and landscapes. The building of the Bruce Trail was a key element in pushing the
Province of Ontario to enact legislation to protect the Niagara Escarpment. The Bruce Trail continues to be an
essential resource in connecting people with the importance of protecting the Niagara Escarpment while
mobilizing tremendous volunteer and financial resources in this cause. The experience of the Hamilton
Naturalists' Club in developing the Bruce W. Duncan Memorial Trail at the Cartwright Nature Sanctuary in
Dundas provides a micro scale example of how trail projects can create energy and resources for protecting
key natural heritage features. This project was extremely successful in attracting new volunteers, building
relationships with the local community, engaging new project partners and funders, as well as in identifying
and protecting important natural heritage values.
CCC Forum 2009:
CARING FOR OUR COAST
P a g e | 19
DAY 2, FRIDAY OCTOBER 23 [CON’T]
G2. On the Path to Recovery [DINING ROOM]
Facilitator: Brett Groves, Essex County Stewardship Network
In Carolinian Canada, species at risk stewardship is closely tied to human dimensions. Find out how
communities, First Nations, youth and volunteers are getting involved in species and habitat recovery. Hear
about what is working in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and how it might link with a coastal Stewardship
Trails.
Lake Erie Coastal Ravines Initiative
Stan Caveney, Thames Talbot Land Trust
Compared to the Great Lakes coastline in other parts of southwestern Ontario, the Lake Erie shoreline in Elgin
County, with its steep wooded ravines and scenic creek valleys, is predominantly rural in character. The Lake
Erie Coastal Ravines area (LECRA) remains largely untouched by intensive residential and recreational
developments such as strips of estate homes along the lakeshore concession roads, vacation resorts, and golf
courses on the bluffs. But times are changing as the Boomer generation approaches retirement. The Elgin
shoreline is now recognized as prime real estate by developers. Parcels of land are being bought for
speculative purposes at prices considerably higher than current farmland values would indicate. LECRA
contains an extensive network of provincial parks, conservation areas and MNR-designated natural areas,
many including steep ravines surrounded by intact tableland woodlands. New development along the
shoreline will likely compromise LECRA’s role as a key migration corridor for raptors and as breeding habitat
for rare songbirds, for example. The purpose of the Thames Talbot Land Trust’s LECRA initiative is to prepare a
conservation plan for the area to help guide the land trust’s future conservation and land securement
activities. This will involve partnerships with other ENGOs to help complete a natural heritage mapping
project. We hope to identify opportunities to enhance, as well as identify threats to, the area’s ecological
integrity. Furthermore, we will compile a database of conservation-minded landowners in the area and
support local initiatives that help publicize LECRA’s natural heritage features.
Trails and Their Importance: The Pelee Island Experience
Rick Masse, Mayor of Pelee Island
This presentation will be on the importance of developing trails and trail systems, and their impact on the
environment, the community, and the economy. The dialogue will take you on the Township of Pelee’s
experiences in dealing with the various stakeholders in the development of the municipality’s vision for the
trail system in its community.
FORUM SPECIAL
Thames River Watershed: A Heritage Landscape Guide
By Michael Troughton and Cathy Quinlan
Purchase at the Sales/Registration desk now and save on shipping costs
This guide to the Thames River watershed and region was written largely by
the late Dr. Michael Troughton, who had a love for the geography and
culture of southwestern Ontario. The guide describes the natural and
cultural heritage of the Thames watershed and adjoining Lake Erie
watersheds and some of the most interesting sites within and close to the
region. The purpose of the guide is twofold: to provide a background to the
watershed and to serve as an introduction to its exploration.
CCC Forum 2009:
CARING FOR OUR COAST
P a g e | 20
DAY 2, FRIDAY OCTOBER 23 [CON’T]
BEK It Up: Bkejwanong Eco-Keepers, Walpole Island First Nation
Aimee Johnson- Stewardship Coordinator
Ciarra Classens- Bkejwanong Eco-Keeper crew leader
Harmony Blackbird- Bkejwanong Eco-Keeper
Oakis Isaac-Sands- Bkejwanong Eco-Keeper
Tyler White- Bkejwanong Eco-Keeper crew leader
Luke Isaac- Bkejwanong Eco-Keeper
Suzi Isaac- Bkejwanong Eco-Keeper
The BEK team members involved in this dynamic summer employment program will talk about the plethora of
experiences that they gained this past summer working in the unique ecosystems of Walpole Island First
Nation and will also discuss the BEK program’s path forward into the future. The BEK team will also share
information about the Natural Heritage of Walpole Island First Nation including discussions about species at
risk, internal and external environmental pressures, and our community’s environmental aspirations.
Fighting Island Lake Sturgeon Habitat Restoration Project & the Detroit River Blueway
Matthew Child, Essex Region Conservation Authority
In 2008 the first binational fish habitat restoration project ever undertaken in the Great Lakes was completed
at Fighting Island. Post-construction monitoring results from spring, 2009 confirm that lake sturgeon are using
the constructed reefs for spawning – one of the only known locations that the federally threatened fish is
known to spawn on the Detroit River. Through a unique partnership of Canadian and US partners from the
public and private sectors, the project has resulted not only in a productive spawning habitat, but has also
advanced understandings of preferred substrates. As one of many fish habitat restoration and related
projects undertaken on the Detroit River in recent years, the project contributes to the importance of the river
as a Blueway.
CCC Forum 2009:
CARING FOR OUR COAST
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DAY 2, FRIDAY OCTOBER 23 [CON’T]
12:30
P.M.
100 KILOMETRE LUNCH [THEATRE]
Salad -------- Garden
Entrée ------- Homemade Italian style sausage sautéed with onions,
mushrooms and peppers
Vegetarian Entrée -------- Penne Marinara
Vegetable -------- Oven baked potatoes & locally grown vegetables
1:00
P.M.
1:30
P.M.
MARIAN STRANAK, POINT PELEE NATIONAL PARK HIGHLIGHTS [THEATRE]
SPECIAL GUEST: PATRICK CONNOR, Executive Director, Ontario Trails Council
“A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON ONTARIO'S TRAILS”
H. ROUND TABLE WORKSHOPS: Growing A Trail Network for Ecosystem Recovery
[CONCURRENT]
Are you keen on promoting stewardship, cycling, hiking, education, agriculture or local tourism?
What other types of opportunities do you envision a coastal Stewardship Trail network might bring?
Let your interests and the checklist of best practices we have developed over the past two days,
guide you. This is your chance to collaborate with your Big Picture neighbours to sketch out a coastal
vision and identify potential natural trail linkages. You may choose to use a regional or “big picture”
approach – our workshops will suit your sense of place and scale.
H1. Erie West [THEATRE]
Facilitators: Mike Nelson and Kevin Money (Essex Region Conservation Authority)
Discovering Islands, Marshes & an Agricultural Heartland from Essex to Chatham-Kent
H2. Erie Centre [DINING ROOM]
Facilitator: Bernie Solymar (Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation)
Exploring Cliffs, Beaches and Hidden Creeks from Elgin to Norfolk
H3. Erie East [BOARD ROOM]
Facilitator: Dr. David Brown (Brock University)
Uncovering Estuaries, Sloughs and Salamanders from Haldimand to Niagara
H4. The Big Picture [BREAKFAST AREA]
Facilitator: Michelle Kanter (Carolinian Canada Coalition)
Linking across the Coastal Zone Regions
CCC Forum 2009:
CARING FOR OUR COAST
P a g e | 22
DAY 2, FRIDAY OCTOBER 23 [CON’T]
3:00
P.M.
I. WRAP UP: Stepping Forward
Wrap up the conference by sharing reports from the round-table sessions. What did we learn from
sharing opinions, ideas and visions from many perspectives? Hear what we have accomplished
together and how our results can be linked to next steps for an ambitious coastal vision.
4:00
- CLOSE -
P.M.
ON YOUR WAY OUT THE DOOR, ENTER YOUR EVALUATION INTO A DRAW FOR AN:
OVERNIGHT DINNER THEATRE PACKAGE
PELEE DAYS INN, LEAMINGTON
YOU ARE INVITED!
DON’T FORGET THAT WHEN THE FORUM ENDS, CCC’S COASTAL PROJECT IS JUST BEGINNING!
STAY CONNECTED BY JOINING OUR COASTAL NETWORK
[email protected]
PLAN A WEEKEND GETAWAY!! Legends of the Night, Point Pelee National Park, October 23
and 24, 6:30 p.m. Sit around the campfire. Listen to creatures of the night while an interpreter
guides you though story-telling and exploration about the true tales of these mysterious
animals. All conference participants will receive a complimentary Pt. Pelee National Park Pass
in their conference bags for use within a year after the forum, courtesy of Parks Canada!
CCC Forum 2009:
CARING FOR OUR COAST
P a g e | 23
PRESENTER BIOGRAPHIES
TOM BEATON's career, since graduating from the Niagara College Department of Horticulture, has spanned the
past 30 years. His career started with golf and landscape interests. It then expanded to include the Welland Parks
Department, 3 years with the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, the Horticultural Department in Chatham, the
Parks Department in Chatham, the Cemeteries Department in Chatham and is currently Manager Parks,
Cemeteries and Horticulture. Tom has worked with the Ministry of Health Promotion from it's inception on trails
development in Ontario. Tom was instrumental in forming a partnership agreement in support of a Greening
Strategy for the Municipality of Chatham Kent. Council approved the creation of a Reforestation Coordinator and
Assistant. In the last 3 years over 200,000 trees have been planted. The coordinator has since become involved
with trails through the inventory of Municipal wood lots and other trail development opportunities. Tom was the
Project Manager for the development of the Trails Master Plan which is being presented to Council on October
26/09. It was realized through these two initiatives how intrinsically tied the two strategic initiatives were to each
other. The Municipality has also formed an Active Communities Committee of Council that is responsible for
budget control in Trails Development, Active Transportation, Accessibility Design and Integration, Health
Promotion and Planning Services affecting new development in Chatham Kent. This strategic initiative is also
requesting the creation of a coordinator position through the Trails Master Plan RTC that will report to Tom.
BKEJWANONG ECO-KEEPERS is a summer youth work experience program, which aims to provide Walpoole Island
youth with practical experience and skills in a wide range of career opportunities in the Natural Heritage and
Environmental Fields, while allowing them to learn traditional and local aboriginal knowledge. The Program has
just completed its second year with great success and is hoping to expand on its accomplishments.
DAVE BROWN is a founding faculty member of the Dept. of Tourism and Environment at Brock University, an
innovative new academic program (2005) which focuses explicitly on sustainable tourism in
natural and built environments. He has been actively mapping and promoting natural and
cultural heritage destinations in the Niagara Region for almost 20 years, from pioneering
work with the Niagara Greenways Network in the early 1990s identifying and protecting trails
and greenways through to current collaborative initiatives with the Ontario Greenbelt
Foundation, Tourism Niagara, and the Niagara Economic Development Corporation. Dr.
Brown’s diverse academic background in ecology, urban and environmental studies, systems
theory, sustainability, and environmental policy informs his current work on heritage
mapping and sustainable tourism. Dave has worked at Brock as a researcher, professor, and senior administrator
since 1988, doing research and university development work around the world. He holds a Doctorate in
Evolutionary Ecology and Renewable Resources Management from McGill University and a B.Sc. in Environmental
Biology from Macdonald College.
STAN CAVENEY is an emeritus professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Western Ontario, where
he taught courses in insect biology for many years. He is currently president of the Thames
Talbot Land Trust and serves on the board of directors of the Lower Thames Valley
Conservation Authority. He is active in several naturalist clubs in Middlesex and Elgin
counties. Stan and his wife Anita own an old farm along a wooded ravine close to the Lake
Erie shoreline in West Elgin, where as a retirement project they are attempting to restore
and enhance the ecological functions of the property’s pre-settlement Carolinian swamp
and upland forest habitat.
CCC Forum 2009:
CARING FOR OUR COAST
P a g e | 24
MATTHEW CHILD is Director of Watershed Restoration at the Essex Region Conservation Authority. Matthew is
actively involved in the Detroit River Remedial Action Plan, Lake Erie Lakewide Management
Plan, Essex-Erie Fish Species at Risk Recovery Process and their related focus on the region’s
coastal zone. Matthew holds Bachelor of Science and Master in Environmental Studies degrees
from the University of Western Ontario and York University, respectively.
DR. PAT CHOW-FRASER is Professor and Chair of the Biology Department at McMaster University in Hamilton,
Ontario, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Ecology and Biodiversity.
She has conducted ecological research on aquatic ecosystems throughout Canada, including
remote lakes in northern Quebec, inland lakes of south central Ontario, Alberta and British
Columbia. Since 1991, Dr. Chow-Fraser has focused her attention on wetland restoration and
management of Great Lakes coastal marshes. She and her students have published over a
dozen papers on the use of models to predict the effect of water level, impact of invasive
species, and human disturbance on marsh vegetation and fish habitat. Her current research
and passion is to identify and conserve pristine wetlands of eastern and northern Georgian Bay, and to prevent
them from suffering the same fate as degraded urban marshes of Lakes Erie and Ontario.
PATRICK CONNOR is a Director of the National Trails Coalition and Vice President of the Canadian Trails
Federation. His involvement in trails speaks to the direct observation of his professional experience – that is he is
keenly aware of the human cost when persons are deprived of a connection to nature through institutionalization.
BRIAN CRAIG is a landscape ecologist with Parks Canada, Southwestern Ontario Field Unit. His interests include
biodiversity conservation, landscape restoration, and ecological monitoring. He is a Director
with the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association, the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve
Foundation and the Carolinian Canada Coalition. Brian joined the Carolinian Canada Board of
Directors in 2007 and holds the office of Secretary.
ALAN ERNEST has worked as an environmental planner and conservation land securement specialist for over 25
years. A graduate of the Masters program in Geography at the University of Waterloo,
Alan spent 12 years with the Bruce Trail Association (Conservancy) coordinating trail
planning, land acquisition and development of the Bruce Trail Comprehensive Plan. Since
1997 he has operated Conservation Support Services - working with conservation
organizations and landowners to help protect and secure natural lands. He has been
involved in more than 200 successful land conservation projects and is the author of
several research papers on topics related to the protection of the Niagara Escarpment.
Alan is a past governor of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance and is an active volunteer with
the Hamilton Naturalists' Club and other environmental groups in the Hamilton area. His contributions to
conservation have been recognized with a Hamilton Environmentalist of the Year Award of Merit and a Carolinian
Canada Lifetime Achievement Award.
CCC Forum 2009:
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P a g e | 25
MARLAINE KOEHLER is the Executive Director of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust, a registered charity
committed to the completion, enhancement and expansion and promotion of Ontario’s
Waterfront Trail. She coordinates a partnership of over 50 communities and conservation
authorities all of whom share the vision of a regenerated waterfront. On the partnership’s
behalf, she has successfully spearheaded a number of initiatives including major
infrastructure programs, trail-wide events and promotional programs. In 2007, she launched
the annual Great Waterfront Trail Adventure—an 8-day supported bike ride for families and
recreational cyclists on the Trail. Prior to joining the Commission in 1989, she worked at a
national television network in the research department. She was appointed Executive
Director in 2006 and has traveled the 730 km Waterfront Trail end to end dozens of times. She has two daughters
(13 and 9) who share her love for the Waterfront Trail and who have traveled it extensively.
DAN KRAUS is the Manager of Conservation Science and Planning for The Nature Conservancy of Canada - Ontario
Region. He has been guiding the application of the Great Lakes Conservation Blueprint and
had directed a variety of strategic conservation planning projects including plans for the
Western Lake Erie Islands, the Northern Bruce Peninsula and the Northwestern Lake
Superior Coast. Dan is currently working with partners to complete the Lake Huron
Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and the Great Lakes Islands project. He has published
several reports on Great Lakes coastal biodiversity and conservation including the chapter
on coastal terrestrial ecosystems in the upcoming report “Nearshore Areas of the Great Lakes”.
BETH KÜMMLING has been Executive Director of the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) since July 2004. She started as
a volunteer on the Environment Committee of the BTC in 1993, and chaired that committee for 4 years, focusing
on policy review and environmental education projects. From April 2001 to July 2004 Ms. Kümmling served on the
BTC Board of Directors. Prior to her work as the BTC's Executive Director, she worked for 15 years in the field of
toxic chemical impacts and management. Ms. Kümmling holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees
from the University of Guelph.
DR. PATRICK LAWRENCE received his BES in Honors Geography from the University of Waterloo, MSc in
Geography from the University of Guelph, and PhD Geography from the University of
Waterloo. His research interests include watershed planning, Great Lakes management,
natural hazards, parks and protected areas, land use change and the use of GIS and
remote sensing, and community decision-making. Over the last twenty years he has been
involved with a range of activities associated with Great Lakes shoreline flooding and
erosion hazards, national park planning in the Bruce Peninsula National Park, wetland
planning, environmental education, and a leadership role with Maumee Great Lakes Area
of Concern. Recent projects include the preparation of watershed restoration plan for the
Maumee AOC, examination of rural land use changes and conservation tillage using
Landsat imagery, and urban stream restoration at various sites within Toledo, Ohio. Since 1999 Dr. Lawrence has
been a faculty member in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toledo, Ohio.
JAN MARQUEZ has worked in the Accommodation, Travel Services and Transportation sectors of the tourism
industry over the past 25 years. While working for Sunquest Vacations, Jan had the opportunity to create a
destination which had never had tourism en masse before the arrival of the first charter aircraft in 1986-that
destination was Los Cabos and it has been a booming tourist destination ever since. Jan’s education includes an
undergraduate degree in Languages from Wilfrid Laurier University; a college diploma in Travel and Tourism; and a
Master’s degree in sustainable tourism planning from the University of Waterloo. Jan received the Graduate
Researchers award for her thesis research from the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) in 2006. Jan’s
thesis focused on sustainable tourism in parks and protected areas in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Jan currently
works as the Tourism Product Development officer for the Municipality of Chatham Kent.
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RICK MASSE grew up in Windsor, Ontario. He has a Business degree with a major in Accounting and a minor in
Economics. A tax consultant, Rick and his wife Darlene moved to Pelee Island in 1998. He was elected Mayor in
2006. Currently, Rick is the president of Peerless Fabrications Inc., which owns and operates Comfortech Bicycle
Rentals on Pelee Island. He is also the president of DARRIC COUNSULTING INC. a business consulting firm.
DR. GORDON NELSON is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo where he has taught and
conducted research since 1975. He is Past Chair of the Parks Research Forum of Ontario
and the Heritage Resources Centre, University of Waterloo, and is currently active in the
conservation and land use field as a member of the Bruce National Park Advisory
Committee and the Board of Directors of both Ontario Parks and Waterloo Heritage
Committee. Dr. Nelson’s professional accomplishments include the publication of
numerous books, articles and reports. His latest book, Places, Linking Nature, Culture and
Planning, was published by University of Calgary Press in spring 2009. Dr. Nelson has
served as Chair of Carolinian Canada Coalition since 2005.
SCOTT PARKER is an ecologist with Fathom Five National Marine Park and Bruce Peninsula National Park. He has
worked with Parks Canada for 20 years - from the mountaintops of Haida Gwaii to the
lakebed of Lake Huron. He holds a Hon. B.Sc. and M.Sc. Degree and is currently a Ph.D.
candidate at the University of Waterloo.
MARK SCHMIDT is a professional trail expert with six years experience working across North America. Mark is
currently working as Director of the Canadian office for the International Mountain Bicycling Association. In
addition to his role at IMBA, Mark teaches Park and Trail design at BC’s Capilano College as part of the Mountain
Bike Operations Certificate Program. Mark is also an active member with the Professional Trail Building
Association.
WILLIAM M. C. WILSON is an Executive member of Hike Ontario and Director of Hike Ontario Policy and
Government Relations Committee. Bill spent the major part of his professional life (25
years) as an Environmental Coordinator with the Ontario Civil Service, Ontario Realty
Corporation. He has held a number of other professional and volunteer positions in the
environmental and planning field, including with the Ontario Society for Environmental
Management, the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Institute of Professional
Environmental Practice. With respect to community, stewardship, and trails initiatives Bill
has been a member of the Bolton Community Action Site Steering Committee (Chair), the
Humber Watershed Alliance and the Humber Report Card Committee, the Humber Valley
Heritage Trail Association, the Cold Creek Conservation Area Stewardship Committee, the
Caledon Countryside Alliance, the Caledon Environmental Advisory Committee and as the Environment Columnist
with Caledon Enterprise for 18 years. Bill has also been recognized for his work through the Ontario Heritage
Foundation Community Recognition Natural Heritage Award (2000) and the Government of Canada International
Year of the Volunteer Medallion (2002).
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CCC LAKE ERIE COASTAL ZONE PROGRAM
Introduction
i
The North Shore of Lake Erie is a 592 kilometre shoreline containing a diversity of ecosystems and rare species,
along with areas of urban and rural human settlement. The north shore of Lake Erie, “Lake Erie’s Carolinian Coast”
is located within the Carolinian Life Zone, a hotspot for biodiversity and home to many species at risk (SAR) in
southern Ontario. The coast is also home to Canada’s southernmost National Park, and a UNESCO World Biosphere
Reserve.
The coastal zone represents a diverse area of southwestern Ontario,
with much natural, cultural, and historical heritage, and attracts many
residents and visitors for tourism and recreation purposes. Much of
the coastal zone is highly settled and developed for human land uses.
Public and private landowners have helped to maintain the diversity
of land uses in the area and have long acted as stewards of the coastal
zone, but no comprehensive strategy for the entire north shore of
Lake Erie exists. The Lake Erie Coastal Zone Program aims to include
the entire coastal zone to promote ecological integrity and ecosystem
health, provide understanding and awareness of species at risk and
habitats, and present new opportunities for tourism, recreation, and
conservation. The development of a Lake Erie Community
Stewardship Trail Network and trail guide is one way to achieve these goals.
What is the Lake Erie Coastal Zone Program?
The Lake Erie Coastal Zone Program is a way for public and private partners to work together, to manage the
coastal zone in a way that allows for multiple land uses, recreation and tourism opportunities, and education and
demonstration areas, all while considering the ecological integrity and conservation of the coastal zone. One way
to highlight the beauty and significance of the coastal zone is through a Lake Erie Community Stewardship Trail
Network.
With the aid of trail groups, public and private landowners, conservation groups, and all interested stakeholders,
the basis for a strong coastal zone trail for all partners can be identified. Implementation of a suitable network will
provide youth, trail, and other groups with activities such as trail building, maintenance, and stewardship, as well
as educational opportunities. The important agricultural contributions of this highly productive zone can be
highlighted through a Lake Erie Community Stewardship Trail, as well as natural areas that provide sites for
maintaining rare species, biodiversity and valuable ecosystem services.
Why a Lake Erie Community Stewardship Trail Network for the Coastal Zone?
Trails provide opportunities for recreation, conservation, and tourism, while promoting health and wellness and
providing educational and stewardship opportunities. Trails can highlight sites of agricultural, historical, or
ecosystem significance, and demonstrate points of interest in the diverse habitats of Lake Erie’s Carolinian Coast.
Businesses, historic sites, and natural landscapes can all benefit from a thoughtfully placed trail. Since many
excellent trail networks exist throughout southwestern Ontario, the potential for creating a comprehensive coastal
zone trail network by building on these existing trails is immense.
Goals of the Coastal Zone Program
To develop a concept for a Lake Erie Community Stewardship Trail along the north shore of Lake Erie, and an
accompanying trail guide to highlight significant sites and species in the coastal zone
To connect rural and urban residents, and individual and group conservation and stewardship efforts along the
North Shore Lake Erie coastal zone, into a network of interconnected projects
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To enhance ecological integrity, and conserve coastal ecosystems and Species at Risk in the Coastal Zone of
Carolinian Canada
To enhance the enjoyment of coastal landscapes, and provide greater opportunities for access to and
understanding of rare species and habitats
Who should be involved in the Lake Erie Coastal Zone Program?
The most important participants in the Lake Erie Coastal Zone Program are the people who live, work, and play in
this area. However, this program and the dialogue it encourages are for everyone who cares about Lake Erie’s
Carolinian Coast. It is important that every sector of the coastal zone is represented, in order to develop a concept
for a trail that will be supported and maintained on the ground.
What is the Lake Erie Coastal Zone?
The coastal zone is a complex area, where terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems merge; one way to think of the
coastal zone is the area influenced by the climate of Lake Erie, and the vegetation that grows as a result of this
climate. When considering the coastal zone it is important to consider the entire Lake Erie watershed; with rivers
as large as the Grand River, which flows 300 kilometres through 38 municipalities before reaching Lake Erie, the
Lake Erie watershed is quite large. The actions that occur upstream in the watershed have impacts on Lake Erie
and the coastal zone, and the habitat corridors provided by the streams and rivers of the watershed provide
important habitat for many species, including species at risk.
History, Culture & Current State of the Lake Erie Coastal Zone
The coast has long been a popular area for human settlement, inhabited for several thousand years by First
th
Nations, and by European settlers since the 17 century. Events such as the War of 1812, and the long human
history in the area mean that the Lake Erie coast has many sites of historic and cultural significance.
With a population of more than 1 million people living nearby, and many more visiting each year, it is not
surprising that human activities have a large impact on the coastal zone of Lake Erie. The Lake Erie coast has been
recognized as a key environment, and an area requiring special attention since the 1970s. Like many other heavily
populated areas in Carolinian Canada, Canada’s southern coast is subject to stress from a variety of human
activities, including fishing, recreation, and industry. Water pollution, global climate change, and invasive species
ii
are also issues facing the region .
Geology, Biology, & Ecology of the North Shore Lake Erie
Coastal Zone
The north shore of Lake Erie contains three prominent and
ecologically unique peninsulas, Point Pelee, Rondeau, and Long Point.
These peninsulas are areas of sand, forest, marsh and wildlife, not
otherwise found in the urban and agricultural landscapes of southern
iii
Ontario . The peninsulas are visible examples of the natural
geomorphologic processes that have shaped the north shore of Lake
Erie, including erosion, deposition, wave and wind action.
Located in the Carolinian Life Zone, the coastal zone of Lake Erie
contains species and ecosystems found nowhere else in Canada. A
number of sites along the Lake Erie coast have been identified as priority sites for the conservation of biodiversity,
including the Point Pelee Greater Park Ecosystem, and the Dunnville Marshes.
i
NRCAN Natural Resources Canada. 2007. The Atlas of Canada Retrieved online from
Http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/coastline. html #c6 Previous Source: Coordinated Great Lakes Physical Data. 1977.
Cornwall, Ontario: Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes Basic Hydraulic and Hydrologic Data
ii
NURC National Undersea Research Center for the North Atlantic and Great Lakes. No date. Laurentian Great Lakes. Accessed June 22, 2009.
Available online at http://www.nurc.uconn.edu/about/grtlakes.htm
iii
Heffernan, S. and J. G. Nelson. 1979. Land Use History, Vegetation and Planning for Long Point, Rondeau, and Point Pelee Peninsulas, Lake
Erie. Contact 11(1): 53-79.
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CCC FORUM 2010
CAROLINIAN CANADA & ONTARIO NATURE
May 28 and 29, 2010
Lambton College, Sarnia, Ontario
Partners
Carolinian Canada Coalition, Ontario Nature, Lambton Wildlife Inc.
Sarnia Urban Wildlife Committee, Friends of Pinery Park, Sydenham Field Naturalists
Friday, May 28, 2010
CCC FORUM & ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Coastal Greenways / Big Picture in Carolinian Canada; Species at risk in aquatic ecosystems and watersheds;
Social Marketing
The Green Economy & Climate Change; Conservation Action Planning – Recovery Update #4
ONTARIO NATURE
Policy & Planning Sessions
SPONSORED CRUISE OF THE ST. CLAIR RIVER
Travel on one of the busiest international transportation corridors, learning about the creatures that inhabit
its depths, the industry that provide economic stability for the area and the natural and human history of this
important waterway.
NATURAL HIGHLIGHTS OF SARNIA-LAMBTON AND NORTH KENT COUNTY
Experience a virtual tour of three watersheds, Ausable, St. Clair and Sydenham Rivers.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
TOURS
Explore our watersheds with tours of Walpole Island, the Ausable River at Rock Glen and Pinery Provincial
Park, constructed wetlands along the Sydenham River, and much more.
INDOOR SESSIONS
Learn about species that make our watersheds their home, wetland restoration as part of the RAP for the St.
Clair River, water as a resource, and much more.
WORKSHOPS
Experience nature and technology with geocaching, nature and art with wood carving, painting and other
hands-on activities.
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HOTEL LAYOUT
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Extra! Extra!
Read All About It!
Carolinian
Canada Newsletter
Now Online
A Star Opossum… Almanac Mania… One
Intrepid Volunteer… Explore these stories
and more in our latest special edition
newsletter.
This publication launches
our
new
digital newsletter that brings you colour
images and saves resources, production
costs and valuable donor dollars.
Contents are hyperlinked for your navigation
ease. To download the Summer/Fall 2009
publication, go to www.carolinian.org.
For members who prefer hard copies, please
contact the CCC office
@ 519-433-7077
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