The following article was published in Orillia Matters on April 3, 2025 Thirty years ago, tired of 80 hour work weeks, Peter Lorriman moved his young family from London, Ontario to a sugar bush in Simcoe County. Peter laughs and says he now works 120 hours a week. Though he …
People Value Connection
This article was published in The Villager Magazine April 1st, 2025 Tuesday started with snacks. In place of our regular staff meeting, The Couchiching Conservancy was doing professional development training. We’re fortunate to have hundreds of volunteers and this leadership seminar was to make sure we’re having as big an …
Couchiching Conservancy one of the first certified Land Trusts to achieve national recognition for conservation leadership
March 25, 2025. Orillia, Ontario Couchiching Conservancy one of the first certified Land Trusts to achieve national recognition for conservation leadership The Centre for Land Conservation (CLC) announced the first Canadian land trusts to achieve Conservation Excellence Certification, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Canada’s land conservation sector. …
Conservation Conversations
As published in Orillia Matters on March 4, 2025 I remember reading an article in this paper when McLean & Dickey Insurance renovated their new building – the old A&P on King street – for energy efficiency. Finally! A company willing to go first and be a role model! I’d …
Move From Radio To Couchiching Conservancy A Wild Ride (As originally published in Orillia Matters)
I’m a middle age woman who has just switched careers at 45. It’s terrifying. I worked in media for close to twenty years. I got up at 3:30am, arrived at work to read news headlines, celebrity gossip and stories from around the world before going on air at 5:30. I’d …
The Couchiching Conservancy furthers land protection efforts near Hillsdale thanks to donors
The Couchiching Conservancy has increased land protection thanks to two donors, Sandy Agnew and Lynne Melnyk. The 39.5-acre property, 9km north of Hillsdale, was originally protected under an easement agreement in 2004 and has now been donated outright to the Conservancy. An easement is a legal entity that allows land …
Selling Conservation
As a millennial my 1990’s childhood was the target of the most sophisticated and prolific marketing aimed at children in history to that point. My generation has an inherent understanding of marketing and sales, we could point out product placement by the time we were 8 and we can automatically …
Release the Wild – Youth in Action
Youth in our region are acting to help species like White-tailed Deer, Moose, and Black Bear by participating in hands-on conservation projects! On June 1st, 2024, the Angela Rehhorn Commemorative Project hosted an impactful workshop focused on removing fences that obstruct wildlife corridors. This initiative not only aimed at enhancing …
Recap of the first Youth Program Workshop
What do animal tracks, trail cameras and fencing have in common? A lot! This was the focus of our first Youth Program Workshop, which looked at barriers wildlife face on the landscape and what we can do to help. We kicked off the first 2024 event of the Angela Rehhorn …
Mitchell Bruce Nature Reserve Secured Through Generous Donation
In a significant conservation milestone for the Washago area, the Couchiching Conservancy announced today the protection of 85-acres adjoining Alexander Hope Smith Nature Reserve. The property was donated by Leslie and Irene Bruce who have strong ties to the area, and is named in honour of their late son Mitchell …