Welcome to the web page version of our Annual Report, a new way to present the accomplishments & stories from the year. We hope you like it.
Executive Director & President's Message
The winds of global change are blowing hard as we write this, but the Couchiching Conservancy remains a beacon of stability and hope in our community. Everyone involved can be rightfully proud of all we’ve accomplished for the future security of this region over the past 31 years.
Record-high donations and investment returns in 2024 were an important part of this year's success story. These funds will propel us into 2025 in a strong financial position, ensuring we can continue to protect new landscapes, and expand our reach into the community.
The loss of Ron Reid this December, our most influential founder and dear friend, was devastating. It sent ripples across the Ontario conservation community and we paused to comfort each other and reflect on his legacy. Donations to the Heartwood Fund poured in.
Those we have lost remind us to make room at the table for today’s youth. As a result of the Angela Rehhorn Commemorative Project, over 200 youth joined us this year to volunteer in the “Release the Wild” and “Wildlife on Roads” program. We also started our first Youth Stewardship Council to nurture the next generation of conservation leaders.
The centrefold of this report, our map, is at the core of everything we do. It tells the story of what’s protected, and what’s left to protect. This year we made plans to expand our reach into all five priority corridors including Minesing to Matchedash, Bass Lake, and Matchedash. Our adventurous biologist, Toby Rowland, has taken on an exciting project to traverse each corridor in order to understand them better. He completed Phase I this fall and wow, did we learn things.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the work through the challenges and successes of 2024. We look forward to continuing to sustain and grow the special relationships we have with our community – you are essential to our success.
Dorthea Hangard, Executive Director
Kathy Hunt, President of the Board of Directors
Staff:
Aiesha Aggarwal
Courtney Baker
Tanya Clark
Meghan Duell
Megan Greenwood
Dorthea Hangaard
Alysha Henry
Toby Rowland
Jocelyn Trudell
Meg Whitton
Staff we said goodbye to this year:
Madeleine Fournier
Brandon Guoth
Danielle Houston
Contractors & Summer Staff:
Mark Bisset
Meagan Coughlin
Jazmin Gall
Terry-Lynn Hazlett
Ginny Moore
Ron Reid
Jen Willoughby
Board of Directors:
Jane Bonsteel
Jack Booth
Susan Crowe
Neil Gray
Kathy Hunt
Morris Ilyniak
Dale Leadbeater
Janet Machan
Bob Sullivan
Councils & Committees:
Advisory
Development
Past Presidents
Passport to Nature
Plus many Board Committees
Impact & Stats
PROTECTED PLACES
14,935-acres protected thanks to supporters & volunteers.
5,090 hours
contributed by 294 volunteers to various projects & programs.
50 legacy gifts
The Heartwood Fund surpassed $3.3 million in pledges & contributions.
500+ people
Engaged through the Passport to Nature program.
COMMUNITY SCIENCE
14 programs on 45 reserves & managed sites with 279 volunteers.
200+ youth
Involved in programming, who helped remove 735 feet of fencing to reduce barriers for wildlife movement.
Members of Carden Challenge team “Carden Owls”.
Gillian and her greyhounds explore the trails at Grant’s Woods Nature Reserve during the Passport to Nature Discover Trails Day.
Jazmin Gall (summer staff), volunteers Shirley Moorman and Jane Brasher water monitor training Grant's Woods Nature Reserve.
60 SPECIES
at risk that we monitor and track in our region.
762 milkweed plants
inspected for eggs, caterpillars and butterflies.
1,225 POUNDS
of invasive plant material removed from the nature reserves.
241 submissions
to the Natural Heritage Information Center to advance understanding of biodiversity, natural heritage and species conservation in Ontario.
75% ENROLLED
Conservancy nature reserves are enrolled in the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program.
Hellos & Goodbyes
The life and legacy of Ron Reid
On December 15, we lost one of our founders, our first Executive Director, and our friend, Ron Reid. He died on the anniversary of the nature reserve named in his honour seven years ago, with his family by his side.
Ron leaves a legacy of accomplishments, including a leading role in the protection of over 14,000 acres of land in Couchiching-Severn. “Many people in our region will never realize the profound impact Ron has had on their quality of life,” said current Executive Director Dorthea Hangaard, “nevertheless, all will benefit from his foresight in helping to establish a land trust that protects our land, water, forests, and grasslands for generations to come.”
His contributions to conservation go beyond our region. In the early 1990s, Ron returned from a rally in the US ready to build a land trust movement in Ontario. Not only did he co-found The Couchiching Conservancy, he helped create an organization that would foster the growth of land trusts throughout the province. The Ontario Land Trust Alliance now includes 51 member-organizations who collectively protect 187,000 acres of land in Ontario.
Ron had a significant impact on nature near and far. We hope you will read the full article written to honour him.
Staff changes
We had a number of changes this year, and ended the year with 10 full-time staff to lead us into 2025.
With Meghan Duell on maternity leave, Danielle Houston was hired to fill a portion of her work. Courtney Baker shifted her role to support the Stewardship team. In August, we hired Meg Whitton to be the new “voice” at our front desk after 18 years in radio.
Brandon Guoth’s time with us as Reserve Steward came to an end, and we hired Megan Greenwood to replace him.
Also in August, Madeleine Fournier left her role as Engagement Organizer to go back to school, and we welcomed Jocelyn Trudell in her place.
Truly a year of hellos and goodbyes.
The staff! Back row L-R - Jocelyn Trudell, Alysha Henry, Meghan Duell, Courtney Baker, Megan Greenwood, Toby Rowland. Front row L-R - Aiesha Aggarwal, Tanya Clark, Dorthea Hangaard, Meg Whitton.
Corridors of Connected Wilderness
Minesing to Matchedash
Our staff Biologist, Toby, used an on the ground approach through Minesing to Matchedash with a three day trek by foot and kayak, with key questions in mind: how do wildlife navigate this region? What are the barriers and hazards? What is the quality of the natural areas?
The route included anchor points such as Little Lake, Simcoe County Forests and Copeland Forest, along with connections between them (without trespassing). The route factored in major roads and highways, as these are barriers to a true wildlife corridor.
The findings revealed a mosaic of natural spaces disrupted by human impact: fences, roads, noise pollution, and off-leash dogs. While expected challenges were encountered like crossing Highway 400, the constant noise and the unexpected presence of dirt bikes racing through the woods were particularly striking. Aerial views from a drone provided a new perspective, highlighting the true fragmentation of these spaces that originally seemed to be suitable habitat for wildlife.
This experience emphasized the critical need to reassess our infrastructure and behaviors. Small changes, like installing wildlife-friendly culverts and planting native species, can significantly enhance connectivity.
This trek will inform conservation opportunities and efforts in the future. A video documentary was a key part of this effort as well, which can be viewed on our website and YouTube channel.
Agnew-Melnyk Nature Reserve
This property contains a mix of habitats, from old meadows to conifer swamp to a section of Hogg Creek.
This year the easement (signed in 2004) became the Agnew-Melnyk Nature Reserve thanks to the family’s dedication to conservation. By transferring their easement to a ‘fee simple’ or owned property they have provided the highest level of protection possible for their land and water forever.
The reserve neighbours Huronia Conservancy’s Hogg Creek Wetland, making it a foothold to build on in our Minesing to Matchedash corridor.
This is the second Conservancy easement to become a fee simple nature reserve. Thank you Sandy and Lynne!
Taking Care of the Land
Wildlife friendly split rail fence.
Quick Facts:
- Four stewardship / community science projects;
- 12 volunteers;
- 75 volunteer hours dedicated to this reserve;
- High quality alvar;
- The property includes a willow thicket swamp which connects Deverells Creek to the Head River and Lake Dalrymple.
The Couchiching Conservancy now manages 50 properties. Each year we feature one nature reserve, and dig into the details of stewardship efforts, community science with volunteers and other events that take place at that property.
On August 31, 2023, we closed on what is now known as the Deverell-Morton Nature Reserve. There are many steps to get to this point, and once ‘signed, sealed and delivered’, the work of caring for the land begins.
The reserve neighbours the Wolf Run Alvar Nature Reserve (Couchiching Conservancy) and North Bear Alvar Nature Reserve (The Nature Conservancy of Canada). Together these properties are important corridors that many species call home. Since taking ownership of the property, we have added wildlife friendly split rail fencing along the roadside, a metal gate to discourage trespassing from recreational vehicles, and a new property sign. At the unveiling in July, many family members and friends came to share stories about the property and express their excitement to see it protected. The property sign serves as a tribute to the family and informs visitors that the land is protected.
Within the interior of the property, the stewardship team has worked hard to remove invasive plants including Scots Pine and Buckthorn. Invasive species volunteer events were hosted this year by the summer staff with the goal to help remove Scots Pine saplings. The stewardship team has also completed Ecological Land Classification studies and the information gathered has given us a better understanding of the ecology that is present. Other events held at Deverell-Morton included the Passport to Nature Grassland Flora Walk, led by botanist, ecologist and Board member Dale Leadbeater. During the walk, Dale shared knowledge of the history, geography and the geology of the area while walkers enjoyed the flora of the property.
Invasive plants we target included: Scots Pine, Dog-strangling Vine, Phragmites, Buckthorn, Garlic Mustard, Giant Hogweed, Japanese knotweed, and Purple Loosestrife. We worked on 18 nature reserves and easements, covering over 3,600 hectares with the help of volunteers and partners like Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ontario Parks. Learn more here.
Stewarding the Land
With 50 nature reserves to steward, caring for each nature reserve is always full of excitement, but some of the challenges we have faced this year have been less exciting; such as trespassing and dumping.
Trespass by ATVs has a significant impact on the land and species who live there. By putting up boundary signage and adding wildlife friendly fencing or gates in suitable areas, we can discourage these activities.
Dumping of items like appliances and bags of household waste is not only discouraging, it also costs the staff valuable time and Conservancy money.
Invasive Species
Invasive plants can outcompete native plants causing loss of species, habitat, and biodiversity. Less obvious social and economic impacts are decreased crop yields, as invasive plants can act as hosts to crop pests. Some are noxious enough to cause safety concerns for hikers, like Giant Hogweed. Some, like Dog-Strangling Vine, contribute to the loss of species at risk like Monarch butterflies by mimicking their proper host plants for foraging and breeding. We held invasive species control, mapping, monitoring events and education across our natures reserves in 2024.
Alysha Henry reptile monitoring
Reptile Monitoring
This program shifted from surveying multiple nature reserves, to focusing on a select few for more detailed studies. This change enables us to target elusive, at-risk species that are challenging to detect without concentrated efforts. Due to the vulnerability of these species to poaching, we cannot disclose the specific nature reserves or certain species monitored. Using data from previous years, we prioritized key species and selected promising locations for targeted surveys. These surveys involve full-day fieldwork, where our team explores wetlands and forests along transects (a path that is used to make observations and measurements across a landscape). They search for rare species in their natural habitats. We have already seen positive results from this new strategy.
Photo: Cassie Pellerin
Drone Use
Staff began using a drone for more efficient and comprehensive monitoring. It has been used for mapping invasive species, checking boundaries, assessing encroachments, exploring potential acquisitions, and capturing media for use in communications. All drone operations fit within our drone policy and are conducted by a licensed operator, with wildlife behavior closely monitored to minimize disturbance, and flights are discontinued if necessary to ensure minimal impact.
“ The Orillia weather station recorded the highest rainfall for April since records began in 1994, (Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, 2025). April 2024 also saw the most days of "heavy" rainfall (over 10 mm per day). ”
Rainfall And Frogs
It was a record-breaking year for rainfall, and our most hard-hit nature reserve was the 20-acre Grant Wetland Nature Reserve in Orillia.
The combination of residential development pressure and 18 days of rain meant a herculean effort was required by staff to maintain neighbourhood harmony. This wetland filters and slows water on its way to Lake Couchiching. However, it couldn’t function as normal given the volume of rain.
This is a vision of things to come and why we need nature-based climate solutions like conservation. With seventy percent of wetlands lost to sprawl, this remaining pocket of habitat is being pushed beyond its limit.
The rain and warm weather also impacted frogs. Temperatures in Orillia were above freezing on 12 different days, earlier than usual. Volunteer frog monitors reported that Wood frogs and Western Chorus frogs, which rely on environmental cues to time their mating season, began calling earlier than in any of the past seven years of the monitoring program.
Youth-led Conservation
212 youth between the ages of 15-30 were reached through the Angela Rehhorn Commemorative Project.
They helped “release the wild”
and removed 735 feet of old fencing
to reduce barriers and hazards to
wildlife movement.
Youth-led conservation
Over 200 young people were empowered through our Angela Rehhorn Commemorative Project to take an active role in conservation. Students explored real-world conservation efforts and learned how they could make a difference on the land.
We hosted six hands-on workshops, nine classroom presentations and three field trips where youth engaged in meaningful stewardship activities. They removed old fencing to create open wildlife corridors, set up trail cameras to study how animals navigate barriers, and conducted wildlife on roads surveys to better understand how species are impacted by roads.
We also created our first Youth Council, a group of passionate young leaders who will help shape the future of the program. By working alongside conservation professionals, youth gained valuable knowledge, practical skills, and a deeper connection to nature. Together, we are inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders.
Our First eco-passage
In early 2024, we began planning and designing an eco-passage to help wildlife safely cross Monck Road at Whitney Wetland Nature Reserve, part of the provincially significant Mud Lake Wetland Complex. In collaboration with the County of Simcoe and engineers at Tatham Engineering, we developed a solution that utilizes an existing culvert beneath the road. By installing a terrestrial walkway inside the culvert and constructing exclusion fencing along both sides of the road, we are creating a safe, accessible route for animals—far better than the busy roadway above.
We broke ground in fall 2024, starting with trenching to bury portions of the 2,000-foot-long fence to prevent wildlife from digging underneath. Snow arrived before we could finish, but we’ll be back in the spring to complete this critical project.
Beyond construction, communicating the importance of wildlife is crucial. By providing resources to decision-makers, we’ve influenced road infrastructure planning in Simcoe County, helping to integrate wildlife-friendly designs into future projects.
Nature Reserves & Easements
The land that The Couchiching Conservancy operates on and the land that we protect is on the territory of the Anishinaabeg people.
In the Community
Carden Challenge
90 participants raised over $40,000 and counted 214 species in 24 hours.
PASSport to nature
13 events & activities were made possible by 30+ volunteers who contributed 300+ hours of time. Sponsors contributed $20,000+ to keep events free or low cost.
ambassadors
28 volunteers volunteered 170+ hours at Grant’s Woods Nature Reserve or events, and talked to almost 1,000 people.
(featured photos) The participants of the Carden Challenge at the Jenkins home who host the recap dinner. (directly above) Max McKenzie, Madeleine Fournier and Sheena Tolland during the Passport to Nature Pride event.
Tanya Clark (staff), volunteer Pam Paylor, Michael Gordon from the Community Foundation of Orillia and Area and Kim Oxley from the County of Simcoe. Pam worked on a grant to be able to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator, now installed at The Couchiching Conservancy’s office.
Events & activities
We celebrated new milestones this year, with the 20th anniversary of the Carden Challenge, and 10th anniversary of the Passport to Nature program. Both continue to be an important part of connecting with the community and raising funds to power the Conservancy’s work. Our sincere thanks to the many volunteers, sponsors and participants who make these activities and events possible.
We also hosted unveilings for the Cedar Grove Nature Reserve, Deverell-Morton Nature Reserve and Hancock Hermitage Easement.
In addition to our own events, we are grateful to the businesses and services clubs who supported our work through fundraising intiatives, such as the Rotary Club of Orillia Charity Car Auction, Blossom Plants & Goods, Marika Fox Decluttering, Eclectic Cafe & Catering and Danny Borzellino.
Many groups host events at our nature reserves, such as Orillia EarlyOn, Scouts Canada and Orillia Women’s Newcomers.
ART DONATION
We were grateful to accept a collection of artwork from Mary Lou Kirby and her late husband Doug.
“Doug wanted the assets we worked hard for as partners for 43 years to benefit something worthwhile when all was said and done. Doug was not one for attending meetings and functions but he did consider the work of the Conservancy very important and wanted to support it with the donation of his beloved Batemans as well as our pledge through our wills for the Heartwood Fund.”
The pieces can be viewed on the walls of the office and may be auctioned off in the future to further support our work, as agreed to by Mary Lou.
“My husband and I have always been passionate about the outdoors. However, after his life-changing accident, we found ourselves seeing the world through the lens of a wheelchair. It was a tough adjustment, and we often felt like we were missing out on the beauty of nature. That changed when I learned about a new accessible trail project at Grant's Woods Nature Reserve. When I saw that, I instantly knew this organization truly understood the importance of making the outdoors accessible for everyone, regardless of their mobility. I wanted to be a part of that mission.
Since then, I’ve been volunteering in the office and with the invasive species removal team. I’ve learned so much about the different reserves, the wildlife, and the important work being done to protect species at risk. What's even more special is that my husband has been able to access some of the trails, and we've been able to enjoy nature together again. Volunteering has truly become a highlight of my life, and I feel so grateful to contribute to an organization that protects our lands and respects every living thing.”
- Pam Paylor is a volunteer and member
Volunteers & Supporters
We decided to donate to the Heartwood Fund, in memory of our daughter Angela Rehhorn. She had a degree in Marine Biology and Sustainability. In her short time with the Conservancy, she quickly realized she had found people who, like herself were passionate about wildlife and animal habitats. We remember her excitement after her first meeting with Dorthea.
Angela was a member of the Canadian Conservation Core (with Canadian Wildlife Federation), when she wrote this: “I aspire to live an eco-conscious life, spend lots of time outdoors, provide service to my communities and inspire others.” The Heartwood Fund promises a world she desired to live in, with abundant and diverse habitats that will benefit all of us.
- Joan Vincent and Roland Rehhorn are volunteers, monthly supporters and donors to the Heartwood Fund.
As an environmental student at Lakehead University, I wanted to gain more hands-on experience through fieldwork. Volunteering with the Couchiching Conservancy has helped me improve my plant and animal ID skills, gain experience in the field, and make connections through the conservancy. These experiences will help me when I pursue an environmental career!
- Emily Hawton is a volunteer (Snake Board Surveys, Youth Stewardship Program and Ecological Land Classification).
Financial Report
Our 2024 financial results represent a new high-water mark for donations and investment income. This surplus allowed us to increase the Acquisition Reserve by $168,000, the President’s Reserve by $136,000, the Heartwood Endowment by $45,000 and the Stewardship Endowment by $89,000.
We were well-positioned this year to increase properties & easements by $685,000 while keeping expenditures under budget.
Please see the Audited Financial Statements by Hehn Trickey Professional Corporation for the year ending Ocober 31, 2024 on our website.
What's Next?
New Protected Places
Whitney wetland eco passage
Completion of our first Eco-passage to reduce road mortality.
INDIGENOUS PARTNerSHIPS
Continuing to build relationships with Williams’ Treaty First Nations rights holders.
land protection campaign
Science & Monitoring
Continuing to understand our local landscapes through on the ground initiatives.
community outreach
Outreach and advertising campaigns directed to young, old, naturalists and alike.
