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 …
Conservation Conversations
As published in Orillia Matters on Jan. 14, 2025 Meg Whitton spent 15 years as a morning show host of 104.1 The Dock and then Bounce Radio. She is now fumbling her way through a new career in conservation at The Couchiching Conservancy. She wants everyone to know about this …
A Course And A Camera
As originally published in The Villager December 1, 2024 In the early 2000s, Noella Storry took an environmental science course at Laurentian University. At that point, she was working full time at Casino Rama. A few years earlier, she’d been given a camera. On her way to work, she’d often …
Remembering Ron Reid
We will be gathering in the heart of his beloved Carden Alvar at the Carden Recreation Centre, 258 Lake Dalrymple Rd., Sebright. Saturday, May 3 from 2 – 5ish PM. We hope you will join to celebrate Ron’s legacy. Accessibility: there is a wheelchair friendly entrance through the back of …
Learning isn’t always as ‘Natural’ as you might think
As published in Orillia Matters on Dec. 8, 2024 Recently, I left a job in morning radio to work at the Couchiching Conservancy. I’ve spent the past few months thinking about the ways we learn and speak. It’s been really intimidating learning new things, especially when I feel guilty for …
Great Lakes Alvars, with focus on Kawartha Lakes Carden Alvar
Alvars are unique and fascinating ecosystems that are defined by limestone or dolostone outcrops, often with little to no soil, supporting grassland, shrubland, savanna, or woodland vegetation. These ecosystems are quite rare, found in only a few areas worldwide, with the most notable concentrations occurring in the Baltic Sea region …
Nature Counts 2024: Celebrating Volunteers and Monitoring Efforts
Every year, Nature Counts brings us together to celebrate the dedication and hard work of our volunteers and to reflect on the impact of our conservation efforts. This year, we shared some incredible highlights from our Community Science monitoring programs, successes in species conservation, and the vital role volunteers play …
Field Notes: The Couchiching Conservancy’s First Eco Passage
Every year, thousands of animals face a perilous journey across roads, risking their lives in the face of speeding vehicles. For salamanders, frogs, and many other species near Whitney Wetland & McIsaac Nature Reserve, this danger has been especially pronounced. Thanks to The Couchiching Conservancy’s Wildlife on Roads Community Science …
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 …