It is with mixed emotions that we announce The Couchiching Conservancy’s Engagement Organizer Joelle Burnie is heading off on a new adventure. Joelle, who has made an indelible mark on this organization, is realizing a long-held ambition to live in the mountains of British Columbia, and she is finishing her …
Re-defining Ecological Perspectives: An Indigenous-Led Bioblitz.
Join Gary Pritchard of Curve Lake First Nation and principal consultant, 4 Directions of Conservation. On the shores of the Black River in Treaty Territory 20 and Williams Treaties, Gary will teach us about decolonizing conservation and learning to value all of our relations. All life deserves a space on …
In Praise of Small
If there was one Couchiching Conservancy trail that could be considered micro – it would be the Periwinkle trail. It is our shortest trail at a mere 0.15km, at the Grant’s Woods Nature Reserve on Division Road West in Severn. Grant’s Woods is the home of The Couchiching Conservancy’s office …
Supporter Spotlight: The Ling & Frenette-Ling Family
This month’s Supporter Spotlight is on the Ling & Frenette-Ling family – Philip & Linda, and Tristan, Coral, Desmond, and Sidney. The family lives in Markham, just an hour from their 400 acre property in the Kawartha Lakes. In 2015, Philip and Linda signed a conservation easement agreement with the …
UPDATE: Keeping our communities safe & healthy
In alignment with the province and guidelines to keep our communities safe and healthy, we would like to share some key information and reminders. As we all know, guidelines change in response to the status of the pandemic, and we will adapt to changing circumstances as needed. Please check this …
Notes from the Field: Summer 2021
Monarch Monitoring Begins: Canadian Conservation Corps Interns Ryan and Claire, along with staff member Aiesha – have spent numerous days mapping out milkweed habitats and setting up new monarch monitoring sites at two Conservancy Nature Reserves. The new protocols for this pilot project are currently being tested in the field …
We All Belong
The Couchiching Conservancy, along with many other organizations from charities to municipalities has a ‘strategic plan’. It is not a top secret document hidden away in a room as the name may suggest, but a guide, for how best to use our organizational resources to achieve our mission. It is …
Notes from the Field: Spring 2021
Annual chemical control of Dog Strangling Vine in Carden is necessary to protect this globally-unique alvar. The spraying program has been successful and each year less and less chemical application is necessary. Great care is taken to spot spray and only the minimal amount of chemical is needed to kill …
Job Posting: Bookkeeper
The Conservancy is looking for a bookkeeper to ensure the financial aspects of our organization run smoothly. That includes processing donations, paying invoices, updating QuickBooks, database maintenance, and more. Read the full job description here. Please submit your resume and cover letter to mbisset@couchconservancy.ca by June 11, 2021.
Striking a balance
I am sitting in the gazebo at Grant’s Woods and working remotely. There are so many birds singing – Black-throated Green Warbler, Brown Creeper, Eastern Meadowlark, Pileated Woodpecker. It’s a long list.