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 …
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 …
Unveiling of the Deverell-Morton Nature Reserve
On July 13, over 30 people gathered together to celebrate the unveiling of the Deverell-Morton Nature Reserve. At 417-acres, the property is connected to Wolf Run Alvar and North Bear Alvar making a stronger connected corridor of wilderness. We are so grateful to the Deverell-Morton families, our supporters and volunteers …
Field Notes – Solar Eclipse & Wildlife Behaviour
People across the world prepared for and celebrated the solar eclipse on April 8, but what were wildlife doing? How did their behaviour change during this rare occurance? That was the question that spurred on a few of our staff to venture out on the solar eclipse day to get …
Soak up the rest of summer with our events and activities
Are you or your family members looking for unique adventures to get outside and enjoy the remaining weeks of precious summer weather? Then take a look at the events and activities offered by the Couchiching Conservancy through their Passport to Nature program. There are two in-person Passport to Nature events …
Rare 400-acre opportunity + a rare sighting
It was June 5, 2022 and I was testing my car along Alvar Road, listening for birds that I could add to my square for the Breeding Bird Atlas project. A distance along the road, I heard a Hermit Thrush singing very near the road. The Hermit Thrush song may …
New 100-acre Nature Reserve protected
The Couchiching Conservancy is celebrating another conservation success, with the protection of the Nicholson Nature Reserve on November 30, a 100-acre (40 hectare) parcel near Sebright. The property was donated by Gary Nicholson in honour of his family, which has owned the property since the late 1800s. Located in Ramara …