Join our Shrink the Lawn! contest.
Sign up to the In The Zone Native Garden Tracker, plant 2 native plants in your garden, and submit photos of the plants to the
@honeyishrunkthelawn IG account.
Participants will be entered in a draw. Winner will receive 2 tickets to a turtle hatchling release party at Long Point Eco Adventures.
Win tickets to Turtle Hatchling Release Read More »
The Ontario Horticultural Association (OHA), a charitable organization that encourages interest in gardening and related environmental issues across the province, has featured the Long Point Biosphere Region’s North Shore Resilience Project in its Summer 2025 Newsletter Trillium.
The Trillium article written by the Biosphere’s Conservation Director Sarah Emons and Laurene Via, a member of the Port Dover and Woodhouse Horticulture Society, describes work being done to restore sand dunes by planting native grasses on the southern shore of Long Point.
The piece, entitled Coastal Gardening: An Initiative to Prevent Wind and Water Erosion Along the Northern Shore of Lake Erie is illustrated with many captioned photos and supported by information on the project, which is a partnership with volunteer landowners, Norfolk County, and volunteer gardeners from our area.
Those involved plant native grasses such as Beach Grass, Little Bluestem and Switch Grass to catch and hold sand and, in turn, build dunes on Long Point. The grass-filled dunes protect the beach and properties from storm surges, high water levels and powerful winds, as well as allowing beaches to grow and remain healthy by storing sand.
Through the OHA newsletter, gardening enthusiasts in horticultural societies and like-minded organizations across Ontario will learn about the Biosphere project which also involves significant research, engineering, and outreach programs as well.
Ont. Horticultural Newsletter features Biosphere Shoreline Project Read More »
The Long Point Biosphere Region (LPBR)
is seeking new members to serve on its Board of Directors in positions that include that of Vice-Chair.
The LPBR is the operating name of a non-profit registered Canadian charity promoting research, monitoring, community outreach, education, partnerships, and projects that support the goals of biodiversity, conservation and sustainable communities in Norfolk County, Ontario.
The entire county shares in our region’s designation as a World Biosphere Reserve. The designation comes from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) under its Man and Biosphere program.
Board members serve without remuneration typically for three-year terms in a process prescribed by the Biosphere’s By-Law. They provide strategic direction to the organization, review its financial statements, and play an active role in fund development as well as other functions aligned with good governance and accountability. Here is our current Board membership.
We welcome applications from anyone with an interest in our mandate, but we can benefit from skills in program management, fund development, science, marketing, communications, law, and finance.
Vice Chair of the Board
One director will be elected by fellow board members to serve as Vice-Chair. This person will act on behalf of the Chair when required as well as performing any other duties and exercising powers as the board may specify.
The Vice-Chair will be a key participant in director recruitment, board operations, and overall governance and will be expected to eventually assume the position of Chair as part of the organization’s approach to succession planning.
Click here for the Board of Directors Application Form
Please open, save, and then complete the form to email it to admin@longpointbiosphere.com
Or if you like, contact us at this email address with any questions.
Join our Board as Director or Vice-Chair Read More »
The Board of Directors of the Long Point Biosphere Region (LPBR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Janet Dassinger as Interim Executive Director (E.D.) effective April 9, 2025.
“Janet’s appointment is an important step toward establishing a more robust operating and governance system for the Biosphere,” said LPBR Chair Tom Via. “We are delighted that she has agreed to accept this role and the challenges it embraces.”
The Interim Executive Director will play a key role in developing and advancing a new strategic plan for the LPBR as well as leading Biosphere operations. The creation of the position and the broader initiative it involves is supported by funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and by a strategic collaboration with the highly successful Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere.
Janet, who is passionate about conservation and the Long Point region, is a Senior Research Officer with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). Over her career, she has worked as a project manager, executive director and fund developer in the not-for-profit sector. She has advanced degrees in Labour Studies and Social Work from McMaster University. Janet resigned from the Biosphere board and the position of President to assume the Interim E.D. duties.
Janet Dassinger Appointed Interim Executive Director Read More »
The Board and staff of the Long Point Biosphere Region (LPBR) have been working over the winter months to develop new strategies and
collaboration plans thanks to funding from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) Resilient Communities fund.
The funding of $126 has supported LPBR’s strategic planning and organizational review, which has been undertaken in collaboration with the Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere, which is regarded as a model organization with a “best in class” operating model and expertise in developing new partnerships, diversified funding sources, and stable program staffing systems.
“The Long Point Biosphere is one of Canada’s most important ecological areas with an exceptional agro-ecosystem,” said Biosphere Chair Tom Via, reflecting on the work todate. “The funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the help of partners like Birds Canada and the Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere will make a vital contribution to our long-term planning which enables support of conservation and sustainable development in the region.”
The funding announced last year (June 2024) at an event in Port Rowan with local MPP Bobbi Ann Brady who said at the time that the “Long Point Biosphere is an important connection between people and nature.”
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province.
Collaboration with Georgian Bay on Strategic Planning Read More »
Spring 2025
Biosphere Beacon
In this issue, we invite you to join the Friends of the Long Point Biosphere – at no cost – to keep up to date on our projects and programs.
Click individual links below.
FALL 2024 Biosphere Beacon
In this issue, we invite you to attend our Annual General Meeting and prepare for the Fall Research and Conservation Conference as well as updating you on recent projects.
Click individual links below.
SUMMER 2024 Biosphere Beacon
In this issue, we review our new projects, look to the future, and remember a special volunteer.
Click individual links below.
SPRING 2024 Biosphere Beacon
In this issue, we celebrate our recent successes and special partnerships.
Click individual links below.
FALL 2023 Biopshere Beacon (Highlights listed below)
Click here for the full newsletter as PDF
SUMMER 2023 Biosphere Beacon (Highlights listed below)
Click here for the full newsletter as PDF
Recent Newsletters Read More »
1,112 turtle eggs were excavated from vulnerable nest around Long Point and transported to the Marshview Welcome and Education Centre at Long Point Eco Adventures by a team of dedicated volunteers. These eggs—collected over the summer of 2024—were the first ever collected for the Long Point Turtle Hatchery!
They include midland painted, snapping, and norther map turtle eggs. Our mentors and colleagues at the Turtle Lab in the London Watershed Conservation Centre graciously took in many more clutches when we reached our processing capacity. This included all of our threatened Blanding’s turtle eggs.
With your support, thousands of hatching turtles will peck their way out of their shells in the years ahead. But each must be health checked, measured, weighed, and finally released into the marsh and this must be within 1 km of where their mothers originally laid them. At the same time, we hope to have a multi-faceted exhibit in place to educate students, visitors, and area residents about the need for road ecology projects. This will help address the core problem facing our turtles (deaths on roads) that make volunteer road patrols and nest excavation necessary.
None of this would have been possible without the generous donations our community contributed alongside support from the Long Point Biosphere Region, Eco Adventures, Scott Gillingwater and his Turtle Lab team in London, our amazing Wildlife Road Watch volunteers, Environment and Climate Change Canada through the LPWF Priority Place’s Road Ecology Working Group, Eco-Kare International, and Eco Canada.
Special thanks to Mitchell Plastics of Kitchener for donating 30 vests to our program and to volunteer Patti Moore for adding the Biosphere logo to the vests.
We continue to need materials and funds to complete the task and, we hope, establish the hatchery as a permanent facility serving the Long Point Biosphere Region.
Please consider contributing to the Long Point Biosphere Region Turtle Hatchery!
If you are not able to contribute financially but wish to help another way, please consider joining Wildlife Road Watch, our volunteer program. You will be trained to safely help turtles cross roads and to identify turtle nests for excavation along several key nesting hotspots.
If you are interested, please consider subscribing at wildlifeonroads.com or reach out to Lauren at lnightingale@eco-kare.com for more information.
For more on what’s happening in the Long Point Biosphere check out our newsletter here.
Volunteers make Long Point Turtle Hatchery a Success Read More »
Building on the success of its first ever Eco-Crawl last year, the Long Point Biosphere is looking to expand its promotion of sustainable tourism in Norfolk County over the coming months. This will include new initiatives to support designated Amazing Places in our area and collaborations with other Biosphere regions in Ontario and across Canada.
The Amazing Places program identifies sites for residents and visitors to learn about physical, biological or historical features that are unique to our region. The initiative, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Mountain Equipment Co-op, was established in 2022 with information materials and special itineraries for those looking to explore the region.
This year this material will be repackaged in formats that make it easier for visitors and local residents to reference and to possibly expand the Long Point Biosphere Eco-Crawl.
Last year the Eco-Crawl was launched in conjunction with Port Rowan’s Bayfest celebrations with funding under the Norfolk County Community Grants Program. 
The funding covered bus shuttle services to help visitors and residents learn more about conservation organizations such as Birds Canada, Long Point Basin Land Trust, Turkey Point Provincial Park, and Long Point Provincial Park as well as sustainable businesses such as Long Point Eco-Adventures, Burning Kiln Winery, Inasphere Winery and Farm, South Coast Gardens, Meuse Brewery. and more. The Eco-Crawl also showcased the Long Point Turtle Hatchery project and promoted other conservation activities with display and information tables at Birds Canada headquarters.
“We have a rich portfolio of businesses and organizations dedicated to conservation and the natural environment in the Biosphere,” said Tom Via, LPBR Chair. “The Eco-Crawl celebrates these organizations and our partnerships, and it will be great to expand it in the future in conjunction with the Amazing Places program.”
Promoting Eco-Tourism in Canada Read More »
The Long Point Biosphere Region (LPBR) joins the family members, friends and admirers mourning the passing of the former Norfolk County Councillor and active community leader Betty Chanyi last fall (September 2024).
Betty’s career as an educator and work as a member of many local organization are documented in the tributes that have been made by many others in other venues.
We would like to recognize her vigorous support for the Long Point Biosphere and the drive to promote conservation and sustainable communities.
This was recognized with her status as a Life Member of the LPBR.
Join us throughout the year for the Long Point Biosphere’s Wandering Wednesdays. These interpretive walks help people connect to nature at different locations in Norfolk County. And check this link regularly for other opportunities to learn, contribute, and enjoy life in our special part of Canada.
Events – Wandering Wednesdays Read More »
