100 Area Schools supported in Project FeederWatch

Students at over 100 schools in our region will have the resources to participate in the 2024 edition of Project FeederWatch, one of North America’s most engaging education and citizen science initiatives, due to the generosity of Armstong Milling Co. Ltd. of Hagersville.

Armstrong is donating bird feed to all of the schools in our area in conjunction with the acquisition of bird feeders at a highly discounted rate thanks to Doerksen County Store in Port Rowan.

Project FeederWatch is an international research and education collaboration led by Birds Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  The project depends on volunteers like students in the Long Point Biosphere region who collect vital data on bird populations.  The inventory takes place at different times throughout the year.  The observations made by students and other volunteers help to measure changes in the range and abundance of bird species and help ensure the health of their habitat.

With funding from Nature Canada, under its Naturehood Outdoor Education Program, the Long Point Biosphere Region has been actively promoting Project FeederWatch with area schools for several years . The Biosphere’s Cynthia Brink has overseen the distribution of educational kits to the schools to magnify the Feederwatch experience.

“Project FeederWatch  is a wonderful way for students to build a connection to nature,” said Brink. “We are delighted that the support of Armstrong and local firms like the Doerksen Country Store will allow the school program to continue and expand in our region.”

Armstrong, a Hagersville-based firm, is Canada’s leading Wild Bird Food manufacturer. 

Anyone can join Project FeederWatch and take part in a  survey.  Find out more Click Here. 

 For a FeederWatch live cam Click Here

 

2023 Biosphere Conference called “Best Ever!”

Featuring new format enhancements and a robust lineup of presentations, the 2023 Long Point Biosphere Region Research and Conservation Conference garnered enthusiastic praise from its 120-plus attendees. Many labeled it the “best ever” in the event’s eleven-year history.

Taking place on Friday, November 3, 2023 at the Port Dover Community Centre, the annual conference showcased recent discoveries and conservation efforts within the Biosphere. For the first time, poster presentations, exhibits, and displays enjoyed dedicated space in a separate room, providing participants with more flexibility to explore information and discuss issues outside the main program schedule during breaks.  Organizations like Birds Canada, the St. Williams Conservation Reserve Community Council, ALUS, McMaster University, and many others had displays.

Amid the UN decade of Ecological Restoration, which aims to both prevent and reverse the degradation of ecosystems, the conference main stage research presentations shed light on numerous restoration projects and research within the Long Point Walsingham Forest Priority Place. Papers such as the Southern Seed Strategy, Recovering Tallgrass Butterfly Communities, and Insect Biomass Trends were among the highlights.

The conference commenced on a positive note with the Long Point Biosphere Region’s heartfelt Land Acknowledgment, followed by an opening ceremony from Elder Garry Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations. Keynote speaker Peter Zuzek presented a concerning overview of geomorphology issues impacting the Long Point sand spit. Reviewing recent data and geological history, Zuzek highlighted how changes in habitat size and condition affect the broader natural environment. Structures along the Lake Erie coast, such as retaining walls and armoring, were noted for impacting the Long Point sand spit, causing it to shrink as sand is transported into deeper waters.

Zuzek emphasized that while sand spits typically grow over time in the natural environment, Long Point has lost over 300 hectares to erosion in the past 50 years. Collaborating with communities and other stakeholders, Zuzek and his colleagues are actively working to find solutions.

Cynthia Brink, Biosphere program manager and conference organizer, noted, “This provided an excellent opportunity for people to share information and plan research collaborations. It also served as a great opportunity to connect the community and students from a local high school with the amazing work being accomplished right here in their county.”

The annual Biosphere Conference, open to anyone interested in the region, its natural environment, and development, has proven to be a valuable platform for fostering collaborations. Organizers are excited to build on this year’s success in 2024. The conference is supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the context of the Long Point Walsingham Forest Priority Place project. 

Long Point Biosphere & University of Waterloo to Collaborate

Biosphere Foundation and University of Waterloo sign agreement to create new sustainability, conservation,
and biodiversity research and education opportunities

(5 December 2023, Port Rowan, Ontario) The Long Point Biosphere Region Foundation (LPBR) and the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS) at the University of Waterloo (UWaterloo) signed an agreement today to facilitate collaboration in education, public outreach, and research on sustainability, conservation, and the protection of biodiversity.

The letter of intent between the two parties sets out a framework to pursue scientific priorities and to develop university courses that feature experiential learning in one of Canada’s most diverse ecological areas, a region recognized by UNESCO for its international importance.

“The Long Point Biosphere has nationally important concentrations of biodiversity, high levels of species at risk, and an exceptional agro-ecosystem,” said Derek Armitage, a SERS professor at the University of Waterloo. “The partnership creates many research and teaching opportunities for SERS students and faculty and aligns with our commitment to community-engaged and applied research to help address pressing biodiversity, climate and water challenges.”

Under the agreement, the two parties will explore innovative projects to address issues such as road ecology in student research. They will work together to inform high school students in Norfolk County of UWaterloo SERS programs and courses featuring unique skills development and impactful field work.

“By collaborating with UWaterloo students and researchers, we hope to enhance our capacity to pursue important issues informed by science and data-based decisions,” said Tom Via, LPBR Foundation Chair.  “We would like, for example, to develop a multi-faceted State of the Biosphere report aligned to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to serve communities and governments at all levels.”

The LPBR Foundation is a non-profit corporation with a mandate to promote the value and goals of the Biosphere Region. Bordering Lake Erie and extending to all of Norfolk County, the Biosphere is home to the world’s longest freshwater sand spit formation and a host of other unique natural settings. In addition to its UNESCO designation, it has also been recognized as a Ramsar Convention wetland site and as a globally important area by Bird Life International. 

The School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS) in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo is recognized for its commitment to transdisciplinary teaching, learning, and research to protect, restore, and transform social and ecological systems.

Contact: conservation@longpointbiosphere.com

 

Port Rowan Mural adds Colour/Community Spirit

Carolyn King and students

Port Rowan now boasts an impressive 2,600 square-foot (240-square-metre) outdoor art installation, a vibrant mural that not only enhances the village’s aesthetics but also serves as a powerful symbol of collaborative community spirit. This striking artwork is the second installment under the Long Point Biosphere Region’s art collaborative in support of the Moccasin Identifier (MI) Project, following a previous installation at the Long Point Eco-Adventures centre.

This latest mural project was guided by international muralists Azerine De Luca and Benjamin Swatez who drew on five days of workshops with local high schools and an open house for the local community at the Birds Canada headquarters near Port Rowan.  Participants in the workshops also learned of the significance of sharing the land traditionally occupied by Indigenous peoples and of what it means to say we are all treaty people. After the workshops, De Luca and Swatez along with Indigenous artist Bezaliel Hill reviewed the art created by the students and compiled a concept for the mural.  

The Port Rowan installation, which took two weeks to roll out, was coordinated by Biosphere project manager Cynthia Brink in collaboration with the Moccasin Identifier (MI) team from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations. The MI project was created by Elder Carolyn King, former Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations and recipient of the Order of Canada, as an Indigenous-led education and place-knowing initiative. The MI aims to cover Canada in Moccasins so that all Canadians will have a greater awareness of Treaty responsibilities and the history of the land that they stand on.

The Long Point Biosphere murals, including the one in Port Rowan, contribute to this initiative with lively, larger-than-life depictions of wildlife, offering an uplifting reminder of our rich First Nations heritage. The completion of the Port Rowan mural was celebrated with a ceremony in mid-November 2023, drawing a crowd of over one hundred enthusiastic young students and supporters braving the chilly weather. We were honoured with the presence of Elder Carolyn King and her team.

Local artists Tina Brink and Jenneta Dengo as well as visiting artist Cecilia Brink volunteered in the painting of the mural. Local businesses, including Benjamin Moore Canada, Cattail Cove Interiors, LMP Mini Excavations, and Norfolk Electric, played a crucial role by contributing supplies and equipment.

“Very Inspiring … proud to live in Norfolk County!”

Sold-Out Crowd attends A Priority Place Film Premiere


Close to 150 people turned out on Friday November 10th (2023) to celebrate the premiere of A Priority Place, a full-length documentary film on the drive to preserve biodiversity and a sustainable way of life in the Long Point Biosphere Region. Many attendees called the film “inspiring” adding that the dedicated people and projects that the documentary features make one “proud to live in Norfolk County.”

The film showing at the Capitol 33 event centre in Delhi followed a cocktail reception, special announcements, and an introduction by Gregg McLachlin, founder of WorkCabin Creative, an award-winning journalist and the film’s producer.

Film Producer Gregg McLachlan

“In my work, I have seen many impressive conservation projects and committed people across Ontario and elsewhere,” McLachlan told the crowd. “But I’m particularly happy to help share the stories of enthusiasm , partnerships, and impact in the place where I live.”

The film’s release marks the Long Point/Walsingham Forest area’s 5th anniversary as the first federally designated “Priority Place” in Ontario. The 2018 Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) designation made the region eligible for special funding under the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation.  A long-established UNESCO World Biosphere, the region gained the “Priority Place” status in recognition of its unique stretch of Carolinian Forest, habitat for many endangered species, and conservation community with its highly collaborative approach to restoration, road mortality mitigation, invasive species eradication, and nature education.

“The passion, commitment, and contributions of the people featured in the film really gives you hope for our very special place in the world,” said Tom Via, Chair of the Long Point Biosphere Foundation. “It’s truly uplifting.”

In his remarks, Via commended the Priority Place partners as well as Cynthia Brink, Biosphere manager of the project. He also announced that the funds raised from the evening would support Biosphere outreach and student education projects including the establishment of the Isabella Brink-Read Bursary. “The Bella Bursary” will support Norfolk County students attending the annual Ontario Nature Youth Summit for Mother Nature. Via told the audience that the Biosphere Foundation would soon be signing a collaboration agreement with a major Ontario university to bring a new dimension to research and land-based education in the region.

ECCC supported the production of A Priority Place to showcase the local conservation work, which involved a host of government and non-government partner organizations celebrated at the film premiere (see Priority Place Partners).

Many local businesses also pitched in to make the evening a special event with raffle prizes and gift basket items: they are Fancy Farmerettes, Haskett’s Hooch, Hometown Brewing Co., Cider Keg Farm Market, Apple Hill Lavender, Meuse Brewing Co. , Charlotteville Brewing Co. , Sayza Hot Yoga, Norfolk Juice Co., Wishbone Brewing Co. , and Bonnieheath Estate Winery and Lavender Farm.

A Priority Place will be submitted to film festivals, shared in excerpts on social media, and distributed for educational purposes.

For more information contact: education@longpointbiosphere.com

Film Trailer below.

Youth Award named for Area Teen

The Long Point World Biosphere Foundation has established a new award program to support Norfolk
County students in attending the annual Ontario Nature Youth Summit.  The award will be the focus for fundraising through special events and around GivingTuesday (November 28th) this year (2023).

The program and fund will be named the Isabella Brink-Read Youth Summit award or “the Bella Bursary” in
memory of a fifteen-year-old Ancaster student who died tragically in July 2021 as a result of injuries sustained in a
road mishap earlier in the year.

Isabella, who was known for her love of sports, art, music, and animals, was much loved by her family, which has strong ties to Norfolk County. Her mother Cynthia Brink is the Long Point Biosphere manager of outreach and education.

“Though Bella did not have the opportunity to pursue her dreams and to realize her full potential, the award will help other young people do so,” said Tom Via, Biosphere Chair. “By participating in the Youth Summit, Norfolk County students will build leadership skills and gain experience needed to contribute to a sustainable future.”

The Ontario Nature Youth Summit brings young people around Bella’s age (fourteen-twenty years old) together
for a weekend of nature exploration, environmental learning, and outdoor fun each September.

To donate scan QR code or click here.

Biosphere Beacon Newsletters

Official Newsletter of the Long Point Biosphere Region

FALL 2023 Biopshere Beacon – Click here for the  full newsletter

  • Parliamentary Secretary’s visit to Long Point
  • Georgian Bay’s Ganawenim Meshkiki’s funding of Long Point Road Ecology
  • Over 50 Area Schools joining Project Feederwatch
  • Nature Canada’s renewal of funding for Long Point Programs
  • New – The Isabella Brink-Read Youth Summit Award

SUMMER 2023 Biosphere Beacon  Click here for the full newsletter 

  • Spooky Hollow helps meet national biodiversity goals
  • Join us on Wandering Wednesdays
  • We’re participating in the Birds Canada Birdathon, and we need your help!
  • How many of Norfolk County’s 22 Amazing Places have you visited?
  • We’re helping connect students to nature
  • Announcing a documentary about the Biosphere – we’ll have an extravaganza and fundraiser featuring a special showing, stay tuned!
  • Artists from indigenous and international backgrounds collaborate
  • Protecting turtles, snakes and more from the dangers of crossing the road

2023 Annual General Meeting

Celebrates Conservation Successes of Past Year



Directors and members of the Long Point Biosphere Region Foundation met on Wednesday October 25, 2023, at the Port Dover Community Centre for the organization’s Annual General Meeting (AGM.  The meeting celebrated a successful year of program work and saw the approval of financial statements and the election of directors. In a first for the Biosphere, the meeting offered fully operational hybrid participation giving members the option of in-person and online attendance.

Our project managers Cynthia Brink and Sarah Emons had the opportunity to highlight program work related to  road mortality mitigation along the Long Point Causeway, the visit of the Parliamentary Secretary of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to the region,  the Biosphere’s collaboration with the Mississaugas  of the Credit Moccasin Identifier Project,  efforts to connect local students with nature, and other initiatives to promote conservation as described in our recent newsletters.

The membership also heard that the board has been busy working on governance improvements and the management of its financial statements to meet new provincial rules, a herculean task.  It also required us to re-evaluate the prior year’s financial statements to come into compliance with the legislation. Our membership thus approved the financial statements for the last two fiscal years, and appointed Millards Chartered Professional Accountants to perform an “engagement review” for the coming fiscal year.

“We are grateful to Millards – especially our auditor Alice Petheram –  all of the hard work and diligence in this exercise,” said Tom Via, the Long Point Biosphere Chair, noting that many people at the Biosphere helped in meeting the standard of the review engagement. “We’re committed to sound financial management as it underpins accountability and our ability to serve our partners and funders.”

The meeting also saw the election of Tom Via and Michael VanSickle for three-year terms to the Biosphere board.  Following the membership meeting, the Board met to approve the officers for the coming year: Tom Via will continue as Chair, Paula Boutis has taken on the role of Secretary and Vice-Chair, Michael VanSickle is continuing as the Treasurer, and Brian Craig will continue as President. You can read more about our directors and program and operations team on our website.

We are looking forward to another terrific year and are grateful for the ongoing support of our membership.

Biospheres Day on the Hill 2023

MPs from All Federal Parties join in celebrating Canadian Biospheres

In a time seemingly tainted by divisiveness, an October 30, 2023 Parliament Hill event celebrating Canada’s biosphere regions stands out as one drawing the support of MPs from all federal parties – Conservative, Green, NDP, Liberal, and Bloc Québécois.

The All-Party Climate Caucus co-hosted this non-partisan “Day on the Hill” reception with the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association (CBRA) to recognize the collaborations and project work in our country’s nineteen UNESCO-designated Biospheres.  Over 40 federal ridings include Biosphere Regions within their boundaries, and MPs from many of those ridings attended the reception. Guest speakers included the Secretary General of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, Yves-Gérard Méhou-Loko.

The Long Point Biosphere Region Foundation, an active member of the CBRA, was well represented at the event with Long Point Conservation Director Sarah Emons and Board member Janet Dassinger attending.  The CBRA not only serves as the national voice for Canadian biospheres, but also supports capacity building and knowledge sharing on biodiversity, conservation, climate action, reconciliation, and sustainable development.

In talking to MPs, the Long Point representatives and their CBRA colleagues stressed the need for secure long-term funding to build on successful conservation pilot projects and bring value to Canadians.  They noted that such funding would magnify the impact of tax dollars by levering in-kind and other partner contributions to sustainable development in regions like Norfolk County and the Long Point Biosphere.

The CBRA and the All-Party Climate Caucus organized the Parliament Hill event as part of the activities leading up to the November 2nd International Day for Biosphere Reserves.

(House of Commons Image)

Georgian Bay’s Ganawenim Meshkiki funds Road Ecology in Long Point Biosphere

Ganawenim Meshkiki, the Georgian Bay-based First Nation organization dedicated to funding community-level environmental initiatives, has committed $50K to support road ecology work in the Long Point Biosphere Region.  This constitutes a significant boost to our capacity to undertake new projects and to protect turtles, snakes, and species at risk in our area.

“This support is testimony to the respect and skills of Kari Gunson, our new Road Ecology Manager,” said Biosphere President Brian Craig. “We are a very fortunate to have her join our team this past year.”

Kari, Principal of Eco-Kare International, a landscape ecologist, and an author,  has worked on road ecology projects with both large and small animals in North America and Mexico.  She is recognized as the primary road ecologist for planning, designing, and monitoring road-wildlife mitigation on a provincial and municipal level across Ontario.

Ganawenim Meshkiki, pronounced “ge-NEH-weh-nim maish-kih-keh” is the Trustee of funds received under the terms of permits issued for the Henvey Inlet Wind energy initiative.  “Ganawenim” is Anishnaabe for “defend, watch over, protect:” “Meshkiki” means “medicines, remedies, the things that cure or correct ills.”

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