Save Wolf Lake!

Wolf Lake, the site of North America’s largest old-growth red pine forest (1,600 hectares or 4,000 acres), is located within the City of Greater Sudbury. Most of the trees in the forest are old growth, some of which are 300-plus years of age. The lake and its surrounding area is a Forest Reserve and according to Ontario Parks is a ‘park in waiting’.

Mining exploration activity is damaging the Wolf Lake forest and is preventing the area from becoming a park. We need your help to stop any future destruction of Wolf Lake.

Please write our federal and provincial governments to make good on these lapsed promises of protection and tell them to include Wolf Lake in the 30x30 movement! Send letters to the federal Minister of the Environment, provincial Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, provincial Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, and your MP and MPP.

Upcoming Webinars Created For the Nature Network

At Ontario Nature, we recognize that we are better together. We are working hard to provide resources for our Nature Network groups to support, strengthen, teach and connect. As part of these efforts, we have scheduled a suite of webinars for the fall that we hope you will join us for. We have others in the works, so look out for more in future notifications. Scheduled so far are:

1. Demystifying Digital Communications, September 20
2. Effective Boards, October 18
3. Wetland Conservation Strategies and Resources for Community Groups, November 8 (Registration and details to come)

We look forward to seeing you at these webinars!

Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club is 160 Years Old!

Our Nature Network is made up of many amazing groups, both founded recently and long-standing. However, one of these groups really stands out as the grandparent of them all - the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club (OFNC). Founded in 1863 and incorporated in 1879, OFNC is the oldest natural history club in Canada. They boast around 900 members and are very active in conservation and science in addition to naturalist activities. Did you know that they also have an official peer-reviewed scientific publication, the Canadian Field Naturalist, where scientists and enthusiastic citizens alike have the opportunity to submit work for publication?

Congratulations to OFNC on its long tenure and on all the amazing work for nature it has done in that time and continues to do!

Ruthven Park Gatehouse is new Stewardship Centre

Ruthven Park is pleased to share that our work restoring the Historic Gatehouse is finished. This building was built in 1867 and served as the residence for a gatekeeper who admitted visitors to the grounds at Ruthven Park. Over the years it has gone through several changes, but most recently has been returned to its original state with an addition on the side being removed and the foundation being repaired. The inside of this building is now home to the Stewardship Centre which strives to educate about the importance of ecological conservation to our visitors!

Article submitted by Michael Berry, Ecological Stewardship Coordinator, Ruthven Park

Regional Meeting Reminders

We look forward to seeing representatives from our Nature Network groups at the upcoming fall regional meetings. They will be a great chance to connect with other groups in your region. You should have heard through the Nature Network Organizer and Regional Coordinator about these already, but in case you missed it, here are the dates! Please reach out to us or to your group Nature Network representative for details if you are interested in joining.

• Carolinian East – October 21 in Acton 
• Carolinian West – October 28 in London 
• Great Lakes West – November 4 in Kincardine 
• Huronia – November 4 in New Lowell 
• Lake Ontario North – October 28 in Oshawa 
• Northern – November 1 virtual 
• Ontario East – October 12 virtual

Interesting Links and Opportunities

• Action Alert - Please join us in urging Ontario’s Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks to partner with Indigenous Nations and engage the public in protecting 30 percent of lands and waters in Ontario by 2030
• OSPF offers grants for work to protect orchids
• Ontario Land Trust Alliance has a granting opportunity for their members
• First Nations not consulted on Greenbelt land swap – show united opposition

Events 

See our events calendar for a complete listing of events organized by Ontario Nature and Nature Network groups. 



To submit your public events for the online calendar, send them to noahc@ontarionature.org and allow up to a week for posting. Please send only events that are open to the public and no more than three per month.