Conservation Halton is one of thirty-six conservation authorities set up by Ontario to monitor watersheds across the province and to encourage conservation, restoration and the responsible management of natural habitats within those watersheds.
Conservation Halton is, perhaps, the only conservation authority that does not rely on municipal tax levies to run its parks system. It provides its education and recreational services through fundraising, user fees and corporate sponsorships. Last year's programs included:
- Planting of 75,000 trees
- Restoration of degraded land (such as the Kelso quarry)
- Education programs at Crawford Lake; monitoring and protecting species at risk
- Annual Children's Water Festival
- Green Space – Climate Action Programming for Newcomer Youth
- Glen Eden ski and snowboarding facility
- School field trips for some 800 children
- Maintaining 100 km of trails and more
All of these were possible as a result of community support.
"Every dollar that's generated in excess of expenses is sunk right back into the parks," explained Hassaan Basit, President and CEO of Conservation Halton.
“The status quo is not an option. When you look at the growth that’s coming there will be more people requiring equitable access to greenspace. It requires an aggressive strategy.”
However, conservation authorities across the province are facing unprecedented challenges – limited upper-level government support; exploding population growth; climate change challenges; and increasing demands from residents eager to connect with nature again (post-pandemic).
To rise to these challenges, the Conservation Halton (CH) Foundation has launched the largest fundraising campaign in its history. The "Connected" campaign aims to raise $20 million over the next three years to grow Conservation Halton's 'greenprint' to provide communities with more opportunities to connect with nature.
This effort will not only help to expand and enhance parks and green spaces in the conservation authority's watershed – it will also accelerate restoration projects that protect local ecosystems and make nature-based learning and outdoor recreation more available and accessible to all.
The CH Foundation is a registered charity and partner organization to Conservation Halton that raises funds for environmental projects and programs that protect natural assets.
Garner Beckett, Executive Director of the CH Foundation, said during the campaign's launch at Crawford Lake conservation area in Milton, "Conservation Halton is a place to connect, protect and inspire. This vibrant network of outdoor spaces invites us to provide connections to nature. "Connected" starts with these spaces. It's about protecting and growing the greenprint that spans over 10,000 acres of forests, wetlands, meadows, creeks and areas of global and local significance."
Cathy Duddeck, Ward 2 Town and Regional Councillor and Vice-Chair of the Halton Conservation Board, added, "Halton Conservation's parks are one of the jewels we have at our doorstep in Halton. To improve and build on the eight Halton Conservation parks we currently own, fundraising initiatives such as "Conservation Halton's Connected" are crucial. Through the generous support of our financial donors, we can continue to support and improve this network of parks for many years to come."
The "Connected" campaign has three priorities and has budgeted accordingly –
- Parks and Greenspaces ($14.5 million) to grow and enhance its network of conservation parks and greenspaces to increase access to nature;
- Biodiversity and Resilience ($4 million) to protect native species and natural spaces to build biodiversity and local climate resilience in Halton;
- Education and Community ($1.5 million) to expand outdoor education and community-led programming to inspire learning, care and connection.
Catherine Mulvale, chair of CH Foundation's Capital Campaign Cabinet, said, "The connection that we have with nature is really important. Conservation Halton has done an incredible job of building beautiful spaces for people to go to, but there are some challenges with accessibility and making sure that we're truly integrating the education that we need to do so that we become ambassadors for the environment."
For more information about Conservation Halton and the "Connected – Growing Our Greenprint" campaign, visit https://www.conservationhalton.ca/campaign.