Conservation Ontario 2024 Annual Report

Conservation Impact: Valuing Positive Contribution Through Conversation

Storytelling connects, inspires, and bridges gaps between individuals, communities, and generations. Today, collaboration is vital, and the need to build bridges is greater than ever.

In 2024, Conservation Ontario (CO) reflected on Conservation Authorities (CAs) nearly 80-year history of leadership in watershed management in Ontario. For decades, municipalities and Ontarians have relied on CAs to safeguard communities and support sustainable growth. These partnerships, grounded in local watershed science, are essential in shaping decisions that protect the environment and enhance community well-being.

Ontario’s watershed model fosters healthy, resilient communities. CAs were established in the 1940s to address deteriorating watershed conditions and rising flood risks. Over time, we have developed initiatives and hazard land acquisitions to protect water quality, reduce flooding, and improve watershed health. Our regulatory role in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Hazel in 1954 is crucial in preventing development in hazardous flood-prone and erosion-sensitive areas.

The legacy of this work is a watershed-based approach to natural hazard management, avoiding billions of dollars in losses from disasters. We encourage you to engage and share this collective conservation story, as we did in 2024, bringing together partners to create meaningful impact.

The stories featured in this report highlight the incredible work of our staff, partners, and collaborators. We are proud of the partnerships cultivated and the progress made through our collective conservation efforts.

COLLABORATION IN ACTION:

• We participated in a joint opening panel session on Agricultural Water Management with the Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario and the Drainage Superintendents of Ontario. This session, titled Common Problems, Collaborative Solutions, brought together over 300 delegates from various sectors and levels of government to address complex issues in agriculture water management. At this event, we had dinner with the Minister of Agriculture, Lisa Thompson, and guests receiving special recognition.
• At the Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference, we partnered with the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative to launch a shared advocacy approach for funding Great Lakes shoreline priorities. The Minister of Natural Resources, Graydon Smith, attended our celebration alongside partner municipalities.
• Board Chair Chris White and staff presented at the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Ontario Regional Meeting in Collingwood. At the Bi-National Conference in Montreal, we presented watershed governance in Ontario with government representatives from Canada and the United States.
• We met Minister Graydon Smith at Queen’s Park to discuss conservation priorities and opened the Provincial Flood Forecasting and Warning Workshop with provincial, federal, and CA partners.
• We attended Nature on the Hill in Ottawa, engaging with partners and federal members of Parliament to emphasize the importance of protecting nature and biodiversity.
• We hosted a federal media event at the Rogers Reservoir Conservation Area to celebrate our multi-million-dollar federal land conservation and acquisition program.
• We hosted our first-ever social mixer at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference in Ottawa.
• Throughout the year, we participated in various local events, including stewardship funding announcements, trail expansions, land donations, and milestone celebrations with several CAs. These events showcased the success and commitment of conservation efforts at the community level.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

• Women Leaders in Conservation Panel at the Latornell Conservation Symposium: Moderating this panel, we had the privilege of facilitating an open and honest conversation with four leading conservation executives from Conservation Halton, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Forests Canada, and the Ontario Land Trust Alliance. Their personal stories of leadership left a lasting impact on all who attended.
• Fireside Chat at the Climate Proof Canada National Climate Adaptation Summit: A key moment was posing challenging questions about progress and measurables on the National Adaptation Strategy to The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and engaging with Mayor Richard Ireland of Jasper during a sensitive discussion on the impact of the wildfires that devastated his home and community and deeply underscored the human element of our conservation work and its profound impact on real lives.

As we reflect on the achievements of 2024, we are reminded of the power of collaboration, shared purpose, and the lasting impact of collective action through conversation. Thank you for your ongoing support as we work collectively towards a sustainable and vibrant future for all.

Chris White
Chair, Conservation Ontario

Angela Coleman
General Manager, Conservation Ontario

Download Conservation Ontario's 2024 Annual Report (Single Page, Spreads)