Message from our Chair

My involvement with Latornell began in 2017, when I was only a few months into my new job at the Ontario Heritage Trust and was placed on the Latornell Steering Committee. I had never even been to a Latornell Symposium before!

I quickly warmed up to the idea, sensing within a couple of meetings how excited, capable and dedicated the committee was to this spectacular environmental conference. My first Latornell Symposium was a whirlwind. The hustle and bustle, the events and activities, the trek back and forth to the Dome...it was exciting, vast and kind of intimidating. I became hooked. 

The past two years have been unlike any that I’ve experienced before in my life, but throughout the pandemic, the Committee remained dedicated and enthusiastic about connecting with the community and providing a platform to share research, stories and learnings through our webinar series. This year, we are so excited to be able to return to an in-person event, albeit one that looks different from the Latornell of the past. We’ve chosen the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario to host the conference, and we’re planning a leaner, shorter Symposium but one we think you are really going to enjoy. The RBG presents a fantastic location for our four local field trips on Monday, October 17th, where we will tour different restoration projects and some of the natural wonders of the area, like the Niagara Escarpment. We’ll have a networking event on Monday evening, providing us an opportunity to connect with our colleagues, just like old times. On Tuesday, October 18th, we’ve got a full day of sessions planned on themes like climate change, watershed management, water resources and natural heritage. We’ll also have a lunchtime plenary speaker, exhibitors and a student poster competition taking place over the course of the day.

For those who can’t make the trip, or simply aren’t ready to dive back to in-person events, we will still be hosting several webinars related to our theme this year, “Re-imagining Conservation”. The webinars will be planned for September, November and December. Stay tuned for more information such as topics and speakers for our Symposium and webinars over the next month or so. In the spirit of “re-imagining conservation”, we’re re-imagining what the Symposium will look like going forward and we’re so excited to start that journey with you this year. I hope you will join us however you can! Visit www.latornell.ca for more details and updates.

Jamie Joudrey,
(A) Manager, Acquisitions and Conservation Services, Ontario Heritage Trust
Chair, Latornell Steering Committee

Forest Therapy Walk

The practice of Forest Therapy was founded through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides, based in California. The founders of this mindful, healing and connective practice were inspired by the Japanese practice of “Shinrin-yoku” which translates as “forest bathing”.

Cataraqui Conservation was the first Conservation Authority to offer a Forest Therapy Program and have an accredited Forest Therapy guide on staff who was trained through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides in 2016. The program has been acclaimed by participants across a wide demographic spectrum, and all Forest Therapy walks fill up fast.

We believe the popularity of these walks is because Forest Therapy is far more immersive than a simple 'walk in the woods.’ The program is an intentional immersion in the natural environment to allow participants the opportunity to slow down and get in touch with their senses. By slowing down and getting out of focusing on their busy minds it allows participants to renew their relationship with themselves, each other and nature. A Forest Therapy walk is a slow, connective experience lasting about two hours and no more than one kilometre with special invitations and sharing circles along the way. Invitations allow participants to connect in whatever way feels right to them. There is no right or wrong way to partake in invitations and sharing; all is welcome. You might find participants sitting, standing or even lying down at different points throughout the walk experience. The benefits of this practice are multifaceted for both one’s physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being.

Everyone can benefit from Forest Therapy Walks such as, but not limited to, people recovering from illness, youth, active military, veterans, people coping from loss, students, professionals, parents, people looking to better their mental health, first responders and seniors. Anyone who is looking to de-stress, slow down, heal and connect with nature.

Thus far in 2019 alone, more than 200 area residents and school children have benefitted from both public and private Forest Therapy Walks, which have generated more interest in the benefits of nature and the connection to protect it as well as promoting another significant role of Cataraqui Conservation within the broader community.

To learn more about Cataraqui Conservation’s Forest Therapy program visit www.crca.ca.

This blog post contributed by Katrina Furlanetto, Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, 

General Manager, Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority

Be The Change You Wish To See In The World

It can be hard to plan for change. Some changes you see coming, while others catch you off guard. This year’s conference theme, Currents of Change – Inspiring, Creating, Transforming, is very much in the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quote: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world”. We challenged speakers to share how they are adapting to change, and they delivered. November’s program is full of examples of innovation and collaboration from conservation authorities, municipalities, Indigenous communities, private sector, environmental groups, and others. The takeaways you’ll gain from the case studies, research, and stories will have you looking at your projects and programs with a fresh eye.

Gain perspective in the session titled The Only Constant is Change, by hearing how conservation authorities and watershed management have evolved over 80+ years of changing political, economic, social, and environmental climes. Then look to the future by taking in presentations on how technology is changing the way we work – including new applications for drones and remote sensing, real-time monitoring, interactive websites, eDNA, and the “internet of things”.

In a time of fiscal restraint, demonstrating the impact and value of our work is essential. In the Measuring Impact session, hear how a municipality is using Key Performance Indicators to keep its climate change programs accountable. Then learn how three conservation authorities are using Return on Investment metrics to build the business case for ecological restoration projects. Other speakers are sharing the results of evaluations of technologies and practices in fields ranging from nutrient management to green infrastructure.

Ultimately, our ability to navigate the shifting currents of our time may depend on our ability to find common ground. In Un-complicating the Complicated, discover how to transcend polarized positions, simplify scientific messages, and update marketing messages. Case studies throughout the program illustrate how to engage familiar and unfamiliar demographic groups in everything from outdoor education to citizen science and stewardship. Two sessions share how municipalities, conservation authorities, and others are advancing reconciliation with Indigenous communities through conservation.

This year’s Latornell program reflects the challenges we’re all facing this year. Scan the preliminary program yourself, and you’re sure to find sessions that will inform, educate, and inspire.

This blog post contributed by Jan Ivey, Grand River Conservation Authority, 
2019 Latornell Conservation Symposium Vice Chair

The Ripple Effect – Latornell Leadership Award Nominations Wanted

Leadership isn’t about being at the top. True leaders are driven by passion and purpose, causing a ripple effect through their words, actions and relationships with others to motivate and inspire those around them to cause change for the better.

The environmental sector is blessed with many leaders; it’s a natural fit when the preservation of our natural environment is often juxtaposed against economic growth and other human interests, requiring passionate and caring people to dedicate their personal and professional time towards the things that foster healthier and more sustainable interactions and practices.

This year’s theme, Currents of Change, emphasizes the rapidly changing world that we are living in; where technology is advancing our understanding of the world around us, and how humans both influence – and are influenced by – the natural resources that our existence depends on. Environmental leaders are at the forefront of collecting, synthesizing, and communicating information to expand our understanding of ecology, flooding and erosion hazards, climate, natural resource management, restoration, and many other specialized areas in the environmental sector. These students, community leaders and professionals are the backbone for healthy watersheds, and recognition of their contributions is an important component of our annual symposium through the Latornell Leadership Award.

We’ve been recognizing our Leaders and Pioneers at the Latornell Conservation Symposium since 1999, and past recipients have ranged from students to retirees, from all corners of the province. We value the work these professionals and volunteers are doing and we want to thank them. But we need you to tell us who they are. The deadline for nominating someone for the 2019 Latornell Leadership Award is June 28, 2019. You can find all the information and nomination forms on the Latornell website at www.latornell.ca/leadership-awards/

This blog post contributed by Moranne McDonnell, Toronto and Region Conservation,
2019 Latornell Leadership Committee Lead

Growing Through Changing Times

It is often said that the only constant in life is change. With this in mind, I’m pleased to announce that the 26^th Annual Latornell Conservation Symposium theme is “Currents of Change : Inspiring, Creating, Transforming”. This theme is timely in that change is happening in all facets of our lives now with greater frequency and speed. Economic, social, environmental and political changes are ever present and highlighted through technology and social media. While change can be negative, it can also be an immense positive enhancement, a way to look at things in a different light, re-examine, re-tool and move onto the challenge at hand.

The 26^th Latornell Conservation Symposium will highlight how we adapt to change in our work and how adapting to change helps the people involved with conservation and our communities move the environmental yardstick forward. Through keynote speakers, presentations, case studies and tours, this year’s conference will highlight conservation programs and projects with a focus on new collaborations, new ways of working, communicating the science, Indigenous perspectives and traditional knowledge, inspirational stories, social sciences and behavior change.

The Latornell Conservation Symposium is an annual event. The forum provides an opportunity to learn from each other and provides a forum for practitioners, students, academics, politicians, and non-government organizations to network and discuss challenges and opportunities in the conservation field. It is an opportunity for you to highlight what exciting program or project you are working on or simply how you work towards conservation in an ever changing environment. It is a challenging time but the conference is an exciting opportunity to understand how change impacts on our lives, careers, programs and projects through inspiration, creativity and transformation.

We are very excited about this year’s symposium and we hope that you and your colleagues are just as excited and respond to our call for presentations. The Latornell Conservation Symposium website and newsletter provide a range of details on this year’s symposium and topics and how we adapt and benefit from change. Submit your proposals via the website and we are looking for presentations, workshops, training and tour proposals.

To stay up to date on all the Latornell Conservation Symposium details, sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in November

Scott Peck,
Latornell Symposium Chair

Blog provided by the 2019 Latornell Chair, Scott Peck

Mentorship Matters: Building Skills through the Latornell Professional Development Program

The working world is tough. From landing your first job to the ongoing hunt for your ‘dream’ job, we often feel like it’s not easy to compete in today’s working world. This is just as true for the environmental field as for any other sector. Thinking back to the start of your own career journey, wouldn’t it have been great if someone was there to give you a helping hand? A sounding board to guide you and share advice or resources? Or perhaps having someone put in a good word for you would have been more helpful. Even those who are more senior in their roles can often benefit from a refreshing new perspective. Regardless of the specifics, we could all use a little company on the journey down our career path at some point. True to the heart of this, the Latornell Conservation Symposium continues to offer opportunities for environmental and conservation professionals to meet, network and share stories, career insights and passions. Not only do we offer events as part of the conference program, but for almost three years we have hosted events year-round in an effort to bring together environmental professionals with an interest in mentorship and professional development.

Five years ago the Latornell Symposium celebrated its 20th year, and in recognition of this important milestone we launched the Latornell Mentorship Program. Now in its fifth year, this initiative has been rebranded as the Professional Development Program. Our new name underscores our goal of being more inclusive of a diverse environmental sector which includes both new and internationally-trained professionals. However, our vision of connecting professionals within the environmental sector has not changed, and mentorship continues to be a common thread running throughout all the conference. Since the first Latornell Symposium was held in 1993 hundreds of personal and professional connections have been forged amongst dedicated conservationists working within the sector through events like our grant recipient wine and cheese receptions and dedicated professional development sessions. Building on this solid foundation, this year we are excited to announce that we will be joined by Cher Jones – a Social Media Trainer and Personal Branding Coach who will be leading our Thursday morning breakfast session to teach us how to build a professional and polished social media presence. We encourage everyone – especially those who are established in their careers – to join us and develop empowering new skills that help keep us relevant within the modern workforce.

The Professional Development Program is also feverishly working on the details of a winter 2019 snowshoeing and networking outing to be held in the Kingston area. This is the final event planned in a series this year which aims to connect conservation professionals in different parts of the province. Earlier this year, we partnered with BlueDrinks TO and the Toronto Green Community to participate in a Lost Rivers walk through the Toronto Port lands, and hosted a Careers in Conservation Lunch n’ Learn near London with representatives from St. Clair Region Conservation Authority and Credit Valley Conservation. Look out for the details of the winter snowshoeing event on our Linked In group and on the Latornell website, under “General Info/Professional Development Program”.

We hope that you will find a way to contribute to the Latornell Professional Development community, as it provides each of us with a chance to ignite a spark; a chance to grow; and to learn and inspire others. We look forward to seeing you on the 13th of November, on our Linked In group and at future events.

Yours in Conservation,

Jamie Joudrey & Bill Trenouth

Jamie Joudrey is a Natural Heritage Coordinator with Ontario Heritage Trust and Bill Trenouth is a Integrated Water Management Program Manager with Credit Valley Conservation

#IAMCONSERVATION

‘Give a Girl the Right Shoes and She Can Conquer the World’

It was a grade 7 classroom trip to Noisy River that got me hooked on the environment. When an orientation game went awry and I got displaced from my group, I quickly turned it into a survival challenge thinking to myself…..”If I simply follow the river, I will eventually find my way back to my classmates”. Despite being reprimanded for my waywardness, my teacher commended me for using my intuitive orientation skills using the landscape and suggested I might want to consider a career in the environment sector.

Following this first revelation of my love for the environment, following high school I completed a degree in Geography at Brock University hoping that it would land me in some sort of position where I could work with nature. Planner, cartographer, field technician… My options were endless. There was only one challenge. At the time, I was entering a field that was still predominantly filled by men.

So you can imagine my surprise when I was chosen to work as an “Environmentalist” (yes that was my title) with the Federation of Ontario Naturalists to work on a number of different conservation projects. I loved my first job. I got to work with everyone from politicians to biologists to consultants. It was very fulfilling and I knew I had found a career that I was very passionate about and would stay in for some time.

I was a little bit of an oxymoron. I loved the conservation field and getting my hands dirty but I also loved pretty clothes and makeup. I questioned if I would be taken seriously if I entered the room wearing pantyhose, heels and pastel blush. Despite my internal questioning, it didn’t take long before I realized that I did have a place in this sector, heels or flats!

My career over the last almost 30 years has been very diversified….from restoration, to project management, to fundraising to government relations. As each year passed and as I took on new positions I also started to see a diversification in the sector. The meetings I attend now have more women at the tables. The conferences I attend have more women keynotes, and the organizations I work with today have a higher percentage of women than men working for them.

I have many people to thank for my involvement and evolution in this line of work….both men and women….but I can confidently say that working as a woman in this sector has been exceptionally rewarding and I wouldn’t trade it for a thing.

Kim Gavine is the General Manager of Conservation Ontario and has been working as a Conservationist since 1989.

Latornell Steering Committee Member, Kerry Ann Charles, Finds Her Passion

Growing up l lived both on and off reserve, always being proud of who I was but never really knowing what that meant. I have always had a passion for nature and the outdoors and a certain curiosity about how things are all connected. I never would have thought that my inquisitiveness and the connection that I felt to nature would lead me down a path that would present such amazing opportunities for me to learn about my history, my culture and my traditions while also creating a setting for me to share that knowledge with others and embed it in my work.

I have had the privileged of working in my Community for several years and have worn many different hats. This has allowed me the opportunity to learn a wide variety of knowledge and skills and meet a range of interesting and intelligent characters, one of those being Andee Pelan. Andee is a former Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority employee and Latornell Steering Committee Member. She is someone for whom I have a great deal of gratitude and respect. It’s because of her passion as an environmentalist and conservationist and her persistence that I am now writing this blog and sitting as a part of the Latornell Steering Committee.

It was almost a decade ago that I started my environmental career and I met and worked with Andee saving butternut trees and other flora and fauna from the fate of the 407. Not long after this work she provided me with one of my first speaking engagements when she invited me to speak at the Latornell Conservation Symposium in 2010. Being new to the environmental field with little experience and no academic background, I was unaware of the magnitude of this Symposium and what kind of a platform had been presented to me. Intimidated and nervous I muddled my way through my presentation and fled the Nottawasaga grounds. Unbeknown to me at the time, my presentation sparked a great deal of interest in delegates who attended the session and it initiated my networking with non-indigenous governments and organizations. On a couple of occasions, I have since attended this event as both a speaker and a delegate but am one of a handful of Indigenous peoples who have.

Andee often expressed to me over the years that she felt the Indigenous voice was an important component missing in the content as well as the audience at the Latornell Symposium. This coupled with my newfound knowledge about myself and my cultural connections to Mother Earth throughout my Environmental career finally convinced me to give into her requests to become a member of the steering committee. In the Spring of 2017 as a new steering committee member she encouraged me to take advantage of the opportunity to bring the Western Science Conservation World together with the Deep Ways of Knowing and Brilliance of Our Indigenous communities.

As the Latornell Conservation Symposium celebrates its 25^th year anniversary and in this time of truth and reconciliation I am honoured to have been offered such a huge platform to invite members of the Indigenous communities out to share our knowledge, traditions and culture with the non-indigenous communities. I also am humbled, grateful as well as hopeful that with the indescribable support that has come from the committee and all of my Networks in the organization of this event it will prove to be meaningful and a ripple effect will be created that will ignite positive change for our seven generations of all Nationalities.

I am super excited to be a part of the 2018 Latornell Conservation Symposium. As a proud Anishnabe Kwe (Frist Nation Women) working in the Environmental field I look forward to the new friendships that will be made, and the opportunity for real reconciliation that will be built on respect, trust, understanding and reciprocity.

Happy Indigenous awareness month and see you November 13-15^th at the Nottawasaga Inn, in Alliston, Ontario. Come listen, learn, share, make new friends and be part of history in the making.

Kerry-Ann Charles is a member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation and an employee of Cambium Aboriginal. She has been working in the Environmental field within her own community as well as with other First Nations Communities since 2009. Kerry-Ann became a member of the Latornell Conservation Symposium organizing committee in the spring of 2017.

Latornell Provides Lots of Benefits for Former Student Moderator

From November 21-23, 2017 I had the pleasure of attending the Latornell Conservation Symposium in Alliston, Ontario. From start to finish, it was an incredibly action packed and fulfilling few days. I had been to a Latornell conference during my undergraduate days and loved every minute of it. However, as work brought me to Eastern Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador), I lost touch with this incredible world. I say a world, because being at Latornell feels like you have stepped into a special universe…kind of like COMICON for conservation nerds!

After learning a little bit about the instigator of the Latornell Conservation Symposium, Arthur Latornell, I can see why such a wonderful atmosphere has been fostered. Arthur Latornell believed strongly in the mentorship of students and young professionals involved in natural resource activities. This commitment can be felt within the conference, where there is a deliberate focus on the mentorship of students and young professionals.

I had the wonderful opportunity to serve as a student moderator for the symposium. This role opened up a plethora of experiences that I would have otherwise missed out on. Being a student moderator allowed for unique opportunities to network with presenters and delegates, which facilitated professional development discussions, and the of meeting new friends. In fact, one of my peer student moderators (Cameron Curran, University of Guelph), and I have embarked on a new research study together.

This research study is exploring successes, challenges, and lessons learned with septic maintenance programs in rural municipalities in Ontario. The collaborative research team working on this project is made up of experts from the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations, Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association, Canadian Environmental Law Association, University of Guelph, and Memorial University of Newfoundland. This project has also received endorsement from the Rural Ontario Municipal Association, as well as funding from the Rural Policy Learning Commons. Latornell 2017 served as an important venue where this team was able to connect and discover our mutual interests in the role septic system maintenance has on surface and groundwater supplies in Ontario.

Many other great experiences were had at the 2017 Latornell Symposium, including presenting during the student poster competition. I was able to relay my findings related to source water protection in rural Ontario to a wide array of practitioners and academics in the conservation field. I even won third prize in the competition.

I am excited to come back next year for the 25^th Annual Latornell Conservation Symposium. As a student of interdisciplinary studies, I look forward to a holistic discussion on initiatives to understand, protect, and restore water, and land resources.

Thank you to the 2017 Latornell Conservation Symposium Steering Committee for giving me the opportunity to participate!

Sarah Minnes is a Doctoral Candidate at Memorial University of Newfoundland, a graduate of the Rural Planning and Development MSc program at the University of Guelph, and a registered professional planner with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute. Her doctoral research explores the implications of source water protection policies in Ontario for rural areas.

Announcing the 2018 Latornell Conservation Symposium Theme

Welcome to Our 2018 Latornell Conservation Symposium

The 25^th Annual Latornell Conservation Symposium theme is “Lands to Great Lakes - Relationship Status: It’s Complicated”. I have lived my life in southern Ontario and have gone to school, worked, raised two children, camped, canoed, windsurfed and enjoyed all that the Lands and Great Lakes have to offer. I love it here and I bet you do too. The theme of this year’s symposium is intended to examine our relationship with the lands and lakes, how we live with them and address the associated environmental challenges.

At the international, federal, provincial and municipal government levels, a great deal of effort is ongoing to protect and improve the environmental features of the Lands and Great Lakes. These initiatives to understand, protect and restore water and land resources include, as examples; land use, natural heritage and infrastructure planning, watershed and subwatershed planning, stewardship, stormwater management and low impact development and adapting and mitigating climate change. How are we progressing on these issues and what else needs to be done and how can we do it to ensure we all live with healthy Lands and Great Lakes.

The Latornell Conservation Symposium is an annual event that provides a forum for practitioners, students, academics, politicians, and non-government organizations to network and discuss challenges and opportunities in the conservation field as well as learn about new tools, techniques and strategies for natural resources management in Ontario.

We are very excited about this year’s symposium and we hope that you and your colleagues are just as excited and respond to our call for presentations. The Latornell Conservation Symposium website and newsletter provide a range of details on this year’s symposium and topics and how our relationship with these issues can be, well, complicated. Submit your proposals via the website and we are looking for presentations, workshops, training and tour proposals.

To stay up to date on all the Latornell Conservation Symposium details, sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in November

Scott Peck,
Latornell Symposium Chair

Blog provided by the 2018 Latornell Chair, Scott Peck

Are We on Track to a Water Crisis in Ontario?

There are two important conditions influencing water in Ontario today  – climate change and rapid urbanization.

Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns in Ontario have already reduced river flows, warmed surface waters and impacted wetlands. These impacts will continue, and other threats to environmental and public health are expected to materialize including increased flooding and reduced quantity and quality of drinking water.

Managing impacts on water, water infrastructure and water related natural features as we adapt to a changing climate will be a significant challenge.

As well, Ontario – particularly in the Greater Toronto Area - continues to grow  necessitating watershed planning to guide this growth to lessen the impact on both surface flows and groundwater recharge as well as natural systems.

This leads us to ask - are we on track to a water crisis here in Ontario?

We’re going to explore this topic in a discussion panel on Day 3 of the 2017 Latornell Conservation Symposium which takes place November 21 – 23 at the Nottawasaga Inn near Barrie, Ontario.

Moderated by popular TVO Host, Steve Paikin, the panel will explore questions we all need to be asking:

What is the state of our water in Ontario – there are many partners in our watersheds monitoring and reporting on water quality and quantity. Where are we at today? How is water allocated? Who controls it?

Do we value water enough? Compared to other regions, Ontario seems to have quite a bit of water however Canadians are the second biggest water users next to the USA and as a result, are we pricing water the way we should be?

Over the past year or so there has been quite a debate about the level of fees being applied through the provincial Permit to Take Water (PTTW) program. Water charges should encourage water conservation and fairness among all water takers. Does the current cost do that?

Another question we need to ask ourselves is:

What more do we need to do to protect it for the future?

Sustainable water resources are needed daily for personal use, for use in all economic sectors and, of course, to ensure resilient ecosystems which help us to adapt to the impacts of climate change and rapid urbanization.

As our population continues to grow, will we have enough water for all our uses?

We hope you’ll join us at the Latornell Conservation Symposium later this fall and hear what water experts and major users have to say.

This blog post contributed by Deb Martin-Downs, CAO Credit Valley Conservation, Latornell Steering Committee Member

Come for the Conference, Stay for the Food!

It’s fair to say that the Latornell Conservation Symposium is built on a foundation of three solid pillars - information sharing; networking; and great food! Each year, our host facility, the Nottawasaga Inn and Conference Centre in Alliston, creates a delicious and delectable menu that never ceases to please. This year will be no exception, with their continued commitment to source locally grown food and deliver new meal ideas and flavour combinations. 

Perhaps for lunch, the broccoli and cranberry salad with red onions and pumpkin seeds will catch your interest, followed by a corn crusted pork loin with caramelized onions and arugula pesto sandwich. And maybe for dinner, you’ll be queuing up to enjoy the carved, slow roasted beef with a side of vegetable succotash. Or if seafood is more your thing, how about white fish cakes with garlic aioli or a fillet of roast salmon with carrot and leek julienne and maple glaze?

And don’t think our vegetarian and food sensitive delegates have been left out in the cold. In our survey feedback we’ve heard a growing demand for more substantial vegetarian and gluten/dairy free dishes, and the Nottawasaga Inn has responded! A few of the items lined up this year include vegan rice paper salad rolls filled with a delectable array of flavour combinations; baked corn pasta with spinach tomatoes and mushrooms; and layered vegetables with refried beans and a corn tortilla crust! If it’s cold out, you could always warm up with some freshly made leek and potato soup too.

The Gala Banquet evening this year has produced a menu that showcases a variety of indigenous recipes you’re sure to enjoy. A veritable buffet of delicious options, including sumac rubbed smoked pork loin; three sister soup; summer squash with red onions and fresh herbs; as well as roasted yams and potato salad with Prairie mustard. Top it all off with delectable desserts, including pumpkin pie, maple pecan flan, wild rice pudding, carrot and walnut cake, and the list goes on!

Come for the conference, stay for the food! Supporting local growers and reducing our environmental impact is important to the Latornell Steering Committee, and we’re thrilled with the Nottawasaga Inn’s commitment to pursue these same ideals.

If you can’t wait to enjoy what the Nottawasaga Inn’s is offering up this November, here’s a teaser!

CARROT AND GINGER SOUP

Ingredients

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tbsp chopped fresh ginger

1 lb carrots, peeled and chopped

1 medium yam, peeled and chopped

40 oz vegetable stock

salt and pepper to taste

 Directions

In a large pot on medium heat cook the onions in the oil.

When the onions are translucent add the garlic, and ginger. Lower heat, cook about 4 minutes.

Add carrots, yam and vegetable stock, bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to simmer. Cook until carrots are nice and soft, about 25 minutes.

With an immersion blender, blend soup until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot!

This blog post contributed by Katie Jane Harris, Kawartha Conservation and Latornell Symposium Committee Member

Do You Want to Attend Latornell for Free? Apply for a Grant!

The Latornell Conservation Symposium Grant was established in the memory of Art Latornell to help students and active members of the conservation community attend the symposium.  Grants include registration for the symposium, meals and up to two nights’ accommodation at the Nottawasaga Inn.

Grants are available for students, individuals who work for, or are affiliated with, an Ontario not-for profit/community conservation organization (e.g., intern or contract employee), and people who are looking for employment in the conservation field.

Since 2002, almost 300 people have received a grant to attend the Latornell Conservation Symposium. Smera Sukumar from Ontario Nature was one of those lucky people; she received a grant last year.  Smera happily agreed to answer a few questions about herself and her experience with the Latornell Conservation Symposium Grant Program.   

Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your position at Ontario Nature?

I completed a BSc. Zoology at the University of Guelph, followed by a MSc. Biodiversity & Conservation at the University of Leeds, England. My thesis focused on foraging strategies of bats along urban waterways. My role at Ontario Nature as a Conservation Science Technician includes involvement in citizen science programs, as well as assisting with management of our nature reserves across the province.

What initially interested you in the Latornell Conservation Symposium and its grant program?

I heard it was a great event to attend to network with other environmental professionals, as well as learn about a wide variety of topics in this sector. Working for an environmental charity, opportunities for professional development are encouraged, and are made possible by grant programs like this.

After successfully applying for a grant, are there any tips or tricks for the application process that you can provide to those interested this year?

I would recommend including how you will apply what you learn from the Symposium in your job and how you can educate others in your organization, or through public outreach. With only two essay questions, you really need to make yourself stand out. Be sure to highlight how the theme of this year’s conference is applicable to your job and/or interests, referencing sessions you would like to attend.

Aside from the obvious financial perks, what benefits do you feel like you received as a grant recipient?

The grant recipients attend a wine and cheese with other recipients as well as board members of the Conservation Symposium. This is a great opportunity to network one-on-one with high ranking members of various organizations including non-profit, conservation authorities, private consultancies and the provincial and federal government.

Let’s say someone is attending the Symposium for the first time this year, how can they make the most out of their ‘Latornell experience’?

Networking can be very nerve wracking, be sure to take advantage of the ample networking opportunities offered at the Symposium! One goal I had for myself was to connect with 5 people per day. Don’t forget to network with people from a variety of sectors and different levels of experience. Peers can be valuable connections, especially when organizing events and campaigns.

Finally, how has attending the Symposium, either as a grant recipient or as a delegate, helped to further your career and/or the work of Ontario Nature?

The Symposium made me more confident with networking and helped me build the connections I have in the environmental sector today. It also exposed me to new ideas and research being done across Ontario. Various partner organizations with citizen science projects presented at the Symposium, allowing me to learn more about their work and sparked ideas of new ways we can work together in the future.

Don’t miss this excellent opportunity and apply for a grant today! We are accepting applications for the 2017 Latornell Conservation Symposium Grant Program until September 22, 2017. For information on how to apply for a grant or the program itself, visit our website: www.latornell.ca/grants.

Blog post contributed by Smera Sukumar, Ontario Nature

Insights From A Past Grant Recipient, By Bernadeta Szmudrowska

"From November 15-17, 2016, I had the honour of attending the Latornell Conservation Symposium thanks to the support of the Latornell Three Day Grant. As a recipient, the grant provided me the opportunity to participate, network and exchange knowledge with like-minded conservation professionals. Furthermore, attending the symposium allowed me to apply my educational background, as well as reconnect with past classmates, professors and coworkers.

The presentations delivered by the keynote speakers were substantive, engaging, and inspired the audience about the possibilities of green infrastructure implementation to enhance our watersheds. The forum enabled attendees to network, discuss and reflect upon the various challenges and opportunities pertaining to green infrastructure in Ontario.

Attending the Latornell Conservation Symposium was a priceless experience and has helped me feel more confident about networking and sharing knowledge with others. If you are interested in applying for the symposium grant, I recommend working closely with colleagues so that they may give you advice and help refine important details to include in the grant application. I also recommend preparing the grant application well in advance to allow for the time necessary to make modifications and improvements.

The opportunity to attend the Symposium as a grant recipient allowed me to surround myself with environmental professionals that have devoted their lives to the type of conservation work I enjoy and admire. Participating in 2016, attending the sessions and networking with professionals led me to a job opportunity in the Integrated Water Management department at Credit Valley Conservation Authority.

By spending an intense three days at the Symposium learning about conservation challenges, new research developments and techniques, and participating in innovative idea sharing, you will make new professional connections, and you never know who you are going to meet and where those associations will lead you in the future.

Thank you Latornell Conservation Symposium Steering Committee for giving me the opportunity to participate in the 2016 symposium".

Blog post contributed by Bernadeta Smudrowska

Take Us To Your Leaders – Latornell Leadership Award Nominations Wanted

We’re very lucky in the environmental sector. We’re surrounded by more than our fair share of committed and passionate colleagues and volunteers tackling some of the biggest environmental problems facing Ontario. They are monitoring conditions, building the science, developing strategies, and spreading the word.

They’re on the frontlines of flooding, stewardship and biodiversity protection. They’re working with swans, turtles, frogs and fish. And, many hours are spent by both professionals and volunteers teaching kids and teenagers as well as mentoring young professionals in the field.

These professionals and volunteers are the building blocks for healthy watersheds and we feel it’s important that our conservation community recognize their efforts with the annual Latornell Leadership Award.

We’ve been recognizing our Leaders and Pioneers at the Latornell Conservation Symposium since 1999. Their ranks include professional and volunteer biologists, educators, ecologists, scientists, interpreters, watershed managers, birders and photographers.

Our oldest recipient is Lou Wise, who - well into his 90s - was still flying over and photographing disappearing landscapes in order to promote greater stewardship. Our youngest is Scott Gillingwater, a species at risk herpetologist whose work includes some of the longest term research in Canada on the spiny shoftshell, blandings and spotted turtles, queensnake and other declining reptile species.

The Latornell award recipients have come from all corners of the province and have been nominated by Conservation Authorities, Ministries, nonprofits, businesses and volunteer groups.

We value the work these professionals and volunteers are doing and we want to thank them. But we need you to tell us who they are. The deadline for nominating someone for the 2017 Latornell Leadership Award is June 23, 2017. You can find all the information and nomination forms on the Latornell website.

Help us to find and thank our next Latornell Leaders.

This blog post contributed by Jane Lewington, Conservation Ontario, Latornell Steering Committee

Latornell Mentorship and ELB Field N' Meal Day

Are you a budding young professional and still waiting to meet that person who will inspire you, ignite a spark in you, or help you open that crucial first door for yourself as you embark upon a long and fruitful career path?

Maybe you have been in the field for a while. Think back; did somebody teach you something, take a chance on you, or share with you something invaluable: their time? Perhaps they shared their experience. Imagine being given the opportunity to do that for a newcomer to your profession. Would you seize such an opportunity if it presented itself? As someone who has benefited personally from the rich legacy of Art Latornell, I know that he would have, and now I would like to do the same.

Four years ago, we launched the Latornell Mentorship Program. Mentorship has always been a common thread running throughout all Latornell Symposia. Since the first event was held in 1993 hundreds of personal and professional connections have been forged amongst dedicated conservationists working within the sector. Indeed; the Latornell logo itself depicts both a tree - symbolic of conservation and the environment – and within it, the silhouettes of a young professional listening to what appears to be a more experienced mentor. Personally, I consider the tree to also represent knowledge, and as I transition from the left to right side of this image over the course of my own career, I place hope in the idea that this tree will bear the fruits of wisdom for me to share with successive young professionals.

In the spirit of Art Latornell – our conference namesake – we strive to provide young professionals in the conservation and environmental sector with career networking and mentorship opportunities. We welcome partnerships with external groups that share our overarching goals and passion for youth professional development.

We are excited to announce our upcoming Field N’ Meal Day, a joint effort between the Latornell Mentorship team and the Emerging Leaders for Biodiversity (ELB). It will feature free food, a guided tour of some local pond restoration projects, and fantastic networking opportunities for the full spectrum of career professionals.

What: Latornell Mentorship and ELB Field N’ Meal Day. Guided tour, FREE BBQ, and great networking!

Where: Terra Cotta Conservation Area (14452 Winston Churchill Blvd, Terra Cotta, ON)

When: Sunday, June 11^th, 2017. 2:00 – 6:00 pm (approx.)

Why: To meet great, like-minded professionals and to build bridges throughout the conservation and environmental community!

Who Should Come: Anyone interested in the environmental, conservation or related sectors

How Much: Zip. Zero. Zilch. Absolutely free.

While the event is completely free, we do ask that you pre-register by June 4^th so that we can make sure we have enough food! Registration can be done through the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fieldnmeal-day-at-terra-cotta-an-environmental-networking-opportunity-tickets-33623977221

We hope that you will recognize and seize this opportunity for what it is: a chance to ignite a spark; a chance to grow; a chance to bear fruit. See you on June 11^th.

Yours in Conservation,
Bill Trenouth

Bill Trenouth is a Water Resources Specialist at Credit Valley Conservation

Sharing the Wealth

One of the best things to come out of Latornell is the sharing of information. In our conference surveys, delegates tell us that when they're back at the office, they share new tools, techniques and strategies for natural resources management that they heard about at the conference, and often incorporate changes based on this new information.

But more than just the learning from the sessions, Latornell offers the opportunity to start new collaborations. When you consider that our audience is about 40% Conservation Authority staff, 10% students, 13% consulting, 13% Province and 9% NGOs, Latornell provides a forum for practitioners, students, academics, government, and non-government organizations across Ontario to, network. How many LinkedIn requests do you get after the conference?

However, sharing information is easier said than done, when we return to our work and are not the originators of the information. At CVC we debated ways and means of sharing, including running a mini-Latornell with the CVC presentations given at the conference. Given that CVC often has many presentations in the program we could be looking at a half day or full day of presentations which is a bit too much additional time.

One of our staff developed a conference report-back form to document key messages and links to resources. It is valuable but lacks the interactive component and relies on the audience making time to read it.

The most successful method we have found is our “CVC Presents” – a series of lunchtime seminars where Latornell (and other) presentations are given again to a varied audience. Here we have the opportunity to hear the whole presentation, ask questions and staff can attend during their lunch hour and then get back to work. Information overload does not occur and the cost remains reasonable.

How do you share? Tell us what works for you.

This blog post contributed by Deb Martin-Downs, CAO Credit Valley Conservation, Latornell Steering Committee Member

Exciting Latornell 2017 Announcement

Welcome to our 2017 Latornell Conservation Symposium

This year Canada celebrates its 150^th birthday, and to reflect that, the theme for the 2017 Latornell Symposium is Succession. In the environmental field, we all identify succession with natural or ecological succession as one species changes to another species in a field or forest, or a particular area of habitat. But we also see succession in other aspects of our industry: succession of employees as they enhance their knowledge, and fill the roles of retiring colleagues; policy and legislation that evolves over time with new research and new realities; and changing attitudes of the public, policy makers, and scientists that lead to changing efforts of protection, or enjoyment. These are all real aspects of succession that we are seeing in our daily work, and this year for Latornell we want to explore and share them.

We hope people respond enthusiastically to our call for presentations. Check out our website latornell.ca and newsletter for more details on the wide range of Succession topics we are hoping to include at the symposium. Submit your proposals via the website. We’re looking for presentations, workshops, training, and tour proposals.

And to stay up to date on symposium details, program, speakers, etc., sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Stay tuned!

Blog provided by the 2017 Latornell Chair, Sean Watt

A Natural Partnership

The theme for Latornell this year is one that gives me great hope. The idea of collaborating with nature is a concept that I have believed in and shared for many years. Lately, along with the other members of the Ontario Biodiversity Council, I have been sharing the message that protecting, restoring and sustainably managing biodiversity is our best defence in a world with a rapidly changing climate. I think it’s one of the most important principles to guide the work we each do to support conservation in Ontario.

Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. It includes the plant and animal species, lands, lakes, rivers, forests and other ecosystems that provide us with a healthy environment, clean air, productive soils, nutritious foods, and safe, clean water. This biodiversity also supports our forestry, farming, fishing, recreation and tourism industries.

All living things are connected and rely on each other to survive. However, it used to be that as a society, we behaved as though nature was an obstacle to progress. And as you know, that mindset does still exist. But there is a very positive shift happening now, where we are realizing that biodiversity is the mightiest tool in our toolbox as we build a future where sustainable use and restoration are the norm rather than the exception.

Collaborating with nature makes sense. We need to work with and make use of the natural processes and systems if we want to maintain biodiversity and the ecosystem services we rely on for our own health and a prosperous economy. This can include investing in natural green infrastructure to support climate change mitigation, or, building resilience in natural systems – and in turn our homes and communities – to protect us from extreme weather such as floods.

All green infrastructure is good. And incorporating any green infrastructure is better than not. But we will be most successful when we leave nature to do what it does best – this is natural infrastructure. Evidence shows us that healthy forests, wetlands, watersheds and floodplains provide many of the benefits of human-made green infrastructure with significantly lower costs and maintenance expenses. Conserving our existing natural resources to capitalize on the ecosystem services they provide is truly collaborating with nature.

We have to continue our efforts to conserve biodiversity for its own sake, but also for our sake. Promoting and adopting natural green infrastructure - making it the norm – will give us multiple benefits: reduced impact of floods and droughts, better air quality, clean water, beautiful and connected natural spaces in our communities, healthy local food, and many more.

At Latornell this year, there are a number of wonderful sessions that can help us promote and argue for natural green infrastructure. We will be learning about greener roads and highways, integrating nature into urban design, storm water management, land securement, the importance of communicating science, and much more. And I hope you will join me on the morning of Day 2 for the Ontario Biodiversity Council panel on the role of biodiversity and natural infrastructure in attenuating flood risk. In the afternoon the Ontario Biodiversity Council is also pleased to offer a session that focuses on progress and the path to success for meeting two targets from Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy: completing and implementing natural heritage systems plans and conserving 17 percent of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as protected areas.

It’s sometime easy to become discouraged when you work in conservation. The stakes are high and it can feel like we are fighting a losing battle. But there’s much strength to be gained in numbers, and the Latornell Symposium offers a great opportunity to share ideas and enthusiasm with a like-minded crowd. I look forward to meeting many of you as we continue the important work of collaborating with nature to protect what sustains us.

Blog Post from Steve Hounsell, Chair, Ontario Biodiversity Council

Building Your LID Practice

While LID is becoming more common in Ontario, there is still a lack of training and experience amongst contractors, which can lead to poor construction techniques. You may have a great LID design, but without proper construction practices, your LID feature will not function as intended. Construction of an LID feature is different than a typical stormwater practice. It requires different materials, changes to typical construction sequencing, protection of infiltration areas, and vegetation within the practice serves both a functional and aesthetic role. Contractors must have a thorough understanding of these differences to ensure successful LID projects.

A typical LID construction process follows 6 major steps:

1. Mass Grading
2. Excavation
3. Installation of underground infrastructure
4. Backfilling with granular material
5. Biomedia installation
6. Planting 

This video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isybX9wk_Kk will demonstrate all 6 steps in action, through in the construction of a bioretention feature.

To learn more about LID construction techniques, join CVC and TRCA on November 14^th at the Pre-Latornell conference training Making It Work: Low Impact Development SWM Construction, Inspection, Maintenance, and Monitoring Module and check out Credit Valley Conservation’s Construction Guide and Construction Case Study

This blog entry was contributed by Jakub Wrobel and Julie McManus of the Credit Valley Conservation Authority