On Friday, September 23rd, local Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey met with St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) officials at Wawanosh Wetland Conservation Area, in Sarnia, to learn more about how the Authority leveraged $246,500 in funding provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to complete trail and amenity upgrades at local Conservation Areas. The ongoing project has allowed the Authority to make improvements and extend the life of local trails and boardwalks and improve accessibility.
“Congratulations to the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority on being awarded this significant Ontario Trillium Grant. Improving the safety and accessibility of local trails and boardwalks in the region is very important work and I am proud that the province is supporting this initiative,” said Bob Bailey, MPP for Sarnia-Lambton.
“Two additional Conservation Areas in Strathroy-Caradoc, and a third in Middlesex Centre, will benefit from this Ontario Trillium Fund grant to the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, and I am happy for it,” said Monte McNaughton, MPP Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. “Both the Clark Wright and the Strathroy conservation areas are very popular with birdwatchers and the conservation area at Coldstream, with its footbridge over the upper reaches of the Sydenham River and its stand of magnificent black cherry trees, is a particular favourite of my family.”
Specifically, the Community Building Fund – Capital stream grant from the OTF supported the resurfacing and widening of trail systems at both Wawanosh Wetland Conservation Area and Strathroy Conservation Area in Strathroy. In addition, boardwalk replacement and repairs were completed at Coldstream Conservation Area in Middlesex Centre with similar upgrades scheduled this fall at the Clark Wright Conservation Area, located just outside of Strathroy.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a substantial increase in the number of people visiting our Conservation Areas,” said Mike Stark, Chair of the SCRCA, “The OTF funding has allowed us to resurface and repair our most popular trail and boardwalk systems and has helped us create more accessible environments for everyone to enjoy and connect with nature.”
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority is one of Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities and implements programs to reduce the risk to life and property from flooding and erosion, and promote water and land stewardship, forestry, wildlife habitat creation, conservation education, and outdoor recreation. The watershed-based organization includes the Sydenham River watershed and smaller watersheds draining directly into southern Lake Huron, the St. Clair River, and northeastern Lake St. Clair. For more information on the SCRCA’s programs and services, visit www.scrca.on.ca.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Since 2020, OTF has supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
From left to right, Greg Wilcox, SCRCA Manager of Conservation Areas Ken Phillips, SCRCA General Manager, Bob Bailey, MPP of Sarnia-Lambton, Mike Stark, SCRCA Chair, and Pat Brown, SCRCA Vice-chair stand in front of the recently upgraded trail at Wawanosh Wetland Conservation Area in Sarnia. Funding provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation supported the resurfacing of over 1.2 kilometres of the popular trail with stone dust material.
