Displaying items by tag: conservation

RIDEAU LAKES, Jan. 9, 2023 – A small island property in Rideau Lakes Township will remain in its natural state even as waterfront development ramps up around it. 

The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation received the donation this fall from five siblings who together owned the remains of their family’s legacy cottage property. The exact location will not be shared to discourage unwanted visitors.

The four-acre island parcel includes more than 500 metres of pristine shoreline and a good mix of habitats. 

“Some lower areas near the water have lots of wetter tree and plant species, and then there’s also high and dry species like white pine, oak and sugar maple,” said Chelsey Ellis, Conservation Lands Manager at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), which helps the Foundation manage the donated lands. “The shoreline is also a high priority for us because that’s the ribbon of life, that’s where most of our biodiversity is found in the lake.” 

The island is located near several publicly-owned natural properties on the mainland, which create a connective corridor for wildlife across the water. Ellis said the island will remain a convenient stop-over for creatures looking to cross the lake, whether by flying, swimming or even walking over the ice.

Protecting this type of habitat corridor is especially important on highly-developed lakes, which will face increased development pressures going forward. 

“Before it was donated, one or two developments would have wiped out the natural integrity of the site,” Ellis said. “On such a popular lake, it was going to be under a lot more development pressure in the next 50 years. This generous donation has taken it out of the bidding.”

The property will be owned by the Foundation, while a conservation easement agreement with the RVCA ensures it will remain free of campfire pits, docks, trails and other development. The family will receive a market value tax credit through the federal Ecological Gifts program and will be exempt from capital gains taxes on the gift. 

Get involved

Families wishing to shed their natural properties are encouraged to consider land donation through the Foundation, either now or as part of their long-term estate planning. Having conversations with family members now to clarify your wishes can save time and money for your family members down the road, and avoid uncertainty for them at a difficult time. 

Those who can’t donate land can support the costs associated with land ownership through the Foundation’s Conservation Lands Endowment Fund. The Foundation uses the fund’s annual interest to cover maintenance, insurance and other routine costs of property ownership. 

Learn more about the Foundation at www.rvcf.ca. 

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KANATA, Dec. 2, 2022 – It’s not very often a 50-acre swath of provincially-significant wetland becomes available in the City of Ottawa – but when it does, the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation is keen to protect it. 

The Foundation accepted the substantial section of Manion Corners Wetland this fall from siblings Paul Lackner and Colleen Green, who decided their family’s natural property – lovingly referred to as “the farm” – belonged in a land trust for perpetual protection.

“Growing up, we used to hike to the back of the property where we had a small cabin, and we’d spend the day or occasionally overnight,” Green remembered. “We would snowshoe or ski there in the winter and pick our Christmas tree.” 

Used for grazing before Green’s grandfather bought it more than 60 years ago, the wetland is now an environmental gem in a rapidly growing part of the city. 

“This property is really special,” said Chelsey Ellis, Conservation Lands Manager at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), which helps the Foundation manage donated lands. “First of all, it’s a provincially-significant wetland, which tells us it plays an important role in local ecological and hydrological systems. 

“But it also offers a key piece of habitat along the Ribbon of Life, where shore meets land. It goes from wetland to an upland site in a relative hurry, so these are the areas where you might get winter deer yards and other wildlife activity.”

Ellis said a City of Ottawa report also found species at risk and other rare species in the same wetland complex near the property lines.

Green recalled an active beaver community on the land throughout her childhood, and more recently neighbours have spotted deer on the property as well as a black bear and cubs.

But Ellis said provincially-significant wetlands can no longer rely on their status alone to protect them.

“Given the ease with which new development rules have come along in the last 15 to 20 years, PSWs have become a priority for protection,” Ellis said. “When PSWs are in private hands they can often be altered, which undermines the whole ecological system.”

Land Donation Benefits All

Many of the Foundation’s land donations are processed through the federal Ecological Gifts program, which offers a generous federal tax credit on the full market value of the donated property. Donors are also exempt from capital gains taxes on the gift.

But the benefits go far beyond financial recompense. 

“Everyone benefits when land is protected,” said Foundation director Diane Downey. “The donors know their cherished natural property will be maintained, while the community benefits from cleaner air and water, reduced flooding, increased biodiversity and a beautiful landscape.”

Wetland protection is especially critical as extreme weather and climate change accelerate. Wetlands are some of the planet’s most effective carbon sinks, and they’re key to effective flood management because of their ability to collect and store excess stormwater. 

A recent study from the University of Waterloo found Southern Ontario’s wetlands provide $4.1 billion in water filtration services each year – and that it would cost up to $164 billion a year to replace their critical functions through expanded wastewater facilities. 

Get involved

Families with natural properties are encouraged to consider land donation through the Foundation, either now or as part of their long-term estate planning. Having conversations with family members about your wishes now can save headaches for your family members down the road.

Those who can’t donate land can support the costs associated with land acquisition through the Foundation’s Steve Simmering Conservation Lands Endowment Fund. The Foundation uses the fund’s annual interest to cover maintenance, insurance and other routine costs of property ownership. Until Dec. 6, the Simmering Family is matching up to $5,000 in donations to the fund as part of the Foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign.

Green said her family is pleased to see their beloved property passed down into perpetual protection. 

“I hope this donation will continue to support the local ecosystem into the future,” she said. 

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RIDEAU VALLEY, Nov. 29, 2022 – The Simmering Family has renewed its commitment to conservation with a generous matching pledge in support of the Steve Simmering Conservation Land Endowment Fund. 

Up to $5,000 in donations will be doubled between Giving Tuesday (Nov. 29) and Tuesday, Dec. 6.

The Simmering Endowment provides a vital source of annual funds to support more than 1,600 acres of local conservation lands owned by the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation (RVCF). These wetlands and forests in turn support healthy communities by cleaning our air and water, storing carbon and reducing flood and drought risks. They also provide a critical antidote to the daily grind by providing outdoor recreation opportunities for all. 

“The Simmering Family has been a long-standing supporter of our watershed’s critical natural infrastructure,” said RVCF executive director Diane Downey. “This generous matching pledge will go a long way to protecting the Rideau Valley for generations to come.”

The fund is named for Steve Simmering, a well-respected businessman in the Ottawa area and long-time Vice Chair of the RVCF. He was instrumental in the acquisition of some of the Rideau Valley’s best-loved conservation areas, such as Chapman Mills.

Before Mr. Simmering passed away in 2009, he was an active outdoorsman who loved walking and hiking in the open air. He enjoyed working with the Foundation because he believed in the goal of local, natural areas for all and the opportunity to reconnect with nature through inexpensive family recreation and exercise.

Donations to the Steve Simmering Conservation Lands Endowment Fund help cover annual ownership costs such as property taxes, trail maintenance, signage and fencing. Donations also give us the security to accept more land donations in the future, knowing we have the funds to maintain them. 

Only the annual interest from the fund is withdrawn, while the principal remains invested year after year to produce a steady source of funding. 

This giving season, you can double your impact thanks to the Simmering family – and help keep our watershed green forever. 

Visit www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/63940 to donate now, or visit https://www.rvcf.ca/ways-to-give/steve-simmering-conservation-lands-endowment-fund to learn more. 

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RIDEAU VALLEY, Nov. 21, 2022 – Wetlands are among our planet’s most critical natural features, and key to helping communities manage climate change, worsening storms and extreme weather into an uncertain future.

Yet Ontario's wetlands are increasingly under threat, with reduced wetland protections paving the way for more housing. 

But hope is not lost. Land trusts like the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation protect wetlands before they are destroyed forever – in fact, the Foundation already protects more than 1,500 acres of pristine natural lands across the Rideau Valley. These lands include vast wetland complexes, upland forests, shoreline properties and critical habitat.

With your help, we can afford to protect even more.

Donations to our Steve Simmering Conservation Lands Endowment Fund this giving season will help the Foundation cover annual maintenance costs for the natural lands we already own - and give us the confidence to accept future land donations knowing we have the funds to maintain them in perpetuity. 

Even natural, undeveloped land costs money to maintain – up to $60,000 per property over time for property taxes, safety inspections and signage – and interest from the Simmering endowment covers these annual costs each year. The principal remains invested to create a steady flow of cash year after year.

Paving our wetlands would put more communities in the path of extreme floods, reduce drinking water quality and contribute to the rapid biodiversity collapse taking over the globe. Not to mention, these critical carbon sinks would no longer pull immense amounts of carbon dioxide out of our warming atmosphere.

This giving season, give wetlands a fighting chance. Visit www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/63940 to donate today. 

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The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation is a registered environmental charity working to help protect and conserve the lands and waters of the valley of the Rideau River in Eastern Ontario. For more information visit www.rvcf.ca. 

RIDEAU VALLEY WATERSHED, July 14, 2022 — The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation is currently seeking applications for volunteer membership on its Board of Directors. Founded in 1970, the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation is a registered environmental charity working to help protect and conserve the lands and waters of the valley of the Rideau River in Eastern Ontario. 

The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation is seeking people who care deeply about the natural world and are willing to commit their time, effort, and skills to our Board of Directors to ensure the ongoing success of the Foundation.

Board members should be passionate about protecting and restoring our local environment, and able to assist in achieving the Foundation’s fundraising goals to implement conservation projects. Board members oversee the strategic plan, finances, and policies and procedures of the Foundation, and ultimately ensure that the resources entrusted to the Foundation further the goals of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.

Board members are expected to attend quarterly Board meetings (in-person and virtual options) and also to participate in Foundation events. 

It is hoped that candidates will bring a range of skills and experience to the RVCF Board including not-for-profit governance, strategic planning and visioning, fundraising, community contacts and more.

If you want to make a difference for the Rideau watershed and have personal and professional experiences that could help our organization, please apply. Visit www.rvcf.ca to see our Call for Candidates for more details or submit a resume and covering letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation is a registered environmental charity working to help protect and conserve the lands and waters of the valley of the Rideau River in Eastern Ontario. For more information visit www.rvcf.ca. 

Sept. 30, 2019 – They say hindsight is 20/20 – and future generations may not like what they see if we don’t act now to protect and conserve our natural areas.

That’s why the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation is excited to launch Conservation 2020: a major campaign to raise $125,000 toward keeping our natural areas in public hands forever.

The Foundation is a proud steward of more than 1,259 hectares of healthy, protected ecosystems throughout the Rideau River watershed. These are crucial habitats — forests, wetlands and shorelines — that work hard to reduce our risk of floods, clean our water, stop erosion and store vast amounts of carbon to keep our communities healthy and resilient in the face of climate change.

They are the lifeblood of our region, supporting vast, interconnected ecosystems that are increasingly fragmented or lost entirely to development and human activity.

Some properties are entirely untouched, left to their own devices to provide important green infrastructure functions for our communities. Others are public, close-to-home oases providing an antidote to the daily grind and stresses of daily life.

But they all cost money to maintain: whether it’s for property taxes, insurance or trail maintenance, the Foundation requires a steady stream of income to protect these green spaces in perpetuity.

Donations to the Conservation 2020 campaign will be invested in the Steve Simmering Conservation Land Endowment Fund, which marks its 10-year anniversary next year.

The fund was established in 2010 in memory of Steve Simmering, an active outdoorsman and vice chairman of the Foundation. The endowment has slowly been growing since then to provide a small stream of income to support our vibrant and vital outdoor spaces.

But more is needed to keep our natural areas secure forever.

“Today, the need to protect our conservation lands is increasingly important,” said Foundation chairman Jason Kelly. “Our 2020 campaign will look to grow this endowment fund, ensuring our local natural areas are protected and held safely in public hands.”

The Foundation, which turns 50 next year, is seeking investments large and small. Whether your family has $100 to spare or you lead a large corporation looking to make a lasting, local impact, your contribution will go directly toward conserving green space in your community for future generations.

Donors of large investments (between $10,000 and $25,000+ over five years) will be recognized in our media outreach and on the Foundation’s donor board. They’ll also receive some fun extras for the office, like complementary annual passes to our conservation areas, free facility rentals and even a staff retreat.  

To invest in the region’s natural lands, contact Foundation executive director Diane Downey at 613-692-3571 ext. 1126 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information about how the endowment works, visit https://www.rvcf.ca/ways-to-give/steve-simmering-conservation-lands-endowment-fund.