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Moraine Domain Past Issues

The Moraine Domain is an email newsletter (sent out on the third Wednesday every second month) designed to summarize happenings relevant to the Monitoring the Moraine (MTM) project.

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Moraine Domain February 2008

The Moraine Domain is an email newsletter (sent out on the third Wednesday of the month) designed to summarize happenings relevant to the Monitoring the Moraine (MTM) project.

In this Issue:
1. Any Day Now! 2007 Status Report
2. The Times, They are a Changin’
3. Water Bottling Proponents Stared Down by East Gwillimbury Residents
4. Capture the Humber Photo Contest
5. Submissions Welcome

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1. Any Day Now! 2007 Status Report
The “i’s” are all dotted and the “t’s” all crossed. The 2007 Status Report on the Implementation of the ORMCP is currently at the printers and will be available in a matter of days. This year’s report features a look at the status of environmental assessments for transportation, infrastructure and utility projects on the Oak Ridges Moraine since 2001. This theme will be continued in the 2008 Status Report. The 2007 report also provides updates on information from the 2006 Status Report (such as municipal conformity, wellhead protection policies, watershed planning, etc.) as well as an ecological monitoring update.

To receive a copy of the 2007 Status Report, please contact Debbe Crandall (dcrandall"at"stormcoalition.org or 905-880-3465). The report will be available to download on the MTM web site.

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2. The Times, They are a Changin’
After consulting with stakeholders, we are making a few changes to subsequent editions of the Moraine Domain…

In the future, the Moraine Domain (MD) will be produced bi-monthly (every second month). Between editions, subscribers will be emailed any alerts that require attention or action between issues. Finally, in order to provide a more attractive, user-friendly newsletter, we also plan to switch the MD to an html format.

Unless you let us know otherwise, all current subscribers will receive both the newsletter and the action alert; if you would rather not receive either, or if you prefer to receive these items in plain text format, please email Jen (jbedford"at"stormcoaltion.org) and indicate your wishes.

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3. Water Bottling Proponents Stared Down by East Gwillimbury Residents
On February 19, 2008 a packed Council Chambers cheered when told that Fieldstone Properties Ltd had officially withdrawn its proposal for a water bottling plant in the community of Mount Albert on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Over the past few weeks East Gwillimbury Councillors were inundated by calls from concerned residents.
This young but highly effective Our Right to Water campaign was masterminded by Katharine Parsons who, on February 4, 2008, delegated to Council after seeing a notice that a water bottling plant had been approved in November 2007. Her presentation cited numerous examples of water shortages experienced last summer; a dry Maskinonge River in Georgina Township, a stocked pond whose water level dropped six feet; and a family whose vegetable garden was destroyed after their well went dry.

The community response was overwhelming, forcing the municipality to meet with the proponent resulting in a withdrawal of the proposal. A petition created by the Eco-Ethical Group from Dr. J.M. Denison Secondary School in Newmarket garnered in excess of 250 signatures in just four day. As Debbie Gordon, long time Georgina activist said, “The implications of this victory are huge and I think the ripple effect will extend well beyond East Gwillimbury. Katharine should be very proud of what she’s started here.”

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4. Capture the Humber Photo Contest
Do you have photographs that capture the seasonal beauty and diversity of the Humber River watershed? Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) invites photographers - professional and amateur - to submit images from the Humber River watershed for a forthcoming book to celebrate the Humber's designation and 10th anniversary as a Canadian Heritage River and also the upcoming 50th anniversary of TRCA. The book will consist of pages of colourful photographs, short stories and quotes from people familiar with the river, anecdotal information, and facts and figures.

For more information on the Capture the Humber Photo Contest rules, deadline and prizes, please visit: http://www.trca.on.ca/capture_the_humber

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5. Submissions Welcome
Do you have a monitoring or stewardship event happening on the Oak Ridges Moraine that you would like others to hear about? Have you developed resources that would help others with such projects? Send a brief description (as you’d like it to appear) to Jen (jbedford"at"stormcoaltion.org), and we’ll try to include it in upcoming issues of the Moraine Domain.

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Please feel free to forward this e-bulletin to anyone you feel may be interested in receiving it. If you don’t wish to receive future bulletins, simply reply to this email with the phrase “unsubscribe” in the subject line and we’ll remove you from our list.

The MTM project is a collaborative project between Citizens’ Environment Watch (CEW), Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) Coalition, and Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP). It is designed to engage and sustain community volunteers in science, stewardship, monitoring and decision-making on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

For more information, visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca

Monitoring the Moraine Project is supported by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation, the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, and the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), Environment Canada.

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Moraine Domain December 2007

The Moraine Domain is an email newsletter (sent out on the third Wednesday of the month) designed to summarize happenings relevant to the Monitoring the Moraine (MTM) project.

In this Issue:
1. Moraine Watch Manual – Available Online
2. Moraine Watch Workshops
3. Time Really Does Fly
4. 2007: The Year of the Sheppard (Bush House)
5. Moraine in Focus Winners Available for Everyone to See
6. T’is the Season… for the 108th Christmas Bird Count
7. CTC Source Protection Committee
8. And Finally
9. Submissions Welcome

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1. Moraine Watch Manual – Available Online

The long-awaited policy monitoring manual, Moraine Watch: A Guide to Monitoring Municipal Land Use Planning on the Oak Ridges Moraine, is now available on the STORM coalition and MTM websites (www.stormcoalition.org, www.monitoringthemoraine.ca). This manual is a how-to guide for community members to monitor land use planning activity and the performance of their municipal government on moraine-related planning. It includes the Moraine Watch Checklist – a step-by-step worksheet for evaluating planning applications. This worksheet can also be downloaded separately from the manual for use in monitoring specific development applications.

The Moraine Watch Program aims to answer the question: Are municipalities making land use planning decisions that conform to the ORMCP? Despite being a provincial land use plan, the ORMCP is implemented by municipalities through official plans and zoning by-laws amended to conform to the ORMCP. Because there is no legislated provincial oversight to monitor municipal performance, citizens must be the eyes on the moraine to ensure municipal conformity with the conservation plan.

Please contact Debbe Crandall (dcrandall"at"stormcoalition.org, 905 880 3465) to order a paper copy of the Moraine Watch Manual (extra copies are available at cost).

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2. Moraine Watch Workshops

STORM Coalition recently hosted several workshops on the moraine to introduce and explain to community members the Moraine Watch Manual and programme. Nineteen participants took part in the workshop in Oak Ridges (Richmond Hill), while 13 attended the workshop in Grafton (Alnwick/Haldimand). Highlights from the workshops included presentations by David Burnett (Toronto and Region Conservation Authority) and Heather Brooks (Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority) on planning in Ontario and the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, an introduction to the Moraine Watch Manual and an in-depth explanation of the checklist (presented by STORM Coalition), a case study for working through the checklist, and a presentation about the technology that will be available for result-sharing (presented by the Centre for Community Mapping). Many interesting questions were raised during the workshop, and a number of helpful suggestions for improving the Moraine Watch Manual were given. Thanks to all workshop attendees for their interest, enthusiasm, and valuable comments and questions.

STORM plans to continue promoting the Moraine Watch programme among interested community groups in 2008. Please contact Debbe Crandall (dcrandall"at"stormcoalition.org, 905 880 3465) if you or your community group would like to learn more about Moraine Watch.

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3. Time Really Does Fly

Four months have past, which means we bid Kate Turner a fond farewell, as her contract draws to an end. Kate was instrumental in the production of the Moraine Watch Manual, and organizing the introductory workshops to that manual. In addition, she contributed significantly to the Status Report on the Implementation of the Oak Ridges Moraine Plan, due out early in the New Year.

Kate’s not venturing too far though… She has accepted a position with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, and will be working on Source Protection Planning. Many thanks Kate for jumping right in and getting so much done!

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4. 2007: The Year of the Sheppard (Bush House)

Finally, after a protracted and sometimes frustrating process, STORM Coalition and the Windfall Ecology Centre have signed a long-term lease with the Lake Simcoe and Region Conservation Authority for occupancy of the historic Sheppard’s House in Aurora. Built in 1922 by Charles Sheppard, this wonderful three-storied house will be the new office of STORM Coalition and the Windfall Ecology Centre as well as a moraine resource and sustainability centre.

Negotiations started last February and were delayed due to repeated attempts to submit an application for a minor variance to the Committee of Adjustment; on July 22, the minor variance was finally approved. Next step was obtaining an occupancy permit from the Town of Aurora, another somewhat long and drawn out process but one which finally bore fruit in the fall 2007.

Keep tuned for news of our official open house sometime in 2008!

This opportunity was made possible through generous funding to the STORM Coalition from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture. The Ontario Trillium Foundation receives $100 million annually from Ontario’s charity casino initiative.

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5. Moraine in Focus Winners Available for Everyone to See

Winning images of the 2007 Moraine in Focus contest, as well as the honourable mentions, are now available for viewing on the Moraine for Life website. Visit http://www.moraineforlife.org/explore/photocontest.php

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6. T’is the Season… for the 108th Christmas Bird Count

Occurring between December 14, 2007 and January 5, 2008 throughout the entire Western Hemisphere, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the oldest and largest citizen science event in the world. The Canadian portion of this annual event is coordinated by Bird Studies Canada, who, along with the Audubon Society, relies on the data to help track both bird migration and population across North America.

While there is a specific methodology to the CBC and you need to count birds within a prescribed area, everyone can participate! Beginner birders can join a group that includes at least one experienced birder. If your home is within the boundaries of a Christmas Bird Count circle, you can stay home and report the birds that you observe.

Please visit
www.bsc-eoc.org/volunteer/cbc/index.jsp?targetpg=compilers&lang=EN&prov=ON to find out the name of the coordinator in your area, and find out how to get involved.

If the count has already happened in you area, it’s not too late to get involved with Project FeederWatch, which occurs between November 10, 2007 and April 4, 2008. Begun in 1976 as the Ontario Bird Feeder Survey, it has since grown to become a continental survey that now attracts nearly 16,000 participants.

Project FeederWatch is an annual survey of North American birds that visit backyard feeders in winter. FeederWatchers periodically count the highest numbers of each species they see at their feeders from November through early April. These observations are then used by scientists to track broad scale trends in distribution and abundance of birds. This partnership between backyard bird watchers and ornithologists has resulted in a wealth of information about winter bird populations. Data from FeederWatchers have helped scientists learn about changes in the distribution and abundance of feeder birds over time, expansions and contractions in their winter ranges, the spread of disease through bird populations, and the kinds of habitats and foods that attract birds.

For more information about Project feeder Watch, please visit
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/volunteer/pfw/index.jsp?lang=EN&targetpg=index

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7. CTC Source Protection Committee

Earlier this year, Toronto and Region Conservation staff sent out a call for applications for CTC Source Protection Committee members. The committee has been appointed (effective November 7, 2007) and the inaugural meeting of the CTC SPC took place on December 10, 2007.

For a list of the CTC Source Protection Committee members and more information regarding the Dec. 10th meeting, please visit www.ctcswp.ca/committee.shtml

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8. And Finally

On behalf of all the MTM project partners, we’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy ho-ho and all the best for 2008.

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9. Submissions Welcome

Do you have a monitoring or stewardship event happening on the Oak Ridges Moraine that you would like others to hear about? Have you developed resources that would help others with such projects? Send the information (as you’d like it to appear) to Jen (jbedford"at"stormcoaltion.org), and we’ll try to include it in upcoming issues of the Moraine Domain.

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Please feel free to forward this e-bulletin to anyone you feel may be interested in receiving it. If you don’t wish to receive future bulletins, simply reply to this email with the phrase “unsubscribe” in the subject line and we’ll remove you from our list.

The MTM project is a collaborative project between Citizens’ Environment Watch (CEW), Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) Coalition, and Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP). It is designed to engage and sustain community volunteers in science, stewardship, monitoring and decision-making on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

For more information, visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca

Monitoring the Moraine Project is supported by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation, the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, and the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), Environment Canada.

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Moraine Domain November 2007

In this Issue:
1. Moraine Watch Manual & Workshop Series
2. Experience the Oak Ridges Moraine through winning photography!
3. Coming Soon: 2007 Status Report
4. Fall into the Moraine Stops 2 and 3
5. Meeting Notice: Play a role in the future of the Humber River Watershed
6. Submissions Welcome

1. Moraine Watch Manual & Workshop Series
MTM project partners are pleased to announce that our policy monitoring manual has been completed. The Moraine Watch Manual is a how-to guide for community members to monitor land use planning activity and the performance of their municipal government on moraine-related planning. It will be distributed in the coming weeks to interested community members, groups, and municipalities. The manual will soon be available on the MTM website , and hard copies can be ordered from Kate Turner (kturner@stormcoaltion.org, 416-778-7527).

We are hosting a workshops series to introduce and explain to community members the manual and the Moraine Watch programme. These workshops are open to the public (free of charge) and will be useful to anybody interested in municipal land use planning and policy. This will also be a great networking opportunity for people to learn more about active community efforts so we invite people to bring materials about their community group activities.

Workshop details are as follows:
West/Central Moraine
Saturday, November 24, 2007, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Oak Ridges Community Centre
70 Old Colony Road, Oak Ridges

East Moraine
Saturday, December 1, 2007, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Alnwick/Haldimand Township Office
10836 County Road 2, Grafton

Lunch and beverages will be provided. Contact Kate Turner (kturner"at"stormcoalition.org, 416 778 7527) to register for the workshop nearest you.

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2. Experience the Oak Ridges Moraine through winning photography!
The final leg of the Moraine in Focus Photo Contest gallery showings is set for Thursday November 22 at Archibald’s Winery in Bowmanville. Winning images, as well as honourable mentions, will be displayed from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The evening starts with a wine tasting at 7 p.m. and an awards presentation at 7:30 p.m.

Dawn Knudsen, from Port Hope, comes away with $1000 for her grand prize winning submission, “Monarchs Feeding.” Ms. Knudsen also received several honourable mentions. Top spot in the youth category went to Rebekah Nora Gibson from Acton for her submission entitled “Acrobat”. In accepting her $500 prize, Ms. Gibson remarked, “I don’t live on the Oak Ridges Moraine, but I learned that it is a beautiful place.”

That is exactly what the contest was designed to do… get people out exploring the Oak Ridges Moraine and sharing their experience with others.

A complete list of regional winners, as well as honourable mentions can be obtained on the MTM web site at: www.monitoringthemoraine.ca/moraineinfocus. The images will be available for viewing following the event.

The contest, which was organized jointly by the Caring for the Moraine and the MTM Projects, was made possible by generous funding from the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation and the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation. Additional prizes were donated by Envirosponsible (in Whitby), 4th Line Productions (in Millbrook), the Backyard Naturalist (in Stouffville), Clean Food Connection (in Mount Albert/Uxbridge), Mountain Equipment Co-op (in Toronto) and Aye Lighthouse B&B (in Gore’s Landing). Thanks also go out to earlier gallery showing hosts Willow Springs Winery (in Stouffville) and King Centre for the Arts (in Millbrook).

For more information, visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca/moraineinfocus or call Kate Potter at 905-579-0411, ext. 106.

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3. Coming Soon: 2007 Status Report
The publication of the 2007 Status Report on the implementation of the ORMCP has been delayed slightly – it is now due to be published this December. This report will provide updates on information from the 2006 Status Report (such as municipal conformity, wellhead protection policies, watershed planning, etc.). The report also features an inventory of environmental assessments for infrastructure projects on the moraine – a theme which will be continued in the 2008 Status Report. The 2007 Status Report will be available through the MTM website. Please contact Kate Turner if you would like a printed or digital copy sent directly to you (kturner"at"stormcoalition.org, 416-778-7527).

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4. Fall into the Moraine Stops 2 and 3
On Saturday, October 20th, 30 people visited Alderville First Nation for the second stop of the “Fall into the Moraine” tours. Local Councillor Dave Mowat gave a personal history of the Alderville Mississauga Ojibway, highlighting Alderville marathon runners such as Fred Simpson Senior. His presentation was augmented with historic family photos and artifacts. In the afternoon, Janine McLeod, the Natural Heritage Coordinator, gave an enlightening tour through the different habitat types within the Black Oak Savanna and pointed out some of the key species growing in the area.

Despite the short drizzle on the following Saturday, we also had a great turn out for a hike on the Oak Ridges Trail in King Township and a tour of Pine Farms. Ed Millar, the local Chapter Chair from the Oak Ridges Trails Association, and Joyce Chau from Citizens’ Environment Watch led the hike, stopping at various points to talk about the historical and ecological features along the way. After lunch, we toured the various operations of Pine Farms, and sampled some moraine apples, ciders and wine!

The connection between the Ojibway and the land is an important echo of how the connection between moraine stakeholders and the Oak Ridges Moraine needs to be established and strengthened. Overall, we reached over 85 moraine enthusiasts on our “Fall into the Moraine” events, many who have set foot to our tour locations for the very first time! We hope to continue these tours in the future. If you have any suggestion for future tour stops, please contact Joyce Chau (joyce"at"citizensenvironmentwatch.org, 647-258-3280, ext. 2002).

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5. Meeting Notice: Play a role in the future of the Humber River Watershed
Thursday, November 22, 2007, 6-9 p.m.
Al Palladini Community Centre, Room No. 2,
9201 Islington Avenue, Woodbridge

Toronto and Region Conservation is seeking public input on the draft Humber River Watershed Plan that will guide land use activities and future initiatives in the Humber River Watershed. Building upon the foundation of Legacy: A strategy for a Healthy Humber (1997), the Humber River Watershed Plan responds to recent provincial initiatives such as the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and provides an adaptive management approach based on new scientific information and a better understanding of effects of human actions on ecosystems. The Humber River Watershed will experience major changes over the next few decades, as a result of growth and development, so please attend an open house to:

learn about the issues and opportunities
share your comments and concerns
find out how you can become involved

To obtain a copy of the draft Humber River Watershed Plan, visit:
www.trca.on.ca/DraftHumberRiverWatershedPlan
For more information, call 416-661-6600, ext. 5325

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6 . Submissions Welcome
Do you have a monitoring or stewardship event happening on the Oak Ridges Moraine that you would like others to hear about? Have you developed resources that would help others with such projects? Send the information (as you’d like it to appear) to Jen (jbedford"at"stormcoaltion.org), and we’ll try to include it in upcoming issues of the Moraine Domain.

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Please feel free to forward this e-bulletin to anyone you feel may be interested in receiving it. If you don’t wish to receive future bulletins, simply reply to this email with the phrase “unsubscribe” in the subject line and we’ll remove you from our list.

The MTM project is a collaborative project between Citizens’ Environment Watch (CEW), Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) Coalition, and Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP). It is designed to engage and sustain community volunteers in science, stewardship, monitoring and decision-making on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

For more information, visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca

Monitoring the Moraine Project is supported by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation, the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, and the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), Environment Canada.

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Moraine Domain October 2007

In this Issue:
1. First stop of Fall into the Moraine
2. Next Stop… Alderville
3. Shutter Bugs an Abundant Species on the Oak Ridges Moraine
4. Moraine Watch Manual: A Guide to Monitoring Municipal Land Use Planning on the ORM
5. Policy Monitoring Workshops
6. Coming Soon: 2007 Status Report
7. Welcome Fleming Interns!
8. The Charles Sauriol Environmental Dinner
9. A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium
10. Freshwater Learning Network
11. Submissions Welcome

1. First stop of Fall into the Moraine
Despite the chilly weather last Saturday, 25 cheery participants and one dog came out to Purple Woods Conservation Area on October 13, 2007. The moraine was showcased at its best with the lovely fall colours and the magnificent lookout platform overlooking the moraine south to Lake Ontario. Many thanks to Elizabeth Stewart (ORTA) and Jamie Davidson (CLOCA) for guiding the hikes. Everyone got a chance to warm up afterwards at the Ocala Winery with some tasting of their grape, fruit and dessert wines. This winery has been in the Smith family for three generations. Thanks to Alissa Smith for her hospitality and graceful management of many thirsty people!

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2. Next Stop… Alderville
Don't forget to register for our next Fall into the Moraine stop in Alderville on Saturday, October 20, 2007. We will meet at the Alderville First Nation Learning Centre at 10am for an introduction by Dave Mowat to the history and culture of the First Nation, followed by a guided tour of the Black Oak Savanna. To register contact Sherry Shen: 647-258-3280 x2010 or sherry"at"citizensenvironmentwatch.org.

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3. Shutter Bugs an Abundant Species on the Oak Ridges Moraine
The deadline for the Moraine In Focus photo contest has arrived, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results; hundreds of photos have been submitted! Winners will be announced shortly.

We are also tickled with the response from some new sponsors who have generously donated some very appropriate prizes: rain barrels courtesy of Envirosponsible (in Whitby), theatre tickets courtesy of 4th Line Productions (a company that performs outdoors on the moraine) in Millbrook, boxer shorts courtesy of the Backyard Naturalist (in Stouffville), gift certificates for organic food baskets courtesy of Clean Food Connection (in Mount Albert/Uxbridge), back packs and water bottles courtesy of Mountain Equipment Co-op, and a B&B package courtesy of Aye Lighthouse B&B in Gore’s Landing.

Contest winners, as well as other submissions, will be displayed at gallery events open to the public on the evenings of Wednesday, November 7th (King Street Art Centre in Millbrook), Thursday, November 8th (Willow Springs Winery in Stouffville), and Thursday, November 22nd (Archibald’s Winery in Clarington).

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4. Moraine Watch Manual: A Guide to Monitoring Municipal Land Use Planning on the Oak Ridges Moraine
MTM is pleased to announce that our policy monitoring manual will soon be available. The Moraine Watch Manual is a how-to guide for community members to monitor development applications and the performance of their municipal government on moraine-related planning. The manual includes the Moraine Watch Checklist – a step-by-step worksheet for evaluating planning applications, as well as detailed background information on land-use planning and legislation relevant to the moraine.

Community-led policy monitoring is important for a number of reasons. The ORMCP, despite being a provincial land use plan, is implemented by municipalities through official plans and zoning by-laws amended to conform to the ORMCP. With no legislated provincial oversight to monitor municipal performance, it falls to STORM through the MTM project to design and deliver Moraine Watch – community-led policy monitoring. Moraine Watch can be used by community groups to get involved in municipal governance and to ensure that decisions and planning applications are in compliance with the ORMCP. In addition, this information will be helpful at the 2014 Plan review to determine how effective the ORMCP is in protecting the moraine’s ecological integrity.

Keep your eyes out in November for a link to this manual on the MTM website. You can also contact Kate Turner (kturner"at"stormcoalition.org, 416-778-7527) to find out more.

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5. Policy Monitoring Workshops
The MTM partners are planning to hold workshops in different areas on the moraine to introduce and explain the aforementioned manual to community members. These workshops are open to the public (free of charge) and will be beneficial to anybody interested in land use planning and policy. This will also be a great networking opportunity for people to learn more about active community efforts so we invite groups to bring materials about their activities. Workshop details as follows:

West/Central Moraine
Saturday, November 24, 2007
10 – 3pm
Oak Ridges Community Centre
Oak Ridges (north Richmond Hill)

East Moraine (Northumberland County)
Saturday, December 1, 2007
10 – 3 pm
Location TBA

Lunch and beverages will be provided. Everyone interested in the moraine is welcome!

Contact Kate Turner (kturner"at"stormcoalition.org or 416-778-7527) to register for the workshop nearest you.

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6. Coming Soon: 2007 Status Report
The 2007 Status Report on the implementation of the ORMCP is due to be published this November. This report will provide updates on the recommendations made in the 2006 Status Report, and will also include new topics such as a special feature on the status and types of environmental assessments initiated since 2001. The 2007 Status Report will be available through the MTM website. Please contact Kate Turner if you would like a printed or digital copy sent directly to you (kturner"at"stormcoalition.org, 416-778-7527).

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7. Welcome Fleming Interns!
The MTM project is happy to welcome four enthusiastic interns from the Credit for Product Program at Fleming College, Frost Campus: Wil Brunner, Annette Maher, Kristine Schofield and Jeff Wright. They will be working with the MTM project to develop the Community-based Terrestrial Monitoring Program from September to December 2008. Currently, the team is establishing permanent tree health plots in East Cross Forest (Durham). In addition, they will also be compiling educational resources to assist in the training of future tree health volunteers. Thanks to Sara Kelly, the Credit for Product Faculty at Fleming College, and to Kawartha Conservation's Kristie Virgoe for her assistance in establishing these plots.

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8. The Charles Sauriol Environmental Dinner
The 2007 Keynote Speaker at the Charles Sauriol Environmental Dinner is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This event is being held on Wednesday, November 7 at the Pearson Convention Centre in Brampton.

Organized by the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the Charles Sauriol Environmental Dinner is an annual event celebrating the great conservationist and visionary Charles Sauriol. The event, which includes a silent auction, aims to raise funds to protect environmentally significant lands, as well as raise awareness about the importance of conservation.

For more information, contact Don Prince at 647-295-7470 or visit www.charlessauriol.ca.

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9. A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium
The fourteenth annual A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium is set for November 14-16, 2007 at the Nottawasaga Inn and Convention Centre in Alliston, ON. The theme of this year’s symposium is “Your Watersheds, Our Great Lakes” and will look at how our actions on land impact the quality and supply of this important (and limited) natural resource.

Keynote speakers include Justin Trudeau; Gord Miller, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario; John Howard, University Hospital in London; Gail Krantzberg, McMaster University; and Ward Chesworth, University of Guelph.

For more information, visit www.latornell.ca

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10. Freshwater Learning Network
The Sustainability Network will host the third and last Freshwater Learning Network gathering this November from late morning Wednesday, November 21st to early Friday afternoon, November 23rd at the Ecology Retreat Centre (near Orangeville). Current and emerging nonprofit freshwater leaders from Ontario are invited to convene to explore Strategy for Uncertain Times. While this session is a follow up to the Spring 2007 session on communications, new applications are most welcome.

Leading in an environmental organization is often a demanding role in which committed individuals face tremendous pressure to effectively respond to complex environmental and organizational issues. There is a chorus of voices calling upon organizations to be more strategic. The challenge for many organizations is that traditional planning models distract from, rather than enhance, effectiveness when situations are dynamic and demands are shifting. This Learning Network will allow ENGO leaders to explore some alternative approaches to strategy, look at the future of the environmental movement, and to think about strategy at the level of network or movement.

Scheduled activities include:

Rick Smith (Executive Director, Environmental Defence) and Jerry Demarco (former Managing Lawyer of Sierra Legal Defence Fund Ontario) presenting a case study on collaboration
a panel discussion with Bruce Lourie (President, Ivey Foundation), Lois Corbett (Senior Policy Advisor to the Ontario Minister of Environment), Rick Smith and Mike Balkwill (consultant to the Phoenix Foundation) on the state and future of the sector
Angus McAllister (President, McAllister Opinion Research) presenting on how ENGOs can communicate more effectively, featuring recent polling work he's done on water issues

For more info, visit: sustain.web.ca

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11. Submissions Welcome
Do you have a monitoring or stewardship event happening on the Oak Ridges Moraine that you would like others to hear about? Have you developed resources that would help others with such projects? Send the information (as you’d like it to appear) to Jen (jbedford"at"stormcoaltion.org), and we’ll try to include it in upcoming issues of the Moraine Domain.

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Please feel free to forward this e-bulletin to anyone you feel may be interested in receiving it. If you don’t wish to receive future bulletins, simply reply to this email with the phrase “unsubscribe” in the subject line and we’ll remove you from our list.

The MTM project is a collaborative project between Citizens’ Environment Watch (CEW), Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) Coalition, and Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP). It is designed to engage and sustain community volunteers in science, stewardship, monitoring and decision-making on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

For more information, visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca

Monitoring the Moraine Project is supported by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation, the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, and the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), Environment Canada.

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Moraine Domain September 2007

In this Issue:
Event: Fall into the Moraine!
Deadline Approaching: Moraine in Focus photo contest
Announcement: Welcome Kate!
Resource: New Website – www.moraineforlife.org
Event: Project “CHIRP!” Songbird Habitat Tours
Event: Sustainability Network presents David Anderson
Event: Family Greenfest
Get Involved in Drinking Water Source Protection
Submissions Welcome

Fall into the Moraine!
Come out and learn first hand what makes the Oak Ridges Moraine special. Organized by the Monitoring the Moraine (MTM) partners, “Fall into the Moraine” focuses on a wide variety of cultural, natural and agricultural wonders available on the moraine, just waiting to be explored and experienced. These fun, family friendly outings will take place on three consecutive Saturdays in October, allowing us to visit points across the entire moraine, including eastern, western and central locations.

On Saturday, October 13, we will take a guided walk through the Purple Woods Conservation Area (a 17-hectare sugar maple forest and open meadow located just minutes north of Oshawa). This will be followed by a visit to the Ocala Winery (located on the highlands of Durham Region close to Port Perry), and will include a sampling of the wines.

Saturday, October 20 takes us to the Alderville Black Oak Savannah (north of Cobourg, east of Rice Lake), a large remnant of an endangered ecosystem. In the afternoon, we head to Alderville First Nation, a thriving community rich in heritage and native culture.

Saturday, October 27, the final stop of the “Fall into the Moraine”, takes us to King Township where we will walk on the Oak Ridges Trail. Following the hike, we will tour the Pine Farms Orchard/Winery where visitors will go pumpkin picking.

Events run from 10am-2pm. Admission is free! Refreshments will be provided, but please pack a lunch. Registration is required.

For more information and to register, contact Sherry Shen (tel: 647-258-3280 x2010, email: sherry "at" citizensenvironmentwatch.org) or click here.

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Deadline Approaching: Moraine in Focus photo contest
The deadline is fast approaching for submissions to the Moraine in Focus photo contest. Entries must be received no later than October 15. Grand prize is $1000 cash, and $500 cash to top youth photographer.

For more information, visit: click here

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Welcome Kate!

Kate Turner has just joined the MTM team after recently finishing a Masters degree in geography at McGill University. She began a 4 month contract with MTM in late August, and will be working on projects such as the Moraine Watch policy monitoring manual, policy monitoring workshops, and the 2007 Status Report on the Implementation of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan.

Kate can be contacted at kturner “at” stormcoalition.org.

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New Website – www.moraineforlife.org
The Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation (ORMF) has launched a new web site, dedicated to all of the people and organizations whose hard work has preserved the moraine. Its purpose is to inspire the effort and commitment needed to conserve the moraine for life.

Be warned however; it’s almost impossible not to spend lots of time exploring this web site. It features incredible animations and a myriad of fabulous material! This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the moraine.

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Event: Project “CHIRP!” Songbird Habitat Tours
Project CHIRP! (Creating Habitat in Residential areas and Parkland) is a new songbird conservation initiative. Its objective is to inspire, educate and assist GTA residents in the creation of residential songbird habitat for local and migratory songbirds, from the Toronto Lakeshore to the Oak Ridges Moraine, by way of Canadian Wildlife Federation-certified backyard habitats.

To find out more about Project CHIRP, attend a Songbird Habitat Tour (Thursday, September 20, Tuesday, October 2, Wednesday, October 10 and Tuesday, October 16 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, 105 Laurel Avenue, Etobicoke) . Participants will learn how to create CWF-certified songbird properties for local and migratory songbirds. Topics include an introduction to Project CHIRP, songbird garden design, songbird pond design, songbird friendly native plant species for food and shelter and the benefits of green roofs.

RSVP required: projectchirp "at" rogers.com or 416-236-7234, Cost: $10 per adult (includes materials). To download a flyer about CHIRP, visit www.stormcoalition.org/pages/events.html

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Event: Sustainability Network presents David Anderson
When: Friday September 21, 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM (Breakfast Forum)
Where: 215 Spadina Avenue, Toronto
Cost: $15 with pre-event registration

David Anderson, former federal environment minister and the new director of the Guelph Institute for the Environment, will present on something near and dear to the heart of the Monitoring the Moraine Project: the challenge of linking science and public policy, and the role of NGOs in this process.

Mr. Anderson spent more than a decade in the federal cabinet, including seven years as Minister of Departments of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment. He also served as President of the Governing Council of the United Nations' Environmental Program.

For more info about this event, please visit http://sustain.web.ca/

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Event: Family Greenfest
Celebrating 10 years of the Durham Children’s Groundwater Festival.
When: Saturday, October 13, 2007
10 am – 3 pm
Where: Enniskillen Conservation Area

Fun for all with many free activities.
Free Admission!
For more info, or to download a flyer, visit www.cloca.com.

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Get Involved in Drinking Water Source Protection
If you live or work in the CTC Source Protection Region (Credit Valley Conservation, Toronto and Region Conservation and Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority) and are interested in protecting drinking water, the Toronto and Region Source Protection Authority is looking for your participation!

The Toronto and Region Source Protection Authority has released a call for applicants for general and sectoral membership in the CTC Source Protection Committee. They are also inviting comments on the proposed composition of the general and sectoral membership.

If you would like to be a member of the CTC Source Protection Committee, apply now. Deadline for receipt of applications or nominations for membership on the CTC Source Protection Committee is 4:30 pm, Friday, September 28, 2007.

For more information, visit www.stormcoalition.org/ctc

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Submissions Welcome
Do you have a monitoring or stewardship event happening on the Oak Ridges Moraine that you would like others to hear about? Have you developed resources that would help others with such projects? Send the information (as you’d like it to appear) to Jen (jbedford "at" stormcoaltion.org), and we’ll try to include it in upcoming issues of the Moraine Domain.

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Please feel free to forward this e-bulletin to anyone you feel may be interested in receiving it. If you don’t wish to receive future bulletins, simply reply to this email with the phrase “unsubscribe” in the subject line and we’ll remove you from our list.

The MTM project is a collaborative project between Citizens’ Environment Watch (CEW), Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) Coalition, and Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP). It is designed to engage and sustain community volunteers in science, stewardship, monitoring and decision-making on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

For more information, visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca

Monitoring the Moraine Project is supported by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation, the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, and the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), Environment Canada.

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Moraine Domain August 2007

In this Issue:
Moraine in Focus Photo Contest Update
170 people + 3 watersheds + 1 day = Tons of Fun
Event: The 2007 TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
Event: Sustainability Network presents David Anderson
Get Involved in Drinking Water Source Protection
Submissions Welcome

Moraine in Focus Photo Contest Update
There has been a lot of buzz generated about the Moraine In Focus photo contest – and why not? Anyone in the know is interested in showcasing the magnificence of the moraine.

It is extremely important for those who are shooting digitally to select the highest quality image setting available on your camera – at least 1600 pixels wide for a horizontal image or 1600 pixels tall for a vertical image. Otherwise, we will not be able to print the images.

For those of you new to the Moraine Domain, the grand prize for Moraine in Focus Contest is $1000, and $500 for top youth photographer. Submissions will be accepted until October 15, 2007.

This contest is presented by MTM and the Caring for the Moraine Project (CMP) and is made possible by the generous funding from the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation and the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation.

For more information, visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca/moraineinfocus, email contest@monitoringthemoraine.ca or call Kate Potter at 905-579-0411, extension 106.

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170 people + 3 watersheds + 1 day = tons of fun.
On Saturday, July 21, 2007, over 170 people were out checking the health of the Duffins Creek, Oshawa Creek and the Ganaraska River watersheds. Volunteers documented the flow conditions of small streams at crossings across the watersheds.

In total, 682 square kilometres were covered and over 400 sites were visited. All of this work was done within a span of four hours. This information will be used to inform how those watersheds will be managed in the future.

In addition to the vast amount of data collected, it was also a great social and learning opportunity. One volunteer said, “[it] was a great time outdoors, and a chance to learn more about the environment.”

A huge thank you to all of the event partners and participants for making this day an unqualified success! And special thanks to our funders (the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation, the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation, the Ontario Trillium Foundation), and local sponsors (Town of Ajax, City of Oshawa, Municipality of Clarington and Port Hope, Township of Hamilton, and Veridian), who made the 2007 Check Your Watershed Day possible.

Check Your Watershed Day occurs annually on the third Saturday of July. For more information about the event, or to get involved next year, please visit www.MonitoringTheMoraine.ca/cywd.

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The 2007 TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
When: September 15 – 23, 2007 (register by August 31)
Where: Various locations throughout the Oak Ridges Moraine and beyond

The TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is a national conservation initiative that allows all Canadians to have a positive impact on their local environment.
Coordinated by the Vancouver Aquarium, the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup takes place in every province and territory during the third week of every September. Sites include rivers, lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands.

More than just a program to pick up trash, participants also take inventory of the litter items they collect. All data recorded across the country is returned to the Vancouver Aquarium for tallying, and tallied data is sent to the International Coastal Cleanup to be added to the worldwide results. These results will be used to help pinpoint the causes and identify the most effective solutions to litter-related issues.

Participants can register as a site coordinator and organize a cleanup, or search for an event already being organized in their community. All registered groups are provided with data cards and pencils, a site coordinator manual, latex gloves, garbage bags, clear bags for recyclables, and a site coordinator t-shirt. The deadline for group registration is Aug. 31.

To organize an event or get involved in an existing one, visit www.vanaqua.org/cleanup or call (toll free) 1-877-427-2422.

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Event: Sustainability Network presents David Anderson
When: Friday September 21, 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM (Breakfast Forum)
Where: 215 Spadina Avenue, Toronto
Cost: $15 with pre-event registration

David Anderson, former federal environment minister and the new director of the Guelph Institute for the Environment, will present on something near and dear to the heart of the Monitoring the Moraine Project: the challenge of linking science and public policy, and the role of NGOs in this process.

Mr. Anderson spent more than a decade in the federal cabinet, including seven years as Minister of Departments of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment. He also served as President of the Governing Council of the United Nations' Environmental Program.

For more info about this event, please visit http://sustain.web.ca/

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Get Involved in Drinking Water Source Protection.
If you live or work in the CTC Source Protection Region (Credit Valley Conservation, Toronto and Region Conservation and Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority) and are interested in protecting drinking water, the Toronto and Region Source Protection Authority is looking for your participation!

The Toronto and Region Source Protection Authority has released a call for applicants for general and sectoral membership in the CTC Source Protection Committee. They are also inviting comments on the proposed composition of the general and sectoral membership.

Deadline for receipt of written comments on the proposed composition of the CTC SPC is 4:30 p.m., Monday, August 20, 2007.

If you would like to be a member of the CTC Source Protection Committee, apply now. Deadline for receipt of applications or nominations for membership on the CTC Source Protection Committee is 4:30 pm, Friday, September 28, 2007.

For more information, visit www.stormcoalition.org/ctc

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Submissions Welcome
Do you have a monitoring or stewardship event happening on the Oak Ridges Moraine that you would like others to hear about? Have you developed resources that would help others with such projects? Send the information (as you’d like it to appear) to Jen (jbedford@stormcoaltion.org), and we’ll try to include it in upcoming issues of the Moraine Domain.

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Please feel free to forward this e-bulletin to anyone you feel may be interested in receiving it. If you don’t wish to receive future bulletins, simply reply to this email with the phrase “unsubscribe” in the subject line and we’ll remove you from our list.

The MTM project is a collaborative project between Citizens’ Environment Watch (CEW), Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) Coalition, and Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP). It is designed to engage and sustain community volunteers in science, stewardship, monitoring and decision-making on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

For more information, visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca

Monitoring the Moraine Project is supported by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation, the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, and the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), Environment Canada.

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Moraine Domain July 2007

The Moraine Domain is an email newsletter (sent out on the third Wednesday of the month) designed to summarize happenings relevant to the Monitoring the Moraine (MTM) project.

In this Issue:
Ready, Set, Check Your Watershed
Focus on the Moraine and win $1000 dollars
Comings and Goings
Submissions Welcome

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Ready, Set, Check Your Watershed
What: 200 plus volunteers needed
When: Saturday, July 21 from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm
Where: Various locations in the Duffins Creek, Oshawa Creek and Ganaraska River Watersheds

We all know that droughts and heavy downpours can wreak havoc in our yards and gardens. But what affect do these and other factors (such as urban sprawl, deforestation, mining and construction, as well as natural cyclical changes) have on our water? Twelve organizations including NGOs, conservation authorities, stewardship councils, and government agencies aim to find out at the 2nd annual Check Your Watershed Day on Saturday, July 21, and we need your help!

Volunteers will help us:
• locate where the small streams exist,
• understand their flow patterns and
• learn how land and water use affect these patterns.

Three watersheds on the Oak Ridges Moraine are being studied: Duffins Creek (which includes Whitchurch-Stouffville, Uxbridge, Markham, Ajax, Pickering), Oshawa Creek (which includes Scugog, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington) and the Ganaraska River (which includes Clarington, Port Hope, Hamilton Township).

The aim is to check every small stream in the three entire watersheds…all in one day! No experience is required. Participants will be taught everything they need to know on the day of the event.

“The information collected from Check Your Watershed Day will be unique and dynamic,” says Joyce Chau, Program Manager with Citizens’ Environment Watch. “Never before have such large datasets of this nature been generated in one day. The data collected from such streams helps us to better understand the overall health of the watershed.”

Check Your Watershed Day is a great opportunity to get outside, have some fun, and collect meaningful data. For more information, contact Joyce Chau (647-258-3280, ext 2002, joyce@citizensenvironmentwatch.org) or visit: http://www.monitoringthemoraine.ca/cywd/index.htm

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Focus on the Moraine and win $1000 dollars
Be sure to take your camera along with you on your next outing on the Oak Ridges Moraine (like Check Your Watershed Day!); it could be worth $1000! The Moraine in Focus photo contest is in full gear. We will continue to accept submissions until October 15, 2007.

Paramount to the theme of the contest – all entries must be taken on the Oak Ridges Moraine, and fall into one of the four following categories:

land and water,
plants and animals,
people and communities, and
youth photographer.

If you’re shooting digitally, remember to put your camera on the highest image quality setting. This contest is all about showcasing the splendour of the Moraine; the larger the images can be blown up when they’re showcased at events in November, the better.

For more information, visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca/moraineinfocus, email contest@monitoringthemoraine.ca or call Kate Potter at 905-579-0411, extension 106.

This contest is presented by MTM and the Caring for the Moraine (CMP) project and is made possible by the generous funding from the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation and the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation.

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Comings and Goings
A big MTM hello to Tahira Qamar and Heather Kime.

Tahira is engaged in a nine-month contract with STORM, where she is focusing on a review and analysis of official plan conformity of selected lower tier and upper tier municipalities that lie within the Oak Ridge Moraine Plan Area. Tahira will also help to develop and deliver policy-monitoring training to community volunteers and contribute to the second Oak Ridges Moraine Status Report.

Also new to the MTM project team is Heather Kime, our new terrestrial monitoring program assistant. Heather's 10-month contract with CEW is part of the Science Horizons Internship program through Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network Coordinating Office (EMAN CO), Environment Canada. She will assist in developing moraine-based terrestrial monitoring program for volunteers.

It is with great reluctance that we bid Nathan Fahey (Program Director, STORM Coalition) a fond farewell – Nathan has accepted a position with the Ontario Centres of Excellence for Energy. Thanks Nathan for all the great work you’ve contributed to the project!

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Submissions Welcome
Do you have a monitoring or stewardship event happening on the Oak Ridges Moraine that you would like others to hear about? Have you developed resources that would help others with such projects? Send the information (as you’d like it to appear) to Jen (jbedford@stormcoaltion.org), and we’ll try to include it in upcoming issues of the Moraine Domain.

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Please feel free to forward this e-bulletin to anyone you feel may be interested in receiving it. If you don’t wish to receive future bulletins, simply reply to this email with the phrase “unsubscribe” in the subject line and we’ll remove you from our list.

The MTM project is a collaborative project between Citizens’ Environment Watch (CEW), Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) Coalition, and Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP). It is designed to engage and sustain community volunteers in science, stewardship, monitoring and decision-making on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

For more information, visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca

Monitoring the Moraine Project is supported by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation, the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, and the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), Environment Canada.

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Moraine Domain June 2007

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Moraine Domain, a monthly email newsletter designed to summarize happenings relevant to the Monitoring the Moraine (MTM) project. To subscribe to this e-bulletin, email jbedford"at"stormcoalition.org. We welcome submissions for next month’s issue about any related events, announcements, etc., that you would like to see covered. Submissions may also be emailed to: jbedford"at"stormcoalition.org.

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In this Issue:
Event: Check Your Watershed Day - Help study small streams in a watershed near you!
Announcement: Focus on the Moraine and win $1000 dollars
Resource: Tree Identification 101

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Participate in the 2nd Annual Check Your Watershed Day
Date: Saturday, July 21, 2007 (Rain date: July 28)
Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Various

Help study small streams in a watershed near you!

From “freaky weather” to the mega-boom in organics to Al Gore’s super-stardom, the environment is clearly on everyone’s mind. But who’s really getting their hands dirty and their feet wet? You are, at the 2nd Annual Check Your Watershed Day. Register now to ensure your spot on a Stream Team near you.

Eleven organizations including NGOs, Conservation Authorities, Stewardship Councils, and government agencies are working on this project to collect meaningful data on the health of watersheds on the Oak Ridges Moraine, and they need your help to do it! Participants will work in small teams with a trained leader to locate streams and check water flow levels throughout the Moraine. We hope to check all the small streams of three entire watersheds (Duffins Creek, Oshawa Creek and the Ganaraska River) …all in one day! In time, we aim to track the water flow in all the 65 watersheds originating within the Oak Ridges Moraine.

“It is going to be huge this year! We anticipate over 200 participants,” says Joyce Chau, Program Manager with Citizens’ Environment Watch, “and we’re still looking for more! No experience is required – we will teach participants everything they need to know – all people need is interest and time.”

Where to meet:
Duffins Creek Watershed - Greenwood Conservation Area: Glenview 2 site, 2280 Greenwood Rd., Ajax.
Oshawa Creek Watershed - Central Lake Ontario Conservation Office: 100 Whiting Ave., Oshawa.
Ganaraska River Watershed - Ganaraska Forest Centre: 10585 Cold Springs Camp Rd., Campbellcroft.

For more information or to register: Go online to: www.monitoringthemoraine.ca/cywd, email: joyce"at"citizensenvironmentwatch.org, or call Joyce Chau at 647-258-3280 x2002.

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Focusing on the Oak Ridges Moraine
Getting out and exploring the breathtaking beauty of the Oak Ridges Moraine’s rolling hills, kettle lakes, rivers and trails is good for the psyche and the body; now it could be good for the pocketbook. The grand prize for the Moraine in Focus photo contest is $1000 and $500 for the top youth spot.

Presented by MTM and the Caring for the Moraine (CMP) project, the Moraine in Focus photo contest is all about capturing and enshrining the beauty and wonder of the moraine and then making these images available for everyone to see.

Photo submissions must be taken on the Oak Ridges Moraine, and fall within one of the four following categories:
-land and water,
-plants and animals,
-people and communities, and
-youth photographer.

Youth entrants must be under 16 years of age as of May 15th, 2007. Youth category submissions can cover any of the three categories already mentioned. All entries (which are being accepted now) must be submitted no later than October 15, 2007.

In addition to the grand prizes, a prize will also be awarded to regional winners in every category. For this contest, the moraine has been divided into three areas: West (including the Regions of Peel and York and the Counties of Dufferin and Simcoe), Central (including Durham Region and the City of Kawartha Lakes) and East (including Peterborough and Northumberland Counties).

Winning entries, as well as local submissions, will be displayed at venues across the moraine in November. Confirmed venues include Willow Springs Winery in Stouffville, Archibald’s Estate Winery in Bowmanville and the King Street Arts Centre in Millbrook. The images will also appear in educational and promotional materials produced by MTM, CMP and their partners, all of whom are dedicated to the protection and preservation of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

This contest is made possible by the generous funding from the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation and the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation.

For more information, visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca/moraineinfocus, email contest"at"monitoringthemoraine.ca or call Kate Potter at 905-579-0411, extension 106.

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Resources:
Tree Identification 101
Don’t know a pine from a hemlock? Do you think a largetooth aspen is a type of fish? Learn about these trees and others by downloading our Tree Identification Resources (visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca/ProjectActivities/CommunityResources.htm). Here you’ll find materials that describe the basics about identifying trees by examining their buds, twigs, leaves and bark.

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Monitoring the Moraine (MTM) is a collaborative project between Citizens’ Environment Watch (CEW), Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) Coalition, and Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP). It is designed to engage and sustain community volunteers in science, stewardship, monitoring and decision-making on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

For more information, visit www.monitoringthemoraine.ca

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you feel may be interested in receiving it.

Monitoring the Moraine Project is supported by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation, the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, and the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), Environment Canada.

Last Updated: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 6:29 PM
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