All About Turtles! A Community Forum hosted by the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands

The Friends of Stittsville Wetlands are considering rolling out a turtle conservation program for the Goulbourn Wetland Complex and Poole Creek, which runs through the heart of Stittsville. The cold or cool waters of Poole Creek are considered a crucial and rare habitat, sustaining a unique ecological system of significant environmental and recreational value to the community of Stittsville and Ottawa.

To gauge community support for such an initiative, the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands are hosting a forum on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, entitled “All About Turtles” from 7 – 9:30 PM at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. The goal of the evening will be to raise public awareness about turtles, conservation, and to explore the key elements and benefits of rolling out a community science program for our community.

David Seburn, Freshwater Turtle Specialist, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Janet Mason, Chair, Friends of Carp Hills, and Lisa Browning, Education Coordinator, Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre have graciously agreed to speak at this event. Seburn will focus on “Saving our Turtles. What can you do to help?” Mason’s talk is entitled “It takes a village: a community model for turtle conservation in the Carp Hills.” Browning will speak about the “Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre – Where Community and Conservation Connect.”

Attend in person or watch the Livestream

Pre-registration will be required

Our sincerest thanks to Stittsville Councillor Glen Gower for his support through the Stittsville Community Micro-Grant program and to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church for the provision of their facilities.