Ontario Nature Blog
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© Lora Denis
Fen, H.N.Crossley Nature Reserve © Smera Sukumar
For Ontarians, some of our most beloved summertime activities revolve around the spectacular Great Lakes. Swimming, boating, fishing and paddling attract millions of us to the waterfront to enjoy time with friends and family (or just ourselves!) out in nature. Behind the scenes of our summertime fun, there is a secret key actor working overtime ...
March 3, 2022–Kat Lucas
Conservation Authorities•Guest Blogger•Stewardship and restoration•Water•Wild Species
What’s black and white and red all over? OK, maybe just red on its sides?The redside dace (Clinostomus elongatus)! The redside dace is one of approximately 150 species of fish found in the Great Lakes region. Almost 90% of their population in Ontario lives within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). This minnow has been considered ...
July 16, 2021–Margaret Prophet
Ecology•Greenbelt and Greenway•Guest Blogger•Land-use planning•Ontario Nature•Water•Wetlands•Wild Species and Habitat
The former mayor of Toronto, David Crombie, once gave me invaluable insight about how we view nature. He said, “We look at green spaces and nature as places with potential. Potential for housing, potential for strip malls, potential for highways – not as if they already have a purpose. We need to recognize they aren’t ...
June 10, 2021–The Coalition for the West Credit River
Ecology•Habitat•Land-use planning•Ontario Nature•Water•Wild Species and Habitat
West Credit River brook trout © Steve Noakes
The Coalition for the West Credit River is fighting to protect a sensitive wild brook trout population in the West Credit River. It is threatened by the proposed Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant which will dump over 7 million litres of sewage effluent into its coldwater habitat every day. Here’s what you need to know: Brook ...
February 24, 2021–Anne Bell
Indigenous Relations•Land-use planning•Stewardship and restoration•Water•Wetlands•Wild Species and Habitat
Lake Simcoe © Nico CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
The Lake Simcoe Protection Plan is now up for its required 10-year review. The question is whether the provincial government will take this opportunity to strengthen or weaken the plan – or do anything at all. The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks has not revealed its intentions. Rather than proposing specific amendments for consideration, ...