High Park, Grenadier Pond © Christine Ambre
Tkaronto, February 2, 2026 – This World Wetlands Day, Ontario Nature is shining a light on seven incredible community champions from across the province who are working tirelessly to protect local wetlands. From Indigenous land protectors to local advocates to a municipal councillor, their dedication provides hope for a more resilient future.
Ontario holds around 25 percent of wetlands found in Canada and 6 percent of all wetlands on Earth. These wetlands are also Indigenous cultural landscapes, comprising the territories of many First Nations since time immemorial. Wetlands sustain a diversity of iconic wildlife, reduce the impacts of flooding and purify the water we drink.
However, southern Ontario has lost an estimated 70 percent of its original wetlands. In the Greater Toronto Area, around 90 percent of the original wetlands are gone. By weakening wetland and species habitat protections in recent years, the Government of Ontario has further threatened these essential ecosystems. Despite these provincial rollbacks, people across Ontario are protecting wetlands from the ground up.
“When we understand nature, it becomes abundantly clear why we must protect it. Wetlands and water in particular are critical for our survival, not just for drinking but for ecosystem function and protection of our communities. Today we have separated ourselves too much from nature, so I call on everyone to reconnect and develop empathy for our natural world.” – Tara Bauer, Director, Turtles Kingston
“While Northern Ontario has vast areas of intact wetland, wetlands in urban areas are subject to the same pressures as in the south. Protecting these special places is a priority. Over the years we have acquired dozens of wetland properties in the William Bog PSW, located right in the middle of the City of Thunder Bay. We continue to work with local officials to encourage wetland protection.” – Susan Bryan, Nature Reserve Liaison, Thunder Bay Field Naturalists
“Every being has an important role in the web of life. Turtles are the healers of the waters as they help keep the waterways clean and healthy by consuming decaying plants and animals and much more. In all Creation stories this planet is known by many as Mother Earth who has existed before the arrival of humans. We know Mother Earth can survive and thrive without us. But there isn’t one human that can survive without all that is being provided by waters, land, and beings.” – Carolynne Crawley, Co-Founder, Turtle Protectors / Mishiikenh Gizhaasowin
“Our wetlands and rivers – including the Attawapiskat, Kapiskau, Ekwan, Opinnagau, Albany and Winisk – are central to our sacred territories and sustain our food, medicines, and ceremonies. The health of these lands and waters is inseparable from our connection to our ancestors and the wildlife we depend on. We are all Treaty people, bound by the promise that these relationships endure for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the water flows and the Anishinaabe are here. Living up to reconciliation means taking action now to prevent further violations of Indigenous rights and to protect these wetlands for future generations” – Michel Koostachin, Founder, Friends of the Attawapiskat River
“Wetlands are essential infrastructure, and communities rely on them more than we often realize because they store water, slow runoff, and reduce flooding, especially in places like Orangeville that were built on wetlands. Managing invasive species and protecting these systems is practical, local work, and even when protections are weakened elsewhere, municipalities can step up together through regional cooperation. Small actions add up, and the benefits will hopefully be felt for generations to come.” – Tess Prendergast, Orangeville Town Councillor
“Wetlands are increasingly being recognized as ecological powerhouses – and none too soon. Despite this incredible natural gift and global responsibility, Ontario’s wetlands have suffered decades of abuse and they remain under siege by development.” – Janet Stavinga, Co-Founder and Board President, Friends of Stittsville Wetlands
“It’s no secret that wetlands are vital spaces that ensure the survival of our local wildlife and help them thrive. Aside from protecting biodiversity, these natural spaces serve as a tool to help mitigate the risks of severe weather events through stormwater diversion. We must continue to work together to protect, restore and maintain wetlands forever.” – Matt Thomson, Community Conservationist and Chair, Mariposa Ecological Initiative
-30-
For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact: Shane Moffatt, Ontario Nature, shanem@ontarionature.org, 416-432-7145
Notes to Editors
The full list of Community Champions is:
Tara Bauer is the Executive Director of Turtles Kingston and has a background in hydrogeology. Between Turtles Kingston and her nature education business – Blue Marble Learning Scene – Tara’s passion for nature is abundantly clear. Tara shares her love of nature and insights for making positive change through everything she does.
Susan Bryan is the volunteer Nature Reserves Chair with the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Club. The group owns and protects more than 11,000 acres of land in the Thunder Bay District, including parts of several significant wetlands.
Carolynne Crawley is one of the Co-founders of Turtle Protectors, Mishiikenh Gizhaasowin, an Indigenous and volunteer-led collective embraced in a two-eyed seeing approach protecting, educating and advocating about Turtle relatives in ten parks across Tkaronto/Toronto. She grew up with a deep relationship with Mother Earth. As a child she would bring home orphaned and injured animals to receive care by wildlife rehabbers and would reunite lost animal companions with their humans. Carolynne still honours this commitment today.
Michel Koostachin is a proud Cree member of Attawapiskat First Nation. He is the founder of the Indigenous grassroots group, the Friends of the Attawapiskat River, comprised of the Ojicree, Ojibway and Omushkegowuk people who have lived in harmony with these lands since time immemorial. They bring awareness to the people who still travel and live on the waterways throughout Treaty 9 about the proposed “Ring of Fire” mining development that would forever contaminate their lands and destroy one of the last remaining intact peatlands in the world.
Tess Prendergast is an Orangeville Town Councillor, elementary school teacher and community volunteer with a focus on environmental justice. Her work has included expanding tree canopy, protecting pollinators, and strengthening wetland management to address invasive species in support of flood mitigation and resilience.
Janet Stavinga is the President and Co-Founder of Friends of Stittsville Wetlands – a volunteer, community-based, not-for-profit corporation with a mission to protect, restore, regenerate and rewild the fragile and ecologically significant Goulbourn Wetland Complex, near Stittsville, a community within the City of Ottawa.
Matt Thomson is a Community Conservationist and Chair, Mariposa Ecological Initiative, based in Severn. He advocates for better environmental policy within his community to protect people, wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on.