CLUB MEETING HIGHLIGHTS - March 14, 2023
President-Elect Joanne Serkeyn welcomed 12 Lincoln Rotarians + special guest Adam Christie to the first meeting to be held in our new meeting venue - Community Room B located in the upper level of the FLEMING CENTRE in Beamsville. She then introduced fellow Rotarian Rob Foster, who offered the invocation & toast and chaired the meeting on behalf of his POD#2 Team.
The winning 50/50 ticket was held by Adam who missed pulling the winning ace. Registrar John Maynard collected HAPPY BUCKS from the assembly...
Lindsay Dressel has a new job. In January 2023, she took the position of Wellness Program Manager at Grimsby Benevolent Fund. Lindsay was happy to explain that this is a new position at GBF and she is responsible for initiatives and programs delivered out of the WELLNESS HUB - an all-inclusive community space open to Grimsby and surrounding residents of all ages. CONGRATS Lindsay!!!
Paul R & Gayle L-R were excited that it was International Pi Day and looking forward to celebrating with friends by eating pie of course.
There was lots of happiness about the new meeting venue along with winter travel adventures.
Joanne S is gearing up for the Myeloma Canada Ride - Niagara Region on May 7, 2023. Debbie K was excited that her grandson, who is in Grade 10, had been selected to compete in the manufacturing category at the recent Technological Skills Challenge hosted at Niagara College and he won. John M happily reported that he and his wife, Sue, have sold their residence in Toronto and are finally settled in at their home in Grimsby following what was a massive renovation project. Margaret A highlighted her happiness for Sue F who works tirelessly behind the scenes (mostly at her computer) to ensure RCL's social media is current and engaging. THANK YOU Sue!!!
UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS
Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 7:30am - POD#2 Club Meeting @ FLEMING CENTRE, Beamsville
Wednesday, April 5, 2023, 7pm - Environmental SPEAKER SERIES Session - Fleming Centre, Meeting Room A
"A Garden for the Rusty Patched Bumblebee - Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators" with Lorraine Johnson, Researcher/Writer
Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 7:30am - POD#3 Club Meeting @ FLEMING CENTRE, Beamsville
Saturday & Sunday, April 15-16, 2023 - Rotary District 7090 Conference (New York State)
Saturday, April 22, 2023 - Great Lakes Watershed Clean-up
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 - CLUB MEETING CANCELLED
PROGRAM
Topic: Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA)
featuring Conservation Areas in the Town of Lincoln
Guest Speaker: Adam Christie, Director, Land Operations
Rob opened the program with a few comments from his perspective as NPCA Board Chair. He expressed his pride in the progress that the board and staff have made to address governance & operational issues that prevailed a few years ago. He also spoke of the value of conservation authorities as local agencies that manage watersheds. They’re unique to Ontario and deeply rooted in its history.
In his introduction, Rob noted that Adam grew up in the Town of Lincoln and had been working at NPCA in the land management division for over 6 years. As Director of Land Operations, Adam & his team are responsible for managing the 41 conservation areas including all facilities on these properties. The Niagara Peninsula watershed encompasses Niagara Region & portions of both the City of Hamilton and County of Haldimand.
Adam opened his presentation with a brief overview of the NPCA, which was founded in 1959 under the Conservation Authority Act. The object of a Conservation Authority is “to provide services to further the conservation, restoration, development & management of natural resources other than gas, oil, coal & minerals”.
The 6 conservation areas in the Town of Lincoln make up 17% of NPCA land holdings & total 379 hectares of which 284 ha are passive properties & 115 ha are active. They are Ball’s Falls, Cave Springs, Jordan Harbour, Louth, Mountainview, & Rockway. With recent enhancements, usage of the active properties increased by 33%.
“Connecting People to Nature” is the primary theme for NPCA’s 2021-2031 Strategic Plan with two main goals:
- Improve services and visitor experiences at NPCA properties - buildings, trail maps, wayfinding & accessibility
- Proactively seek opportunities to enhance trail connections with active transportation routes
Through the improvement of greenspace infrastructure with the support of the Canadian Community Revitalization Fund in 2021-22, NPCA has increased safe access to 6 conservation areas. For example at Cave Springs, there is now a dedicated parking area for bikes & 15 cars, a new bridge & 500 metre accessible trail.
Your TV Niagara Interview - July 2022
Adam Christie speaks to Mike Balsom and gives an update on several NPCA initiatives, including Cave Springs Enhancement Project
With the NPCA’s recent acquisition of additional property at Rockway, there is a Master Plan for a series of enhancements to be completed in phases.
Public engagement is very much a focus for NPCA with the launching of its GET INVOLVED online engagement site (https://getinvolved.npca.ca/) that allows folks to contribute their ideas and feedback on issues and projects important to them…
“We want to empower you, the people of our watershed, to be more active in shaping your community and future. We will listen to what you say, take your opinions into account, and report back to you on how community input contributes to NPCA projects.”
Wrapping up, Adam & Rob encouraged Lincoln Rotary’s engagement citing service project opportunities to be undertaken by the club in the development of the Rockway Conservation Area in the coming years.
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