Land Acquisitions Set Stage for New Conservation Areas

Spring Wildflowers - Dundas Valley Conservation Area

VISTA 2015-16 Annual Report from the Hamilton Conservation Foundation Land acquisitions set stage for new Conservation Areas East Escarpment and Westfield Conservation Area projects will provide Hamilton with two very diﬀerent Conservation legacies.

Two very different sets of circumstances have led us to a pair and dramatically boost biodiversity in the area. of opportunities to help establish two new Conservation In the west, surplus lands from the City of Hamilton will allow Areas. us to develop several acres of new trails winding through In the east, funding from the Heritage Green Community forests, swamps and meadows behind Westfield Heritage Trust and City of Hamilton, coupled with flooding concerns in Village. The existing Heritage Village is thriving and offers us the Battlefield and Stoney Creek watersheds, have led the an opportunity to compliment it with multi-use trails perfect Conservation Authority to acquire 178 acres south-east of the for cross-country skiing in wintertime. Devil’s Punchbowl Conservation Area. The planned You can read more about these two planned Conservation Areas Conservation Area will boast a number of engineered on Pages 4 and 5. wetland features designed to mitigate flooding from storms

Newly acquired lands behind Westfield Heritage Village open the door to a whole range of new recreation opportunities. 2016-17 Board of Dear Friends, Directors A lot of my neighbours in Hamilton are curious when I tell them about my work with the Anne Tennier, Chair Foundation. Ine Wauben, Vice-Chair In the middle of a city with opportunities to impact the Alex Luft, Secretary-Treasurer lives of many, a thriving arts scene, and cutting-edge Eric Crump, Past Chair health care, the environment doesn’t necessarily register when people think of philanthropy. Lloyd Bailey I’m always happy to explain that what motivates me is a Fred Fuchs chance to make a positive impact on the future of our Joan MacDonald city. At our AGM in May, Hamilton Community Margaret Reid Foundation CEO, Terry Cooke, talked about visionaries such as T.B. McQuesten and the green legacies that they Ron Richter left our city. Anne Tennier, Chair, 2016-17 Ex-oﬃcio Members: I can’t help but feel honoured to have the opportunity to build on the work of those visionary people. Robert Pasuta (HCA Chair) This is something my neighbours can appreciate. With two new conservation areas Chris Firth-Eagland (HCA CAO) under development and a new generation of Hamiltonians embracing and celebrating our natural legacy, this is an exciting time for everyone, young and old, Directors emeritus: who cares about their personal environmental responsibility. Dr. Richard Farmer Alan Stacey

Anne Tennier, Chair, 2016-17

Your donations at work Where donations came from:

n Corporations: $213,576 22% n Foundations: $312,937 33% n Individuals: $370,436 39% n Endowment Interest: $54,489 6% Total: $951,438 100%

What they helped to achieve:

n Environmental Education $55,000 6% n Improving natural lands $376,975 40% n Securing more natural lands $145,913 16% n Improving trails $169,519 18% n Westﬁeld & heritage sites $189,937 20% Total: $937,344 100%

A discrepancy between donations received and spent is to be expected from year-to-year as land and trail projects do not necessarily proceed in the year in which funding is received. To view our complete 2014 Audited Financial Statements and Statements from previous years please visit our website at www.YourNatureYourLegacy.ca or call Foundation Administrative Coordinator Toby Tresidder at 905-525-2181 ext. 129.

2 Completed Hermitage Ruins bring joy to new generation Dundas Valley visitors can once again enjoy the beloved Hermitage Ruins. After a year of community-led fundraising, hard- work and careful planning, the main building at the Hermitage Ruins has been restored. While outbuildings, landscaping and interpretive signs remain to be completed, the site was unveiled in style with the help of the Argyll Pipe Band on June 25th. Leanne Pluthero, a lead volunteer behind the community-led Save the Hermitage campaign, was thrilled to bring her children to the oﬃcial opening. “I'm so pleased that the Hermitage is standing proud again! This is now a place that my kids can bring their kids and so on for many years to come. I couldn't be happier with how the Hermitage looks now!” said Pluthero. Thanks to the community’s generous support, the new structure is expected to preserve the ruins for generations to come. The newly restored Hermitage Ruins were unveiled June 25th. The reinforced support structure is expected to preserve the ruins for generations.

3 Desjardins Canal New East Escarpment Conservation Area will control flooding and boost biodiversity Parklands open to Funding from the Heritage Green Community Trust has helped the Hamilton Conservation Authority to acquire 178 acres of public natural land immediately south-east of the Devil’s Punchbowl Formal opening and naming Conservation Area. announcement planned for Cactus Those acquisitions have opened the door to a partnership with the Festival, Saturday, August 20th . Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) which will use the area as a pilot project to control flooding downstream in built urban areas along The much-anticipated Desjardins Canal Stoney and Battlefield Creeks. Parklands are now open to the public. The Poor soil conditions and straight, narrow, stream channels in the area former greenhouse complex has been turned mean there’s little to no capacity to store water in between rainfalls. into a nature park on the banks of the Desjardins Canal complete with trails, public art FCM funding, along with $50,000 per year in Foundation donations, will and Chimney Swift habitat. help identify and implement opportunities for new wetlands along the creeks which will cool stream temperatures, create spawning habitat for fish species and dramatically bolster the area’s biodiveristy.

Trails, trees, public art and Chimney Swift habitat make up the newly restored park lands. Cootes to Escarpment partners secure properties Acquisitions secure two parcels north of Royal Botanical Gardens land holdings. Donations to the Foundation helped the Hamilton Conservation Authority and Royal Botanical Gardens complete a joint purchase of a 42.2 acre parcel of land. The parcel connects to natural lands owned by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton Conservation Authority and Conservation Halton, all partners in the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System. This completes a vital corridor of protected natural lands between Cootes Paradise and the Niagara A quiet country lane leads to the forested heart of the first property acquired as Escarpment. part of the planned East Escarpment Conservation Area. 44 New Conservation Area at Westfield will Dundas Valley bring outdoor recreation opportunities to complement thriving Heritage Village acquisition secures Surplus city lands provide opportunity to complement Village new stretch of with all of the recreation amenities of a Conservation Area. The relatively flat site in Rockton, purchased from the City of Hamilton Tiffany Creek for a nominal fee, will be perfect for multi-use year-round trails which can be groomed for cross-country skiing in the winter and host a variety Natural area preserved next to Bruce of uses in the summer. Trail and former Jewish Community The site is also home to an unusual type of habitat called alvar. Alvar has Centre. very thin soil and large stretches of exposed limestone. It is prone to both flooding and drought and hosts a unique and diverse set of prairie species. Alvars are unique to the Great Lakes Basin and nothern Europe. Between the opportunities for recreation, nature interpretation and the ever-growing Heritage Village, a great number of exciting projects will need funding in the years to come!

Tiffany Creek (pictured above) runs through the heart of the newly secured property. The newly acquired property boasts two meadows, a section of Tiffany Creek and plenty of rich, diverse Carolinian forest. The area is also part of the larger Dundas Valley EcoSystem in close proximity to the Dundas Valley Conservation Area and immediately downstream of the Tiffany Falls Conservation Area. The property is located on Lower Lions Club Road adjacent to the former Jewish Community Centre and the Bruce Trail. Experts will evaluate the property’s sensitive ecology before any trails or visitor amenities are considered for the site. Exposed limestone and karst features will make the new lands behind Westfield Heritage Village exciting spaces to explore. 5 Thank you to all of our fantastic donors We’re excited to recognize everyone who donated between December 1, 2014 and November 30, 2015

Individual Donors Vic Abradjian Shirley Carson Keith Sutcliffe and Suzanne Sara Kinnear Michael Murray Alan and Lorraine Stacey Christine Adams Cecilia Carter Smith Gibson Reuven and Ruth Kitai Jack & Dawn Mutton Gwyneth Steinnagel E. Louise Adnams Melanie Cave Charles Gidley Doug and Valerie Kloet John Nauta Jean And David Stevens Brian Agnew Brunhilde Cawi Ann and Bob Glass Janet Knowles Kelly and Robert Neale Brian And Darlene Stewart Edison and Margaret Aitken Aline Chan Micheline Godbout Alfred and Heide Koehn Anne Newbigging Chris Stewart Todd Aldgate Mary Chantrell Fred And Brigitte Gohler Nicole Kondo Craig Noble Heather And Gord Stewart Lida Alexanian Marilyn Chayka Jason Goncalves Michael Kooiman Richard Omatsu Lisa Stewart John And Louise Allchin Lisa Chevalier Martin Goyetche James and Miriam Kramer Jacqueline Ormondroyd Beverly Stoltz-Moore Janet Amos Doris Chidley Kelly Grafton Mary Krucker Tom O'Shaughnessy Beth Stormont Chris And Tom Anderson Li-Fang Chiu-Bebber Kay Grant Brad Kuhn David and Allison Outerbridge Anne Strang Karen and Keith Anderson Anne and David Church Robert Green Dorothy and Harm Kuik Debbie and John Overmeyer John and Patricia Strung Margaret Anderson-Herrmann Sam Cino Karen Gulenchyn Kevin Lacey John Overmeyer Andrew and Dorothy Tapajna Rosemary Anstey Philip and Frances Clappison Judy and Russell Gurman Barry and Betty Lambeck Anne and David Paines David and Pauline Taylor Norman Archer Carolyn Williamson and Hugh Stan And Janyce Hadala Lynne Larsen Susan And David Pasian Jennifer Taylor Janet Arsenault Clark Fred Hall Blair Laxdal Stewart Patch John Thode Sheila Arthur James And Jody Coker Ken Hall Colin S. and Jocelyn Lazier Rob And Arlene Patry Sandra Thomaidis Elaine and Roger Ashton Colin and Suzanne Cooper Richard Wayne Bullock and Fran Alvin Lee Irene Payk Amy And Joshua Thorne Dennis and Patricia Baker Sondra Cornett Hall-Bullock Jeng Lee Barb Pearson John Thornton David Thomas Baldock Grace Correia Cecil and Gladys Hamilton Wendy Leger Steven And Barbara Pearson Stan Tick Barbara Bambi Gord Costie Joanne Hannaford Andrew Leith Macrae Scott Peck Lillian Toop Edith Barlow Ian And Jane Couper Vic And Sandra Hannah Tricia Leong Karen Philips Maria Topalovic Gerry Bartlett Robert Crockford April Harbottle Arthur and Elizabeth Lesser Liz Pigott John Tranter Lillian Bastarache Mark and Roberta Crowther Kevin Hardy Edward Lewis Jim Pike Toby Tresidder Warren Beacham Ken Cruikshank Matt Valeriote and Theresa Grant Linney Libby and Tom Pokoradi Susan Trink Margaret Beale Eric and Sharon Crump Harper Robert Livingstone Bruno John And Anne Polewski Irene and Ken Tse Thelma Beaton Frank Cucullo Lynn and Vi Harris Eileen Booty and David Lord Lynn Prestayko Carl Turkstra Eleanore and Thomas Beckett Nelson Da Costa Marion Harrison Linda Lowrey Jane Walker and David Price Tony And Carolyn Van Hoevelaak Jason Beckett Naomi Dart Paul Harrison Joan Lukas June Quigley Peter Van Kester Alan Beech Margaret Davidson Bruce and Marian Harschnitz Kathleen Lyne Scott Tadgell And Brenda Rafter- David & Susan Van Sickle Joan Bell James Blaine And Barbara Davis Martin Harvey Joan MacDonald Tadgell Laurie Vandenhoff Mona Bell Peter Dawson Susan Harvey Richard & Ethel MacDonald Debbie and Bruce Rankin Tyler Veenendaal Sandy Bell Jerrold Dell Mark Hatton Frank MacIntyre Jim Rankin Mark Tamminga and Joany Terrence Bell Luigi Delsordo Alison Healing Jeanne Keldson and Errol D Ronald Rea Verschuuren Peter Bender Carol Desnoyers Arthur Heidebrecht MacKenzie Adam Redish Marianne Vespry Frederick Bennett Susan Devai Margaret Henning Carole Ann and G James Maga Ron and Debra Richter Barbara Waddell Barbara Bergevin Alfred and Angela Dewit Carrol Herauf Doug Mallory Joyce Robb Jim and Sue Waddington Amy Cross and Patrick Rob Dobos Margaret Anderson-Herrmann Roger Mann John and Anne Roberts Sue Waddington Bermingham Richard Dobson and Otto Herrmann Deborah Marcellus Marion Robertson Doreen Walker Sylvia Bingham Christopher Ian and Magda Doris Joan Hewitt Carolyn Isabel Marsh Bob And Joanne Ross Heather Hill and Bill Walker Judi Binns Gloria Doskoch David Gattie and Leah Higgins David Marshall Carol Ross Irwin and Susan Walker Carissa Bishop Ted Doyle Peter Hill Heather Martin Simone And Ed Rotstein David Grant And Leesa Walker- Margaret Black Harry Drews E Hilton Karl Massfeller Wilf Ruland Grant Russ Blacklock Anne Durkacz Donald Hitch Arlene McCaw Ellen and Patrick Ryan Ian Ward Dorothy and Joseph Bolf Robert and Budia Eastman David Hitchcock Mary McCormack Maria Salamone Ine Wauben Jackie and Bill Boros Maha El Moraly Adrienne Hol Jim McDonald Art Samson Garnet Webster Patrick Boudreau Elizabeth Eldridge Anne Holbrook Sheila McDougall Diane Sandler Jean Weir Helene Boutin Maureen Emmerson Sharon and Stephen Holford Doreen McGahey R.J.L And Patricia Saunders James and Brenda Welch Robert and Susan Bowman Charles and Lana English Robert And Karen Hornby Cathie McGarry Steve Savoie Robert Wellbeloved Brian And Susan Brewer John Evans Grant and Patricia Howell David and Joan McInnis Dawn Sawford Aurora Wells Michelle Briand Russ And Kathy Evans Mary Howell Barbara and Don McKay Edward And Norma Sayles Elizabeth Wenzelbach Kristen Brittain Chester Faulknor Abigail and Rebecca Hughes Barb McKean Hans Schlechta Katie West Hazel Broker John Fawcett Gail Hunter Patricia McKee Karl Schwarze John and Jean Wheeler Sarah Brophy Grace Fede David Hutton Mary McLaren Cam Scott Elizabeth Whetham James And Jill Brown Bill Filer Nora Iancu Joan McNamara Douglas Scott Gwen Whitelaw Rondalyn Brown Debbie Carson and Chris Firth- Marian Inksetter Nobuko and Scott McNie Douglas A. Scott Bob and Karen Wilkins Janet Bryers Eagland Christina Jager Gordon & Angie McNulty Bernard Selway Shirley Williams Thomas Bryner Nathan Fleet Darlene and Robert James Alan McPherson Elisabet Maarit Service Rob and Sandra Winninger Marcus Buck Greg Fletcher Khurseed And Olive Jeejeebhoy John & Eileen McQuade Frederick and Susan Shaffer Raven Wolfgang Elizabeth and Russell Burgess Karl & Barbara Freeman Ed and Margaret Johnson Alan Mendelson Norma and Roy Sheldrick Teresa, Dave And Alex Wong Lisa Burnside Helen Freer Michael Johnson Clark Merritt Daren Shepherd Rebecca Wong Kai Pun Heidi, Sydney And Rowan Gwenn French Lisa Johnstone Mary Miazga Ian Sidders Ashlee Wood Burrows Lori Fuciarelli Diana and Norman Jones Ronald G. And L. Carolyn Mills Jim And Flavia Simpson Karen And Allan Wood Dennis and Norma Button Mary-Elizabeth and Bill Fulton Greg Jones Margaret MisKelly E Peter Sirman Gary Wrathall Marjory Buttrum Amy Gagnon Michelle And Rupert Joyner Gloria Miskelly-Trott John And Judy Smith Brian and Nancy Wylie Sonja Cadman Alexandra Gall Michael and Elizabeth Kay Robert Montgomery Paul Smith Gwyneth and Mathew Xagoraris Brian and Patricia Cameron Greg Gallagher Barbara And Ken Kemp Valerie Moore Dragica Sobot Jianping Xu and Heather Yoell Gordon and Patricia Cameron David Gerrie Carol and Tony Kerigan Kari Morrow-Floren Patrick Speissegger Sue Young Gord Carpenter Heather Giardine-Tuck Ellen Kershaw Scott Mryden Earl Spence Carol Zinszer Debbie Carson Alison and Kerr Gibson A Carmelle And Vytas Kezys Henry & Bella Muller Harriet Sprague Geraldine Zuccherato 6 Corporate and Foundation Donors Ancaster Lions Club Gary Shea Financial Ltd Ironworkers Local 736 RPR Environmental Inc. Ancaster Village Church Glaziers Union Local 1795 John Deere Foundation of Canada Sheffield Lions Club ArcelorMittal Dofasco Inc. Greening Marketing LDI Consulting Strabane Women's Institute Burlington Runners Club Hamilton Community Foundation Lynden Horticultural Society TD - Friends of the Environment Foundation Cambridge Handweavers & Spinners Guild The Marlies and Alan Clark Fund Merry Farms Inc. The Brabant Foundation Chitty Charitable Foundation At The Strategic The Dougher Fund National Steelcar Limited - Employees Charitable The First Unitarian Church Of Hamilton Charitable Giving Foundation The Ray Lowes Environmental Fund Donations Trans Canada Pipelines CIBC Children's Foundation The W Robert & Marion S Shivas Conservation Northern Casket Tree Canada Domestique Cyclo Cafe Trust Fund Optimist Club of Strabane Unifor 87M Donn Zver Pottery The Young Fund Province Of Ontario Urban Core Developments Dufferin Construction Company HCA Employees RBC Foundation WalterFedy Estate Of Hazel Awde Helderleigh Foundation Rotary Club Of Ancaster A.M. Windmill Power Equipment Friends Of Doctor Cairo Heron Creek Yoga Rothsay Friends Of Westfield Heritage Village Hub Installations Royal Bank Of Canada

Tribute Donations Donations were received in honour of the following:

Brian and Rashne Baetz The First Unitarian Church of Jack Lee Leanne Pluthero Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice Hamilton Bruce MacKenzie Justice Marshall Rothstein Lena Wight Destro Busby Dyanne & Jim Gibson Antonio Leo Mattioli Doug Scott Dr. Steve Buttrum Maurice Green Judy & Jack McIlwraith Henry Sprague Marion Coran Jennie Herbolic Mark Mehlenbacher Endel Toop Paul Duﬀ John Larocque Frank and Joan Pearce Daniel Watts

Milestones on the Donor Wall We want to recognize the following donors whose cumulative giving hit a new milestone in 2014-15! Cornerstone Partner ($1,000,000+) Richard and Ethel MacDonald Debbie and John Overmeyer The Helderleigh Foundation Stackpole International The Heritage Green Community Trust Friend of Conservation ($1,000-4,999) Emerald Partner ($100,000-499,999) Norman Archer John Deere Foundation of Canada Estate of Hazel Awde Platinum Partner ($50,000-99,999) The Children’s Fund (AM900 CHML, Y108 & 95.3 Fresh Radio) Grace Correia TransCanada Pipelines Mark and Roberta Crowther Wilkins & Walker Gloria Doskoch Gold Partner ($25,000-49,999) Estate of Bill Filer The First Unitarian Church of Hamilton Amy Cross and Patrick Bermingham Joanne Hannaford Ron and Debra Richter Christina Jager Silver Partner ($10,000-24,999) Jeanne Keldson and Errol MacKenzie Enbridge Pipelines Alfred and Heide Koehn Patricia McKee Andrew Leith Macrae National Steel Car Limited Employees’ Charitable Donation Fund Patrick and Ellen Ryan John and Patricia Strung Nature’s Guardian ($5,000-9,999) Maria Topalovic Hamilton Port Authority in honour of Yellowline Asphalt Inc. Marianne Vespry Joan MacDonald James and Brenda Welch Jianping Xu and Heather Yoell

7 Your donations to the Hamilton Conservation Foundation help to:

l Get kids learning about the environment outdoors l Protect and improve the Hamilton watershed’s meadows, forests, streams and wetlands in our Conservation Areas l Build new trails and improve existing ones l Bring history to life at Westﬁeld Heritage Village Thank You!

Bee on Purple Aster, Christie Lake CA

The Hamilton Conservation Foundation protects and enhances natural and cultural legacies by raising and stewarding funds for the Hamilton Conservation Authority. Our charitable registration number is 85997 5617 RR0001. VISTA Published by Hamilton Conservation Foundation PO Box 81067, 838 Mineral Springs Road Ancaster, ON L9G 4X1 905-525-2181 www.YourNatureYourLegacy.ca [email protected] Editors: Grace Correia and Toby Tresidder Photos: Sandy Bell, Conservation Ontario, Lindsay Davidson. Template concept: Hellingman Communications