Exploring the Conference Theme
Saturday, June 9, 2007

Lessons to learn from changing landscapes,
by Ron Reid

Natural landscapes are the product of a blend of ecological and cultural forces; the only thing constant about them is change. The pace of change in southern Ontario is picking up, both for good and ill. Landowner attitudes, the creeping spread of urbanization, farm economics, and the dawning reality of climate change, all form a part of the landscape equation.What has past experience taught us? What vital lessons have we yet to learn?

For the past three years, Ron Reid has been Executive Director of the Couchiching Conservancy, a regional land trust based in Orillia. Over the course of his career, he has worked at many levels to protect natural areas, including two stints on the staff of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists. He has been the Chair of a municipal environmental advisory committee and of the Ontario Nature Trust Alliance. In the fall of 2006 he was honoured as a Conservation Pioneer at the A.D. Latornell Symposium.

Schedule at a glance

6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Early Morning Bird Walks
7:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration, Information and Exhibits
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Opening Remarks
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Plenary Session by Ron Reid
10:30 a.m. – noon Concurrent Sessions
noon – 1:30 p.m. Luncheon
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Cash Bar with Musical Entertainment
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Banquet
8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Presentation of Ontario Nature Youth Essay Contest Awards
8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Guest Speaker: Kevin Callan