Stewardship champions, funding partners honoured
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority honours local landowners, funding partners with Decade Award for stewardship
Ninth of nine Decade Awards, presented during ABCA’s 80th anniversary year, recognizes local landowners and stewardship champions and funding partners who make it possible to implement stewardship projects in watershed
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has presented its ninth of nine Decade Awards during ABCA’s 80th anniversary year (2026). The most recent award presentation ceremony took place at Arkona Lions Museum and Information Centre, at Rock Glen Conservation Area in Arkona, on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
ABCA presented the Decade Award, for the 2020s decade, to local landowners and stewardship champions who implement stewardship projects and best management practices on their private lands as well as the organizations who support this work as funding partners.
Ray Chartrand is Chair of the ABCA Board of Directors.
“The ninth of nine Decade Awards recognizes very deserving honorees indeed,” he said. “We are pleased today to recognize local landowners and stewardship champions and the organizations that support their work as funding partners. Enhancements benefitting soil, water and habitat are possible thanks to the participating landowners who implement positive projects and best practices on their private lands in our watershed area. Local land stewardship is also made possible thanks to the funding partners who provide financial incentives to support the work of our local landowners.”
More than 25 people attended the October 29 award announcement and presentation reception, including local landowners and funding partners.
Between March and October, the conservation authority has recognized a deserving award recipient for each decade of ABCA’s history (1946-2026).
“It has been an honour, during 2026, to present these special ABCA 80th anniversary Decade Awards to recognize and thank the groups making positive differences in our watershed community,” said the ABCA Chair. “We also look forward to working with landowners and funding partners in the years and decades to come to continue to enhance Ausable Bayfield watersheds.”
Nathan Schoelier, ABCA Interim General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer, thanked all the watershed landowners who have completed thousands of projects across the watershed over the past 80 years. He also thanked ABCA’s municipal partners and the organizations providing financial grants for stewardship projects as well as ABCA staff who support the work of local landowners. He said he looks forward to working with all these partners going forward to continue to make enhancements in the watershed.
He also shared remarks from Don Goodyear, Project Executive of the new Lake Huron Regional Conservation Authority (LHRCA).
“Congratulations to the landowners across the Ausable Bayfield watershed who have put best management practices into action on their properties,” Goodyear said. “Your commitment to improving water quality and enhancing wildlife habitat demonstrates the positive difference local stewardship can make. Thank you for investing your time, effort and resources into a healthier watershed.”
Goodyear said the stewardship work in the watershed is a reminder of the value of partnerships between community and funding partners, landowners, and staff, to turn shared goals into practical improvements on the ground.
“Today, above all, we celebrate your achievements,” he said. “Thank you for caring for your land and for the lasting contribution you are making to the Ausable Bayfield watershed.”
A tree was planted, at the conservation area, after the ceremony, in honour of the work of local stewardship champions and the organizations that support them.
STEWARDSHIP CHAMPIONS AND FUNDING PARTNERS RECOGNIZED WITH DECADE AWARD – Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) presented its ninth of nine Decade Awards during ABCA's 80th anniversary year (2026) at a tree planting ceremony at Rock Glen Conservation Area in Arkona on Thursday, October 29, 2026. This most recent award recognized participating landowners and stewardship champions using best management practices and completing beneficial projects on their lands. It also recognized the organizations that help to make these projects possible with funding support. Shown at the tree planting and award announcement ceremony are, from left to right in photo, are: Janette Richards; Sue Aldwinckle; Paul Aldwinckle; Kimberley Cathline, Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer at OSCIA; Frank Smeekens; Sarah Smeekens; Mari Veliz, ABCA Healthy Watersheds Manager; Carol Leeming; Judith Parker; Gary Eastman; Kate Monk; Jim Handyside; Ray Chartrand, Chair, ABCA Board of Directors; Ted Briggs, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks; Nathan Schoelier, ABCA Interim General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer; Paul Barker; Brenda Barker; Alex Glazirin; Carolyn Young; Phil McNamee; Mary Hanley; Jason Cole, County of Lambton Stewardship Program; Elise Gabrielli-Schroder, Program Director, ALUS Middlesex; Angelo Persichilli; and David Ball.