New planning, regulation staff

New staff join ABCA planning, regulations department

Daniel King is new Regulations Coordinator; Meghan Tydd-Hrynyk is Planning & Regulations Officer 

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has announced that it has hired Daniel King as the new Regulations Coordinator and it is promoting Meghan Tydd-Hrynyk to the position of Planning and Regulations Officer. 

“The planning and regulations program plays an important role protecting life and property from natural hazards and we believe these two staff members will be wonderful assets in their important roles in that work,” said Geoffrey Cade, ABCA’s Water and Planning Supervisor.

Daniel King has a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering from the University of Waterloo with a Water Resources Option. He completed a Master of Engineering and Public Policy at McMaster University. He also has experience presenting to municipal decision makers as a finalist in the Cities of Tomorrow competition hosted by the Large Urban Mayor’s Caucus of Ontario.

“Daniel will be a valuable addition to this department,” said Cade. “Daniel brings with him a great deal of knowledge and interpersonal skills which will be great assets as he works closely with local property owners to respond to requests for permits.” 

King has held positions at engineering consulting firms throughout Ontario and British Columbia. This has fostered in him a strong set of skills communicating science and engineering to clients in a variety of industries and the public sector. The new Regulations Coordinator said he is pleased to be in this new role. He said his training in environmental engineering has “made me first and foremost a problem solver.” 

The newest member of the ABCA staff replaces Andrew Bicknell, who assumed the role of the new Manager of Public Works at the Municipality of Bluewater after having served many years at the conservation authority.

Ausable Bayfield Conservation’s regulations program has also announced that Meghan Tydd-Hrynyk, formerly the Planning and Regulations Assistant, has been named Planning and Regulations Officer. “Ever since Meghan came to us from Conservation Halton she has become someone upon whom we rely as a major asset to this program and we are pleased to announce that she is taking a more significant role as Planning and Regulations Officer,” said Cade.

She graduated in 2007 from the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Urban Planning program at Fanshawe College. Prior to joining Ausable Bayfield Conservation in 2015, she worked at Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) and Conservation Halton. She said her previous work as a GIS and Cartographic Specialist is helpful in her new role as “it gives me the ability to understand the mapping and to provide valuable information and to respond effectively to questions.”

The conservation authority mandate includes prevention of loss of life and property damage from natural hazards such as flooding and erosion. It accomplishes this through programs, including planning and regulations, supported by the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 147/06 (the Regulation of Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses).

ABCA invites anyone who requires a permit through the conservation authority to contact Daniel or Meghan to find out more about the permitting process.