MUSIC FOR THE MORAINE, June 8, 2013 7pm
Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main Street, Uxbridge
Tickets are on sale now for an evening of “Music for the Moraine”, a fundraising event for the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust on Saturday, June 8 at the Uxbridge Music Hall.
Uxbridge’s own Darrin Davis Band will open the show at 7 p.m. If you haven’t had a chance to catch Darrin and Amy and some of their musical partners before you are in for a sweet treat!
The second set of the evening will feature Canadian Country Music Association multiple Award winning Wendell Ferguson. After hearing Wendell’s superb guitar work and frequently hilarious lyrics you will understand why he’s so popular through the alternate country and folk circuit and frequently sought to accompany many Canadian musicians.
Tickets are available at $30 each from Blue Heron Books, 62 Brock St. W., Uxbridge, or you can call the Land Trust office 905-833-3171 ext 30 to reserve by credit card.
Of the 3,477 acres of the Oak Ridges Moraine protected by the Land Trust, 688 are in Uxbridge Township. With your support of this fundraiser this great work can continue to benefit each and every one of us.
The Trust extends a special note of thanks to the John and Pat McCutcheon Foundation and the Gosling Foundation for their support for this event.
2013 Motorcycle Ride for the Moraine
Sunday, July 7
Polish up your ride and support the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust!
This mid-morning tour of the Moraine starts and ends at Zephyr with a BBQ lunch and community viewing of motorcycles.
For more information about registering and collecting pledges in support of Land Trust work call Mary at 905-473-9523 or download
the Pledge Form and Registration Form here. All money raised goes directly to the Trust in support of property stewardship. Donations of $20 or more will be eligible for a tax receipt.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 10am Saturday, April 27th, 2013
Aurora Cultural Centre, 22 Church Street, Aurora
Immediately following the meeting, we will be joined by Steven Holysh, Chief Hydrogeologist, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, presenting, “Walking on Water - Characterizing the Groundwater beneath of the Oak Ridges Moraine". In addition to being a fascinating look at what lies unseen under our feet, Steve’s work with the Conservation Authorities Moraine Coalition will assist with understanding the groundwater functions of the Moraine in the 2015 review of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan.
The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust will be sending invitations to the Annual General Meeting by e-mail or mail shortly. If you have not received the invitation, agenda and Annual General Meeting materials, please contact the office The Gate House 13990 Dufferin Street North King City Ontario L7B 1B3 Tel:(905)833-3171 Fax: (905)833-6619
A Green Christmas: 0RMLT together with Christmas Tree Farms across the Moraine - December 2012
The Land Trust is collecting donations at three local area Christmas tree farms for two weekends in December.
The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust will be at three local Christmas tree farms over the next two weekends to accept donations to help protect the moraine.
“This is a great initiative that is bringing awareness to people that live on or near the Moraine,” said Susan Walmer, Executive Director of the Land Trust.
The Land Trust is a charitable organization formed in 1999 to help Moraine properties stay protected through agreements with landowners acquisition of lands and on-going stewardship.
The participating tree farms include Horton’s Tree Farms, Ludbrooks Tree Farm and Smalley’s Tree Farm. You can make a donation on December 8 & 9 and 14th & 15th.
To date the Trust has secured over 3,317 acres of land and planted over 90,000 trees.
To learn more about the Trust visit www.oakridgesmoraine.org
Patricia Short-Galle, President of the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust (left), Susan Walmer, Executive Director and Brian Horton (right) of Horton Tree Farm flank Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Wayne Emmerson as he holds a freshly cut Christmas tree at Horton's Tree farm in Stouffville Saturday. Courtesy of Stouffville.com http://stouffville.com/featured/moraine-trust-accepting-donations-at-local-christmas-tree-farms/
Celebrate a Milestone Event at Hogan's Inn, Sunday, November 25, 2012
The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust has just received the largest personal donation in the Trust’s 12 years of operation.
“The $100,000 contribution from the Hon. H.N. (Hal) Jackman, former Lt. Governor of Ontario is a huge boost,” says Trust President Patricia Short-Gallé, “We have received grants for specific purposes in the past from many sources; among them the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation and the City of Toronto to name a few. This however, is an outright gift to support our operating programs. This kind of support just doesn’t happen every day.”
Mr. Jackman’s involvement with the citizen directed Land Trust doesn’t begin and end with this donation. Mr. Jackman took on the role of chairing the Trust’s $1 Million Stewardship Campaign in 2010 which now stands at $660,000. With his help other philanthropic individuals and family foundations have been influenced to take a closer look at the importance of the Moraine and contribute to the campaign. All have been recognized through the Trust’s newsletter and website.
A recent gift of $300,000 from the Rogers Foundation directed to securement of lands, one of four areas of focus for the campaign, is also noteworthy. “This will allow us to work one-on-one with landowners to explain the benefits of entering into conservation easements and cover costs that we must incur in every transaction”, notes Ms. Short-Gallé.
Outreach and the establishment of a “Lands Forever Fund” to support stewardship of Trust owned properties and annual monitoring of all lands protected by the Land Trust are the other areas the campaign supports.
As Mr. Jackman remarks, “We could be trying to purchase just one small property for this amount but that’s not how this Land Trust operates. Using Conservation Easements leaves land in private ownership but commits owners to protecting natural features and functions. It’s a smart investment of limited funds; it spreads responsibility beyond the organization and lasts forever!”
Individual donations, private foundation grants and specific project funding from government and non-government sources round out support for the Land Trust’s activities. To date that translates to 3,317 acres of the Oak Ridges Moraine protected forever with the help of private landowners.
With 65 rivers and streams originating on the Moraine, and 250,000 people relying on it as the direct source of their drinking water, protection of land means protection of water, and more, for the millions across the GTA.
“Only 2% of total charitable giving is directed to environmental work,” notes Susan Walmer the Trust’s Executive Director, “we all depend on and benefit from a healthy environment. We are thankful for the support that Mr. Jackman and so many others are showing through results in this campaign. ”
Every contribution directed to the Trust, no matter what size, is an extremely important contribution to a healthy Moraine future. The Trust is not a regulatory or government agency. As a registered charity, the Trust can receive and provide taxable receipts for gifts of land, securities, cash and bequests.
‘Your Moraine … protect water, land and life for tomorrow’
Other contributions to the campaign to date have been received from:
The Patrick and Barbara Keenan Foundation. The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, Edward Jackman, The J. P. Bickell Foundation, The Dalglish Family Foundation, The Charles H. Ivey Foundation, The John and Pat McCutcheon Charitable Foundation, The McLean Foundation, The Takla Foundation and many generous groups and individuals.
2012 Motorcycle Ride for the Moraine
The 40 participants in the 2012 "Ride for the Moraine" enjoyed a great day seeing just how beautiful the Moraine can be from the back of a motorcycle.
"People are surprised at how much you see things differently," said Reid Irwin, one of the riders. "It changes with the time of day and on the roads of the Moraine, there's always another great view to take in."
$2,500 was raised through registrations and donations to support the work of the Trust.
Stay tuned for another Ride for the Moraine on Sunday, July 7, 2013!
photo courtesy of The Uxbridge Times-Journal July 2012
2011 Motorcycle Ride for the Moraine
photo courtesy of The Uxbridge Times-Journal July 2011
10TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY held September 16, 2010
Honorable Henry (Hal) Jackman chairs $1 Million Stewardship Campaign
The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust celebrated its 10th year of working to protect the natural features of the moraine with a gala event at the Koffler Scientific Reserve at Jokers Hill, King City. Situated in a designated natural core area of the moraine the property, owned by the University of Toronto, provided a most appropriate setting for celebrating the Land Trust's first decade. Over 100 attendees, consisting of land owners, past donors and supporters, partners and stakeholders in moraine protection were on hand at the launch of the Land Trust's first major fundraising campaign.
The Honorable Henry (Hal) Jackman, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, in his role as Chair of the $1 Million 10th Anniversary Stewardship Campaign, acknowledged the accomplishments of the Trust over its first 10 years and encouraged attendees to continue supporting the work of the Land Trust. Mr. Jackman articulated his personal connection with the beauty and diversity of the moraine and outlined the ways in which the Stewardship Fund will support this community run non-profit organization into its next 10 years.
With Many Thanks to:
University of Toronto, Koffler Scientific Reserve, Township of King, Mavea , Black Forest Garden Center, Highland Chevrolet Cadillac Ltd. Aurora, Steam Whistle Brewing, Magician donated by Tom Atkins, Pounds per Square Inch Performance Company, The Roving Chef.
The Hon. Henry (Hal) Jackman addresses attendees. Background: President Patricia Short-Galle and Executive Director Susan Walmer.
Past King Township Mayor and Land Trust Board Member Margaret Black welcomes attendees and endorses the township's support for the Land Trust's work.
Lois Brown, MP Newmarket-Aurora, delivers greetings to the Land Trust on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Friends and associates recognize Don Prince with the Land Trust's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Donors, supporters and partners share in the celebration of the Land Trust's accomplishments of 10 years.
Don Prince, Chief Land Securement Officer with the Land Trust since its inception, acknowledges the generosity of conservation easement and land donors.