Category: News Releases
The Story of the War of 1812 comes to life at Backus Heritage Conservation Area
September 5, 2017Port Rowan – September 5, 2017 – Join more than 200 soldiers and settlers as they set up camp for the annual War of 1812 Re-enactment. Each year on the weekend following Labour Day, historical re-enactors converge on Backus Heritage Conservation Area for what many people view as the highlight of the year – the War of 1812 Reenactment.
“Many visitors tell us that the War of 1812 Re-enactment is their favourite Backus Heritage Conservation Area event,” says Sheila Johnson, Curator at Backus Heritage Conservation Area. “For over 25 years, the Norfolk Militia Heritage Regiment has partnered with Backus Heritage Village to present an immersive experience of what life was like in Norfolk County during the War of 1812, specifically during the raids on coastal communities in Upper Canada in 1814.” The event includes battle demonstrations, an 1812 sutlery, costumed interpretation of camp life and the life of a soldier as well as medical practises of the time.
Programming and activities take place 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 9th and Sunday, September 10th. The main battle will be at 2:00 pm.
Backus Heritage Conservation Area is located 2 kilometres north of Port Rowan.
For more information about activities scheduled during the War of 1812 Re-enactment event visit lprca.on.ca or contact Sheila Johnson, Curator at 519-586-2201, ext 228.
Cops Help Kids Cast a Line
August 4, 2017Langton, ON: Fishing enthusiasts from across the region will soon be making their way to Langton. The annual Deer Creek Children’s Fishing Derby is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 12.
The event will run from 8:00 am until 1:30 pm at Deer Creek Conservation Area and is open to kids ages 16 and under. The cost to participate is $3.00 for kids 7 and under or $4.00 for kids 8 to 16. Sponsors have donated tons of prizes for the kids in both age categories, with a special prize for the first kid who reels in a tagged fish. Registration for this event begins at 8 am at the pavilion. Day park use admission is required.
The event is sponsored by Fishing Forever, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to funding worthwhile fishing, conservation and education projects. It is also supported by the Police Association of Ontario, Canadian Tire, Norfolk OPP Detachment, and the Long Point Region Conservation Authority.
According to Bob Izumi, Chair of Fishing Forever, there is nothing that puts a smile on a kid’s face faster than catching a fish. “That’s why I love to create opportunities for children and families to go fishing,” states Izumi. “Fishing is one of the very best ways for parents and other adults to establish productive and healthy relationships with children.”
For more information on this event, please visit www.lprca.on.ca, www.facebook.com/LongPointConservation, www.twitter.com/longpointca, or contact Jarah Stefek jstefek@lprca.on.ca.
To learn more about Kid’s, Cops and Canadian Tire, please visit www.kidsandcops.ca, www.facebook.com/KidsCopsCanadianTire, or contact Joanne Vaughn at events@kidsandcops.ca or 905 632 8679.
NORfolktales of Land and Lake takes the stage this August
July 14, 2017Port Rowan, Ontario – July 14, 2017 – Local history buffs and theatre enthusiasts will not want to miss this upcoming event. For the first time ever, and in recognition of Canada’s 150th birthday, the Long Point Region Conservation Authority and Anne Barber and Brad Harley of Shadowland Theatre are presenting the outdoor theatre production entitled NORfolktales of Land and Lake. This youth and community-based outdoor theatre production takes place this summer at Backus Heritage Conservation Area north of Port Rowan. NORfolktales is being created in four free workshop weekends at locations all across Norfolk County, culminating in an outdoor extravaganza from August 17 to 20 at Backus Heritage Conservation Area. Performances each night will be held at 7:30 pm. Tickets are: $10 for adults, $5 for youth (6-17) and free for children 6 years and younger.
“NORfolktales of Land and Lake celebrates the myriad of stories from both Indigenous and settler histories and traditions that form our sense of community in Norfolk County,” says Backus Museum Curator Sheila Johnson. “Tales of shipwreck and rum-running, invasions and rescues, heroines and mad doctors will all come to life in the historic Backus Village site,” she added.
The creative team behind NORfolktales includes Ian Bell of the Crooked Stovepipe and Shadowland Theatre’s Anne Barber and Brad Harley. They have collaborated on multiple projects in Norfolk County including Lion on the Lake held in Port Dover in 2012. NORfolktales is an ONTARIO 150 project funded by the Province of Ontario through the ONTARIO 150 Partnership Program, the Ontario Arts Council and the Youth Theatre Training Program of Theatre Ontario.
LPRCA to Host Longest Picnic Table – World Record Attempt
June 30, 2017Port Rowan, Ontario – June 30th, 2017 – As part of Canada 150 celebrations, the Port Rowan/South Walsingham Heritage Association in partnership with the Long Point Region Conservation Authority is inviting people from across the region to help break a Guinness World Record for the Longest Picnic Table at Backus Heritage Conservation Area on Saturday, July 8th, 2017 at 1:00 pm. 150 picnic tables will be lined up in Backus Heritage Village from the Cherry Valley School to the Museum in celebration of Canada 150. Admission to Backus Heritage Conservation Area is free that day for all visitors bringing their lunch in a picnic basket to participate in this record attempt. Gates for the world record event will be open at 11:00 am.
“Picnic Day at Backus Heritage Conservation Area will include a host of activities for all ages, “says LPRCA Chair Noel Haydt. Highlighting the day will be World Record holder and illusionist Lucas Wilson who will be performing his magic starting at 2pm. The Picnic Day will also include food and dessert trucks, live music, picnic games, vintage baseball and of course, the World Record attempt at 1pm.
“It should be an absolutely great event,” added Haydt. “Picnics have been a large part of this region’s social culture, so what better place to host it than Backus Heritage Village.” The Backus Heritage Village is located at Backus Heritage Conservation Area, just north of Port Rowan.
Cops Help Kids Cast a Line
June 23, 2017Port Rowan, ON: Local police officers will be helping kids cast a line this summer during a Children’s Fishing Derby, Sunday, July 2.
Taking place at the Backus Heritage Conservation Area, 1267 Second Concession, Port Rowan, the derby will run from 8 am to 1 pm. Children 16 and under are invited to “drop a line in the Mill Pond” for a chance to win great prizes. Anglers are asked to bring their own equipment, though bait will be provided. The cost to participate is $3.00 per child, plus regular park admission.
The event is sponsored by the Canadian National Sportfishing Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting recreational fishing. It is also supported by Fishing Forever, the Long Point Region Conservation Authority, Canadian Tire – Simcoe & Delhi, Norfolk OPP and the Police Association of Ontario.
Fishing Forever chair Bob Izumi is an avid supporter of recreational fishing for both the young and the young at heart. “I love to create opportunities for children and families to go fishing,” states Izumi. “Fishing is one of the very best ways for parents and other adults to establish productive and healthy relationships with children.”
For more information on this event please visit www.lprca.on.ca www.facebook.com/LongPointConservation http://www.twitter.com/longpointca or contact Brandon Good, Supervisor at Backus Heritage Conservation Area, 519-586-2201 ext 221.
To learn more about Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire, please visit www.kidsandcops.ca, www.facebook.com/KidsCopsCanadianTire or contact Sarah McMichael at events@kidsandcops.ca or 877 822 8881.
Free Family Earth Day event at Backus
March 20, 2017Earth Day is right around the corner and the Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) is celebrating on Saturday, April 22 with an afternoon of free activities at Backus Heritage Conservation Area.
“This free event gives families and friends the perfect opportunity to connect with nature,” said Fiona Navickas, Outdoor Educator at Backus Heritage Conservation Area. “Here, you can experience the great outdoors close to home.”
Drop into the Conservation Education Centre any time between 1pm and 3pm to:
- Explore nature on a guided walk
- Get creative with nature-themed crafts
- Decorate a flowerpot to take home
- Snap a picture in an awesome photo booth
- Test your skills in “Minute-to-Win-it” games
- Discover what lives in the Mill Pond during a pond dipping session
Backus Earth Day is a free community event focusing on learning about our environment through educational hands-on activities. It is presented by the Long Point Region Conservation Authority in partnership with Norfolk County Community Services Department.
For more information, contact Fiona Navickas, LPRCA Outdoor Educator at outdoored@lprca.on.ca or 519-586-2201 ext 231.
Backus Owl Prowl: A Nocturnal Adventure
March 6, 2017Backus Heritage Conservation Area’s popular Owl Prowl program returns on March 25th. This evening program starts at 6 pm and offers participants an opportunity for some outdoor fun while learning about local owls.
Join Fiona Navickas, Long Point Region Conservation Authority’s (LPRCA) Outdoor Educator, to learn why owls are so important to the environment. “The Owl Prowl is a great event for people of all ages,” Navickas says. “The people taking part learn amazing facts about owls and the ways they adapt – and normally find the event to be a ‘hoot’.”
The evening features a visit from the Canadian Raptor Conservancy with live owls that attendees can meet up close and personal.
Attendees will also walk through Backus Heritage Conservation Area on a guided hike to look and listen for signs of owls following the indoor presentation.
Admission to the Owl Prowl is $2 per child, $4 per adult or a $10 family package.
For more information, please contact Fiona Navickas, LPRCA Outdoor Educator at outdoored@lprca.on.ca or 519-586-2201 ext 231.
Backus Heritage Conservation Area, where history meets nature, is located two kilometres north of Port Rowan.
LPRCA Board approves 2017 Budget
January 27, 2017The Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) has approved its 2017 budget. “The 2017 Budget reflects the wide range of programs and services that help ensure the community’s expectation of a healthy environment,” explained LPRCA Chair Noel Haydt. “With support from our member municipalities, the federal and provincial governments, volunteers and the community, LPRCA will continue to implement cost-effective and innovative programs aimed at enhancing the watershed.”
The budget totals just under $4.5 million and includes a levy contribution from member municipalities of approximately $1.8 million.
LPRCA then raises the balance of the budget from other revenue sources, such as camping fees, conservation areas admissions, planning permits, property rentals, forest management revenue and provincial grants. This is the second year in which no reserve withdrawals are planned to support the operating or capital budgets.
Working with Haldimand County to update flood and erosion hazard information, completing repairs and studies totaling $205,000 for various water control structures, and spending $231,000 on improvements to infrastructure at five conservation areas, are just a few of the projects in LPRCA’s 2017 Budget.
These special projects are all in addition to the significant work that Long Point Region Conservation Authority undertakes annually, such as habitat protection and restoration, water quality projects and monitoring, flood response, education and recreation to build a healthy and resilient watershed.
For further information contact LPRCA General Manager Cliff Evanitski at 519-842-4242 ext 225.
LPRCA Elects New Chair and Vice-Chair
January 19, 2017The Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) has a new chair and vice-chair. Noel Haydt, a councillor in Norfolk County, has been elected chair and John Scholten, a councillor in the Township of Norwich, has been elected vice-chair.
Both Haydt and Scholten were elected by the LPRCA board of directors at the board meeting on Wednesday, January 18, 2017. Elections are held for both positions at the first board meeting each year.
The 11-member LPRCA board is composed of representatives appointed by the municipalities within the Long Point Region watershed.
Haydt was elected as councillor for Ward 1 in Norfolk County in 2014, and was subsequently appointed as a member of the LPRCA board. He is the owner of a computer networking company.
In his remarks, Haydt expressed his gratitude to the board for their support.
He noted that he looks forward to his leadership role on the LPRCA board, and to collaborating with his fellow board members in navigating policies, programs and budgets in order to make strategic decisions at the watershed level. “Moving forward, it is important that we continue to make good business decisions that will improve infrastructure, cash flow and streamline the services LPRCA provides to residents.”
He identifies working with all stakeholders to find a balance between preserving and enhancing the natural assets of the watershed and serving the needs of the community as one of the primary goals LPRCA will face this year.
The chairman pointed to the work to be done to revise and update a number of policies. “It is very important to have public insight and experience factored into our decision-making process so that we may continue to improve,” stated Haydt.
Scholten has been a member of the LPRCA board since 2014. He is the former General Manager of a farm equipment company and was elected to the Township of Norwich council in 2014.
Noel Haydt replaces Mike Columbus, who was elected as the chair of the LPRCA board of directors in 2015, and John Scholten replaces Dave Beres, who was elected as the vice-chair, also in 2015.
For further information contact LPRCA General Manager Cliff Evanitski at 519-842-4242 ext 225.
Order trees from the LPRCA now for spring 2017
November 14, 2016Rural property owners interested in planting trees next spring should call the Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA). The Conservation Authority has announced it has trees and grants available for spring 2017 through its Private Land Tree Planting Program.
Many landowners order trees every year and the LPRCA is committed to working closely with them. This year more than 65,000 trees were planted. LPRCA is hoping to exceed that target next year and is welcoming new orders and enquiries for 2017.
“Now is a good time to order trees for the best selection and availability,” said LPRCA Lands and Waters Supervisor Paul Gagnon. “We offer a wide variety of native tree species, but some quantities of deciduous and coniferous trees are limited.” Tree orders can be placed until March 15, 2017.
Trees purchased through this program may be planted by the landowner or through the LPRCA’s full planting service. “Planting sites may have to be prepared this fall to be ready to plant in the spring,” advises Gagnon. “A phone call to LPRCA now means your name will be added to the list for site visits,” said Gagnon. He added that demand for this service is high, so the sooner a call is made, the greater the likelihood of having trees planted next spring.
“The LPRCA has a variety of restoration programs including reforestation, wetland creation, buffer strips and prairie planting. Landowners who would like to learn more about financial assistance are encouraged to get in touch with us as soon as possible,” said Gagnon.
Sources such as the Ontario Power Generation Forest Corridor Project, Forests Ontario’s 50 Million Trees Program, municipal roadside planting programs and Rural Water Quality Programs available in the counties of Brant, Elgin, Haldimand and Oxford can provide subsidies to eligible landowners.
For more information about ordering trees and LPRCA’s planting programs, contact Lands and Waters Supervisor Paul Gagnon at 519-842-4242, ext 232 or email watercare@lprca.on.ca.