January 23, 2004, Guelph, Ontario
A
community leader from Pelee Island, Canada's southernmost
community, was honoured today for his role in promoting
conservation and sustainable community development. Through years
of dedicated work and a strong vision, land steward, Ron Tiessen
has promoted conservation of Pelee Island natural and cultural
heritage and sustainable economic development for the Island. His
passion for the island community and its heritage was recognized
today with a Carolinian Canada Conservation Award at the 23rd
Annual Canadian Organic Growers Conference Public Forum in Guelph
in front of approximately 300 people.
"Ron’s work brings people together to both protect
nature and build a prosperous Island economy. His efforts have
helped make nature conservation and nature tourism part of
community activities," said Paul Smith, Carolinian Canada
Coalition chair, presenting the award to Tiessen.
"Locally-based conservation initiatives like this bring
people together to find creative ways to conserve Carolinian
Canada’s threatened wild species."
This country’s southernmost inhabited land, a ferry ride from
Point Pelee in Essex County, Pelee Island hosts some of Canada’s
rarest species leading to a number of land-use controversies.
Tiessen has been finding common ground and innovative solutions
behind the scenes.
"Ron is a man with a vision for the future who believes a
prosperous future is only possible if we recognize lessons of the
past," noted Irena Knezevic, curator of the Pelee Island
Heritage Centre and executive member of the Essex-Kent-Lambton
chapter of Canadian Organic Growers. "The Stewardship
Demonstration Farm that Ron helped to start is a great example
that vision of a future linking nature conservation and
farming".
Pelee Island has its share of significant natural areas. Only
about 10,000 acres in size, the island contains two of Carolinian
Canada’s 38 critical sites and 2 provincial parks including a
globally rare alvar ecosystem--an unusual plant community that
only grows on limestone bedrock. A third site, Middle Island--now
part of Point Pelee National Park, lies a 10-minute boat-ride
south. Provincial nature reserves, conservation lands and
naturalist club-owned lands are also destinations for nature
tourism. Tiessen believes it is important to link these natural
areas together with hedgerows, wetlands and eco-friendly
development. Such links are an example of Carolinian Canada’s Big
Picture vision of a healthy landscape with natural areas
linked together as a system.
Tiessen’s many accomplishments include:
- Founder of the Pelee Island Heritage Centre which provides
a wealth of knowledge based on his extensive research into the
natural and human history of the Western Lake Erie Islands;
- Author of several history and guide books and a virtual
museum gallery on the Virtual Museum Canada web site.
- Initiator of a high quality ecotourism program for Pelee
Island;
- Initiator of monitoring programs for parks across the island
to reduce impacts and vandalism and track wildlife;
- A driving force in Township of Pelee Island’s "Vision
for Pelee Island 2007" which includes goals for
ecologically sustainable energy, waste management,
transportation, agriculture, tourism, as well as, increased
protection of natural areas. Tiessen has consistently promoted
a realistic vision of economic growth that is compatible with
natural heritage protection;
- Founder of the island’s organic Stewardship Demonstration
Farm; and
- Tireless participation in several community projects
including the Lighthouse restoration and the Island Theatre.
Each year Carolinian Canada presents awards for conservation
and education efforts related to the special natural heritage of
the Carolinian zone by recognizing outstanding contributions by
individuals, corporations, non-profit organizations and government
organizations. This year’s award presentations are part of
Carolinian Canada’s Big Picture Roadshow, sponsored by
the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation.
Carolinian Canada is a 20-year-old coalition of 40+ public
sector and non-government conservation organizations aimed at
conserving the wildlife and habitats of southwest Ontario’s
Carolinian zone—an ecological zone lying south of a line between
Toronto and Grand Bend. Prickly pear cactus, opossum, sassafras
and magnolia trees are among the unusual native species found
here, typical of more southern climates of the eastern United
States. The partnership includes federal and provincial
departments and ministries, conservation authorities, naturalists'
groups, agricultural groups and stewardship councils.
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