Christie Lake CA stream restoration in full swingSeven stagnant fishing ponds on Spencer Creek tributaries are being replaced with natural streamchannels in a massive multi-year project to transform the Conservation Area’s aquatic ecology.

Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve - Flamborough

VISTA2014-15 Annual Report from the Hamilton Conservation Foundation

With excessively warm temperatures and large amounts ofalgae, it was clear that the Christie Lake CA fishing ponds,created in the 1970s, were harming the Spencer Creekwatershed.

A grant of just over $150,000 from the federal RecreationalFisheries Partnership Program helped take the first of theseven ponds offline and restore the stream’s natural channel.After work was completed in March of 2014 the transition hasbeen nothing short of remarkable.

Inspired by the dramatic success of the first phase of theproject, the Foundation invested $40,000 in donations to the

General Conservation Fund into the project. This grant hasunlocked additional federal funding which is being used totransition three additional ponds to natural stream channelsover the next two years.

This work will reduce water temperatures to their naturalcoldwater state, restore natural channel processes, restoreaccess to fish spawning habitat, construct wetlands andrehabilitate riparian buffers. This project represents anincredible ecological benefit for Spencer Creek and theHamilton watershed as a whole!

Before: A perched culvert serves as a barrier to spawning habitatupstream from the pond.

After: A larger open-bottom culvert connects a lush, greenrestored stream channel  directly to spawning habitat.

Your donations at workWhere donations came from:

n Individuals: $484,430 47%

n Corporations: $175,666 17%

n Foundations: $300,390 29%

n Endowment Interest: $66,925 7%

Total: $1,027,411 100%

What they helped to achieve:

n Environmental Education $55,000 5%

n Improving natural lands $169,218 16%

n Securing more natural lands $823,173 77%

n Improving trails $2,000 0%

n Westfield Heritage Village $24,125 2%

Total: $1,073,516 100%

A discrepancy between donations received and spent is to be expected from year-to-year as land and trail projects do not necessarily proceed in the year in which funding is received. Toview our complete 2014 Audited Financial Statements and Statements from previous years please visit our website at www.YourNatureYourLegacy.ca or call Foundation AdministrativeCoordinator Toby Tresidder at 905-525-2181 ext. 129.

Dear Friends,Living next to the Dundas Valley, I talk to myneighbours and many individuals I meet on thetrails as I walk with my dog. It is amazing thatmany of these people have no idea of the goodwork that goes on around them to acquire andpreserve these lands.When the opportunity to serve the Foundation as Chaircame, I could not pass the chance to serve. It puts me in arole where I can tell everyone just how lucky we are tolive in a city that is surrounded by nature.

I have been a proud supporter of the Foundation since2000 and am still finding out about the wonderful thingsthat your donations put into action.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of VISTA. That it makes you feel good about whatyour contributions have done for nature and for the benefit of future generations.

If you ever see me on the Dundas Valley trails, please do not hesitate to stop me. Iwould love to have the opportunity to thank you in person. Your support enrichesthe world for us all.

Eric Crump, Chair, 2015-16

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2015-16 Board ofDirectors

Eric Crump, Chair

Anne Tennier, Vice-Chair

Alex Luft, Secretary-Treasurer

Richard MacDonald, Past Chair

Lloyd Bailey

Joan MacDonald

Ron Richter

Ine Wauben

Patrick Whitty

Ex-officio Members:

James Howlett (HCA Chair)

Chris Firth-Eagland (HCA CAO)

Directors emeritus:

Dr. Richard Farmer

Alan Stacey

Eric Crump, Chair, 2015-16

Hazel Awde passed away in November of 2014,leaving legacy gifts to a number of localcharities.

Legacy gifts pay tribute to late husband’s charity work

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Hazel Awde paid tribute to her late husband with legacy gifts tomany of the organizations he supported as a volunteer.Hazel’s late husband Murray (d. Dec 23, 1998) served on the Foundation’sBoard of Directors in the 1980s and early 1990s, serving as Chair of ourPublicity Committee. His role in promoting conservation was invaluable ina time when the Foundation had no staff members and relied entirely onthe skill sets of volunteers. Luckily for the Foundation, Murray soldadvertising for CKOC before retiring and was a well-known figure amonglocal media outlets, making him a perfect fit for the Publicity Committee.

Known by his colleagues and peers as “Mr. Volunteer,” Murray volunteeredfor dozens of local organizations. In addition to volunteering with theFoundation Board, he served as a canvasser for the Canadian CancerSociety for 30 years, chaired the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal,volunteered with Wesley Urban Ministries, was honored for his volunteerservice by the Sertoma Club of Hamilton and was active in the RyersonUnited church congregation.

Murray’s late widow Hazel was equally involved in Ryerson United Churchand chose to show her love of the wider Hamilton community through herestate.

Hazel left gifts in her estate to several of the charities Murray supportedwith his volunteerism, including the Foundation.

Above: On April 28th, the prairie is burned to control the spread invasivespecies and renew the soil.

Below: By May 28th, one month after the initial burn, native seeds havetaken root and greened the entire area.

Prescribed burn revitalizes Dundas Valleyprairie ecosystemPrairie burns are done to mimic a natural disturbance in thisfire-dependent ecosystem. Burns helps to promote diversity and to minimize the presence andimpact of invasive species. The resulting nutrient-rich ash also revitalizesthe soil and helps promote future plant growth.

The project was carried out in the far-west end of the Dundas ValleyConservation Area thanks to donations to the Foundation from TallgrassOntario and TD Friends of the Environment.

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Hermitage Ruinsrestoration to beginDonations received to date will stabilizethe existing structure by the end of 2015.Funding is now needed to connectvisitors with the captivating storybehind the ruins.

Threatened by imminent collapse andhamstrung by a limited budget, theConservation Authority sought to reduce theruins in the Dundas Valley CA to a lower heightwhere they would no longer pose a threat topublic safety.

Community opposition provided the impetusfor a more comprehensive solution which waspresented alongside several donor pledgessolicited by Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson.

Ferguson’s fundraising and community effortshave closed the funding gap to just $90,000 forthe comprehensive $600,000 restorationproject. In January the Foundation announcedit would match the next $25,000 in donations,of which $5,000 has already been received.

Adam Dart, a descendant of the Leith familywhich owned the Hermitage, is hoping thematching funding will help close the fundinggap.

“The sight of the Hermitage Ruins is majestic. Itis a place where past and current generationshave come to learn and marvel at the history ofwhat once was. With this restoration, futuregenerations will have that same opportunity toimmerse themselves in the history of the site,”said Dart.

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The crumbling structure needs immediate attention toprevent collapse.

New east Mountainwetland projectunderway$4 million fund at ConservationAuthority will secure key propertiesalong Battlefield and Stoney Creeks.The multi-year project, funded by the HeritageGreen Community Trust, will purchase key landparcels in Upper Stoney Creek which will bedeveloped into engineered wetlands thatprovide a host of ecological benefits includingflood control and increased diversity. TheFoundation has committed to raising anadditional $250,000 over five years to supportthe massive project.

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Community support sees Maplewood Halldemolished to make way for new nativeplantingsThe former Artaban Road facility in the heart of the DundasValley CA has been demolished.With $134,000 donated and a further $60,000 pledged, demolition ofthe hall, a small residence, a washroom building and an old woodencamp was completed in September and October. Building debris wereremoved shortly thereafter.

Donor funding will now help to populate the site with native plantingswhich will compliment the surrounding forest. Future work will alsoconvert the existing access road into a trail and address erosionconcerns where the road crosses a Sulphur Creek tributary.

A drinking fountain, interpretative signs and a small sun shelter are alsobeing considered along with a small parking lot at the entrance offArtaban for people visiting nearby Sherman Falls and the rest of theConservation Area.

Above left: An aerial map of the planned trail route. 

Above right: The Fifty Point lagoon, which the trail will circle.

New trail planned for Fifty PointWhile most visitors know Fifty Point as a marina, campsite andeven ball hockey venue, it also boasts some impressive naturalareas.With partial funding from the Helderleigh Foundation, we’re working tohighlight those natural areas with a new multi-use trail which willcircumnavigate the lagoon and connect to a recently installed birdingplatform on the Lake Ontario shoreline.

Fundraising for the trail will take place through the summer and fall. Ifsuccessful, the new trail will be built in spring of 2016.

Join our Board The Hamilton Conservation Foundationis looking for qualified candidates tojoin our volunteer Board of Directors.Send your resumé and a cover letter by emailto foundation@conservationhamilton.ca.

Directors help protect and enhance natural andcultural legacies by assisting with:

● Fundraising● Strategic Planning● Risk Management● Monitoring● Governance● Board Committees● Director Development and Evaluation● External Relationships

There is no deadline to apply. Recruitment willcontinue to be an ongoing process.

Wetlands between Dofasco 2000 Trail and Devil’sPunchbowl will form a new Conservation Area.

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Thank you to all of our fantastic donorsWe’re excited to recognize everyone who donated between December 1, 2013 and November 30, 2014

Mai Abdollahi-SoufianBrian AgnewTracy AlkertonA.C. Pete & Margaret AllardKaren and Keith AndersonCindy AniolRosemary AnsteyNorman ArcherPierre ArnoldJanet ArsenaultCrystal AsherElaine and Roger AshtonElizabeth AveryDennis and Patricia BakerMary BallDoug and June BarberMatthew BarberJennifer BarclayLeonard BarrecaLillian BastarachePatti BeamsleyThelma BeatonAllan BeattieJohn and Marilyn BeckettMeralee and Thomas BeckettJoan BellSandy BellFrederick BennettBarbara BergevinAmy Cross and Patrick

BerminghamSylvia BinghamCharles BinkleyThe Bishop FamilyDorothy and Joseph BolfKristen BoulardBarbara BowenRobert and Susan BowmanSylvia BradeAnn BraveKristen BrittainHazel BrokerJoyce BrownRondalyn BrownJanet BryersElizabeth and Russell

BurgessKaren and Nick BurkeLisa BurnsideSusan Calvert-GordonBrian and Patricia CameronGord CarpenterShirley CarsonMatt CaseySheila ChambersAline ChanMary ChantrellJoanna ChapmanVanessa ChiangKristina ChidiacBrian ChireRenee ChristiansenPhilip and Frances ClappisonCarolyn Williamson and

Hugh ClarkHeather ClarkDarryl ClarkeJennifer ClaydonJohn CoatesSusan CollierGary CookeSondra CornettGrace CorreiaGord Costie

Shirley and Jack CranstonRobert CrockfordMark and Roberta CrowtherKen CruikshankEric and Sharon CrumpBrian and Deb CsermakFrank CuculloNaomi DartMargaret DavidsonDonna DayRob DobosThe Dobson-McKee FamilyClementina D'OnofrioChristopher Ian and Magda

DorisCharles and Irene DoubroughBrianna DowneyTed DoyleHarry DrewsRobert DuboyJessica DueckLane DunlopPaula DupuyJennifer And Edward EarlyRobert and Budia EastmanRuth and Scott EdgettNick EhlertElizabeth EldridgeBarry ElvinsCherish ElwellCharles and Lana EnglishElham and Joe FarahTina FetnerSandi & Goody FettesDebbie Carson and Chris

Firth-EaglandLynda FlisakMelanie FrankeGarth FranklinKarl & Barbara FreemanMary-Elizabeth and Bill

FultonAlexandra GallJoshua GallantHelen GardnerUda GerginisDavid GerrieAlison and Kerr GibsonHope GibsonJudy GilchristDavid and Valerie GoddardDonna GoemansPat and Laverne GowlandKelly GraftonKay GrantPatricia GreenLynda GregsonGerry GroenDorothy GruggenGillian and John GunstensenJoan and Ken HallCecil and Gladys HamiltonDerek HamiltonMatt Valeriote and Theresa

HarperLynn and Vi HarrisPhil HarrisLaurel HarrisonMarion HarrisonBruce and Marian HarschnitzThe Harvey FamilyPamela HaydenElisabeth and Hendrik

Heersink

John HeersinkMargaret HenningCarrol HeraufBryan HerringMargaret Anderson-

Herrmann and OttoHerrmann

Tomris HertzbergJoan HewittJoe HewittJordan and Judy HillPeter HillHelmut HitscherichSharon and Stephen HolfordJessica HopkinsLaura HouseAbigail and Rebecca HughesGrace and John HughesMichael HunterJeremiah HurleyDavid InmanElizabeth JacksonChristina JagerDarlene and Robert JamesDennis JamiesonRayna JancarSusan JasperMichael JohnstonDiana and Norman JonesHoward JonesHilary and John KalerJ. Michael and Elizabeth KayRandy KayRon KayJoanne KehoeDavid and Linda KelsoSara KinnearAllison Kirk-MontgomeryJanet KnowlesAlfred and Heide KoehnIlona KoprivaMary KruckerBarry and Betty LambeckLois LaSalleBlair LaxdalElizabeth Le CarpentierRandy LeClairWendy LegerWillie LeighTricia LeongElaine LeslieJeffery LindgardKelly LindsayEileen Booty and David LordBrenda LorenzErin LoveLinda LowreyKathleen LyneJoan MacDonaldPeter MacDonaldRichard & Ethel MacDonaldDaniel and Jody MachielaFrank MacIntyreBruce and Laurie MackenzieJeanne Keldson and Errol

MackenzieTerry MalanDoug MalloryGlenn MallorySandra MalpassSergio ManchiaSara MandilArlene ManherzRoger Mann

Renate MantheiJennifer MarchantJoey MarshallRuss MarshallTawnia MartelLacey MartinKarl MassfellerA.E. Laurence MaughanGeorge, Krista and Olga

MaxemiukBill MazzoniPaul Harrison and Kary

McCahillArlene McCawMary McCormackVirginia McDoleJim McDonaldLeanne McDonaldSheila McDougallDoreen McGaheyElisabeth McGregorTom And Greta McGregorDavid and Joan McInnisBarbara and Don McKayBarb McKeanNancy McKibbin GrayGordon & Angie McNultyJohn & Eileen McQuadeAlan MendelsonKathy MenyesClark MerrittMelba MerrittMary MiazgaAnna and Walter MichalskySylvia MiedingerNancy MilawskiJohn Evans and Stefania

MillerMargaret MisKellyNadine MoffattEd MohrCarl & Dorothy MoorePatrick and Valerie MooreGary and Judy MorphetGail MumfordMichael MurraySheryl NadlerJohn NaismithJohn NautaKelly and Robert NealeWilliam and Marjorie NelsonJohn NeysmithPatricia And Ken NicolAndrea Nicol-PaianoLeslie & Ken NieradkaLynn NoonanJulie NortonMarian NugentRick and Susan OgilvieRobert OldhamGreg OliverLane OsbornePeter OuterbidgeDavid and Allison

OuterbridgeJohn OuterbridgeJudy OuterbridgeKeir OvertonAnne and David PainesHugh PalmerLinda PalmerMargaret ParéIrene ParonTanya Parr

Susan And David PasianAnn Gillespie and Stewart

PatchBarb PattersonScott PeckHarry PelisseroKevin PerryJean and Joan PetersBrian and Julianne PettigrewDon PfefferRobert PinderMorgan PirieNancy PollockErin PooleWayne & Gail PooleRobert PorterA. Delores PrendergastGeoffrey QuadlandBarbara RandleDebbie and Bruce RankinAdam RedishAnne RedishCarolynn ReidMargaret ReidVal ReinerCatherine ReiserMike RichardRon and Debra RichterKen RiisGerald & Mary RipleyJohn RobertsGlenna RobinsonTanya RochfortSusan RoganAlex RondiniPeter RumbleEllen and Patrick RyanMargaret SampleArt SamsonWilliam Nisker and Diane

SandlerEdward And Norma SaylesPhilip McColl and Monica

ScholzJonathan SchultzKarl SchwarzeDouglas ScottDouglas A. ScottKarley SeigriestSteve ShallhornTyler ShannikScott ShannonFrank and Susan ShawIan ShawArvind SinghGinny SmartMary SmithSpencer SmithJanet SnaithClaire Rivlin and Patrick

SpeisseggerHenry And Harriet SpragueAlan and Lorraine StaceyGwyneth SteinnagelDavid StephanGordon StermannBeth StormontAnne StrangAndrew and Dorothy TapajnaDebbie TaylorJennifer TaylorMary And Wayne TaylorNancy TaylorAnn Tekatch

Anne TennierJohn ThodeRichard & Jan ThodeSandra ThomaidisCynthia ThomasJohn ThorntonM ThorntonMaria TopalovicJohn TranterToby TresidderG & G TrottIrene and Ken TseLucienne TuckerWalter TwyfordTony And Carolyn Van

HoevelaakDavid & Susan Van SickleHans and Marg Van WijkM.A. Van WyckJanina VanderpostBill VanderytDan VarleyEvelyn VealeSusanna VendittiCandy VenningMark Tamminga and Joany

VerschuurenMarianne VespryCarolyn Aylward and Roman

Viveros-AguileraHeather Hill And William

WalkerIrwin and Susan WalkerNancy WattMark WeingartnerJames and Brenda WelchAllyson WenzowskiKatie WestStan WestneyJohn and Jean WheelerMarcia Mazurk and Elizabeth

WhethamFrancis WhittakerDavid WidmannIris WildeLaura WilliamsShirley WilliamsJim WillwerthAnne-Marie and John

WilsonJane WilsonJusten WilsonRob and Sandra WinningerAndrea WolgemuthMary WoodKara Woodbury-SmithGary Wrathall

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Individual Donors

Emerald Partner ($100,000-499,999)RBC FoundationJoany Verschuuren and

Mark Tamminga

Silver Partner ($10,000-24,999)Michael and Elizabeth Kay

Nature’s Guardian ($5,000-9,999)Canon’s Take Root program, supported by EvergreenGarry CookeMeglin Holdings Inc. - Ann L. Glass

Friend of Conservation ($1,000-4,999)Pierre ArnoldJohn and Marilyn BeckettFrank CuculloRob DobosMary-Elizabeth and Bill FultonAlison Healing

Joan MacDonaldKarl MassfellerScott, Cheryl, Abi & Zach PeckKen RiisAmy, Joshua, and Liam ThorneTheresa Harper and Matt ValerioteMary Wood

Tribute and Bench Gifts (Friend ofConservation)In Memory of Steve ButtrumIn Memory of Paul DuffIn Memory of Donna Ruth KalaherIn Memory of Rhoda MarkIn Memory of Les and Shirley ReidIn Memory of Campbell ShawIn Memory of George & Sheila SpratleyIn Memory of Sam Unsworth

Tribute DonationsDonations were received in honour of the following:

Milestones on the Donor WallWe want to recognize the following donors whose cumulative giving hit a new milestone in 2014-15!

Ancaster Self Storage Inc.B Sweet Honey And Nature CompanyBericap North AmericaBondfield Construction Company LtdThe Brabant FoundationCambridge Handweavers & Spinners GuildCanon’s Take Root program, supported by

EvergreenChitty Charitable Foundation At The Strategic

Charitable Giving FoundationCIBC Children's FoundationClyde And Scott's Women's InstituteDundas Lock & KeyFriends of the Eramosa Karst (FOTEK Inc.)Friends of Doctor CairoFriends of Westfield Heritage VillageGaler Farm EquipmentA Glen Saxon Kennels

Government of CanadaGrant ThorntonThe Great West Life Assurance CoGreening MarketingThe H.G. Bertram FoundationHamilton Community Foundation

The Marlies and Alan Clark Fund in memory ofHelmut Klostermann

The Ray Lowes Environmental FundThe Martin Foundation FundThe McGrath Milne FundThe Frank Charles Miller FundThe W. Robert & Marion S. Shivas Conservation

Trust FundThe Thorne Family FundThe Edith H Turner Foundation FundThe Young Family Fund

Hamilton Conservation Authority Employees

Helderleigh FoundationHamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant CCAC

EmployeesHydome Farms LTDJasen EnterprisesLynden Horticultural SocietyThe Malloch FoundationNorthern Lights Model Boat ClubThe Ontario Trillium FoundationPaintco IncPioneer Hi-Bred LimitedProbus Club of DundasRBC FoundationRockton Women's InstituteRotary Club Of Ancaster A.M.RothsaySettlers Supplies Inc.Sheffield Lions Club

Shell Canada LimitedSir William Osler SchoolSt. Joseph's Healthcare FoundationStrabane Women's InstituteStriped AardvarkTD - Friends of the Environment FoundationTD Bank GroupThe Thirsty CactusTrans Canada PipelinesTree CanadaTroy Veterinary ServicesTroy Women's InstituteUrban Core DevelopmentsWestover Women's InstituteWindmill Power Equipment

Brian and Rashne BaetzDiana Luce and Matthew

BarberTom BeckettJoan Bell

Victor BenoitSteve ButtrumFlorence Lewis-CalbertPaul DuffDonna Ruth Kalaher

Michael and Elizabeth KayRhoda MarkJudy & Jack McIlwraithLes and Shirley ReidCampbell Shaw

George & Sheila SpratleySam UnsworthWestfield Heritage Village

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Corporate and Foundation Donors

VISTAPublished byHamilton Conservation Foundation

PO Box 81067, 838 Mineral Springs RoadAncaster, ON L9G 4X1

905-525-2181www.YourNatureYourLegacy.cafoundation@conservationhamilton.ca

Editors: Grace Correia and Toby Tresidder

Photos: Sandy Bell, Conservation Ontario,Lindsay Davidson, Chris Hamilton, JohnOvermeyer

Template concept: HellingmanCommunications

Your donations to the HamiltonConservation Foundation help to:

n Get kids learning about the environmentoutdoors

n Protect and improve the Hamiltonwatershed’s meadows, forests, streams andwetlands in our Conservation Areas

n Build new trails and improve existing onesn Bring history to life at Westfield Heritage

Village

Thank You!Dundas Valley CA

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The Hamilton Conservation Foundation protects and enhances naturaland cultural legacies by raising and stewarding funds for the HamiltonConservation Authority.Our charitable registration number is 85997 5617 RR0001.