Taken from minutes of the Board 20 January 2014
Conservation
Owen Clarkin and Dan Brunton Owen and Dan informed the Board that a 30.2 hectare property on the Ottawa River, in Renfrew County, is for sale. On top of its regionally, provincially and nationally significant species, its geological assets are remarkable Dan described its exceptional karst landscape and large sinkholes, and stated that the property stands over part of the largest underwater cave system in Canada. The Nature Conservancy of Canada is interested in protecting this site and is prepared to contribute financially. Dan and Owen recommended that the Board consider this opportunity to contribute to the conservation of this property. Some directors asked how OFNC members would feel about purchasing land that is outside the 50-km circle of the club. Dan replied that this is on the Ottawa River, in the Ottawa Valley, and that the OFNC should take part in preserving ecological jewels such as this property. The consensus of the Board was that especially considering past OFNC contributions to land acquisitions in the Frontenac Axis, the Alfred Bog and elsewhere, the Renfrew County site was within the Club’s primary area of interest. Owen reported that the Conservation Committee would review this proposal and report back at the next to the Board meeting.
Taken from minutes of the Board 17 March 2014
Czasak Bequest / Gervais Property
At the BOD meeting in January 2014, Owen and Dan informed the directors of a unique 30.2 hectare property on the Ottawa River that is for sale. They presented this as a major conservation opportunity for the OFNC, especially because of the money available from the Czasak bequest. Owen has since presented this to the Conservation Committee. They were very supportive of the proposal but were concerned with the property’s distance from Ottawa. Some directors expressed the same concern. Dan reiterated that this is still in the Ottawa Valley, that it is on the Ottawa River, and that Violetta Czasak was an active member of the Ottawa Rowing Club. He emphasized again the uniqueness of this property, and that owner would prefer not to subdivide it. The BOD gave its approval to the Conservation to continue with the discussions on this proposal and to keep in touch with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. ACTION: The ad hoc Bequest Committee to draft a bequest expenditure policy and present a proposal regarding the Gervais property with this policy in mind.
Taken from minutes of the Board 22 April 2014
Gervais Property
As the Eastern Ontario Program Director of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), Gary Bell was in attendance to discuss the purchase of the Gervais Property. This property on the Ottawa River in Renfrew County was first described to the BOD in January 2014. It was suggested that the OFNC could contribute financially towards the purchase of this 30.2 hectare land as its exceptional karst landscape and regionally, provincially and nationally significant species make it a high conservation priority. The BOD had pointed out that funds from the Violetta Czasak bequest could be used for this. An ad hoc bequest committee was therefore created to draft a bequest expenditure policy. On April 2, Dan sent the Bequest Proposal Analysis regarding the Gervais Property. (See Annex 1.) Gary took the opportunity to talk about the OFNC’s past contributions to land purchases piloted by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (the Elbow Lake and Wolf Grove properties) and announced that the NCC has finalized its Ottawa Valley Conservation Plan. It is clear that the Gervais Property is an amazing conservation opportunity. The OFNC directors then had a chance to ask Gary questions about the property and the procedures to acquire it. · He said that even though there are no definite plans about who will be the caretaker of the property, one option would be to lease it to Ontario Parks; it would then become a provincial nature reserve. · The appraisal of the land was done by the Appraisal Institute of Canada, following the standards of the Ecological Gift Program.
The rest of the money needed to buy the property would be acquired through donations. The NCC will not receive more money from the federal government in 2014. · Gary emphasized that recognizing the large contribution from Violetta Czasak’s bequest will not be a problem, and that the OFNC can help with the wording for a plaque. · The NCC has a stewardship fund. For the Gervais Property, Gary foresees the stewardship needs as regular inspections of the property, invasive species monitoring and management, establishing good relations with the neighbouring property owners and possibly developing trails with signage where appropriate. · Although the underwater cave system has not been fully mapped out, the NCC estimates that the Gervais Property covers around 50% of the system. Gary and Dan pointed out that the caves actually pass under the Ottawa River and continue on the Québec side. In light of this discussion and the Bequest Proposal Analysis received by the BOD, Dan tabled the following motion: MOTION: That the OFNC support the initiative led by the Nature Conservancy of Canada to purchase the Gervais Property by contributing the amount of $200,000 from the bequest of Violetta Czasak. Moved by Dan Brunton/Carolyn Callaghan CARRIED Gary warmly thanked to OFNC. He also mentioned that there are two other properties in Eastern Ontario the NCC is considering: the last 200 acres of the Alfred Bog which are now for sale and a property on the Plantagenet escarpment with a rich and pristine mature hardwood forest. Fenja also suggested that the Events Committee consider organizing a trip to the Elbow Lake property for the purchase of which the OFNC has made a substantial donation.