Programs

Greenlands Conservation Partnership - Now Open!

 

The Call for Applications is now open! 

Conservation of Ontario’s rich biodiversity is a shared responsibility. The Greenlands Conservation Partnership program (GCP) is a plan to conserve ecologically important natural areas and contribute to the government’s climate change objectives. The Government of Ontario committed in the Spring 2024 budget to partially match private contributions to the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program with the Recipient. The government is committed to strengthening conservation partnerships to preserve more areas of significant ecological importance, protect natural areas and promote the importance of healthy, natural spaces.  

This funding cycle represents the first round of funding (2024/25) of a four-year fund. These guidelines are for the 2024/25 round only. The current funding cycle has a focus on supporting projects that acquire and manage ecologically sensitive lands, as well as stewardship/restoration/outreach (SRO) activities for properties that were previously secured through the program. Projects that include SRO elements are strongly encouraged.  

Applications are being accepted to support:  

  • Land acquisition – fee simple or conservation easement agreement.  
  • Associated costs of land acquisition.  
  • Restoration and stewardship costs on properties secured through this program, in this or previous rounds.  
  • Outreach events, including those focused on increasing the availability of green spaces and trails for the people of Ontario to enjoy, on properties secured through this program.  

Organizations may submit any number of applications. Each project must be at least $5,000 submitted through its own application. Unless otherwise determined by the External Review Committee, no applicant will receive more than 34% of available funds.  

Important Note: any project requesting $500,000 or more in funding must be prepared to complete an external audit of the entire project,undertaken by a qualified CPA, by the end of February  2025 as per program requirements. Please keep this timeline in mind when preparing your applications.    

Eligible securement projects must have a transaction closing date between July 15, 2024 and January 31, 2025.  Project expenses related to securement must be incurred between July 15, 2024 and January 31, 2025. Stewardship/restoration/outreach activities and expenses of securement projects are only eligible from the property closing date to January 31, 2025.  

Eligible stewardship/restoration/outreach projects must be completed between July 15, 2024 and January 31, 2025, on properties previously secured through the GCP (since January 1, 2021). Expenses for stewardship/restoration/outreach projects are eligible from July 15, 2024 to January 31, 2025.  

Please note that there are three changes to project eligibility requirements from previous GCP grant cycles.  

  1. Eligible securement projects must have a transaction closing date between July 15, 2024 and January 31, 2025.
  2. Projects require matching contributions at a rate of a $2.00 non-provincial investment for every dollar of provincial funds. This match ratio is newplease reach out to OLTA with questions on the match if you are anticipating that your expected match could be lower than 2:1.
  3. Projects must have, or will have, some form of public access prior to February 18, 2028 (this does not apply to Conservation Easement Agreements with private landowners). Please reach out to OLTA if you have questions about what constitutes public access. 

Completed applications and all documentation are to be submitted electronically via this:  

Foundant Technologies grant application portal  

Applicants will need to create a user account. The link contains instructions and tutorials on how to create an account and access the Apply dashboard. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Sunday, November 3, 2024. There are two application forms in the grant application portal – one for Securement Projects, and one for Stewardship/Restoration/Outreach Projects. Please refer to the information on Project Eligibility outlined in the OLTA GCP Guidelines for Applications –  Yr 2024-25 document to determine which application form is required for your Project. You will need to submit multiple attachments with your application directly through Foundant. It is recommended to use reduced file sizes where possible. Please contact the OLTA office if you have any problems or questions.  

BEFORE completing the GCP application, please thoroughly review the following documents:  

 

Greenlands Conservation Partnership Program Impact 

In the first four years of this program, for the Ontario community and local land trusts, this program so far has: 

  • Established over 12,560 acres (5,083 ha) of newly protected land and freshwater, especially in southern Ontario where nature and wildlife face the greatest pressures and where the majority of land is privately owned. 
  • Funded or partially funded 65 new projects across Ontario, from Thunder Bay to Lake Erie to Thousand Islands. 
  • Conserved 34 new properties that provide public access and increase the availability of green spaces for the people of Ontario to enjoy. 
  • Protected habitats for at least 108 species at risk. 
Nature Smart Climate Solutions Program (NSCSP)

OLTA is thrilled to announce our new Nature Smart Climate Solutions Program (NSCSP). Over the next five years, OLTA will be managing this program in partnership with at least ten Ontario land trusts to support more than 45 projects to enable ecosystems to store and capture carbon, while providing important habitat for species at risk and/or species of cultural and local importance.

This program has been made possible with the support of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)s Nature Smart Climate Solutions (NSCS) Fund. The goal of the NSCS Fund is to finance natural climate solutions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and/or removing GHGs from the atmosphere while enhancing environmental resilience and providing critical habitat for Canada’s wildlife.

This fund will be providing over $11.7 million to OLTA and its partners in order to help Canada meet its 2030 and 2050 emissions reduction targets. And it will be matched by OLTA and land trusts from others sources, such as individual donations and foundation support as well as other levels of government.

We are pleased to see that the important role community land conservation can play in contributing to nature-based climate solutions is being recognized. This significant, collaborative effort will contribute to Canada’s climate change targets by conserving lands that are at high risk of carbon-intensive use, and restoring and managing lands to enhance their carbon capture capacity.

Thank you to ECCC and our partners for supporting these efforts.

For more information about this program, please contact admin@olta.ca.

Conserving Species at Risk on Land Trust Property

Do you know what Species at Risk you have on your land trust properties?

Would you like to learn how to protect them?

Thanks to the support of the MNRF Species at Risk Stewardship Fund we are able to offer support to land trusts to help you conserve Species at Risk on your properties!

This project enables OLTA to provide guidance and expertise to enhance the capacity of local land trusts to undertake strategic conservation planning and management on their properties to benefit Species at Risk. This will be accomplished through delivery of technical training through open workshops, plus one-on-one support for land trusts to develop targeted Species at Risk action plans to inform their conservation work.

For more information on the program, please contact the Species at Risk Technician, Morgan Roblin.

Assistance for this project is provided by the government of Ontario. Government of Ontario logo

Engaging New Canadians With Nature

OLTA’s environmental outreach program, Engaging New Canadians With Nature, encourages newcomers to Canada to connect with nature through conversations around what nature means to them, learn about natural spaces and cultivate an interest in nature in Canada. This outreach work is in collaboration with CultureLink, a settlement and community organization with more than 30 years experience in developing and delivering services to meet the needs of diverse communities.

The project’s purpose is to build connections between nature groups and new Canadians to empower new Canadian to connect and care for their new natural environment and to foster opportunities for new Canadians to connect with the emotional, mental and physical benefits of nature.

In 2020 OLTA launched the first year of program, successfully facilitating many opportunities to increase engagement between nature groups and newcomers. Throughout the first year we hosted 6 nature-based events, in collaboration with 3 nature organizations, including Nature Conservancy of Canada, The Riverwood Conservancy, and Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy.

In 2021, another 6 nature-based events were conducted in collaboration with 5 nature-based organizations and land trusts, specifically: Ontario Streams, High Park Nature Centre, Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests (LEAF), Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and Muskoka Conservancy. Within these two years of the program, OLTA engaged over 200 newcomers!

Throughout the Engaging New Canadians with Nature Program, we shared resources and materials on our website to encourage the development of similar programs across the various communities our land trust members operate in Ontario. These resources can be accessed here. Recently, we created an Experiential Learning Guide after the second year of the program to share broader learnings and opportunities for land trusts to create similar programs.

 

This project was made possible with the support from TD Friends of the Environment Fund (TD FEF).  Founded by TD Bank Group in 1990, TD FEF is a national charity that funds environmental projects across Canada.

If you’re interested in learning more about the project or collaborating on an event, please contact admin@olta.ca.

Capacity Building Program

OLTA’s Capacity Building Program, is a transformative initiative that has been empowering and strengthening land trusts across the nation. Over the years, this comprehensive program has laid the foundation for sustainable land conservation practices, equipping organizations with the tools and knowledge they need to safeguard our precious natural heritage for generations to come. We are thrilled to share with you the tremendous impact and success our capacity building program builds on.  

Assessing Your Organization Program: 

At the heart of OLTA’s Capacity Building Program is the “Assessing Your Organization” program. This personalized and in-depth assessment allows participating land trusts to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement within their organizational structure and conservation efforts. OLTA expert staff work side-by-side with land trusts, devising tailored strategies to optimize their impact, streamline governance, and strengthen operations.  

Regular Workshops and Webinar Trainings on Indigenous Education: 

Recognizing the vital role of Indigenous communities in conservation, OLTA hosts regular workshops and webinar trainings on Indigenous education. These initiatives foster collaboration and mutual understanding between land trusts and Indigenous peoples, ensuring that conservation efforts are culturally sensitive and inclusive. By forging meaningful partnerships, we create a stronger, united front against threats to our natural landscapes.  

Conservation Planning and Record keeping: 

A standout feature of our Capacity Building Program is sharing resources and tools to support conservation planning and record keeping. These strategies empower land trusts to make informed decisions regarding land acquisition, preservation, and restoration. By harnessing the latest technology and spatial data, organizations can develop conservation plans and manage data to be more efficient, effective, and sustainable. 

Volunteer-led Land Trust and Board Member Meetings: 

Volunteers are the backbone of the land trust community, and OLTA is committed to nurturing their growth and impact. Our program offers dedicated volunteer-led sessions, providing these passionate individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to become effective conservation advocates. We also extend this support to board members, empowering them with governance and leadership expertise, ensuring the overall success and longevity of their organizations.  

Educational Resource Sharing: 

Collaboration is key to our collective success. Through OLTA’s Capacity Building Program, we have established a thriving network of land trusts that engage in educational resource sharing. This dynamic exchange of knowledge and best practices amplifies the positive impact of each organization, creating a ripple effect that benefits the entire land trust community. 

These works are been supported and funded by the Government of Canada through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP) and Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC) through the Land Trusts Conservation Fund, which is a component of the Natural Heritage Conservation Program.

Natural Heritage Conservation Program – Land Trusts Conservation Fund (NHCP-LTCF) Grant Programs

The NHCP-LTCF Supports Canadian charity land trusts in securing land that contributes to the achievement of the terrestrial and inland water elements of Target 1 for Canada’s 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets. It will also contribute to the protection of habitat for the recovery of Species at Risk Act (SARA) listed species at risk and the prevention of other species from becoming listed under SARA.

Wildlife Habitat Canada is providing grant administration services for the Natural Heritage Conservation Program which will invest $18 million into the Land Trusts Conservation Fund program. The Land Trusts Conservation Fund (LTCF) will provide approximately $4.5 million annually over four years (2023 – 2026) to support Canadian land trusts in securing private lands and private interests in lands.

To be eligible to apply for the LTCF, which includes a large or small grant program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Applicants must be a Canadian Land Trust
  • Applicants must be a registered Canadian Charity
  • Applicants must have adopted and be in compliance with, or working towards substantial compliance with, the Canadian Land Trusts Standards and Practices (2019)
  • Applicants must demonstrate a minimum of 2:1 in match funding raised from other non-federal sources.

For up-to-date information regarding the Land Trusts Conservation Fund program or for more information on both the Small & Large grant programs, please visit Wildlife Habitat Canada’s website here.

 

Organizing for Land Trusts - Community of Practice (OLT-COP)

Sustainability Network describes Engagement Organizing as an approach that strives to marry organizing, technology, and a culture of developing leadership in others. Shifting from expert-driven, direct mail groups toward a model that focuses on nimble, data-driven, learning organizations that place relationship building and mobilization of supporters at the heart of their work. The result is resilient, effective organizations that continue to advance their work in an ever-more demanding and challenged world. For the past seven years, the Gosling Foundation has worked to transform the nature sector through its Better Organization for nature program, based on the practice of Engagement Organization.

Organizational change is a common challenge. One approach that has been particularly successful in overcoming institutional inertia has been learning through a “Communities of Practice”.

The Gosling Foundation in collaboration with OLTA is inviting members to consider joining a community of practice that will commence in September 2021 should there be sufficient interest.

Why join a land trust community of practice? 

  • The biodiversity crisis is accelerating. Current practices are not meeting this challenge.  The field of engagement organizing provides very specific tools that can help your organization better meet its mission.
  • Communities of practice are learner centred and oriented to addressing the learning needs and realities of participants. Through professional inquiry, participants are assisted in identifying the issues and challenges of relevance to them and the tools that can be used to address them.
  • By learning with others with similar interests, participants gain from the collective knowledge and experience of the group.
  • Learning together fosters development of professional relationships in the land trust network.
  • Communities of practice are supported by experienced facilitators and sector leaders.
  • Difficult to secure resources to implement capacity changes may be available.
  • Growing your professional competence and seeing your organization reach new levels of effectiveness develops a positive and hopeful outlook.

This proposed community of practice is a venue that allows participating land trusts to share experiences and lessons learned. It will provide a space for training, resources sharing, and peer-to-peer learning on best practices in engagement organizing.

Participant Expectations and Requirements: 

  1. Ongoing participation of at least two individuals in a leadership position within your organization. Ideally one of these would include your board chair and/or your executive director if you have one. Additional volunteers and staff are invited to participate, and this is encouraged. Note that participation at in-person events may be limited due to capacity and resource limitations.
  2. Attend in person and online events as arranged through mutually agreeable scheduling. Monthly meetings are anticipated.
  3. Track your organization’s progress by referencing relevant metrics such a number of supporters, volunteer hours, and other measures.
  4. There is no fee to participate in this learning project however implementation of engagement organizing practices has resource implications for each organization.
  5. Take action in between sessions to test new ideas, exploring new ways of engaging and mobilizing your supporter base.
  6. Pursue the enhancement of the capacity of your organization by sharing your organization’s issues, challenges and successes with the learning community. Select and work to implement the aspects of capacity enhancement that best suit your organization’s needs.
  7. The time commitment will vary and be dependent upon what elements of organizing you are working to implement. However, it is expected that this initiative will last at least two years.

Timelines 

  1. Application will be due August 25
  2. Interviews will take place September 6-10
  3. The OLT-COP will commence in the week of September 20th
  4. There will be a monthly 2h long virtual meeting and annual in-person get together (COVID 19 restrictions permitting)
  5. You will be expected to deliver on your own engagement organizing goals between those meetings

Topics to be explored for possible implementation include: 

  1. Developing and embracing a clear Theory of Change
  2. Increasing the people power of your organization by recruiting and mobilizing supporters
  3. Evolving job descriptions to support volunteer mobilization
  4. Engagement pyramids and paths
  5. Distributed Leadership – snowflake model of leadership distribution
  6. Enhancing scale of operations through digital technology
  7. Planning for organizational change
  8. Including advocacy in your organization’s activities to better advance land conservation in Ontario

Expected Outcomes: 

  1. Develop stronger working relationships with others in the land trust/conservation community
  2. Become a more robust organization better prepared to meet your mission to advance private land conservation in Ontario
  3. Fully understand the concept of engagement organizing, create plans, and implement some tools of engagement organizing within your organization.

Interested in participating in OLT-COP? Please fill out the application form and send a copy or link to your organization’s last annual report or financial statement to OLTCOP2021@gmail.com by 9 AM August 25, 2021.

Protected Areas Reporting Program

Canada’s Target 1 Initiative works towards achieving Target 1 of the 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets for Canada. Canada Target 1 states: “By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial and inland waters, and 10% of marine and coastal areas of Canada are conserved through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based measures.” Since then, the federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to Canada Target 1 with a new goal to protect 25% of oceans and coastlines and 25% of land areas by 2025.

Among the objectives of the Pathway to Canada Target 1 initiative, is to recognize protected and other conserved areas beyond the federal, provincial and territorial government systems. The identification of privately protected and conserved areas is a key step in achieving the target and recognizing the contributions made by non-governmental organizations.

Since 2021, the Ontario Land Trust Alliance has been providing support services to land trusts across Ontario to support the screening and reporting of land trusts to the Canadian Protected and Conserved Database [CPCAD].

As of March 2023, a total of 233 land trust properties accounting for 8,270 ha have been successfully reported to CPCAD through this program and are contributing towards Canada Target 1.

For more information about this programs, please e-mail admin@olta.ca.

Fee for Service for Land Trusts

OLTA’s Fee for Service Program offers low-cost services to our members to assist them in adhering with the Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices. We can provide low-cost expertise to assist with conservation land evaluation, planning, stewardship, monitoring and outreach focused activities.

*New Service* – Geographic Information System (GIS) Support: OLTA is now offering GIS Support to our members through the Fee for Service Program.

For more information on OLTA Fee for Service.

Climate Action Program

OLTA’s Climate Action Program will encourage community learning and action around climate change and climate adaptation of conservation and restoration efforts. This program will benefit local communities in rural areas, land trusts and nature.

We are developing and testing a Climate Vulnerability Assessment Tool. This tool will determine the vulnerability of conservation properties to climate change. We will run a pilot project in 2019-20 with land trusts in the Waterloo-Wellington-Dufferin area. During this pilot, we will test the tool and determine vulnerability of conservation properties to climate change. Based on vulnerability, we will identify and undertake actions to increase the resilience of those properties.

We are also working to develop communications resources to help land trusts share knowledge about the role of land conservation as a climate change adaptation strategy. We will work to engage members of the public in this program through hosting public restoration/stewardship events and interpretive walks.

Tools and training activities will be shared to improve climate change communication and action in other parts of Ontario through our network of land trusts. To view resources created from this project click here.

This project was made possible with the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Seed Fund. The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded more than $120 million to some 700 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.

For more information about this program, contact our Conservation Science Manager, Morgan Roblin (morgan.roblin@olta.ca).

Southern Ontario Nature Coalition (SONC)

The Southern Ontario Nature Coalition (SONC) is a group of experienced provincial, regional, and community-based conservation organizations, land-based policy experts, and Indigenous engagement specialists. With support from the Government of Canada, SONC is developing a strategy that supports a robust near-urban nature network for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. What we learn here and in similar geographies will be instrumental in informing work being done across the country, including the predominantly urban landscapes of southern Canada. Ultimately, our work today is critical to the resilience and prosperity of Canadian communities tomorrow.

The Coalition is committed to engaging Indigenous communities in accordance with community protocols and the development of ethical space for all to contribute meaningfully.

Project Significance

The near-urban nature Network will:

  1. Address threats to biodiversity in southern Ontario.
  2. Identify solutions to protect near-urban nature at an increased rate.
  3. Help realize nature’s full public contributions to community healthy, prosperity, and climate resilience.
  4. Respect Indigenous communities as land-rights holders, and amplify Indigenous Knowledge systems and leadership.
  5. Enable greater action by municipal governments and private landowners, including agricultural land owners.
  6. Promote voluntary, innovative community action.
  7. Initiate a pan-Canadian conversation about protecting near-urban biodiversity.

Read the Final and Technical project reports that provides key recommendations for federal and provincial governments and community-oriented calls-to-action, which will help all levels of government to protect near-urban nature across the country:

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read the full summary report to explore the opportunities and discover the path forward:

Interested in learning more about the SONC Near-urban Nature Network? Check out the recording for a digital information session we held about the project on July 27th, 2021:

SONC Partner Organizations:

This project was made possible with the financial support from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Conservation Easement Agreement Defense Program

This project aims to strengthen land conservation, through outreach, collaborative partnerships, and a targeted training program to improve the enforceability of CEAs and reduce their vulnerability.

Key Project Outcomes

  • Action Area 1: Establish a consistent approach to conservation easement registration in Ontario’s Land Registry System
  • Action Area 2: Develop and promote best practices and training in the drafting of easement agreements, easement revitalization and easement defense strategies
  • Action Area 3: Provide training to real property specialists (real estate agents, appraisers, planners, lawyers) on the role of conservation easements in habitat protection.

OLTA CEA Sample and Guide

OLTA developed our Guide to Conservation Easement Agreements in 2008.

Ten years later, we have a much better understanding of the importance of a well-drafted CEA. We are updating our Guide in order to help land trusts improve the quality and defensibility of their CEAs. In addition to being developed and reviewed by OLTA’s CEA Working Group, the document was also reviewed by real estate lawyers and litigators. The revised Guide and Sample is now available!

We are also developing best practices training around the new CEA Guide and Sample to help land trusts understand the changes that were made to the document and why those changes were made. Training opportunities are provided through workshops, seminars, and webinars.

CEA Revitalization Pilot

The majority of CEAs held by land trusts are registered on title in perpetuity. Therefore, the land trust is obliged to enforce the CEA and protect the conservation values on the property in perpetuity. As such, well-drafted CEAs with accurate and complete supporting documentation is essential. As the land trust community in Ontario and across Canada continues to advance, the standard for CEA drafting is set higher. Many land trusts have CEAs that were established 10-20 years ago. These CEAs do not meet the current standards of the land trust community and may leave an opportunity for a landowner to degrade conservation values that the CEA set out to protect.

In 2019, OLTA launched a CEA Revitalization Pilot to help a small number of land trusts that hold older CEAs move through the revitalization process. The CEA Revitalization Pilot aimed to improve our understanding of how land trusts can review, identify, manage and resolve issues with old or outdated CEAs. We hope that this project will help land trusts to strengthen CEA enforcement and defensibility, and encourage land trusts to take a proactive approach to managing and strengthening their CEAS.

Resources and Materials for Property Specialists

OLTA is working to develop published materials and resources to help specialists locate essential information concerning CEAs in Ontario. These resources will be made available through our website allowing these specialists to access them through a simple web search.

This program is supported by the McLean Foundation and the ECHO Foundation.

Naturally Accessible – Discovering Ontario’s Land Trusts

Naturally Accessible – Discovering Ontario’s Land Trusts is an initiative of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) in partnership with the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario. It aims to educate and train Ontario’s land trusts and other conservation partners on their obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and to work with them to promote and grow accessible recreational, outdoors and educational opportunities offered to the public through their conservation properties and programs.

Naturally Accessible banner

Photo credits: freeimages.com and Jenna Quinn

Currently 1 in 7 people in Ontario has some type of disability. That’s 1.85 million Ontarians! By 2036, as our population ages, it is expected that 1 in 5 Ontarians will have a disability. That is a lot of potential members, donors, volunteers and champions. Why not start now to think about how to be inclusive as possible as you look to engage your public in the work that you do!


Learning from our Accessibility Roadmaps

Thanks to support from the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, OLTA was able to work with four land conservation organizations to develop ‘accessibility road maps’ to develop and prioritize actions they can take to make their operations and facilities more accessible to people with disabilities.

Accessibility Roadmap Reports 2014-2015

We refined these reports to focus on specific topic areas that were common challenges for our participating organizations.

We have also produced the Naturally Accessible Resource Guide, which brings together a collection of materials that will help your organization improve the accessibility of communications, programs, meetings and facilities for persons with disabilities. We would appreciate your feedback and input to keep this resource up to date, so please contact us if you have ideas or questions!

Credit for Product Projects - Fleming College’s Ecosystem Management Technology Program

Students enrolled in Fleming College’s Ecosystem Management Technology program have partnered with OLTA for multiple academic semesters to develop projects based on OLTA’s current needs and student’s interests and goals, in partial fulfilment of Fleming student’s program requirementsThe Ecosystem Management Technology program aims to educate students on the principles and protocols of ecosystem management and sustainable development, as well as to develop their professional and interpersonal skills to create well-rounded students. The Credit for Product course is a placement program designed to provide students with the opportunity to partner with an organization and apply their combined skills to a real-world project. The students are given a list of deliverables as assigned by the organization and must work together under the guidance of their mentors and technical support from faculty to produce a complete final project. The main learning outcomes associated with this course include refining a student’s basic project management skills such as planning, communicating and time-management. It requires the application of leadership skills, teamwork, and collaboration.

In the last two years, students enrolled in the Credit for Product course partnered with OLTA to conducted a gap analysis on OLTA’s upcoming Learning Centre and developed a report of Ontario land trust history and securement over time. See details below:

Learning Centre Gap Analysis Credit for Product Project (2021-2022)

Students partnered with the Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) this academic semester to deliver a Learning Centre Gap Analysis Report. Student team Sean Avey, Corey Bradley, and Keara Kidd partnered with OLTA to locate and organize resources, identify gaps in content, re-imagine OLTA’s digital presence, and suggest key structural and organizational elements to be incorporated in a new Learning Centre. These were the initial stages to complete in preparation for the development of OLTA’s learning centre, a long-term goal that will allow OLTA to better serve their member organizations. OLTA’s new Educational Services Coordinator, Lauren Draaistra, is now able to use this Gap Analysis Report to continue developing OLTA’s Learning Centre. We appreciate all the hard work!

Ontario Land Trust and Securement History Credit for Product Project (2020-2021)

The purpose of the Ontario Land Trust and Securement History Credit for Product project was to compile the history and formation of OLTA into one document. Ian Attridge and Barb Heidenreich, OLTA Governors, mentored four students that undertook the project. Through both primary and secondary sources including interviews and publications provided, key moments in the formation of OLTA were highlighted and preserved for the benefit of future communities and conservation stewards. The student team aimed to listen to perspectives of as many people as possible, to gain a comprehensive view of the land trust movement in Ontario over the years.