Media Release
For Immediate Release
March 8, 2023
“Conservation Authority Budget Approved for 2023”
LTVCA Holds Annual General Meeting
Ridgetown, Ontario – The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 2, 2023 at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus after the meeting originally planned for February 23, 2023 was cancelled due to a power outage.
Sarah Emons was elected Chair, with Trevor Thompson and Paul Tiessen being elected 1st Vice-Chair and 2nd Vice-Chair respectively. Sarah Emons is a Municipal Councillor for the Township of Southwold, Trevor Thompson is a Municipal Councillor for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, and Paul Tiessen is a Municipal Councillor for the Municipality of Leamington.
Directors Richard Leatham (West Elgin) and Hugh Aerts (Middlesex Centre) were appointed members of the Executive Committee. Sandi Hipple (Strathroy-Caradoc) and Ken Loveland (Dutton Dunwich) were appointed members of the Ska-Nah-Doht Village Advisory Committee. Larissa Vogler (Lakeshore) was declared a member of the Ice Management Committee. Larissa Vogler (Lakeshore) and Amy Finn (Chatham-Kent) were appointed to the C.M. Wilson Learning Centre Advisory Committee.
The LTVCA’s 2023 Budget of $4,200,484 received approval at the AGM. The budget represents an increase of $307,978 or 8% in overall spending in comparison to the 2022 approved budget of $3,892,506. The corresponding increase in municipal levy is $75,331 or 5%. The 10 member municipalities of the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority include: Chatham-Kent, Dutton Dunwich, Lakeshore, Leamington, London, Middlesex Centre, Southwest Middlesex, Southwold, Strathroy-Caradoc, and West Elgin. Chatham-Kent appoints three representatives to the LTVCA Board of Directors while the remaining nine municipalities appoint one representative each for up to a three-year term.
The meeting began with teachings from Elder Myeegun Henry, Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, and Chief Mary Duckworth from the Caldwell First Nation. They presented a Wampum Belt to the LTVCA as a recognition of their partnership and efforts in working work together to create a healthy watershed.
The 2022 LTVCA Conservation Awards were presented in person for the first time since 2020. The LTVCA Awards for Volunteer Heroes were presented first. The winner for the Board & Committee Category is the Rotary Club of Chatham Sunrise for their volunteer work at the Chatham-Kent & Lambton Children’s Water Festival, CK Paddle & Clean event, and many tree planting events over the years. The winner for the Environmental Category is David Braukis for his efforts in keeping our conservation areas clean, beautiful, and safe. The winner for the Special Events Category is the Border Services and Police Foundations for providing security at the Chatham-Kent & Lambton Children’s Water Festival since 2007. The Environmental Awards winners were Chad and Kate Hoskin for restoring 3 acres of farmland back to nature and the Twin Dolphin/Strong House Canada Corp. for providing paddlers for the C.K. Paddle & Clean event which resulted in 700 lbs. of garbage being removed from the Thames River and McGregor Creek.
The 2022 Annual Report highlighted the important work completed by staff at the LTVCA throughout the year. Thirty flood messages were issued for shoreline areas including: eight advisories, two Safety Bulletins, five Flood Outlooks, and one Flood Watch. In June, a Low Water Level One Condition was declared for the entire watershed. Water quality monitoring was conducted at 22 sites, planning staff dealt with 409 municipal planning submissions, and regulation staff dealt with 453 permit applications. Stewardship staff sold 94,458 seedlings, 616 large-stock trees, and worked with 217 landowners to restore 120 hectares (296 acres) into trees, wetlands and tallgrass prairie. Aquatic species at risk (mussels and fish) received extensive study across the watershed. Phosphorus Reduction Initiatives helped offset the cost of 3,960 hectares (9,785 acres) of cover crops to 70 agricultural producers. Conservation areas were very busy in 2022 with over 30,000 campers, 396 parking passes sold, and 72 seasonal campsites in use. Education programing was able to be offered more fully in 2022 with the LTVCA education team seeing 3,586 students. The lessening of COVID restrictions allowed many events to take place, including: The Battle of Longwoods, Cultivating Conservation Tour, and the Chatham-Kent & Lambton Children’s Water Festival.
Chair Sarah Emons remarked – “It is an honour to be elected as Chair of the LTVCA. I am proud to represent an organization, which provides such value to the public, and to work with staff and board members who enthusiastically work to enhance quality of life in their community. The LTVCA is strong and will rise above the many challenges we face in 2023 to continue to provide holistic approaches to improve the economic and ecological health of our watershed.”
Mark Peacock CAO / Secretary-Treasurer of the LTVCA stated – “I would like to thank all staff members for the positive and professional manner that they have addressed the challenges we have faced during this time of change. I am privileged to be supported by a committed board, a competent and dedicated staff.”
For further information, please contact:
Mark Peacock, CAO / Secretary-Treasurer
Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority
Tel: 519-354-7310 (Administration Office)
[email protected] www.ltvca.ca