Archive for January, 2009

This winter, Ontario’s largest independent gas retailer and a proud Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) conservation partner, Pioneer Petroleums, is announcing a commitment to sponsor environmental education field trips hosted by the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program. As part of these 80+ school field trips, over 1,200 students will be directly involved in stream restoration projects in parts of Lake Ontario’s watershed. They will also assist in the release of Atlantic salmon, an original Lake Ontario species that was in fact, one of the first species in Canada to be wiped out as a result of human development in the late 1800′s.

Tim Hogarth, Chief Executive Officer for Pioneer Petroleums, said, “Pioneer’s partnership in this O.F.A.H.-led program is a natural connection. Pioneer believes in supporting grassroots environmental action and we believe in helping kids. Pioneer is pleased to support outdoor educational opportunities that will help give children a lifelong appreciation for healthy waterways and those who volunteer to protect them.”

This school year, over 80 schools representing a dozen school boards will be raising Atlantic salmon in their very own classroom hatcheries. Each school may schedule field trips for the spring, courtesy of Pioneer, to give students an opportunity to release their fish and help bring back an ecological treasure to Lake Ontario.

“We are proud to be supported by Pioneer, a forward-thinking company that hasn’t forgotten its roots – a company that clearly shares the Federation’s interest in supporting local community-based volunteer conservation work,” said O.F.A.H. Executive Director, Mike Reader.

Beginning this spring, select Pioneer stations will host “Conservation Month at Pioneer” to help support environmental education and conservation events, such as “Pioneer Day on Bronte Creek.” In addition to helping kids learn about the environment, Pioneer is dedicated to supporting O.F.A.H.-led stream improvement projects and the restoration of Lake Ontario Atlantic salmon.
The Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program’s classroom hatchery initiative is part of the history-making conservation endeavor that was launched in 2006 by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and its conservation partners. Pioneer’s support is an extension of its corporate commitment to environmental integrity and education. As a corporate philosophy, Pioneer supports programs that encourage individuals to help improve our environment.

In addition to Pioneer Petroleums, the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program receives support from more than 35 partners. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and Ministry of Natural Resources partner to lead the restoration effort, and major sponsors include Australia’s Banrock Station Wines, LCBO, Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association, Fishing Forever Foundation, Fleming College and Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. For more information, visit www.bringbackthesalmon.ca

-30-

Robert Pye
Member Services Coordinator, Membership Marketing
705-748-6324 ext 267
Lezlie Goodwin
Communications Coordinator
705-748-6324 ext 270
lezlie_goodwin@ofah.org

Greenbelt classrooms receive funding to raise Atlantic salmon

The children in grade four at Hickory Wood Public School in Brampton will soon join thousands of other aspiring ecologists in helping to restore a species gone from Lake Ontario for over a century, thanks to an $84,000 grant from the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.
The school is one of over 75 educational facilities participating in the classroom hatchery program that is part of the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program (L.O.A.S.R.P.). The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (M.N.R.) are leading the initiative, with major funding from Australia’s Banrock Station Wetlands Foundation, LCBO, Fishing Forever Foundation and Fleming College and more than 30 other contributors, including government agencies, conservation authorities and landowners. The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation have come onboard in 2008-2009 to fund an education coordinator for the program and 30 schools within the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Greenbelt areas. Their funding has led to an additional 19 units being donated.

“This project recaptures a part of the Greenbelt’s lost heritage,” said Burkhard Mausberg, President of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. “The now protected waterways and ecosystems in Ontario’s Greenbelt contribute to the possibility of bringing back the Atlantic salmon to Lake Ontario.”

“Fish stocking, habitat restoration, and research will bring Atlantic salmon back to Lake Ontario, but it is education and engagement that will ensure Atlantics remain part of our natural history in the Greenbelt,” said Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. “Classroom hatcheries empower youth to be stewards of Atlantic salmon and their watersheds.”

The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation is an independent, charitable foundation with a mandate to fund organizations in support of farming, the environment and rural communities located in Ontario’s Greenbelt. The Greenbelt is permanently protected green space consisting of 1.8 million acres (728,000 hectares) that wrap around the Golden Horseshoe and encompass the Niagara Escarpment, the Oak Ridges Moraine and Rouge Park.

leading private, nonprofit fishing, hunting and conservation organization in Ontario. To learn more about the L.O.A.S.R.P. visit www.bringbackthesalmon.ca or www.ofah.org.

EVENT: children receive Atlantic salmon eggs for classroom hatchery

WHEN: 1-2pm, January 23, 2009 WHERE: Hickory Wood Public School, 630 Ray Lawson Boulevard, Brampton http://maps.google.ca/maps?

WHO:    Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, O.F.A.H., M.N.R., Banrock Station Wetlands Foundation

Lezlie Goodwin
Communications Coordinator
lezlie_goodwin@ofah.org
705-748-6324 ext 270
cell: 705-872-8053

Chris Robinson
Atlantic Salmon Program Coordinator
chris_robinson@ofah.org
705-748-6324 ext 237
705-761-1276

If your heading down to the Toronto International Boat Show this Saturday, be sure to visit the Yamaha booth. Italo will be on hand to answer your fishing questions and to share his own positive experiences operating his G3 boat & Yamaha outboard.

Italo, will also be conducting a seminar at The Great Canadian Fish Tank on Saturday, Jan 17^th @ 1:30pm entitled “Fishing top to bottom” – using specific presentations to catch fish from the surface, all the way to the bottom.