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7 TO: ORIGIN: DATE: SUBJECT: The Chairman and Members of the Board of Directors, North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority Sue Buckle, Supervisor, Communications and Outreach June 28, 2017 Board Meeting Communications and Outreach Update Background: NBMCA s mission and vision call for NBMCA to provide leadership in watershed management through promotion of conservation awareness in cooperation with others. To achieve this, a variety of outreach, engagement and communication strategies and initiatives are implemented. Raising public awareness of NBMCA, our role as watershed managers and engaging the community in their collaborative role as stewards of our watershed is one of NBMCA s Strategic Goals. The attached Report highlights NBMCA outreach, engagement and communication initiatives for May/June and identifies upcoming events for the Board s information and participation where noted. Analysis: Chippewa Creek EcoPath is now fully adopted from Memorial Gardens to Lake Nipissing with 18 individuals, families, businesses, community groups adopting a section of the creek. The program is now expanding to include adoption of Chippewa Creek upstream from the EcoPath from Memorial Gardens to Airport Road. There is one section already adopted there. (See details on map at The adoptees include: Living Fit Brent & Kate Johnson Greater Nipissing Stewardship Council Greening Nipissing North Bay Police Service Environment Committee Madeleine Poitras & Family Raider Aid/Chippewa Secondary School Environmental Group Union Gas Arugula Bergeron Family New Ontario Brewery Meghan Walsh & Tara Investors Group Jaime Chaulk & Tracy Govier 30 th North Bay Brownies Rotaract North Bay Nipissing Rotary Club of North Bay Ruby Yoga Clean Water Solutions

8 Motus Wildlife Tracking Tower The Nipissing Naturalists are working with the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority to raise $10,000 to install a Motus Wildlife Tracking Tower at the Laurentian Escarpment Conservation Area as part of an international wildlife tracking effort. The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is a collaborative research network that uses coordinated automated radio telemetry arrays to study movements of small animals. Motus towers are now located throughout North America, and now, into South America and internationally. Although there are currently more than 350 Motus towers - each passively receiving tracking information from tagged animals, including birds, bats, and even butterflies - there are still some substantial gaps in coverage throughout northern Ontario, including here in North Bay. The two closest towers, each with a reception field of km in diameter, are located in Kawartha Lakes and at the Hilliardton Marsh in New Liskeard, said Fred Pinto, President of Nipissing Naturalists. This leaves a large gap in tracking migration routes through the North Bay / Nipissing Region. This area sees much activity through the spring and fall migration seasons. Over the past few decades, we've seen troubling declines in many species, including shorebirds and aerial insectivores, such as swallows and flycatchers. The Motus wildlife tracking network helps us better understand migration patterns and population health for species who live here year round, and those who travel through, he added. The equipment - including a SensorGnome, antennae, connectors and cables - as well as the cost of a tower or pole and installation will cost $10,000. Contributions of any amount will help ensure North Bay's contribution to wildlife tracking and research around the world. The Nipissing Naturalists are a dedicated group of volunteers who have a passion for stewardship in our community. It s an ideal collaboration to house the tracking tower at the Laurentian Escarpment Conservation Area and partner in fundraising for its purchase and installation, said Troy Storms, Supervisor of Field Operations at NBMCA. Recommendations: That the Board receives and accepts the Report and appends it to the minutes of this meeting. RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: None required. Sue Buckle, Supervisor Communications & Outreach Brian Tayler, CAO/Secretary-Treasurer

9 Communications & Outreach Update Report to the Board June 28, 2017 May June Restore Your Shore Spring Plantings (Spring) 20 shoreline/streambanks 230 trees, 1803 shrubs, 4,061 plants 610.7m shoreline (Stewardship) Booking now for 10 fall plantings May 25 Enviro Info Night Parks Creek Backflood Control Structure, RBC Blue Water Project $10K Donation to Restore Your Shore (Communications/ Field Ops/ Stewardship) June 4 Chippewa Creek EcoPath Clean Up, Volunteer Appreciation & Adopt the Creek Sign Up. 22 volunteers participated. (Communications/Field Ops) June 6&7 Friendship Force New Zealand Visitors (12) Tower Tour (Communications)

10 Communications & Outreach Update Report to Board June 28, 2017 pg 2 June 14 May/June North Bay Science Festival (Nov 2017) Planning Committee Mtg (Communications) Three-day festival to celebrate science, its relevance in our lives, spotlight on local science initiatives and engaging people of all ages. Including a hands-on science carnival for families, movie/speaker event, and science Olympics for elementary students. Collaboration between Science North, NBMCA, City of North Bay, and other community groups and organizations. Environmental education events at Laurentian Escarpment Conservation Area lead by Nature & You, involving 12 local elementary school groups. (Communications/Field Ops) June 22 June 19- July 2 July/August North Bay & Distict Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Homewood Suites, North Bay (Communications) (NBMCA to host Business After Hours March 29, 2018) Mattawa River Canoe Race Radio Spots Kiss / ROCK Acknowledgement of sponsors: BDO, Redpath, Giesler Boat Builders, Slingchoker, and Seemore Graphics (Communications) Environmental Summer Camps (5 weeks) in cooperation with Canadian Ecology Centre NBMCA Natural Classroom (Communications) NBMCA s 2017 Digital Communications Websites: nbmca.ca chippewaecopath.ca actforcleanwater.ca restoreyourshore.ca @MRcanoerace Facebook: facebook.com/nbmca facebook.com/chippewacreekecopath YouTube Channel:

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