Hello

Time has flown by for the Biosphere Association in an especially active summer! Thanks to the support of generous organizations, government grants, Biosphere memberships, donations, and EcoAdventures we have been moving forward with many of our projects.

Read on to discover what’s been happening at the Biosphere and what new things lie ahead!

‍The Crane River Project

This summer the Biosphere has made progress on the Crane River Project, a part of the Six Streams Initiative to improve water quality on the Peninsula. The Crane River runs primarily through the National Park and lands protected by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, but a small portion of it is disturbed. On this portion, the Biosphere has been restoring and strengthening the riparian buffer, which is a vegetated and often forested area near a stream that provides protection from the negative effects caused by nearby land use, such as pollution runoff.

To rehabilitate this buffer, the Biosphere, with the help of generous volunteers from the Bruce Peninsula Sportsmen’s Association, has planted 425 native shrubs and trees. Additionally, fencing is being installed to ensure that the stream is protected from nearby cows.

This complex project is made possible due to the cooperation and assistance of the landowner Ken Johnstone, Parks Canada, the NCC, and the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula.

‍

Biosphere Holds Three Successful Septic Workshops

‍The Biosphere held 3 successful Septic Workshops this summer. Attendants gathered in the Lions Head Legion on August 11, the Lions Head United Church on August 12, and the Biosphere’s office in Ferndale on September 24, to learn about the inner workings of their systems.

These workshops lasted an hour and a half and covered topics including the inner workings and structure of systems, proper maintenance, correct water, and product use, and when to seek replacement. The talks were led by Neils Munk, Director of the Biosphere’s Six Streams Initiative and former septic system building inspector for Grey Bruce Public Health. Additionally, we are very grateful to AJ Arps from Bruce Peninsula Septic Service Inc for lending his expertise to the workshops. He provided a visual demonstration for participants by pumping out the septic system of the Legion and the United Church.

These workshops are a part of the Biosphere’s efforts to improve water quality throughout the region by educating the public. Thanks to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks for their generous funding.

 EcoAdventures 

‍This summer has been a blast for EcoAdventures! It’s been a season of returning to some of our favourite trails as well as building new programming around our eight-person voyageur canoe, four season fat bikes, and canvas glamping tents.

Feeling cooped up lately? Try our outdoor forest escape! This summer EcoAdventures launched a brand-new escape room at Summer House Park in addition to our escape experience at Cyprus Lake.

Our voyageur canoe has been put to good use with many adventurers exploring the crystal-clear waters of the Peninsula firsthand on our new Sunset Paddle, Canoe the Grotto, and Secret Lagoon tours.

The Saugeen Sojourn, a multi-day overnight glamping event, saw participants hiking, biking, canoeing, stargazing, and learning about local Anishinaabe culture. Lenore Keeshig captivated us with fireside storytelling and chef Zach Keeshig presented an onsite foraged feast.

The coming fall season provides continuing opportunities for connecting with nature in the form of EcoAdventures’s biking, caving, and night hike offerings. Participants on biking adventures can explore wetlands and forests on the Lindsay Tract on our new four-season fat bikes. If hiking is your preference, you can delve into the secret world of the nighttime forest, learning about ecosystems and navigation under the stars. 

Drop by our office in Ferndale or visit our website myecoadventures.ca or call 226-277-0944 to learn more about our offerings or to book your next adventure! Proceeds from adventures are directed to the BPBA's conservation projects.

‍

Welcome to New Board Members 

Please join the Biosphere in giving a warm welcome to our three new board members: Mike Sehl, Katherine McLeod, and Richard Wilson Smith!

Mike Sehl, a longtime resident of Waterloo, was first introduced to the Bruce by his wife of over 40 years ago. He and his family have been seasonal residents ever since. With his first grandchild now just over one year of age, he wants to do all that he can to steward this peninsula so that future generations can enjoy it. Having recently retired from a career in clinical medicine of over 30 years at St Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener, he is looking forward to working with EcoAdventures due to his love of all things outdoors. He believes that through education we can all become ambassadors for our Biosphere to protect, preserve, and sustain a peninsula that is worthy of the world stage.

Previous executive director for the BPBA Katherine McLeod currently lives and works in Kitchener and has a home in Dyers Bay. She has conducted academic research on long term changes in the distribution of trees, currently teaches physical geography, and has also worked as a director of research and education for a conservation group in the Waterloo region. Katherine is interested in the functioning of ecosystems and addressing the impacts of human disturbance on them. She enjoys the peninsula’s forests and landscapes, especially the limestone bedrock, cliffs, and karst features. Katherine is currently assisting with the bioremediation project by doing financial reporting to grant agencies and values the BPBA’s focus on concrete actions to reverse the negative impacts of human activity.

Richard Wilson Smith is originally from Salisbury, England, and has degrees from Plymouth (BSc), England, and Aberdeen (MSc, PhD), Scotland. His research focus has been within the realm of science and has spent 30 years working in the UK, Sweden, Italy, and Canada doing research on aquatic biology and toxicology, including on the health of aquatic invertebrates in the Great Lakes and the effects of radiation on aquatic environments. Having published about 60 papers, he is passionate about finding a balance between utilization and exploitation and preservation and conservation and is excited to see real-world issues being constructively addressed by the Biosphere Association. He is an avid SCUBA diver and an absolutely appalling golfer. He has also visited Chernobyl... twice!

We are grateful to Richard, Katherine, and Mike for their generous assistance and look forward to working with them!

Climate Action Plan Updates

This season the Climate Action committee has been working hard. After finalizing the NBP Climate Action Plan, both technical and summary reports, creating the Climate Action Hub, finishing the Climate Action videos, and organizing community outreach activities, the team has met all grant requirements. Now, we are working on directing people to the Climate Action Hub, www.biosphereclimateaction.ca, where people can read the community Climate Action Plan, give feedback, and sign up as members, volunteers, or to stay in the know. The Climate Action Hub is also a place where questions about electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps, or energy audits can be answered.

There have been several climate-oriented community events including an EV Show-and-Tell, held on October 2^nd, 2022, that greeted Lighthouse Gravel Gran Fondo cyclists at the end of their rides. This event was organized to bring community members together to share real experiences of owning E.V.s in the Municipality of the Northern Bruce Peninsula. A range of E.V.s were brought by enthusiastic local volunteers to Lions Head Beach alongside the Tesla dealerships from Kitchener and Barrie who provided test drives of their cars. This was organized to encourage people to consider purchasing an EV as their next vehicle as per the MNBP Climate Action Plan. As well, the annual Sources of Knowledge Forum is approaching fast. From October 28^th to 30^th, 2022 at the Community Centre in Tobermory participants will learn from experts about the NBP Climate Action Plan, enjoy a locally catered dinner, and engage with climate activists from near and far. The event kicks off Friday night at 6:30PM after registration with a wine & cheese social, followed by John Terpstra – poet and cabinet maker, and the ever-popular curated movie night with Stephen Scharper. Saturday features presentations on everything to do with climate change, including economics, the youth climate lawsuit and other young voices, agriculture, and forestry, as well as locally focused discussions from SON and Parks Canada. Sunday will involve a discussion on local climate initiatives, including the Biosphere, the Municipal Climate Action Committee, and the Climate Action Plan for the Northern Bruce Peninsula. Saturday evening includes a locally catered meal, followed by an evening of discussion and entertainment with Dianne Saxe, PhD – one of Canada’s most respected environmental lawyers.

The Climate Action committee is looking for local climate peer champions to be involved and help support community involvement and knowledge sharing. You can sign up on the Climate Action Hub website, or by emailing climate.action@bpba.ca or info@biosphereclimateaction.ca

‍

Bioremediation Updates

Extensive progress has been made on the Biosphere's Bioremediation Project during the May-August 2022 research period. The goal of the project is to design Next Generation Tile Drainage Systems Capable of reducing phosphorus runoff, and aid in field water management. During this research period, two different types of water structures were designed and installed in the field to undergo field sampling. Preliminary laboratory analysis results of the sampling indicate that the systems can reduce phosphorus concentration in agricultural runoff. Several additional water structure devices will be installed in the field to undergo testing this fall. Field sampling and laboratory analysis will also continue into the fall to further investigate the systems capabilities of reducing phosphorus loading. This project is made possible by the generous funding of the Bioenterprise Corporation. 

‍Lighthouse Gravel Gran Fondo

‍ 

The Bruce Peninsula Lighthouse Gravel Gran Fondo returned for the third time on October 2^nd, 2022, hailing over 400 cyclists to Lions Head to participate. This event allowed riders to choose one of four routes with different distances, from 35km to 115km. All the routes started at the Lions Head Beach and extended throughout the Peninsula, including excursions to Cabot Head Lighthouse and the Cape Chin Lookout.

Event organizer Mike Campbell explained that the Fondo sold out months earlier and only through word of mouth, stating, “People just love the event so much that they come back”. He explained that “There is nothing quite like this anywhere – the ride along the shoreline to Cabot Head with the huge waves crashing into the lighthouse, the varied countryside and of course the gravel roads.” According to riders at the event, gravel riding is the most popular type of cycling right now.

To maintain the small-town atmosphere and capacity limits, there was a cap on the number of riders at around 430 people. With all the registrants, a volunteer force was required, and people stepped up to the plate. Over 100 volunteers came out to help with Fondo needs, such as parking, registration, feed zone help, or cheering the riders on.

The day of the Fondo greeted cyclists with a chilly 20km/h northeast wind with gusts reaching up to 40km/h. The night before, the gusts had been so strong that the Lions Club, who were providing lunch for all riders and volunteers, had their tent blown away from Lions Head Beach. Though some riders like to do their route fast, the event is not a race. Campbell said, “It is not a race, it is a ride, so it is fun.” Most of the routes follow sprawling gravel roads, with rare, paved sections, or through the trail systems that run throughout the Peninsula. The lengthy routes include a 20km section of road squished between the magnificently blue Georgian Bay Waters and the Niagara Escarpment that leads to the Cabot Head Lighthouse. The lighthouse is generally inaccessible unless you cycle, so this event highlights one of the Peninsula’s hidden gems.

There were feed zones throughout the routes that volunteers were stationed at. They served a plethora of homemade goodies such as cookies, date squares, and a Fondo favourite, the homemade butter tarts. The Lions Club served lunch and a craft beer by Three Sheets Brewing in Port Elgin at the finish line. Coffee, tea, water, and fruit were also available.At the end of the ride, cyclists looked wind whipped but happy. Many compared it to last year’s Fondo which had a downpour of rain and lots of mud. One rider said, “I would take the wind over the mud any year, I am looking forward to seeing what the next Fondo brings.”

Last year’s Gravel Gran Fondo raised $40,000 for the Biosphere which is the organizations largest fundraiser each year. The Gravel Gran Fondo would not be possible without the help of volunteers and generous sponsors. Thank you to the gold sponsor, Ashley Jackson and the Bruce Peninsula Real Estate Team at REMAX Grey Bruce Realty Inc; The silver sponsors, Blue Bay Motel and RentCottage.com; The bronze sponsors, Blue Heron Cruises, Bruce Anchor Cruises, The Princess Hotel, Zehr Insurance, Summerhouse Park, and RBC; And the friendship sponsors, Intelliware Software Development, Suntrail Source for Adventure, Bear Tracks Inn and Restaurant, Martin’s Bicycle Shop, Miller Lake Rona, Burgess Engineering Inc, Powell Insurance, Tobermory Sweet Shop and Earth Bound Gardens. A special thank you to the Lions Club for providing lunch, and to the Three Sheets Brewing for being the official brewery of the event.

‍A Summer Student’s Perspective

 I, Sarah Flanagan, am one of the seven youth employed by the Biosphere in 2022 gaining vital work experience. Since June, I have had the chance to work alongside many wonderful people from both EcoAdventures and the main branch of the Biosphere. Working for the Biosphere has been an opportunity that I greatly appreciate.

First of all, the work is meaningful. Often environmental issues are discussed on such a grand scale that they can seem overwhelming. This often leaves the impression that each individual's actions cannot create a positive impact on our ecosystems. However, working for an organization like the Biosphere restores one’s faith in the power of local contributions. Throughout this job, I have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to assist with conservation projects and watch as concrete action was taken on environmental issues. For example, I helped to organize the BPBA’s septic workshops, which are a part of the Six Streams Initiative that is improving local water quality.

Additionally, working for the BPBA has led me to gain valuable knowledge and life skills. As someone currently contemplating what field of study and ultimately career to pursue, the variety of experiences I gained on this job were enriching. For instance, running EcoAdventures’ Summer House Escape Room and greeting customers in the Ferndale office helped me with organizational skills and working with the public. Additionally, I had the opportunity to learn about subjects usually not covered in the typical highschool classroom, but nonetheless valuable in life. For instance, the functions of grants and liability insurance and how these things are relevant to nonprofits such as the Biosphere.

Finally, working with EcoAdventures has led me to better appreciate the unique ecosystems we are blessed with here on the Peninsula. Whether paddling up the pristine Black Creek by canoe on the Sunset Paddle or exploring the dark interiors of Greig’s Caves, I had endless opportunities to become acquainted with the natural history of the region. Learning from the EcoAdventures guides about the various ancient forces that have shaped the ground we stand on inspired a lot of gratitude for our nature here on the peninsula and an even stronger desire to preserve our priceless ecosystems.

For any youth who are passionate about conservation and looking for a job, I would strongly recommend considering the Biosphere Association.

‍We Need Your Help!

Looking for a Unique Holiday Gift? Do you have someone that can be hard to buy for and you want to give them something interesting and useful? What about a Gift Membership to the Biosphere Association or a donation in their name, or how about an EcoAdventures Gift Card, for those that are looking for great memories and less stuff.

Please support us by becoming a member

To print a membership form and mail it in with a cheque, here is the link: 

bpba.ca/images/membership_form.pdf

Volunteers Always Welcomed!

The Biosphere Association is always looking for new volunteers. We have a variety of ways you can help. Some of these include: helping at Bayside Astronomy, planting seeds and trees, researching ideas for new projects as well as many more. We are always happy to have all the helpers we can. If interested, please email us at: info@bpba.ca 

‍Not interested any more? Unsubscribe

Our mailing address is:
Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association

P.O. Box 3, Tobermory, Ont. N0H 2R0
(519) 377-5166

Copyright © 2016  Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association