Ecological Gifts: Donor Profiles

Donors of ecological gifts are some of the greatest promoters of the Ecological Gifts Program. Here are profiles of several generous ecogift donors who have shared their donation stories. Select the heading below to reveal the full story.

Lorne and Rhoda Almack A Conservation Easement on the Oak Ridges Moraine "Landowners should pass natural capital on to the next generation. If the government makes it easy to get a tax break, all society benefits - everyone wins. But more importantly, for the rest of our lives we can view this beautiful part of Ontario's landscape and observe the wildlife, knowing that it is protected forever." Lorne Almack

Brian Buckles Fostering conservation easements "Community effort can help make this area even more special by protecting, enhancing, and extending it for future generations." Brian Buckles

Don and Ruth Bucknell A Conservation Easement in Oxford County - Mud Lake "We have always been very concerned about the loss of wetland and woodland habitat. Forty years ago we purchased a marsh and pond known locally as Mud Lake. Over the years we have enjoyed this property immensely and have added to its wildlife value with reforestation. It is designated a Provincially Significant Wetland and the property is also now a Managed Forest for Wildlife. Through a conservation easement with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, it will continue to be preserved with absolutely no development of any kind allowed now or in the future, regardless of who owns the property, as the protection is registered on the property deed." Ruth and Don Bucknell

Steven Waring A Conservation Easement in Caledon Canadian Wildlife Service "No one feature of the landscape is any more important than any other. They all are of equal importance, equal validity. So when you take away a whole swath of landscape for building, you remove a significant part of its ability to regenerate itself. I hope that we don’t keep extravagantly using land. We must realize that the landscape is worth keeping, worth looking after. It is not just land waiting to be developed. That was the old view of it." Steven Waring

To find out more about making an ecological gift or about conservation easements, contact:
Ecological Gifts Program,
Ontario Region
Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada
4905 Dufferin Street
Downsview, ON M3H 5T4
Tel: (416) 739-4286
E-mail: ecogifts.ontario@ec.gc.ca
Website: www.on.ec.gc.ca/ecogifts