Ontario Woodlot Association

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Ontario Woodlot Association

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The Ontario Woodlot Association is a non-profit organization with a network of regional chapters located across the province.

The Ontario Woodlot Association is a non-profit organization with a vision of ensuring the sustainability of Ontario’s privately owned forests now and in the future. The OWA brings woodlot owners together to share ideas & learn about forest management. We promote sustainable forestry practices.

10/30/2026

Third-party audits are an annual part of the Model Forest Group Certification program to confirm compliance over time to FSC and SFI standards. 🌳

This includes annual surveillance audits to ensure compliance, and a comprehensive five-year recertification audit. Forest Certification is a great tool for private and community forest owners to demonstrate sustainable forestry practices on the ground.

Program Manager Sionaid Eggett has completed the 2027 annual audits in private and community owned forests including Larose Forest, County of Renfrew, South Nation Conservation, City of Oakville, and Long Point Conservation Authority.

There are 15 community forests and 60+ private woodlot owners in the group certificate program totaling 88,000+ hectares of certified forests.

Interested in joining a supportive forest stewardship network?

Click here to learn more: https://www.eomf.on.ca/programs/certification

10/28/2026

10/26/2026

Tickets for the 2027 conference are on sale today, at our brand-new conference website: www.owaconf.ca

Join us in Belleville on April 24–25 for the 34th Annual Woodlot Tour and Conference, Rooted in Ontario: Small Forests, Big Impact.

The new site has information on everything in one place: tickets, the Saturday program, speakers, Sunday tours, hotel room blocks, sponsorship, trade show booking, and much more.

Register online by January 11 for early bird pricing!

Get your tickets at www.owaconf.ca

10/23/2026

In late-September, thirty members gathered under a beautiful sunny sky to visit the woodland property of Ruth Henderson and Stephen Hartley. This 109-acre property is located in Tay Township, Simcoe County.

Two guided hikes were conducted, with Ruth and Stephen providing very interesting insights to how they are managing their trees. Both have attended the Master Forest Stewards course put on by OWA, and Ruth has also participated in the Forest Climate Resilience course. Information from these courses has been applied to their decision making of what tree species to plant, and where.

A highlight was the demonstration of making biochar, presented by Elliott Groen of OWA. Two water reservoirs were on site (500 L and 250 L), as well as an assortment of rakes, shovels and buckets. A fire permit was obtained from the Township, and neighbours notified there may be smoke in the air. A volunteer bucket brigade ensured the fire was quenched in good order.

📸Thanks to Huronia Woodlot Owners Association member and volunteer David Hawke for the write-up and photos!

Learn more about future educational offerings at https://www.ontariowoodlot.com/education

10/21/2026

Mark your calendar: registration opens this Monday, October 26!

Tickets go on sale for the OWA's 34th Annual Woodlot Tour and Conference in Belleville, April 24–25, 2027, with early bird pricing until January 11.

We're also very excited to debut our brand-new conference website, owaconf.ca, that same day. It's packed with everything you need to plan your weekend: speakers, Sunday tours, tickets, hotels, and more.

See you Monday!

10/20/2026

Last month, OWA Program Manager Sionaid Eggett attended the Canadian Institute of Forestry / Institut forestier du Canada (CIF-IFC) National Conference & 118th Annual General Meeting in Edmonton, Alberta.

The 2026 CIF-IFC conference brought people together to share insights, learn from one another, and discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead. Sionaid reported back on the diverse speakers and topics featured in informative sessions, including sessions for early-career professionals and a Women in Wood panel discussion.

Learn more about the CIF-IFC and their work: https://www.cif-ifc.org/

📸 1. Current CIF-IFC Past President, Dean Assiniwe, also Near North Chapter member, speaking at the conference as President.
📸 2. Former OWA Exchange Forester Jamila Milne (left) with Sionaid Eggett (right).

10/16/2026

10/14/2026

Save the date!

The Ontario Woodlot Association’s 34th Annual Woodlot Tour and Conference is coming to Belleville on April 24 and 25, 2027.

This year’s theme, Rooted in Ontario: Small Forests, Big Impact, celebrates the privately owned woodlots that together make up one of the province’s most important forest landscapes.

Whether you own a woodlot, work in forestry or conservation, or simply love the woods, join us for a day of inspiring talks, our biggest trade show yet, and an evening of good food and great company, followed by a day of unforgettable tours.

Registration opens Monday, October 26, with early bird pricing until January 11.

Quinte Woodlot Association

10/10/2026

Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

This Thanksgiving, consider expanding your horizons and go beyond your own backyard (or woodlot) and the most popular Ontario parks. 🍂

There are so many places across Ontario to witness the vibrant fall colours across woodlands. Here are a few! ⬇

🔗www.destinationontario.com/en-ca/articles/best-ontario-parks-visit-fall

10/07/2026

In late August, the Quinte Woodlot Association hosted a Forest Birds and Habitat walk at David Algar and Liza Plotnikova's woodlot.

Participants learned about forest birds, the habitats they prefer, and practical ways to attract a greater diversity of bird species to their woodlots. 🐦

The walk was led by Chris Davidson of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, who shared insights from his 15 years of experience as a fish and wildlife technician and bird ba**er.

Events like this help woodlot owners better understand and enhance habitat for the many bird species that depend on healthy forests.

📸Thanks to Liza for the picture!

Find your local OWA chapter at ontariowoodlot.com/local-chapters

Address

PO Box 1501 Station Main
North Bay, ON
P1B8K6

Telephone

+16137131525

Website

http://www.ontariowoodlot.com/

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