Ontario Woodlot Association

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Ontario Woodlot Association

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.

06/24/2026

Last week the annual Gathering of Friends of the Eastern Ontario Model Forest (EOMF) was held at Limerick Forest Interpretive Centre with more than 30 people in attendance.

Dan Cooper of Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) shared an update on the amalgamation of the conservation authorities in addition to tree services offered by RVCA. Sionaid Eggett, Program Manager, provided an update on the Forest Certification program.

Congratulations to Jim McCready (left) who received the Heartwood Award for exceptional volunteer contribution to the EOMF. Larry McDermott and Chris Craig received the Ross Silverside Award.

Also of note was that Rich Verbisky of the International Model Forest Network Secretariat was formally inducted as a "Friend" of the EOMF. Rich will retire this fall and he has been a steadfast supporter of the EOMF.

06/21/2026

Honouring the land, listening to its caretakers.

On June 16 and 17, the Ontario Woodlot Association (OWA) had the privilege of meeting with the Tay River Algonquian Community (TRAC).

Representing the OWA were Glen Provost and Elliott Groen, who joined TRAC Chief Dick Lalande (Dream Hunter) and Deputy Chief Pierre Laprise (Hunter’s Eye) to assess vital forest and wetlands priorities and deepen our ongoing Indigenous Circle collaboration.

Our discussions led to concrete action plans for our shared ecosystems, including:

- Invasive species management: Combining forces to tackle invasive threats like buckthorn. 🌿
- Restoring traditions: Creating a plan to increase maple tree populations in a specific area to support future traditional maple syrup production. 🍁
- Enhance biodiversity: Diversifying forest structure to enhance biodiversity. 🌱

Healthy, resilient forests rely on shared knowledge and a deep respect for the land. As we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, the OWA remains firmly committed to building strong, collaborative partnerships that promote sustainable forest stewardship and safeguard our shared ecosystems.

Miigwetch to Chief Lalande, Deputy Chief Laprise, and the entire Tay River Algonquian Community for sharing their leadership, vision, and wisdom with us.

Left to right: Chief Dick Lalande (Dream Hunter); Elliott Groen, OWA; and Deputy Chief Pierre Laprise (Hunter’s Eye).

06/18/2026

The Ontario Woodlot Association is happy to welcome Jamila Milne from New Zealand, on a three-month placement, as part of the Young Professional Foresters' Exchange Program.

Jamila is a graduate of the University of Canterbury, obtaining her Bachelor of Forestry Science in 2022. She has since worked for OneFortyOne New Zealand Forests.

She's excited to work for the OWA this summer, specifically helping with the LiDAR calibration plots for the Private Land Advance Forest Resource Inventory Project (PLAFRI). Now in its final year of data collection, the team is establishing plots west of Central Ontario.

To date, Jamila's professional experience has primarily been in forest resources including inventory, yield and woodflow modelling, harvest reconciliations, forest valuation, and data/value-driven decision making. She’s also worked closely with a silviculture team and managed forest health programs.

Jamila says, “I love learning, so I’m excited to be involved with anything pertaining to forestry in your beautiful province, things are certainly done differently here so there’s a lot to learn and see! I’m excited to be involved in the woodlot space in Ontario, because of the numerous different species and methods in management that differ from NZ, but also because it encompasses managing problems and objectives that impact real people with deep ties to their forests.”

Welcome to Jamila!

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The Young Professional Foresters' Exchange Program facilitates international knowledge exchange for young professionals working in the forest sector. It’s managed by the Canadian Institute of Forestry / Institut forestier du Canada and counterpart organizations in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.

The program recognizes young professionals actively engaged in forestry or natural resource management who have demonstrated a passion for the environment and a desire to solve complex problems.

06/14/2026

On Friday, May 15, OWA staff members and Kawartha Chapter members, Elliott Groen and Melany Burant, had the pleasure of visiting OWA member, Doris Krahn's, beautiful property, Whispering Woods, near Lakefield.

Doris shared her approach to managing a woodlot with a focus on recreation and nature appreciation. As they explored the property's extensive trail network, they discussed how to showcase unique natural features, create meaningful visitor experiences, and help people connect more deeply with the landscape.

The visit sparked great conversations about stewardship and the many ways private woodlands can be managed to support both people and the natural environment.

They were also joined by two enthusiastic four-legged assistants, Rosie and Gimli, who thoroughly enjoyed exploring the trails, investigating fallen logs, and keeping a close eye on the group. 🐾

A sincere thank you to Doris for welcoming them onto her property and sharing her knowledge and experience. They came away with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and an even greater appreciation for the work of Ontario's woodland owners.

06/12/2026

The Ontario Woodlot Association (OWA) welcomes the Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force report, which recognizes the important contribution of Canada's private forests in building a competitive, sustainable, and resilient forest sector.

Canadian Forest Owners (CFO) and the CFO Executive, which the OWA is a part, were effective in working with partners on the task force to get recognition and specific private land recommendations in the report.

🔗Read CFO's news release and the Task Force report through the link in our comments.⬇️

06/10/2026

Our Summer 2026 issue features articles from the Ontario Woodlot Association’s counterpart organizations across the country, through our membership with Canadian Forest Owners (CFO). 🍁🌲

As a national federation, CFO advocates for approximately 480,000 private forest landowners, promoting sustainable forest management, biodiversity, and climate change action.

CFO members include families, businesses, and Indigenous groups who collectively manage about 25 million hectares of private land, accounting for close to 20% of Canada's forest production.

We’re looking forward to sharing special national issue with OWA members and with all our counterpart organizations nationwide. 📧

📸Cover photo: Canadian Forest Owners (CFO) Days on the Hill, October 2025. From left to right: Vice Chair Vincent Miville (Fédération des producteurs forestiers du Québec), Chair Jason Killam (J.D. Irving), Past Chair Susannah Banks (New Brunswick Federation of Woodlot Owners), Dean Assinewe (Ontario Woodlot Association member), CEO Andrew de Vries (CFO).

New Brunswick Federation of Woodlot Owners, Fédération des producteurs forestiers du Québec, Woodlot Association of Manitoba, Woodlot Association of Alberta, Private Forest Landowners Association, Forest Nova Scotia, Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners, and PEI Woodlot Owners Association.

06/07/2026

Local ecologists, botanists and foresters, as well as Birds Canada staff generously offered their time to take small groups through the trailless woodlot along Lyons Creek just east of the historical Cooks Mills in Niagara Falls last month. 40 people participated in this morning walk.

The productive soils, steep valleys and long term impacts from beech bark disease provided a unique opportunity to see spring ephemerals, forested slopes and productive wildlife habitat.

📸Thanks to Paul Robertson (Niagara Chapter) for sharing pictures.

Find your local OWA chapter: https://www.ontariowoodlot.com/local-chapters

06/04/2026

The Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) encourages good forest management by giving a property tax reduction to eligible landowners who prepare and follow an approved Managed Forest Plan.

🔗Learn more: https://www.ontariowoodlot.com/MFTIP

06/02/2026

In early May about 60 members of the Huron-Perth chapter of the OWA met for their Annual Spring Tour, Dinner and AGM.

The Spring Tour included a walk and talk with Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) staff about site preparation and removal of common buckthorn prior to reforestation.

Pictured are members hearing about white pine plantation managed at the Wawanosh Park Conservation Area and invasive species control.

Find an OWA chapter near you: https://www.ontariowoodlot.com/join

📸 Thanks to Dave Bray (Huron-Perth) for sending the pictures, and Tim Prentice and Shannon Millar (MVCA) for sharing their time and expertise.

05/31/2026

Three weeks after hosting the OWA Conference, the Kawartha Chapter held an action packed event with their AGM and Spring Walk in the Woods event at Whispering Woods near Lakefield, ON.

Some of the topics discussed included:
- Firewood cutting
- Forest management on a small scale
- Dealing with windstorm and ice damage
- Recognizing and protecting biodiversity
- Trail development, map-making, and more

Participants were also treated to a walk with ecologist/naturalist David Bland and forester Siliva Strobl.

📸Thanks to Doris Krahn (Kawartha) for hosting and taking picture!

Address

PO Box 1501 Station Main
North Bay, ON
P1B8K6

Telephone

+16137131525

Website

http://www.ontariowoodlot.com/

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