Wildlands League

06/04/2026

What a great day at ! 🌳 🥾

A big thank you to everyone who joined us last Friday. It was a pleasure to spend the day with CPAWS · SNAP Canada board members, special guests, and longtime conservation champions in the Rouge.

Thank you to:
🌿 Gary Pritchard for opening the day in ceremony and reminding us of our treaty relationships and shared responsibilities
🌿 Emily Kinnon, Parks Canada, and volunteer hike leaders Anne and Glen for showcasing the beauty and importance of the Rouge
🌿 Parkbus for helping us get there and back
🌿 Sandra Schwartz and Celina Bernal for helping organize the day

We were proud to share Wildlands League's work to secure ecological integrity as Rouge's primary mandate under law and our ongoing efforts to see the Pickering Lands added to the park as promised!

06/03/2026

Are we being played? ⚾️ With baseball season back, we’re continuing our series unpacking the claims behind Ontario’s Ring of Fire ads that flooded our screens during last year’s World Series run.

So, will developing the Ring of Fire add $22 billion to our economy?

To get anywhere near that number, the region would need to support roughly 40 operating mines. Right now, there isn’t even one.

The Ring of Fire is in the exploration phase, with no active mines and no feasibility studies demonstrating proven mineral reserves. In fact, taxpayers are being asked to pony up billions of dollars to subsidize big mining, the creation of private wealth and to rush the construction of risky mining roads in sensitive ecosystems. A robust plan to ensure the public that environment wouldn’t be harmed is absent and it’s unclear if the international standard of free prior and informed consent by First Nations will even be met by Ontario or proponents. The $22 billion figure doesn’t reflect what’s happening on the ground today, and Ontario has not provided the numbers to back up the hype.

Verdict: We’re being played ⚠️

06/02/2026

On World Peatlands Day, remember that Canada is home to one of the planet’s most powerful natural climate solutions.

Canada's peatlands store 150bn tonnes of carbon, but when disturbed, they release it in ways we can’t reverse. With development accelerating in places like the Hudson Bay Lowland, the risks are growing fast.

WCS Canada’s new brief outlines how peatlands should be put at the center of climate policy.

Find out more: https://f.mtr.cool/tztmcbytve

06/01/2026

The Ring of Fire is often framed as essential to Canada’s low-carbon future, but developing the region raises serious concerns about Indigenous jurisdiction, consultation, and the climate cost of disturbing one of the world’s largest peatland ecosystems.

“This isn’t just a local issue,” says Anna Baggio. “It has broader climate and economic implications, especially when you consider the role of peatlands as a major carbon sink.”

Read the full article here: https://buff.ly/WutOAQu

05/27/2026

Yesterday, the Wildlands team traded our desks for paddles and spent the day exploring the beautiful Eramosa River! 🛶

Along the way, we spotted basking turtles, countless birds, and plenty of reminders of why these green spaces matter so much. We left feeling inspired to continue our work in Guelph and keep building community around nature, conservation, and access to wild spaces in urban areas.

And while most of us stayed in our canoes and kayaks, our Executive Director, Jan, loved the Eramosa River so much she decided to get a little closer to it… You’ll have to swipe to the end for that one 👀

05/26/2026

It was great to be back in continuing important conversations about how we can make roads safer for wildlife. 🐢🛣️🐍

During the workshop, we explored the importance of road ecology, shared lessons from past projects, and visited existing infrastructure in the field. We saw how concrete headwalls can help guide wildlife toward safe crossings, while also identifying areas where fencing improvements and maintenance are still needed. We also brainstormed some creative solutions to address areas where road conditions are creating unsafe situations for nesting turtles.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the conversation. 💚 Each workshop is another step toward building more connected landscapes for wildlife in Guelph and beyond.

05/23/2026

05/20/2026

Last year, the Pickering Lands were promised protection, but now developers and the City of Pickering are proposing more sprawl on these public lands. Meanwhile, the same MPs once praised for protecting them have gone quiet. 🤔

Don’t let the federal Liberals off the hook!

Tell the federal government to keep its promise and fully protect the Pickering Lands as part of Rouge National Urban Park: https://buff.ly/p6sBwKo

05/19/2026

"Natural areas and farmland support each other in a powerful and interconnected relationship. Protecting Class 1 farmland, ecological integrity, climate resilience, and healthy communities all depend on keeping the Pickering Lands intact within Rouge National Urban Park.

The best path forward is clear: Parks Canada should take over management of ALL the Transport Canada Pickering Lands as part of Rouge National Urban Park, backed by the resources needed to protect and restore these important landscapes.

Don’t let the Federal Liberals off the hook. Ask for a full transfer of the Pickering Lands now."

Wildlands League

https://mailchi.mp/wildlandsleague/pickering-lands-05192026?e=e2c40c8c80