Celebrate the Thames
Celebrate the Thames On Saturday, October 5th, 2024 the "Celebrate the Thames" event took place in Lions River Park in Thamesford. Organized in partnership with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) and Thamesford Lions Club and supported with generous funding from TD Friends of the Environment Fund. The day began with a special Water Ceremony performed by Wahsayzee Deleary. The event featured environmental education booths, Indigenous cultural education [...]
Growing Good Land Stewards at the Carolinian Forest Festival
Growing Good Land Stewards at the Carolinian Forest Festival Springwater Conservation Area was buzzing with over 2,000 students who attended the Carolinian Forest Festival from October 7-10 this year. After pouring out of school buses, the grade 7 and 8 students dispersed to 37 different activity stations set up along a hiking trail in Springwater Forest. Each station featured hands-on, interactive games and activities to teach the students about [...]
Stratford Invasive Plant Plan Community Information Session (media release, October 3, 2024)
For Immediate Release October 3, 2024 Stratford Invasive Plant Plan Community Information Session The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority and the City of Stratford are hosting a Community Information Session regarding the Stratford Invasive Plant Plan which was recently approved by City Council. Himalayan Balsam in TJ Dolan Natural Area The Stratford Invasive Plant Plan was developed by the Invasive Species Centre at the suggestion of the [...]
Commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Monday, September 30, marks the fourth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. This day was created to promote awareness of Canada's Residential School System, in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #80 – to honour survivors, their families, and communities. Commemorating the tragic history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is [...]
Fish Surveying in the Thames River
Fish Surveying in the Thames River Wet weather has made for a logistically challenging field season for our fish surveying team. The heavy rain has amounted to many days when the river water was too high and cloudy to work safely. Despite the challenging conditions, we have managed to survey a total of 69 sites in the Upper Thames River watershed, so far this year. White Sucker, Central Stoneroller, [...]
A Staff’s Perspective: SOARR Day
A Staff’s Perspective: SOARR Day On Saturday, August 17th, Scott Gillingwater and the Southern Ontario at Risk Reptiles (SOARR) team hosted an informational session on their Species at Risk program for friends and family at the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s Watershed Conservation Centre (WCC). I attended and brought my partner along. We were really looking forward to seeing the team in action and speaking about this program. [...]
O-week Tree Planting with Huron University
O-week Tree Planting with Huron University On Saturday, Sept 7, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) partnered with Huron University’s Orientation Week to provide over 50 first- and upper-year Huron students with a native tree and shrub planting event on campus. Together, we planted 130 large trees that, once grown, will extend the Medway Heritage Forest system that borders the campus. Trees species included Maple (Autumn Blaze, Red, [...]
Hope and Action Climate Change Festival at Fanshawe Conservation Area
Hope and Action Climate Change Festival at Fanshawe Conservation Area Kick off the 2024 Green in the City event series with the Hope and Action Climate Change Festival on Saturday, September 21st from 10 am – 4 pm at Fanshawe Conservation Area! There will be something for everyone from interactive exhibits and activities by 10+ community organizations, live birds of prey shows (10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm), food [...]
Fanshawe Conservation Area Hosts filming for Netflix Series FUBAR
Fanshawe Conservation Area Hosts filming for Netflix Series FUBAR The months of July and August are always busy at Fanshawe Conservation Area (FCA), but in 2024, we received an especially unique request. We were approached by representatives from a Toronto area production company to see if Fanshawe Dam and Reservoir could be used for filming portions of Season 2 for the Netflix action-comedy series FUBAR. This series features actor [...]
Celebrate the Thames at Lions River Park in Thamesford
Celebrate the Thames at Lions River Park in Thamesford On Saturday, October 5 (rain date of October 6) from 10 am to 2 pm, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), in partnership with the Thamesford Lions and the Indigenous Solidarity Network, will host a free, family-friendly event in Lions River Park. In addition to celebrating and learning about the Thames River, the day will provide the community with [...]