MALLORYTOWN LANDING, ONTARIO, October 21, 2006 --
On behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Mr. Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, took part today in a ceremony to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions made by members of the community to St. Lawrence Islands National Park of Canada.
"Today, I congratulate the many individuals, families and organizations who have worked alongside St. Lawrence Islands National Park towards achieving stewardship and conservation," said Minister Ambrose. "The success being celebrated today is that of community effort which led to the doubling of the size of the park. This in turn greatly contributes to Parks Canada's ability to preserve and present this area of the Thousand Islands ecosystem and landscape to and for Canadians."
During the ceremony, an Ecological Leadership award was presented to Mr. Don Ross, Executive Director of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve, for his exceptional environmental leadership.
An engraved window was unveiled to recognize the generous contributions of local families - the Mallorys, the Skorynas, the Mathesons, the Blisses and the Smiths - who have previously transferred family owned lands to St. Lawrence Islands National Park of Canada as gifts to the people of Canada. In addition, a land transfer from Ontario's St. Lawrence Parks Commission and a land donation from the Nature Conservancy of Canada were celebrated. The addition of these lands to the park will contribute both to its conservation role, and to sustainable tourism through the natural heritage experiences that it can offer to Canadians.
"Today is not only a day to look back on the successes of community stewardship efforts at
St. Lawrence Islands National Park, but also a day to look forward to continued and strengthened ties between the park and its community," said Mr. Brown.
Located a 1.5 hour drive from Ottawa, St. Lawrence Islands National Park includes more than 24 islands and 90 islets scattered through the St. Lawrence River corridor between Brockville and Kingston, Ontario, within the unique Thousand Islands ecosystem. High levels of biodiversity, rare species habitat and exceptional landforms representative of the region are found within these areas.
Established in 1904 as the first national park located east of the Rockies, St. Lawrence Islands National Park is one of the 42 national parks and national park reserves of Canada that protect and present significant examples of our nation's natural and cultural heritage.
Information:
Joanne Huppé
Communications Advisor
Corporate Communications
Parks Canada
819-953-8699
Sophie Borcoman
Communications Manager
St. Lawrence Islands National Park of Canada
613-923-5322
Backgrounder associated with this News Release.
A CELEBRATION OF STEWARDSHIP AT ST. LAWRENCE ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK OF CANADA
