FRIDAY OCTOBER 25th, 2024
We hosted our Inaugural Nature Corridor Summit
With just over 260 attendees, we had an informative, engaging and overall spectacular day.
Below is a summary of Keynote, Moderators, Panelists and Topics.
Keynote Speaker, Dr. Kelly L. Cerialo
Presented by Paul Chapman, RBC Wealth Management
Dr. Cerialo will provide a global perspective on biospheres and nature corridors with specific examples from Italy and Northeastern United States.
She is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator in the Business and Hospitality Department at Paul Smith’s College, Co-chair of the UNESCO Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere Reserve (New York/Vermont), coordinator of the U.S. UNESCO Biosphere Network, and co-founder of the U.S. Biosphere Reserve Youth Network. In 2024, Dr. Cerialo was appointed by the Director General of UNESCO to the International Advisory Committee for Biosphere Reserves.
Dr. Cerialo’s work focuses on enhancing the human-nature connection to improve both environmental and human health.
Panelist:
Panelists will discuss the ecological significance of nature corridors, challenges in their establishment, and management.
Michael McDonald – CEO, Bruce Trail Conservancy
Tomasz Wiercioch – Program Manager, Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System
Stephen Couchman – Former Project Director, Bhutan Canada Foundation
Caley Doran – Anishinaabe Cultural Experiences, Cape Croker Park
Christine Drake – Manager of Ecological Corridors and Heritage Rivers, Parks Canada
Bill Lougheed – Executive Director, Georgian Bay Land Trust
Michael Goodyear – Director, Policy and Stakeholder Relations, Trans Canada Trail
James Dobbin – President & CEO, Dobbin International and Co-Project Director ECA Corridor Identification Project
Jennie Elmslie – Co-Owner, Free Spirit Tours / President, Free Spirit Forest School
Lauren Jeffrey – Community Program Coordinator, South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre
Chris Kornacki – Farmacare Regenerative Health & Fitness
Scott Allison – Chair Regional Tourism Organization 7
Samantha Woodhouse – ECA Youth Ambassador, Kindergarten Teacher, Hundred Acre Woods School
Understanding Nature Corridors
Experts from various fields, including biology, ecology, and policy, will discuss the ecological significance of nature corridors and the challenges in establishing and managing them.
Bringing the Corridor to Life
Presentations on existing funding, policies, and legal frameworks that support the establishment and protection of nature corridors.
The Vital Connection
Exploration of how natural corridors benefit human health, recreation, and well-being by providing opportunities for exercise, stress reduction, cleaner air, and social engagement.
