Here are some of the features of this year’s event.

Silent Auction – The auction will provide you with a chance to bid on an array of wood products, forest products, books about trees and other forest-related items.  Show your support for your association and local chapter by taking part in the silent auction.

Easter Island was Once a Woodlot
Keynote Speaker: Tom Bowes, Co-owner, InCourage Inc.
Tom Bowes has been keenly interested in helping people find their courage to collaborate, lead, learn, take risks, listen intentionally, speak one’s truth, be accountable, confront what’s wrong and to stand up to the status quo for transformational change.  Most of his speaking and writing has been inspired by travels to lost civilizations and developing ones and by the people he has met along the way.  This does not classify this presentation as a travelogue, he has merely used his role as pilgrim to learn and try to make sense of our world.  He will share the story of his trip to the ultimate woodlot, Easter Island, and use it to illustrate the need for leadership, sustainability – and the courage required for us to not repeat history.

Emerald Ash Borer: Planning Ahead
Speaker: Martin Streit, Leeds-Grenville Stewardship
No tree species has made a greater contribution to the recovery of forest cover in southern Ontario then ash. Although potentially devastating, we cannot predict the future impact of emerald ash borer. Martin will discuss how landowners outside the infested areas should consider options to lessen the possible impact on their property.

Using Fire in Ecosystem Restoration
Speaker: Nolan Shortt, Fire Advisor, Ministry of Natural Resources
Learn how prescribed burning is being used as a management tool in the restoration of endangered ecosystems in southern Ontario such as tall grass prairie and oak savannah.

Bats of Ontario
Speaker: Amy Cameron, Planning Ecologist, Ministry of Natural Resources
You will learn about Ontario's bat species, their habitat, white nose syndrome, which is killing of millions of bats in Canada and about a bat monitoring project examining bat population trends, habitat, and much more.

Growing Forward: Forests and Carbon Markets in Ontario
Speaker: Jenny Gleeson, Senior Climate Change Program Advisor, Ministry of Natural Resources
Come listen and learn what carbon markets are and what is their status in Ontario?  Here about what types of forest management activities are applicable and how might woodlot managers and landowners be able to participate.

Supporters of this year’s conference include: