CONSERVATION MANITOU acquires McCall Island

February 1, 2016 matt s

CONSERVATION MANITOU acquires McCall Island

January 31, 2016 (Ivry-sur-le-Lac, Quebec) – CONSERVATION MANITOU is pleased to announce that it has acquired the 17-acre McCall Island located in the south-eastern arm of Lake Manitou. Formerly known as Beaver Island, The Manitou Club purchased it from Viscount Raoul Ogier d’Ivry circa 1905. It was eventually acquired by Alan McCall after passing through the hands of Canadian Pacific Railway which was rumored to have had plans to build a hotel on the island. The island was later transferred to The McCall Island Foundation in order to preserve it in perpetuity as a wildlife sanctuary for the benefit of local residents. The island was once served by a foot bridge leading to a bathhouse and hiking trail. The transfer from The McCall Island Foundation to CONSERVATION MANITOU required the consent of Nature Conservancy of Canada which was named as transferee in the trust deed.

“We are once again grateful to Shirley Stikeman and David McCall, as well as the other trustees of The McCall Island Foundation, for handing us this precious gift that the late Alan McCall preserved for our community.” declares Stephen Takacsy, Chair of CONSERVATION MANITOU. “Receiving the consent of Nature Conservancy of Canada is a strong endorsement of our preservation work and shows a spirit of cooperation between two like-minded organizations.”

CONSERVATION MANITOU now owns 237 acres of forested conservation lands with over 2 kilometers of shoreline on Lake Manitou and Horseshoe Lake. It is one of the leading organizations dedicated to the preservation of natural areas in the Laurentians and is a registered charity and a qualified recipient of Environment Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program. Its mission is to preserve and protect the ecosystem and natural environment of Lake Manitou and its surroundings, by acquiring land and conservation easements, either donated or purchased, and providing stewardship in perpetuity.

To donate please make your cheque payable to CONSERVATION MANITOU and mail to: 1800 McGill College, suite 2102, Montreal, Quebec H3A 3J6 Registered Charity No.: 831460936RR0001

www.conservationmanitou.ca

CONSERVATION MANITOU: Acquires Adams Properties

July 29, 2014 matt s

CONSERVATION MANITOU acquires Adams properties

Elects 3 new members to its Board of Directors

July 29, 2014 (Ivry-sur-le-Lac, Quebec) – CONSERVATION MANITOU is pleased to announce its second purchase of land on the north shore of Townsend Bay, situated on the east side of Lake Manitou. The latest acquisition comprises several properties totalling approximately 47 acres which form part of a steep forested mountain ridge and includes over 1,000 feet of lakefront. Part of the purchase includes parcels acquired from Doreen Adams under Environment Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program. An ecological assessment, performed by biologists from Nature Action Quebec, confirmed the presence of old growth forest and rated the land as having very high conservation value. CONSERVATION MANITOU now owns approximately 80-acres of forest and nearly 3,200 feet of shoreline. This area forms part of the Townsend Nature Preserve, newly named in honor of Samuel Baillairgé Townsend (1861-1937) who purchased these lands in 1906. Samuel Townsend’s six great-grandchildren: Stephen Adams, Jorie Adams, Catherine Campbell McLean, Willa Campbell, Stewart Campbell, and Alexandra (Sandy) Adams have been instrumental in supporting the creation of the Townsend Nature Preserve.

CONSERVATION MANITOU held its first annual members’ meeting on May 17, 2014 and is pleased to announce the election of three new directors to its board: Michael Prupas, Matthew Stotland and Joseph Graham. They join founding directors Stephen Takacsy, Kim Holden and David McAusland. CONSERVATION MANITOU now has over 100 members who have made donations or pledges totalling nearly $1.6 million. “Thanks to our donors, we have been able to accomplish much in a very short period of time making our first two significant purchases of ecologically sensitive land, but our task has only just begun. We are now working with several other families in order to preserve hundreds of acres of forested mountains and wetlands in the area. We continue our fundraising efforts to help pay for acquisitions and cover ongoing stewardship costs.” states Stephen Takacsy, Chair of CONSERVATION MANITOU. “Conservation is an investment in our future, and preserving the natural capital of a region not only helps to protect the health of its ecosystem but contributes to the ultimate wealth of its communities.”

CONSERVATION MANITOU is one the largest organizations dedicated to the preservation of natural areas in the Laurentians. It is a registered charity and accredited by Environment Canada under the Ecological Gifts Program. Its mission is to preserve and protect the ecosystem and natural environment of Lake Manitou and its surroundings, by acquiring land and conservation easements, either donated or purchased, and providing stewardship services in perpetuity.

You can download a PDF of the press release here.

To donate please make a cheque payable to CONSERVATION MANITOU and mail to:

1800 McGill College, suite 2102, Montreal, Quebec H3A 3J6

www.conservationmanitou.ca

Registered Charity No.: 831460936RR0001

Conservation Manitou: Acquires Campbell Property

October 23, 2013 matt s

CONSERVATION MANITOU acquires 33 acres of old growth forestAnnounces the creation of the Townsend Nature Preserve

October 2, 2013 (Ivry-sur-le-Lac, Quebec) – CONSERVATION MANITOU is pleased to announce that it has acquired its first property on the north shore of Townsend Bay, situated on the east side of Lake Manitou. The 33-acre parcel purchased is part of a mountain ridge containing old growth forest and includes 2,155 feet of lakefront. CONSERVATION MANITOU also plans to acquire an adjacent 52-acre property under Environment Canada’s Ecological Gift Program. Along with a third parcel to be donated, the 3 properties combined will represent nearly 100 acres of forested mountain and one kilometer of shoreline. CONSERVATION MANITOU mandated Nature Action Quebec to perform an ecological assessment, which confirms the presence of old growth forest and the very high conservation value of these properties.

The area will be named Townsend Nature Preserve in honor of Samuel Baillargé Townsend (1861-1937) who purchased these lands in 1906 to contribute to the well-being of his family and the community. Samuel B. Townsend also hosted the Lake Manitou Regatta from 1922 to 1934, as a way of enriching community life in this then remote region of the Laurentians. Samuel B. Townsend’s six great-grandchildren: Stephen Adams, Jorie Adams, Catherine Campbell McLean, Willa Campbell, Stewart Campbell, and Alexandra (Sandy) Adams have been instrumental in supporting the creation of the Townsend Nature Preserve, a fitting tribute to Samuel B. Townsend and the values shared by him and his descendants.

In order to fund the above acquisitions as well as build an endowment, CONSERVATION MANITOU has received donation pledges totalling approximately $1.5 million from over 70 households. Its fundraising target is to reach $1.7 million by year end 2013. “We are thrilled with the broad level of participation we are receiving from our community in helping to preserve ecologically sensitive areas in the region.” states Stephen Takacsy, Chair of CONSERVATION MANITOU. “Our donors understand that environmental issues affect everyone and that protecting such areas is vitally important to the health of the lake and its entire watershed. We hope this forward thinking sets an example for other communities in the Laurentians to follow.”

To donate please make a cheque payable to CONSERVATION MANITOU and mail to: 1800 McGill College Avenue, suite 2102, Montreal, Quebec H3A 3J6

www.conservationmanitou.ca

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