Conservation Manitou - 2024 Annual Report

Dear members, friends, and partners,

2024 was a big year with the addition of 477 acres of forests, wetlands, and mountain tops. It began with the purchase of 221 acres of land straddling the P’tit Train du Nord Linear Park along highway 117, from the descendants of Huntly Drummond. This land is adjacent to several of our other properties, the Parc Guy Piche, and the Ivry Wildlife Crossing, forming a large contiguous protected area of 547 acres. This was followed by the purchase of 13.4 acres just south of Lac de la Loutre (aka Atwater Lake). While small, this acquisition was of vital importance to protect that lake from a residential development just meters away from its shoreline. Subsequent to year-end, we were advised that the late Sheila McCall had bequeathed 242 acres of backland to us, including such landmarks as Arthur’s Seat and Reid Lake. This donated land is adjacent to our Lac de la Loutre Reserve (aka Atwater Lake), forming another large contiguous protected area of over 500 acres, and brings our total conservation land holdings to approximately 2,215 acres.

Donations and grants rose significantly in 2024, thanks to a large increase in new members and government funding for land purchases and related costs. Despite rising annual operating expenses mainly as a result of higher municipal taxes, we again finished the year with a healthy working capital surplus, while boosting our Stewardship Fund to $600,000. We are actively evaluating numerous acquisition opportunities but remain disciplined in the face of continued speculation from land developers. Our 12th Annual General Meeting of Members will be held on June 28 at 2pm at the townhall in Ivry-sur-le-Lac, where we welcome your presence again this year.

We welcome you to please download Conservation Manitou - 2024 Annual Report.

Conservation Manitou - 2023 Annual Report

Dear members and friends,

2023 marked our 10th anniversary as a registered charity focused on protecting Lake Manitou’s ecosystem. Since our founding, we completed 25 acquisitions and broadened our conservation efforts to promote ecological connectivity in the greater region with other organizations. During the year, we were gifted 110 acres of land near Lake Brazeau just west of Lake Manitou by Aileen Cagney, widow of the late Fred Barker, through ECCC’s Ecological Gifts Program. Subsequent to year-end, we purchased 221 acres adjacent to the Ivry Wildlife Crossing and to several of our properties, forming a large contiguous protected area of 547 acres. This latest acquisition brings our total land holdings to approximately 1,960 acres, just shy of our stated goal of preserving 2,000 acres within 10 years.

While donations and grants were down significantly in 2023, the prior year was a record for government grants due to the large number of land purchases made qualifying for public funding.  We finished 2023 with a healthy working capital surplus and a Stewardship Fund totalling $450,000. We continue to evaluate numerous opportunities, but need to remain disciplined yet nimble in the face of mounting pressure from land developers. Our 11th Annual Meeting will be held on June 29 at 2pm at the new townhall in Ivry-sur-le-Lac where we look forward to your presence again this year.

We welcome you to please download Conservation Manitou - 2023 Annual Report.

Conservation Manitou - 2022 Annual Report

Dear members and friends,

2022 was one of our busiest years with four land acquisitions completed totalling 237 acres. We began by acquiring 7.5 acres on the south side of Lake Manitou with 576 feet of shoreline. This parcel, purchased from David Johnson at a discount in the context of the Ecological Gifts Program, is named the Ann Johnson Reserve in memory of his wife Ann (née Bushell) who wished it to be preserved. We also teamed up with the municipality of Ivry-sur-le-Lac to buy 172 acres of forest and wetlands which were threatened with development, stretching from Chemin Lac de la Grise northwards to beyond Riviere Noir. We acquired 141 acres of this property while the municipality purchased the remaining 31 acres along the P’tit Train du Nord Linear Park. This property, along with another 87.5 acres of land we bought along Chemin Lac de la Grise, contain a 1 kilometer section of the historic Maple Leaf cross-country ski trail known as the “Nantel”. Finally, McCall Island Foundation transferred us its remaining 1.1 acres of land on the south shore of Lake Manitou. Subsequent to year-end, the Fred Barker family gifted us 110 acres of land in the Lake Brazeau area just west of Lake Manitou, through which cross several scenic trails including the historic Laurentian ski trail.

Donations from members, combined with government grants, reached nearly $1.1 million, all of which was deployed toward land acquisitions and to bolster our Stewardship Fund. We finished the year in a strong financial position as we continue to evaluate numerous opportunities. However, as we acquire more land, we need to continue growing our Stewardship Fund to pay increasing carrying costs such as municipal taxes. 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of our founding, and with 1,738 acres of conservation lands currently under our protection, we are within reach of achieving our stated goal of preserving 2,000 acres. Please join us for our 10th Annual Meeting of Members on May 20th at 2pmat the Ivry-sur-le-Lac town hall to celebrate this important milestone.

We welcome you to please download Conservation Manitou - 2022 Annual Report.

Conservation Manitou - 2021 Annual Report

2021 was another busy year for Conservation Manitou. We purchased 55 acres of land directly adjacent to 79 acres we already own south-east of Lake Manitou. This 134-acre area will be named Manitou Valley Reserve, for which we are applying to the Quebec government for Private Nature Reserve status. We also received a 3.5-acre land donation from John and Marie Tremble next to our Hague property. Subsequent to year-end, we acquired 7.5 acres on the south side of Lake Manitou, featuring 576 feet of shoreline and a stream which discharges into the lake from a vast wetland area. This valuable parcel was purchased from David Johnson in the context of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program, and will be named the Ann Johnson Reserve in memory of his wife Ann (née Bushell) who wished this land to be preserved. We also signed a promise to purchase 172 acres of land north of Lake Manitou featuring a section of the historic Maple Leaf (Nantel) ski trail, for which we are currently raising funds.

2021 was also a record year for fundraising and government grants. Despite the strong inflow of donations from new and current members, we decided to increase the Stewardship Fund by only $23,800 to $223,800, preferring to keep surplus funds for future land acquisitions. Pandemic travel restrictions and low interest rates have caused demand and property prices to rise, and has created more competition from developers. However, we remain disciplined in deploying the funds that have been entrusted to us. Meanwhile, our annual operating costs remain well under control. With nearly 1,400 acres of land under its protection, we can all be proud that Conservation Manitou has become one of the most important players in Quebec’s conservation scene.

We welcome you to please download Conservation Manitou - 2021 Annual Report.