At its recent annual general meeting, Conservation Ontario (CO) announced the leadership team of the organization who will comprise the 2022 Board of Directors. Amongst the six appointees is Alan Revill, a long-time member of the Cataraqui Conservation Full Authority Board, including five terms as its chairperson, and Councillor for the Township of South Frontenac.
Already a valued and experienced member of the CO board, Revill was elected as the organizations board chair for 2022, after previously serving as Conservation Ontario board vice-chair. He will be working closely with the six other members of the board, including vice chair Alan Dale (Upper Thames River Conservation Authority) and directors Rob Baldwin (Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority), Linda Laliberte (Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority), Samantha Lawson (Grand River Conservation Authority), there is currently one vacant member position. Conservation Ontario is governed by the aforementioned six-member elected Board of Directors and leads a Council comprised of appointed and elected municipal officials from the 36 Conservation Authority Board of Directors and Conservation Authority Staff.
Revill spoke of the significance of the leadership position to which he has been elected.
“It is an honour to lead such a talented group of people who care so strongly about land and water conservation and the protection of our environment, a view which I share,” he said.
Revill added that it’s important for Cataraqui Conservation, and indeed all the conservation authorities from Eastern Ontario to have such a strong voice at the CO board level.
“One of the functions of Conservation Ontario is an advocacy role with the provincial and federal governments. Having that voice heard from the eastern Ontario conservation authorities at the ministerial level will provide a valuable perspective.”
Conservation Ontario works closely with and represents all 36 conservation authorities in the province, with a mission to “promote and continually strengthen a watershed-based conservation coalition in Ontario.”
The organization fulfills several important roles within the conservation movement and works co-operatively with other environmental agencies as well as acting as a liaison and advocate for conservation measures with the Ontario government.
Its mandate can be broken down into a few key sectors of responsibility, including policy and program development, business development and partnerships, communications, education and training, collective corporate services, government relations and information management and research.