Decade Award honours land trusts
Ausable Bayfield Conservation recognizes local land trusts with Decade Award
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority honours land trusts in watershed area with Decade Award during ABCA 80th anniversary year
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has presented a Decade Award to honour the work of local land trusts. The award, for the 2010s decade and beyond, is presented during ABCA’s 80th anniversary year (2026). It recognizes the work of local land trusts stewarding the gifts of generous and forward-thinking donors. This is the eighth of nine awards ABCA is presenting this year.
Recognized, with the award, were:
- Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT)
- Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy (HTLTC)
- Lambton Wildlife Inc. (LWI)
- Nature Conservancy of Canada.
A ceremony to announce the award was held, on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at TTLT’s Joany’s Woods property.
Dave Marsh, Vice Chair of the ABCA Board of Directors, thanked land trusts and donors.
“Thanks to your boards, your volunteers, and the foresight and generosity of your donors, you are leaving a local land legacy of nature and habitat preservation for today and for generations to come,” he said.
Nathan Schoelier is ABCA’s Acting General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer.
“Land trusts are strong partners in conservation,” he said. “We share common goals with land trusts and their vision is complementary to the work of conservation authorities like ours. Our work together strengthens the ability of land trusts, conservation authorities, and donors to protect natural spaces for future generations. We are honoured to present this Decade Award, during our 80th Anniversary Year, to the land trusts working in this watershed.”
Land trusts are non-profit, charitable organizations that acquire land or interests in land (like conservation easements) for the purpose of conservation, access to nature and community connection. They protect and care for these lands and conservation easements for future generations.
Daria Koscinski is Executive Director of Thames Talbot Land Trust.
“Thank you for this award on behalf of TTLT staff, volunteers and donors,” she said. “We are thrilled to be recognized and to share this honour with the many landholders who have chosen to work with us to create lasting nature legacies. It’s a pleasure to work within a collaborative conservation community with other land trusts, conservation authorities, and other partners committed to conservation. Together we are making a big difference for future generations.”
Roberta Buchanan is a volunteer with Lambton Wildlife.
“Lambton Wildlife Inc. is honoured to receive this recognition of its longstanding commitment to conservation and protection of nature,” she said. “LWI is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and we are proud to be part of the broader nature community. LWI is dedicated to working collaboratively with other nature organizations to protect and enhance natural environments in Lambton County.”
Kerry Teskey is Chair of the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy.
“On behalf of the HTLTC Board of Directors, I would like to thank ABCA for having recognized the importance of the work of local land trusts with this award,” he said. “Our permanent preservation of important natural areas is only possible thanks to the generosity of the visionary people who leave lasting local land legacies through donations of land and endowments. I would also like to thank all the people in the community who donate to the work of your local land trusts.”
PHOTO CAPTION:
AUSABLE BAYFIELD CONSERVATION AUTHORITY HONOURS LAND TRUSTS WITH ABCA 80TH ANNIVERSARY DECADE AWARD – Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) recognized the work of land trusts working in the area with a Decade Award during ABCA’s 80th anniversary year (2026). In photo, from left to right, are: David Marsh, Vice Chair, ABCA Board of Directors; Kerry Teskey, Chair, Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy (HTLTC); Roberta Buchanan, Lambton Wildlife Inc. (LWI); Pete Chapman, Lambton Wildlife; Lily Vuong, Conservation Director, Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT); Daria Koscinski, TTLT Executive Director; and Nathan Schoelier, ABCA Interim General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer. The award announcement ceremony was held on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at the TTLT’s Joany’s Woods property near Thedford.
About the Decade Awards
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has honoured, with ABCA 80th Anniversary (1946-2026) Decade Awards, the following recipients:
- 1940s – Member municipalities, recognizing their foresight in forming Ontario’s first conservation authority and for their continued partnership.
- 1950s – Ontario Parks – For establishing and stewarding Pinery Provincial Park.
- 1960s – Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (formerly Department of Lands and Forests) for a lasting local legacy of reforestation especially through the Agreement Forest Program.
- 1970s – Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation – For six decades of work, supporting projects in the watershed community since ABCF was formed in 1974.
- 1980s – Local community service groups, recognizing decades of strong partnerships in our watershed communities.
- 1990s – Innovators for soil health – Recognizing agricultural stewards and innovators in soil health and conservation tillage.
- 2000s – Local Trail Groups – Recognizing the dedicated efforts of community trail groups to provide opportunities to experience the great outdoors.
- 2010s – Local Land Trusts, recognizing their work in stewarding the gifts of generous donors.
ABCA will present the ninth of nine Decade Awards, for the 2020s, later this year (2026).