Barrie Councillor Clare Riepma and Oro-Medonte Mayor Randy Greenlaw were re-elected to the positions of chair and vice-chair, respectively, at the 74th annual general meeting of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
They expressed their gratitude to the rest of the board for their continued trust and support, a conservation authority news release stated.
Another key highlight of the meeting was a presentation by Christa Sharp, manager, restoration, who provided an update on 2024 accomplishments under the conservation authority’s restoration program, as well as upcoming projects for 2025.
Sharp spoke about the critical, on-the-ground improvements her team worked on within the Lake Simcoe watershed, such as stormwater retrofits, low-impact development features, community action projects, wetland habitat creation, and agricultural projects.
These projects resulted in 33 hectares of land being restored within the watershed, with 75 per cent of them increasing biodiversity, and 73 per cent addressing climate change stressors.
Sharp said more than 45 projects in progress for 2025.
Chief administrative officer Rob Baldwin further reiterated the importance of advancing innovative research to better understand and address environmental challenges, including climate change and biodiversity loss. He also introduced a year-in-review video compilation, highlighting noteworthy achievements.
To view the 2024 year-in-review video, metrics and infographic, visit lsrca.on.ca/index.php/home/annual-reports.