2017-2020 STRATEGIC PLAN

About the Essex Region Conservation Foundation

The Essex Region Conservation Foundation (ERCF) was established as a registered, charitable public foundation in 1977 with a vital goal to receive and maintain funds for charitable, educational, conservation and heritage purposes related directly or indirectly to the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural and heritage resources in the Essex region.

In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Foundation, significant efforts were undertaken to determine a plan to position it as the environmental foundation of choice in the Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island region. Through broad research and consultation over a 12-month period, it was determined that strengthening the relationship between the Essex Region Conservation Authority and the Essex Region Conservation Foundation was the best path forward. ERCA implements the conservation projects and programs, while ERCF raises the funds to support this important work. A brand essence identifying Essex Region Conservation as the Guardians of Natural Place was confirmed. New visual identities were created for both ERCF and ERCA, updated and modernized with unique but complementary icons and messaging that strategically portray the spirit of the Place for Life.

Following this visual identity and brand essence effort, the Foundation launched its Place for Life campaign in June of 2017, which aims to raise $1 million over three years to support its four long-time priority pillars:

1. Connecting our Communities 2. Greening our Region

3. Inspiring Future Generations 4. Preserving our Heritage

The Place for Life reinforces that all elements of a place

are interconnected – our community, its environmental

health, healthy lifestyles for our citizens, and our economy.

Life recognizes our living, thriving, sustainable natural

systems. Life refers to the people of our community;

their health and protection, and our shared heritage. We

embrace this place and make it our home. For life.

2017 Board of DirectorsSusan Stockwell Andrews, President Kelly Laforest, DirectorJ. Claire Wales, Vice-President Charlotte Loaring, DirectorKen Schmidt, Past President Rakesh Naidu, DirectorKaren Behune Plunkett, Director Eric Naylor, DirectorSean Collier, Director Brian Parent, DirectorTerry Fink, Director David Robins, DirectorAmanda Gellman, Director Richard Wyma, Executive Director

VISION, MISSION, GOALS

Our Shared Vision

The Essex Region Conservation Foundation and Authority share a vision:

The Essex Region is a sustainable, resilient and vibrant place with healthy and thriving watersheds, Great Lakes, and a green culture.

Our Shared Mission

Improving our environment to enrich our lives.

Our Foundation’s Goal

Over the next three years, we will raise $1 million dollars to enrich and sustain the Place for Life.

Our StrengthsA strong track record of success

For 40 years, ERCF has achieved many successes, raising funds to support the acquisition and protection of LaSalle Woods, Cedar Creek Properties, Spring Garden Complex, Zuliani Woods. It has supported the planting of more than six million trees, and the acquisition and development of 80 km of safe and accessible greenway trails. The Foundation has supported ERCA in educating more than 350,000 students about the importance of conserving our environment and preserving our heritage, and has ensured the long-term preservation of the John R. Park Homestead and Kingsville Train Station. The Essex Region Conservation Foundation enriches our region as the Place for Life.

The ability to develop new partnerships

The Foundation has a history of building partnerships to further its mission. Partnering with hundreds of local, provincial and international organizations and individual donors has made these four decades of success possible.

Our unique mandate

ERCF is the only foundation supporting conservation efforts in the Essex region.

A symbol of trust

In 2015, the Essex Region Conservation Foundation became one of only 135 organizations across Canada to achieve accreditation from Imagine Canada’s prestigious Standards Program for Charitable and Non-Profit Organizations. This accreditation means the Foundation has demonstrated excellence in

board governance; financial accountability and transparency; fundraising; staff management; and volunteer management.

Meeting these highest standards will inspire confidence among our donors and partners as we raise funds to enrich and sustain our region as the Place for Life. Our investment in the Standards Program is our investment in trust, allowing us to confidently tell others to “invest in us.”

Connecting CommunitiesConnecting the Place for Life ensures that people have safe opportunities to connect with nature and each other, improve their mental and physical health, and support sustainable economies.

Research shows that a walk in the woods can strengthen immunity, lower blood pressure, increase ability to focus and relieve stress - and saves money. The Canadian Medical Association reports that even a 10% increase in physical activity could reduce direct health-care expenditures by $150 million a year.

At the same time, improving active transportation opportunities through trail networks make communities more livable and desirable. Trails attract tourists to Ontario communities and create jobs. The Ontario Trails Council estimates that trails contribute at least $2 billion a year to the Ontario economy.

Outcomes

▪ Increase vibrancy in the Place for Life by connecting the Rotary (1918) Centennial Hub and the region by trails;

▪ Rebuild the boardwalk and resurface the trails at Holiday Beach and Devonwood Conservation Areas;

▪ Support nearly 80 kilometres of safe and accessible greenways;

▪ Create 4 community entrances for the Cypher Systems Group Greenway to enhance access

▪ Explore opportunities to develop riverfront lands in Amherstburg.

Inspiring Future GenerationsIn today’s world of computers, tablets and cell phones, one of the greatest challenges of our time is connecting our children with the world around us. A compelling body of evidence exists that trees and natural areas are essential elements of healthy communities for children.

Research also shows that a connection to nature in childhood is positively correlated with long-term knowledge about the environment. Studies further support that nature exposure in childhood can have lasting health benefits by building a foundation where children learn to seek out nature as a lifelong health habit.

Outcomes

▪ Ensure that at least 10,000 students each year benefit from outdoor education programs.

▪ Continue to provide the Earth Day Travelling Road Show to 3,500 students each year

▪ Create an innovative ‘Natural Playground’ at Holiday Beach Conservation Area to connect kids with nature while nurturing their imagination.

Greening our RegionConserving the Place for Life protects the important natural areas that remain, while creating and connecting new habitats.

Natural areas also provide numerous benefits that have economic value.: clean water, natural filtration of contaminants, water flow stabilization, greenhouse gas mitigation, erosion control, nutrient cycling, habitat, recreation and health benefits. This natural capital also helps to combat the impacts of climate change and flooding. In addition to the important economic rationale, there is an unquestionable connection between human and environmental health.

While we’ve helped plant more than six million trees in the last four decades, we need your help to continue to mitigate our ecological footprint and enhance sustainability in the Place For Life.

Outcomes

▪ Create two new forests and support habitat creation of 125 acres per year. In total, 20,000 acres of restoration is required to meet the community’s goal of 12% natural areas coverage.

Preserving our HeritagePlaces like the John R. Park Homestead bring together people of all ages. They become focal points for community celebrations and highlight our Canadian story: how our way of life has evolved over the centuries. There are few places where people can experience our history and traditions.

As these sites age, legacy funds are required to create sustainable solutions for preservation. If these important elements of our history are not preserved, they will eventually be erased from our community’s memory – and lost forever.

Outcomes

▪ Restore the sawmill at the John R. Park Homestead to ensure that our cultural heritage is preserved for the future.

Building a Strong Foundation

To continue our mandate to enrich our region as the Place for Life, strong Foundation support is more important than ever.

In 2016, the Foundation underwent a significant renaissance resulting in a new brand and increased community awareness. In 2017, a new Place for Life campaign was developed to meet some of our most pressing needs. Our Board of Directors are active, and new community members have been engaged. The Foundation needs to continue to grow by building capacity, streamlining business processes and creating meaningful opportunities for members and volunteers.

Outcomes

▪ A strong and influential Foundation, engaged Board of Directors, and active Committees recognized as leaders in advancing local environmental initiatives in our community.

▪ Members have the support needed to be successful in fundraising and community engagement. 2016 Annual Report

Contact us360 Fairview Avenue WestSuite 311, Essex, ON, N8M 1Y6

P: 519.776.5209F: 519.776.8688W: www.essexregionconservation.ca

Amherstburg / Essex / Kingsville / Lakeshore / LaSalle / Leamington / Pelee Island / Tecumseh / Windsor

2016 Financial Review

Notes: ERCF is a Public Foundation and is required to comply with regulations set forth by the Income Tax Act, the Ontario Corporations Act, and the Charitable Gifts Act.

Complete 2016 Audited Financial Statements will be available on essexregionconservation.ca after June 30.

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youtube.com/TheEssexRegionCA

Thank YouOn behalf of the Essex Region Conservation Foundation Board of Directors, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to you, our donors, volunteers and partners, for your ongoing and generous support of our efforts.

Thanks to your contributions, in 2016, we were able to raise over $716,000 to support the development of an additional 22 km of Greenways to connect our communities; help provide outdoor education experiences for nearly 10,000 local students; support the enhancement of green space in our region through the planting of 101,000 trees, and provide a wide array of learning opportunities through the grand opening of the Holiday Beach Demonstration Wetland, among many other noteworthy achievements.

We didn’t stop there. Based on the success of these efforts, we also launched the Place for Life, our new visual identity and our commitment to further enhance the efforts of the Essex Region Conservation Foundation and Authority to establish Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island as the Place for Life.

Without your ongoing support and generosity, none of these successes would have been possible. Thank you for making the Essex Region Conservation Foundation your charity of choice – your contributions are making a positive and lasting impact throughout our region, and for that we are very grateful.

Thank you,

Susan Stockwell Andrews Richard J. WymaPresident Executive Director

We embrace this place,

and make it our home.

For life.

– The Place for Life.

2016 Board of DirectorsSusan Stockwell Andrews, PresidentJ. Claire Wales, Vice PresidentKen Schmidt, Past PresidentKaren Behune PlunkettLindsay BoydDan BrownAmanda GellmanKelly Laforest

Ken LewenzaCharlotte LoaringRakesh NaiduEric NaylorBrian ParentDavid RobinsRichard Wyma, Executive Director

2016 REVENUES BY SOURCE $13,761 Interest/Investment Gains

$86,677 Fundraising Events

$100,00 Municipal Grants

$202,928 Individual, Corporate and Foundations

$313,000 Federal/Provincial Grants

$6,500 Historic Properties$18,000 Education & Outreach

$38,900 Tree Planting$64,608 Other ERCA Initiatives

$645,000 Trail Development Trail Grants include amounts accumulated during

previous fiscal years’ TrailON! capital campaign and disbursed in 2016.

$20,788 Consulting$17,060 Office

$16,554 Event Supplies

$4,560 Legal/Audit/Insurance

2016 GRANTS AND EXPENSES

$773,008 Total Grants

$58,962 Total Expenses

Contact us360 Fairview Avenue WestSuite 311, Essex, ON N8M 1Y6

p. 519.776.5209f. 519.776.8688w. www.essexregionconservation.ca

Amherstburg / Essex / Kingsville / Lakeshore / LaSalle / Leamington / Pelee Island / Tecumseh / Windsor