Ontario Envirothon Winners announced – Maple Leaves Forever key sponsor

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 May 31, 2021

Released Toronto, Ont. (May 26, 2021) from Forests Ontario – Forests Ontario is pleased to recognize University of Toronto Schools (Team C) as the reigning champion of the 2021 Ontario Envirothon, a unique environmentally-themed academic competition. Beating out 95 other high school students on 19 teams, the new Ontario Envirothon Champions won a cash prize of $250 per team member in recognition of their outstanding environmental knowledge and participation.

Submission from the winning team

Second place team Lakefield College School and third place University of Toronto Schools (Team B) were awarded $200 and $150 per student, respectively. All prizes were generously provided by charitable foundation Maple Leaves Forever.

“Maple Leaves Forever has been a proud sponsor of the Ontario Envirothon for six years now,” said Deb Pella Keen. “The knowledge and skills fostered through this program complement our foundation’s vision of sustainability. We are happy to be involved in the development, and celebration, of the province’s budding environmental champions.”

The Ontario Envirothon is designed to immerse students in hands-on learning and discovery. “Envirothon offers the next generation of environmental leaders a chance to explore education and career paths in the natural sciences,” explains Rob Keen, Registered Professional Forests and CEO of Forests Ontario. “Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and virtual learning, the 2021 Envirothon was incredibly successful in providing opportunities for students to learn from leaders in the environmental sector, helping shape our planet’s future stewards.”

The program offers students the ability to develop their problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills while displaying their environmental knowledge. This year, due to the pandemic, Forests Ontario engaged participants through virtual activities via the iNaturalist platform. Teams competed in five bi-weekly challenges on subjects such as soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics, and habitat. The provincial finalists were chosen based on a weighted draw which considered the quality and frequency of their completed challenges.

University of Toronto Schools will advance to represent Ontario at the 2021 NCF-Envirothon Competition, to be held virtually by Nebraska from July 25-28, 2021.

Forests Ontario extends many thanks to generous program sponsors Maple Leaves Forever, Enbridge Gas, Fleming College, Algonquin Forestry Authority, and Grain Farmers of Ontario.

Forests Ontario also wishes to recognize the teachers, program leaders, and volunteers who made the 2021 Ontario Envirothon a success.

About Forests Ontario

Forests Ontario is a not-for-profit charity that promotes re-greening the province through forest restoration, conservation, education and stewardship. Forests Ontario commits to promoting a healthier future by sustaining and supporting healthy forests through multiple tree planting initiatives. Forests Ontario is the voice of our forests. Visit www.forestsontario.ca or follow us @Forests_Ontario to find out more.

About Maple Leaves Forever

Maple Leaves Forever Foundation (MLF) is a charitable foundation that advocates and supports the planting of Native Canadian Maples in increasing numbers across the rural and urban landscape of southern Ontario. Maple Leaves Forever also owns a professionally managed, sustainably renewable woodlot certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®).

About Enbridge Gas Inc.

Enbridge Gas is Canada’s largest natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario, with more than 170 years of service to customers. The distribution business provides safe, affordable, reliable energy to about 3.8 million homes, businesses and industries and is leading the transition to a clean energy future through net-zero emissions targets and investments in innovative low-carbon energy solutions. The storage and transmission business offers a variety of storage and transportation services to customers at the Dawn Hub, the largest integrated underground storage facility in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Enbridge Gas is owned by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution. Learn more at enbridgegas.com.

For more information, photos or to arrange an interview please contact:

Augusta Lipscombe
Communications & Stakeholder Relations Manager
Forests Ontario /Forest Recovery Canada
W: 416.646.1193 ext. 235
E: alipscombe@forestsontario.ca

News Sponsorships
Tags :

Managing the invasive Norway Maple problem

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 May 27, 2021

The Ontario Invasive Plant Council, in conjunction with the City of Toronto and York Region, has developed this very informative document about best management practices for Norway Maple.

The resource can be downloaded through their website at the following link: www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/invasive-plants/species/norway-maple/

Excerpts:

“In recent years, awareness of its invasive potential has increased, and many municipalities and some nurseries no longer plant or sell Norway maple or some of its cultivars. However, there are several Norway maple cultivars still widely sold in nurseries due to their attractive appearance, urban tolerance, ease of production, low maintenance and relatively low cost. The ‘Crimson King’ cultivar has bright red foliage throughout the growing season, and ‘Emerald Queen’ has dark glossy-green leaves and yellow fall colors. Although beautiful, cultivar seedlings can spread into natural areas and become invasive, outcompeting native species and impacting wildlife. See page 5 to learn more about Norway maple cultivars. With its potential for being a serious invader, preventing this invasive maple species from entering and damaging natural areas is an important priority for land managers land use planning, and landscape design.”

Ecological Impacts:

“Norway maple can be highly invasive with a potentially profound impact on forested habitats throughout southern Ontario and eastern North America. Where it has spread from nearby urban seed sources, many ravines, parks and natural areas exhibit nearly pure stands of this species. Its adaptability, ability to cast dense shade, prolific seed production, lack of insect and disease pests and longer leaf lifespan have made it a formidable competitor over native species. It has many competitive advantages over native sugar maple, such as making more efficient use of light, water and nutrients…

Once Norway maple is well established in a forest, it forms a dense forest canopy that shades out most species on the forest floor and in the canopy. In mesic deciduous forests of eastern North America, native plant species primarily evolved under the canopy of sugar maple and other native maple and tree species, which allow more light to penetrate into the forest canopy. Few native species can survive the dense shade of Norway maple, which then inhibits the regeneration of other native tree, shrub, and herbaceous plant species. In addition, Norway maples grow faster than native maples and their dense, shallow root system makes it difficult for any plant species to grow in the understory
below”

Download the complete Resource Document “Norway Maple: Best Management Practices in Ontario” [PDF]

All About Maples News

The history of roadside tree planting in Ontario – Part 1

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 May 25, 2021

Maple Leaves Forever is proud to present this series of posts detailing the history of roadside tree planting in Ontario, researched and written by Terry Schwan, R.P.F. The full essay will be released in its entirety in Fall 2021.

Terry Schwan is a semi-retired forest consultant. Born in Hanover, he served as District Forester in Guelph for the Ministry of Natural Resources for 17 years. One of his current projects involves researching and delivering forest history tours. He was winner of the Maple Leaves Forever / Ontario Envirothon Leadership Award in 2020.

Maple Leaves Forever thanks Terry warmly for this detailed and informative essay.

Part 1: The need to beautify Old Ontario with roadside tree-planting

In journeying lately through many of the northern and southern States … no contrast was more striking, none more pregnant with reflection than the difference between the deforested and the partially wooded farms on the route. Numbers of the former, numbers of the latter, were passed.

…, the roadside fence, the long side fences as well, east, west, and south faces, would have their row of closely growing trees a dense extended wall of fragrant cedar, or lightsome larch, or, it may be, a continuous line of clustering maple branch and stem, their multitudinous leaflets bright in the sun of early June.

Screened from the wind in some quiet corner, the branches of the orchard rose. However poor the mansion, backed by such surroundings, it looked respectable, the fields rich, the farmer opulent. The comments of the travelling passengers invariably took this direction. “How much better a farm looks for the trees!”…. I’d give two thousand dollars more for this than one of those others, anyway. The man who owns a place like this is somebody. This is a residence, sir. [1]

Driving through rural Ontario we often see rows of trees, mostly sugar maple, along roadsides. They are here and there and when you see a particularly spectacular one you are enthralled. That is what William Phipps described above, as he travelled through Ontario and North America.

The legislative history of roadside tree planting in Ontario goes back 150 years with the first Act passed in 1871. For some decades before, the clearing of the forest by the settlers was causing some concern in Old Ontario among progressive farmers and conservation minded men. These men worried about the loss of forests, of water in the soil, with the resultant drying of springs, soil erosion from the spring melt and from unobstructed winds, as well as the clearing of soils unsuitable for agriculture. Demands were made by a few lonely voices about the need to reforest and protect farm woodlots and to stop clearing of more forests, especially on the headlands and higher slopes. And in fact, many of these forward-thinking farmers had done this and then later had seen the error of their ways. Probably the first group to sound the need for trees for protection and aesthetics was the Ontario Fruit Growers Association. [2]

Members of the Association recognized that tree replacement along roadsides was one of the solutions. Four years after Confederation, Ontario passed its first law to encourage roadside tree-planting: ‘An Act to encourage the planting of trees upon the highways in this Province, and to give a right of property in such trees to the owners of the soil adjacent to such highways.’ [3]

 In the preamble to the Act, the Province recognized it was expedient to encourage the planting of trees, shrubs and saplings upon highways, as well as provide protection, from injury and damage to those already growing there. The Act allowed trees, shrubs and saplings presently growing along the highway to be the property of the owner of the land adjacent to the highway. Landowners could plant trees bordering the highway as long as they were not a nuisance and every tree was deemed property of the owner. Municipalities could remove trees for highway improvements, and reimburse the owner. Any tree cut or injured had to be approved by municipal council. There was a fine not exceeding $25.00 plus costs upon conviction for removing or injury to a tree or tying an animal to a tree that caused injury to the tree. Half the fine went to the person laying the information and half to the municipality. The municipality could spend money to plant and preserve trees along a highway or grant money to persons or associations to do the same. A highway was defined as almost any public road, place or square.

Did the act succeed in its goal of having more trees planted? It is not clear if there was any promotional program similar to what will be described below. There is no record to any great degree the number of trees planted. Certainly, some progressive farmers understood the ecological and aesthetic advantage of having trees planted along the highway, around their homestead and farm lane. Figure 1 illustrates an example of this from 1878. The Beldon Illustrated Atlas’s for Ontario counties have many such illustrations. [4]

Figure 1. A fanciful drawing of Richard Thomas Farm showing roadside trees, homestead, orchard and fields

Citations:

[1] Ontario. Forestry Report 1884. R. W. Phipps. Sessional Paper #4 of the Ontario Legislature. 1885. p.5 https://archive.org/details/n01ontariosession17ontauoft/page/n555/mode/2up

[2] Coons, C. F. Reforestation of private lands in Ontario. Forestry Research Group, Armson Private Land Forestry Review. 1981. p.5

[3] Statutes of Ontario. VIC 34.  CAP 31 An Act to encourage the planting of trees… adjacent to such highways.1871.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112204260568&view=2up&seq=94&q1=trees

[4] H. Beldon & Co. 2001 Edition of Illustrated Historic Atlas of the Counties of Northumberland and Durham Ont. Toronto 1878.

All About Maples History News

Spring is European Gypsy Moth caterpillar season

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 May 21, 2021

The Invasive Species Centre has a wealth of informative fact sheets and papers on their website at https://invasivespeciescentre.ca/invasive-species/invasive-species-resources/

We wanted to share these fact sheets about the European Gypsy Moth and management practices, since May and June are when we see those EGM caterpillars on maples and other trees.

european gypsy moth fact sheet
Species Fact Sheet: European Gypsy Moth
Gypsy moth FAQ Sheet
Species FAQ: European Gypsy Moth

Timely excerpts from these resources:

IMPACT of the European Gypsy Moth:

  • A single gypsy moth caterpillar can eat one square metre of leaves in a season
  • Repeated defoliation makes trees susceptible to other pests and diseases, and can eventually lead to tree death
  • Defoliation in orchards can increase vulnerability to agricultural pests and diseases and can negatively impact farm stock
  • Loss of species in natural areas can affect biodiversity and forest wildlife

How to manage European Gypsy Moth Caterpillars
(April through June):

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

For private homeowners, BTK (Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki) is available for purchase from local hardware stores to use against EGM. This biopesticide can be applied by a registered pesticide application company or by homeowners who have carefully read application instructions. BTK is a product that affects the digestive system of caterpillars and should only be applied between May and early June, when EGM are still in the larval (caterpillar) stage. Two spray applications are usually required for effective control. Application of BTK after mid-June is not an effective way to manage EGM.

On a larger scale (multiple properties or a forested area), Btk should only be applied by a professional pesticide application company and is most effective when supported by a team of landowners, landowners’ association, or municipality looking to manage EGM.

Gypsy moth populations are also affected by a number of pests, including mice, birds, wasps, and a specific fungus and virus. The fungus and virus are believed to be the reasons gypsy moth populations crash for ten or more years.

BURLAP/ TRAPPING

Caterpillars can be successfully trapped using burlap. Start by wrapping a 45 cm (18 in) wide strip around the tree at chest height. Tie a string around the centre and fold the top portion down to form a skirt, with the string acting as a belt. Pick off the caterpillars daily and dispose of them (see hand removal above).

All About Maples Caring for your maple News

Get to know our staff – Madeleine Bray

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 April 21, 2021

MLF: When did you start working with Maple Leaves Forever, and what is your role?

MB: I started working with Maple Leaves forever in the summer of 2020 to help administer the Thank You Rebate program part-time.

MLF: Where are you located?

MB: I work remotely out of my apartment in Toronto!

MLF: Maple Leaves Forever has a team of part-time employees – most of us have other jobs. What other roles/jobs do you have and how do they relate to MLF?

MB: Outside of my work with Maple Leaves Forever, I work for Forests Ontario in the Education department, developing educational materials and presentations. Part of my job is coordinating Ontario Envirothon, which Maple Leaves Forever has been a long-time supporter of.

MLF: Do you have a favourite tree (either a specific tree or a species of tree)? Why?

MB: Sorry, maples! My favourite species of tree is white pine. There’s something about the swoosh and general shape of them that always interested me, especially if they’re growing out of the rocks around a lake.

MLF: What is your favourite season? Why?

MB: My favourite season is definitely autumn. Crisp, rainy days spent among late-blooming goldenrods and changing forests are my favourite, and I always love a good autumn storm.

News Staff Profiles

Sweet Spring – Maple tapping and syrup production

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 April 1, 2021

A Spring Message from our Executive Director, Deb Pella Keen

Maple tapping

This spring’s cooler start is keeping maple syrup flowing through sugar bushes and keeping producers across Ontario happy.  The colder nights and warmer days have created the perfect conditions for making maple syrup – welcome news following last spring’s unusually warm temperatures, which impacted overall production.  

This time of year is known as Ziinsibaakwadoke Giizis, or the Syrup Moon, when sap begins to flow from the trees.  Maple syrup has been cherished by Indigenous peoples for centuries and was one of many gifts shared with early settlers.

Today, Canada makes over 75% of the world production with more than 8,600 producers of maple syrup across the country.  So it is hardly surprising that we have come to know maple syrup as something uniquely Canadian.  There are a lot of imposters in your grocery aisle, but there’s only one that you can turn over and see just one ingredient – that pure, delicious maple flavour, that tastes better and comes with a bonus of vitamins, minerals and plant compounds.  That is what really sets it apart from the imposters!

A few facts about maple syrup making:

  • Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is the most commonly used native maple.  It has the highest sugar content and longest sugaring season
  • Sugaring season typically runs from March through April, with an average of 20 days over a 6-week season
  • 40 litres of sap is required to make 1 litre of syrup
  • Each tapped sugar maple tree can produce about 1 litre syrup
  • Bumper sap years depend on the growing season of the previous summer to store as much carbohydrates as possible
  • Cold nights and warm days are critical to get sap flowing
  • Maple syrup season ends when the buds on the branches begin to swell.  After this the sap will begin to have a bitter aftertaste.

Canada has a syrup grading system which is based on colour, not quality, or more specifically, the amount of light transmission.  In general, the lighter the colour, the more delicate the maple flavour, but flavour may also vary by growing region, because of factors such as tree genetics, weather conditions, and processing techniques.  My favourite grade is Amber – we like maple syrup with a bit more intense ‘maple’ flavour.

With many of us staying closer to home these days, and venturing into local food production (gardens, chickens etc.) there has also been a increased interest in trying out maple syrup making on a small scale. If you have access to a few mature sugar maples, there is a lot of guidance on how to tap trees,  the size and number of taps. 

Our family tapped 4 sugar maple trees this spring and are producing our own home grown syrup.  It is very labour intensive but hugely rewarding. 

Maple syrup time is also a time when many Canadians plan to visit a sugar to home to see how it is done commercially or for education purposes.  Unfortunately, many tours are cancelled this spring, but you can find more information here.  todoontario.com/maple-festivals/

For more information please see the following links:

Happy Sweet Spring!

Deb Pella Keen and the MLF Team

All About Maples News

Get to know our Staff – Allison Hands

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 February 12, 2021
Allison at a Tree Planting event, Claireville Conservation Area

MLF: When did you start working with Maple Leaves Forever, and what is your role?

AH: I started working with MLF partway through 2019, helping out with administering the Thank You Rebate program. I work remotely out of Guelph.

MLF: Maple Leaves Forever has a team of part-time employees – most of us have other jobs. What other roles/jobs do you have and how do they relate to MLF?

AH: My role with MLF only requires a few hours per month so my primary job is Forests Ontario where I manage education programs, including the Ontario Envirothon which Maple Leaves Forever has been the lead sponsor of for over 4 years! Forests Ontario has a number of programs all of which aim to engage students in learning about the forests and the forest sector in Ontario and Canada. Through our programs, including Ontario Envirothon, Focus on Forests, Forestry Connects and Tree Bee, we teach youth about forest careers, environmental science and forest management.

Allison Hands

MLF: Where is your favourite place to explore nature in Southern Ontario?

AH: I like spending time on the Niagara Escarpment for the views in particular. But if I had to pick a favourite place to explore nature I would go further north near Chapleau. I grew up going to a camp near the wildlife reserve and really love canoeing on the non-windy days.

MLF: What other hobbies and interests do you have?

AH: Jarring is an annual tradition we have in my house as I am addicted to tomatoes – we also starting doing pickled green beans, peaches in syrup and hot peppers this year. As well I am a passionate recreational level soccer player, was starting to pick up target archery before the pandemic and I do love to try baking new exciting recipes.  

News
Tags :

Ken Jewett and Maple Leaves Forever Celebrate 20 Years of Advocating for the Native Canadian Maple Tree

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 February 3, 2021

The Ontario Woodlot Association featured Maple Leaves Forever in their quarterly publication, the Woodlander, last month.

Excerpt:

“Ken Jewett, Ontario’s champion of the Canadian maple, celebrated his 90th birthday last month. His Birthday fell on National Tree Day in Canada, a happy coincidence considering Ken’s longstanding commitment to Canadian trees.

Over 20 years ago, Ken realized that the distinctive native maples that once lined the rural roadsides and laneways of Ontario were in decline. Many of these iconic maples had been planted as a result of a government program in the 1870s that gave farmers an incentive to transplant trees from their woodlots alongside rural roads and property lines. This gave rise to a legacy of quintessentially Canadian native maple-lined roads in rural Ontario.

With these trees beginning to die off, Ken felt a strong desire to save and promote Canada’s arboreal emblem, the maple tree, as a symbol of national pride and identity, and restore a part of Canada’s natural heritage.

Ken founded Maple Leaves Forever in 1997 and formalized its establishment in 2000. For the last 20 years, Maple Leaves Forever has advocated for and supported the planting of Native Canadian Maples in
increasing numbers across the rural landscape of southern Ontario…”

Read the full article [PDF]Download
News Press

Get to know our staff – Mary Bella

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 January 20, 2021
Mary Bella

MLF: When did you start working with Maple Leaves Forever (MLF), and what is your role?

MB: I have worked with MLF since January 2014, when I came on board to attend to the website and manage social media. It was pretty satisfying to come in and breathe some life into MLF’s online presence. In early 2020, our marketing lead Emad resigned, and my role expanded to that of Marketing Manager. I began designing print ads, postcards and brochures, as well as coordinating their printing, placement and budget. I really enjoy the wide range of tasks and the combination of teamwork and independence that I have working with Maple Leaves Forever. 

MLF: What has been the most interesting thing you’ve learned/done working with MLF?  

MB: I loved managing our video project in 2017, celebrating Canada’s 150th Birthday. I helped with the procurement, messaging, and reviewing/editing process. The parts that we filmed at Ken Jewett’s (the founder of Maple Leaves Forever’s) farm stand out as great memories for me, as part of the MLF team. The video (made by West&Social) turned out just beautifully, and I am proud to have been a part of it! 

MLF: Maple Leaves Forever has a team of part-time employees – most of us have other jobs. What other roles/jobs do you have and how do they relate to MLF?

MB: I have operated my own web design business, Maestra Web Design, for the past 20+ years and designed nearly 200 websites. It’s contract work – flexible and variable – so my ongoing work with Maple Leaves Forever provides a bit of stability, and also a chance to hone other skills apart from web design. It’s also been great to work as part of a team, as my website work is typically independent and self-directed.

MLF: What is your favourite season? Why?

MB: I love Fall. After the heat of the Toronto summer, it feels so good to wear socks and sweaters and feel comfortable outside. The colours are gorgeous and the crispness in the air energizes me!

MLF: How has the pandemic affected your work and routine?

MB: To be honest – I work from my home office 99% of the time anyway, so the pandemic hasn’t really affected my office work much at all. Now that my clients are all familiar with ZOOM I actually see them more than I did before! Of course, I’ve had to upgrade our home internet plan to accommodate all the streaming with my teenaged boys and my husband being home all the time!

Mary in costume for Canadian Opera Company’s Fall 2019 production of Dvorak’s RUSALKA.

My “Other life”  is as a musician – I sing periodically with the Canadian Opera Company Chorus and conduct a women’s choir in my neighbourhood – and these activities have completely shut down. Likewise my husband Michael Colvin, who is a full-time opera singer, is currently on forced ‘COVID hiatus’. Our musical life, like the whole industry, is in suspended animation, and that has been really tough. Apart from watching lots of Netflix, I have cultivated a few new hobbies including watercolour painting and hand-lettering – very soothing and creative outlets during these long winter evenings.

News
Tags :

Q&A for Potential Nursery Partners this week!

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 January 8, 2021

Maple Leaves Forever’s Nursery Partner Program offers nurseries and customers a special incentive to sell, purchase and plant Native Canadian Maple Trees. We will promote your nursery as part of our program, and your customers can access our 25% Rebate on purchases of eligible maple trees (restrictions apply). View Rebate Details here.

You can review our Nursery Partner Requirements here on our website.

As part of Landscape Ontario’s online conference Congress Connect January 12 – 14, Maple Leaves Forever will be presenting ZOOM Q&A for potential nursery partners on Thursday, January 14th at 9:45am. Please contact our Nursery Liaison Caitlin Ayling at nurseryliaison@mapleleavesforever.ca for details to join the Q&A, and to submit questions in advance.

You do not need to attend the Congress to join the meeting, but please consider it! There are over 140 exhibitors and counting, and many fascinating presentations as part of the 3 day conference. The Marketplace is free to register and will be available online all year, while the video presentations will be available to paid ALL ACCESS PASS Conference registrants for the year.

See you at #LOCongress this week! Register today at LOCongress.com

News Questions & Answers
Next Page →

SUBSCRIBE!

Click below to sign up for updates on our activities, topical tree news and planting tips! We will only email you 3 - 4 times year. Not sure? Check out our previous email Newsletters. SUBSCRIBE TO NEWS >

Categories

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe

Contact: info@mapleleavesforever.ca | 1 (888) 223-9181 (toll-free voicemail)
Maple Leaves Forever, 160 Thermos Road, Toronto, ON M1L 4W2

DISCLAIMER: Maple Leaves Forever and its support staff are not responsible for the use, misuse, or damage caused by application or misapplication of information mentioned anywhere on our website or application materials.

Maple Leaves Forever | Copyright © 2021 All Rights Reserved | Design & Setup by Maestra