Council Profile
Our purpose is: To achieve and maintain, through voluntary efforts, a healthy and sustainable environment that will contribute toward the maintenance of the unique natural and rural character of Prince Edward County.
Our Objectives...
- Improve and sustain the long term health of our agricultural and natural resources. This includes, but is not limited to: woodlots, wildlife, and shorelines.
- Develop relationships and partnerships in the community that help to service landowner needs with respect to stewardship of natural resouces, and to
- Develop and promote good land stewardship through education and workshops for present and future owners and users of the land.
- Your Prince Edward County Stewardship Council reflects the community. The individuals on the Council have a mix of skills and local landowner experience, including farming, tourism and commercial fishing. Although they are supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources Stewardship Coordinator, who provides access to government resources as may be appropriate, final decisions on community stewardship priorities are made by the Council.
- Most of us are long term residents in the County and we want to put something back into this area that has provided us with so much pleasure and closeness to natural life over the years.
- We also recognise that the popularity of the County will inevitably grow as more and more people find out about our treasure. We welcome this as it will add to our economic richness, which in turn will aid in the investments necessary to enhance and maintain the environment that has made the County so attractive in the first place.
- We believe that the role of local volunteers in the community, no matter what organisation they support, is critical. Although our focus is on the local landowners, we strive to cooperate with all volunteer and other agencies to achieve the synergy which will ensure that the County remains one of the best places to live in Ontario.
Message from the Chairperson: Margaret Kerr
I accepted my new role as Chair of Council with some apprehension. I was somewhat nervous taking over from past Chair Brian Credico. Brian did an excellent job in that leadership role. In hindsight, I had no need to worry. The Prince Edward Stewardship Council works and makes decisions together which is the way it should be, and this has made my job as chair very enjoyable. Because of the support I receive from the rest of Council, I want to thank all of my fellow Council members and Coordinator Andy Margetson for helping make my first year as chair both enjoyable and productive. Thank you for allowing me to represent you as your chairperson.
As a long time council member, I have been part of and witnessed the evolution in the complexity of our projects and the long term impact they may have in Prince Edward County. The Natural Heritage System Project that we are helping to facilitate is one which I am most proud of. This project will use the best science, the best information, and a broad cross-section of stakeholder input to assist with a product that will help decision making with respect to environmental conservation in Prince Edward County. This project demonstrates how the Stewardship Council can bring relevant stakeholders and resources together to help plan for the future conservation and strategic development of "The County".
I look forward to another productive, enjoyable year ahead and will do my best to listen to and work with the rest of the Stewardship Council for the betterment of Prince Edward County.
-Margaret Kerr
Message from the Stewardship Coordinator: Andy Margetson
I would like to begin my message by offering a sincere thank you to the volunteers who make up the Prince Edward Stewardship Council. I must often remind myself that they are volunteers. The time, effort, and passion that these people offer for the betterment of their community is humbling. Although it is almost needless to state, I want to remind everyone reading this that without the volunteers; most of the projects in our yearly plan would likely not be completed.
Our chair, Margaret Kerr, deserves special recognition. Margaret is sincerely and passionately interested in the future wellbeing of Prince Edward County. She is a tireless worker in this respect, and always seems to find the time to get involved in a variety of ways that makes a difference. Thank you Margaret for your strong leadership, listening, and teamwork skills this past year.
As each year passes, my phone rings more often, as do those of our Chair and Stewardship Council members. I make this point because it tells me that the general public and our many community partners increasingly think of the Stewardship Council as a partner to help them accomplish their goals. Council carefully discusses the relevancy, the partisanship of issues, and our own resources for commitment. The decisions the Stewardship Council makes with respect to our involvement on specific issues or partnerships are important, because we cannot be everything to everyone and we must focus our resources. I believe we are making the right choices in our work plan. I know the Prince Edward Stewardship Council is making an important and significant contribution in Prince Edward County. I am proud to be part of this contribution.
- Andy Margetson