Welcome to the York Environmental Stewardship Home Page

"Say YES to Stewardship"

York Environmental Stewardship (YES) is one of 46 Ontario Stewardship Councils and is made up of environmentally minded individuals who volunteer their time, interest, efforts, and skills to advance the responsible care of land and natural resources within the Region. Council members are dedicated to the wise use of forest, soil and aquatic resources and may represent private landowners, conservation/resource agencies and associations, environmentalists and naturalists. Local programs and needs are developed by council members with input from other organizations, agencies and local citizens. YES priorities include information and educational opportunities for landowners, environmental projects with partner organizations, and programs involving youth. The Ministry of Natural Resources provides a staff coordinator to ensure effective operation and continuity in the program.

CLICK HERE for WHO WE ARE and WHAT WE DO

YES Contact Information:

Brian Peterkin

Stewardship Coordinator

York Environmental Stewardship

50 Bloomington Road

Aurora, ON L4G 0L8 (new postal code as of July 2009)

Phone: (905) 713-7732

Fax: (905) 713-7361

Email: brian.peterkin@ontario.ca

Looking for a great summer job in 2010? CLICK HERE to view a powerpoint presentation (takes a minute to open) on the Ontario Stewardship Rangers Summer Youth Employment Program. If you are 16 or 17 (must be born in 1993), like working outdoors, and want the best summer job you're likely to ever have, send your cover letter and resume to brian.peterkin@ontario.ca by May 31st.

Interested in planting your own trees this spring? If you own o.8 ha (2 acres) or more, you can purchase low cost native tree seedlings and shrubs directly through our Bulk Tree Order Program. Check out species list and use this on-line order form at http://www.lsrca.on.ca/form/tree_order.php (look underprogram and services / then forestry / then order trees and online form). Orders must be in by March 19, 2010 (minimum total order of 100). Pick-up day is one day only on Sat. Apr. 24 at the York Region Forest Headquarters (16389 Hwy. 48 - Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville) between 8 a.m. - noon. For further information call Paul Cottenden at the LSRCA at 905 895-1281, ex. 245. This program is a partnership of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, York Region and YES.

Upcoming YES Events

TAKE A KID ICE FISHING

YES is a major sponsor of the 2nd annual Pefferlaw Ice Fishing Derby as part of the MNR Family Fishing Weekend.

This FREE family event takes place on Saturday Febuary 13 from 10:00 - 1:00 at the Peninsula Resort in Pefferlaw. For event details and pre-registration please visit www.lake-simcoe.ca Note: This event registration is now full.

LAKE SIMCOE COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM WORKSHOP

YES is hosting a workshop in York Region where landowners will learn how to create an environmental action plan for your property based on the self-assessment Lake Simcoe Stewardship Guide

Monday Feb. 22 - 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. - Schomberg Library, 77 Main St.

CLICK HERE for more detailed information and registration

TREE PLANTING INCENTIVES WORKSHOP

Trees Ontario has organized free landowner workshops with select partners and the Ontario Forestry Association. The workshops will focus on tree planting techniques and the programs and incentives available to landowners interested in planting trees, including the 50 Million Tree Program and the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program.

York Region landowners can attend either of the following workshops nearest to you:

Wed. Feb 17 - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Goodwood Community Centre, 268 Hwy. 47 (n. side of Hwy 47 at Durham Reg. Rd. 21)

Thurs. Feb 18 - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Caledon Village Library, 18313 Hurontario St., Caledon

ENVIROTHON 2010 Called the Environmental Olympics, this very successful program of the Ontario Forestry Association, registers students (teams of 5) grade 9-12 for this years Envirothon Training Day (Fri. Apr. 16) and Competition Day (Fri Apr 23) at Albion Hills Conservation Area in Caledon. If your school has an environmental club or just some keen students who love the outdoors, register now as team space is limited. See www.ontarioenvirothon.ca for information and registration (look under getting started tab).

York Region

Known as the "Rising Star" of Ontario, York Region is home to more than one million residents within an area of 680 square miles. Although one of the fastest growing municipalities in Canada, the Region contains an abundance of natural features including forests, river valleys, kettle lakes, wetlands and wildlife. York Region has a comprehensive Greening Strategy within its Natural Heritage Plan and is dedicated to increasing the amount of forest cover in years to come to ensure a healthy environment for it's residents. York is bound by Toronto to the south, Lake Simcoe to the north, Peel Region to the west and Durham Region to the east. Nine municipalities comprise the mix of urban and rural landscapes of the area.

CLICK HERE for basemap of York Region (may take a minute to open due to file size)

CLICK HERE to access York Region Explorer website for a wide variety of York Region Maps

CLICK HERE to see a powerpoint presentation about YES and Ontario Stewardship (takes a minute to load)

CLICK HERE to view 2010 YES members list

YES members at work constructing wildlife viewing platform

CLICK HERE for YES Strategic Framework

CLICK HERE to view YES 2008 Annual Report

CLICK HERE to view YES 2010 Workplan

CLICK HERE to access YES Project Funding Application Form if you are a landowner or an organization with a good conservation project and are looking for partnership support

CLICK HERE if your school class wants to plant trees this coming spring or fall. York Region's Adopt-a-Stream Crossing Program gives high school students a chance to get out and plant native trees and shrubs at degraded roadside crossings. Contact information is on the brochure.

CLICK HERE if your Volunteer group is looking for free trees to plant under YES VolunTrees program (may take a minute to open)

CLICK HERE if your business/organization wants to help provide great summer jobs for students in your own community (presentation may take a minute to open). The Ontario Stewardship Rangers Summer Job Program needs funding support from GTA partners to continue to provide great summer jobs for 17 year old youth interested in working outdoors on conservation projects and you benefit by getting work done on your property.

CLICK HERE for membership criteria and application form if you would like to be considered for volunteer membership to YES

YES News and Information

CLICK HERE for Stewardship Newsletter - Volume 1- Issue 1

CLICK HERE for Stewardship Newsletter - Volume 1 - Issue 2

CLICK HERE for Stewardship Newsletter - Volume 2 - Issue 1

CLICK HERE for Stewardship Newsletter - Volume 2 - Issue 2

CLICK HERE for Stewardship Newsletter - Volume 3 - Issue 1

CLICK HERE to access the new Butternut Landowner Resource Guide. Butternut is an endangered species protected under the Endangered Species Act and YES is involved as a partner in its recovery. CLICK HERE to see the 2009 status report for butternut recovery in York Region (takes a minute to open).

CLICK HERE to open the 2006 A Landowners Guide to Constructing and Maintaining a Rural Pond (may take a minute to open) developed by the Peterborough County Stewardship Council in partnership with Sir Sanford Fleming College (update version coming shortly).

CLICK HERE to access the Rural Landowner Stewardship
Guide which is a self help assessment tool for planning stewardship activities on your property

CLICK HERE to access the Rural by Choice Ex Summary, a 2006 survey of rural landowner stewardship interests and needs assessment tool for planning stewardship activities on your property.