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Tel: 416-941-9388
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Charitable Registration No. 11925 2427 RR0001

Newsletter Archive - Winter 2001

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Winter 2001	Vol.46 Number 1

Foundation has Minister for Dinner

GLAD PADDLES - The Quetico Foundation Chairman Lee Woods presents Minister of Natural Resources John Snobelen with a special Don Meany paddle as a gift for speaking at the Foundation’s Annual Dinner on October 25 at The Ontario Club in Toronto - Photo by Micheal Peake.

“ I don’t think they signed on for that kind of sand in the oil. So, I wanted you to have an opportunity to think about that, because I think from here on out, we have this other possibility - you see, a conversation not based on reality is a conversation for no possibility.”
(John Snobelen, Quetico Dinner)

Annual Dinner Corporate Sponsors
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP Toronto, Ontario BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS LLP Toronto, Ontario COLE AND PARTNERS LIMITED Toronto, Ontario GEORGE WESTON LIMITED Toronto, Ontario GLUSKIN SHEFF + ASSOCIATES INC. Toronto, Ontario LAX O’SULLIVAN CRONK Toronto, Ontario ANONYMOUS SUPPORTER Toronto, Ontario	Stockwood Spies, Barristers and Solicitors Toronto, Ontario North Country Canoe Outfitters Ely, Minnesota, U.S.A. Cathexis Associates Inc. Burlington, Ontario Sceptre Investment Counsel Ltd. Toronto, Ontario Integra Private Investment Management Toronto, Ontario Canoe Canada Outfitters Atikokan, Ontario The Ontario Club Toronto, Ontario

In the lobby near the elevator that provides access to the Ontario Club, there was a long, sleek, blue object that caught people’s attention. The 16 foot canoe was built by Appleseed Canoe Company, Port Sydney, Ontario, especially for the raffle at The Quetico Foundation Annual Dinner. It was a fitting indication that the 145 attendees were in the right place. Including a canoe raffle at the Annual Dinner has been a long standing tradition for The Quetico Foundation.
After an absence of a year, the Annual Dinner was back. With a separate room for the Reception giving people more room to roam around to chat and much shorter speeches, attendees declared the event a success. The Guest Speaker, The Honourable John C. Snobelen, Minister of Natural Resources, both commended and criticized the Foundation. The praise related to the work that The Quetico Foundation has undertaken to ensure the protection and stewardship of wilderness parks in Ontario, but Mr. Snobelen also rebuked the Foundation for its criticism in our newsletter and on our Web site regarding the lack of public consultation related to the proposal to allow hunting in wilderness parks.
It is apparent that the Minister of Natural Resources and conservation organizations such as the Foundation that are concerned about the issue have different interpretations of public consultation.
Trustee Tanny Wells expressed appreciation to Mr. Snobelen for his attendance at the Annual Dinner and presented him with a paddle made by Don Meany, XY Company, Atikokan, Ontario. In subsequent correspondence with Mr. Snobelen concerning appreciation for speaking at the Annual Dinner, the Foundation’s Chairman, R. Lee Woods, indicated an interest in meeting with the Minister to continue the dialogue about the concerns of introducing hunting into Quetico where it has not been allowed since 1909.
Table decorations of log and rock candle holders courtesy of Anne McLeod and Rolland Lessard, and small birch bark canoes donated by Whetung Ojibwa Centre, contributed to the overall ambiance of the event. Donations of camping equipment by Mountain Equipment Co-op and Woods Canada Limited provided door prizes. Annual Dinner Ticket sales, Corporate Sponsor, Corporate Partner contributions, sale of the table decorations and net proceeds of the canoe raffle raised over $30,000 that will be used to support the Foundation’s important work related to wilderness protection and stewardship.
An example of the type of project the Foundation undertakes is the Summer Student Research Program which was highlighted in a brief presentation at the Annual Dinner by Trustee, Fraser Reeves.
In concluding the evening, Foundation Chairman, R. Lee Woods, made a presentation to Jay Leather upon his retirement as Superintendent, Quetico Provincial Park and noted the outstanding contribution that Jay Leather made to Quetico and also expressed appreciation for his support of The Quetico Foundation. The winner of the raffle was Tim Peterson with the canoe being delivered by Ian McLeod, Past Chairman of the Foundation.
For another evening of fun and a chance to reminisce about your Quetico adventure or to just listen to the tales of others, mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 23, 2001 for the next Annual Dinner of The Quetico Foundation.

Also see "Mr. Minister" article below

DINNER WITH JOHN - The paneled meeting rooms of The Ontario Club proved a perfect location for a great evening (top left). The Hon. John Snobelen enjoys a laugh with Trustee Tanny Wells (top right). Long-serving Trustee John Hodgson (c) and his wife Joan chat with Canoe Canada’s Bud Dickson (above). Retiring Quetico Park Superintendent Jay Leather is presented with a gift on behalf of the Founation by our Chairman Lee Woods (centre right). The Minister mingled with our guests during the reception prior to the meal (bottom right). (Photography by Micheal Peake).
(John Snobelen, Quetico Dinner)

Chairman's Message

Happy New Millennium!
I think that those of us who care about the future of our universe insofar as that future relates to the preservation of wilderness can, at least in Ontario, take some comfort in the direction matters are heading. The Lands for Life process appears to have reversed the trend of reducing wild areas. The spectre of hunting in wilderness parks should turn out to be just that although we and other like minded organizations will continue to diligently monitor the situation for any indication that mobilization of public opinion may be required.
Our Annual Dinner, reported elsewhere in this newsletter, was I believe both a financial and artistic success. We have already begun to plan for the next Annual Dinner and have set October 23, 2001 as the date - so keep your calendar open. The appearance this year of The Honourable John C. Snobelen as our guest speaker was much appreciated. I believe from my direct discussions with him a harbinger of a change in climate that should make the Ministry much more accessible for our organization.
You may have noticed that lately there have been some changes in the names of those serving as Trustees. More than a few of our number having made significant contributions for many years have determined that the race has been run, or at least their leg of it, and have retired - hopefully not to the grandstand, but only to the sidelines from whence their advice and encouragement may still be heard.

The Foundation has been fortunate so far to have some fresh, talented and committed people take up the baton and I expect that others will shortly be joining the race. Keeping with my metaphor I want to publicly thank our new coach Bill Sargant for his efforts in keeping the team on the track. In fact, from my observation point, there is no question that Sarge's acceptance of the role as our Executive Director is the single most important change the Foundation has experienced.
Another change is the recent appointment of Robin Reilly as the new Superintendent of Quetico Provincial Park replacing Jay Leather who retired last fall. Robin comes to Quetico from the North-West Territories where he was Director of Parks and Recreation. Already our Trustee in Atikokan, Dave Elder, a retired Superintendent of Quetico, has met with Robin to orient him to the important role the Foundation plays related to the park. We wish Jay Leather a happy retirement and look forward to working in the same very positive manner with Robin Reilly.
Finally, as a panacea to the winter blahs let me shamelessly recommend that you go out and purchase a compact disc by the Canadian folk group Tamarack and listen to their musical version of Pauline Johnson’s Song of the Paddle. Until next time, thank you to all the individuals, foundations and companies that financially supported the Foundation’s efforts in 2000 to enhance the protection and stewardship of wilderness parks in Ontario.
Lee Woods
Chairman

Mr. Minister

"I don't go around this sort of thing very often."

John Snobelen, Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources, gave a frank and energetic after dinner talk to the 145 people who attended The Quetico Foundation Annual Dinner on October 25. We have excerpted a few of Mr. Snobolen’s comments to the crowd.

Recently, we have heard a variety of different approaches to problems that are based on rational thought, and I wanted to read one of those to you this evening. It is taken from The Quetico Foundation Web page, an article that was a lead article in the summer edition of the newsletter.
Quetico Foundation Annual Dinner - 25 October 2000

For those of you who didn’t read it, I can tell you the first sentence in the lead paragraph is this ... "With no public consultation, the Ontario government has announced plans to change park policy to permit sport hunting in the province’s wilderness parks such as Quetico and Killarney." I’ll read that to you again .. (repeat). I understand that there’s a hot button on the Web page that can take you right to this article.
Now, for those of you who don’t know, one of the recommendations we accepted from the Lands for Life process was a recommendation that the province consider hunting in all park classes where there is a local demand. And when we received that and accepted it from the Lands for Life folks, we asked our Parks Board what criteria we might consider this under. And the Board sent us back some recommendations that included a list of criteria including not interfering with the natural use or enjoyment of the park, not interfering with its normal way of conducting its activities.
In Quetico, for instance, there would be no motorized vehicles, etc. We said fine, and made the only public declaration on the subject, or private declaration for that matter, and said that we would not do this, or engage in this, without a large broad-based public consultation, which is our government’s policy.
I’ll read the sentence again. No public consultation. No. The largest single public consultation in the history of Ontario on public land use.

The Ontario government has announced plans to change park policy. No, we haven’t. In fact, we have announced that in order for that to happen something large would have to happen first. Now, I bring this up for a reason, and part of that reason is I don’t go around this sort of thing very often. I like to put it forward. As a politician, I am used to having that kind of rhetoric and information out there - it’s not startling to me, and frankly it does not weigh heavily on me. But in a partnership with an accord, with a body of people who have come forward to help invent a future worthy of our children, who have shown tremendous leadership, I don’t think they bought into that. I don’t think they signed on for that kind of sand in the oil. So, I wanted you to have an opportunity to think about that, because I think from here on out, we have this other possibility - you see, a conversation notbased on reality is a conversation for no possibility.
It’s the old model. It’s being right, making others wrong, just to find your own positions and actions, invalidating the positions and actions of others, dominating and avoiding domination. That's where that kind of sentence comes from. What it doesn’t allow for is any possibility.
John Snobelen, Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources, at The Quetico Foundation Annual Dinner

Now you and I will leave a legacy to our children. Part of that is enhanced by six million more acres of protected land in the province. But we also have the possibility of leaving a legacy to our children and their children of being able to have conversations that are surrounded by trust for each other, respect for each other’s opinions, by a real integrity between our actions and our intentions - that kind of leadership is possible.
So I bring this up and the other examples because I think all of us -each and every one in this room - all of us, have an opportunity to shift the conversations that we have - the conversations that further the future for our children - and restore integrity. That’s a very senior conversation to the ones that we normally have - those positional conversations - and I think it’s worthy of that future that we’re all committed to building. And that’s why I brought it up this evening.

The Foundation

Summer Student Research Program Once again, university and high school students were employed to complete the fourth year of the forest ecology research in Quetico Provincial Park. The five high school students from Atikokan supervised by two recent university graduates and one university student traveled by canoe into the interior of the park for periods of up to 10 days at a time to conduct the research. The research data will provide input into the management plan review process to enhance the protection and stewardship of the forest resources of one of the world’s truly great parks. Also, cataloging and research support for the John B. Ridley Research Library at the Quetico Park Pavilion was provided by a high school student.
The Summer Student Research Program is directed by Trustee, Dr. Roger Suffling, Associate Professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Waterloo and Trustees, Dave Elder, Atikokan, and Fraser Reeves, Toronto.
Major funding for the research program in 2000 was provided by:

The Chawkers Foundation
Royal Bank Financial Group Foundation
Human Resources Development Canada
A. George Fells

Dalglish Family Foundation
Snowy Owl Management Inc.
Cathexis Associates Inc.
Roger Suffling

In addition, The Quetico Foundation would like to acknowledge the generous contribution of equipment, supplies and logistical support for the research program provided by the following:

Souris River Canoes
University of Waterloo

Canoe Canada Outfitters
Atikokan Outers Program
Ministry of Natural Resources

Northside Paddler
Ontario Parks

If you would like to learn about plans for the 2001 Summer Student Research Program and how your contribution will assist with forest ecology research and leadership development, please contact The Quetico Foundation.

How I spent my Summer Research Program Story & Photos by ELENA JOHNSON, Field Crew Leader

Imagine canoeing through one of Canada's most beautiful and pristine wilderness areas for an entire summer.
Imagine walking through forests carpeted with sphagnum and finding trees so huge that two people cannot link arms around them.
Imagine being soaked right through your rain gear and having to wait for the lightning storm to pass before you can paddle back to camp and cook dinner.
This summer five Atikokan high school students did not need to imagine such adventures. With their field crew leaders they experienced all of this and much more as participants in The Quetico Foundation’s 2000 Summer Student Research Program.

They conducted research in the data on vegetation communities in the park interior. In addition to participating in a significant ecological research project, the students also gained experience in leadership, group work and low-impact wilderness camping and finished the project with a deeper understanding of the incredible wilderness contained within Quetico Park.
Thanks to the support of The Quetico Foundation, Quetico Provincial Park and our sponsors, the 2000 Student Summer Research Project was a great success and should continue to foster stewardship and contribute to the park’s ecological knowledge base in the coming years.

Updates

Charity Online

The Quetico Foundation is pleased to announce its participation in the Charity.ca Web site. Charity.ca is a new internet resource providing visitors with a list of charitable organizations where they can donate online using their credit cards. In fact, the site is more than a mere listing. It gives The Quetico Foundation the ability to provide a detailed description of its activities, goals and purpose.
By marketing itself through national media as a service provider to charitable organizations, Charity.ca promotes nonprofit organizations like The Quetico Foundation which do not have large promotional budgets. Charity.ca charges a ser-vice fee of 8% on each donation of $1000 or less, and 4% on the portion of any donation above $1000. In comparison, the cost of raising funds normally ranges from 12 to 18 percent. Charity.ca is spearheaded by Richard Ivey, whose profile lends stability, legitimacy and instant heightened awareness to the project.
Traditionally, The Quetico Foundation has raised funds to support wilderness protection and stewardship through methods such as its Annual Dinner. Now, with greater levels of support needed for major initiatives such as the Summer Student Research Program, the Foundation has been investigating additional approaches to fundraising. Charity.ca and the corporate partner program are the two most recent examples.
One of the strengths of the Foundation is the narrow scope of its mandate related to wilderness protection and stewardship. Also, the non-confrontational and research based approach since 1954 has resulted in a lower profile for the Foundation compared to some other environmental organizations. These factors made it difficult to conduct a cost-effective broad-based public campaign. But with the establishment of Charity.ca and the participation of many charitable organizations, it is possible to more economically reach a broader support base.
Now by accessing www.charity.ca on the Internet,potential donors can find The Quetico Foundation by searching on the name or by browsing through the environmental organizations section. They can learn about our mandate, make a donation, receive a charitable receipt electronically, or link to our Web site. The Foundation thoroughly reviewed Charity.ca and is confident the service agreement provides for the privacy and security of donor information and Foundation supporters. Additionally, Charity.ca has provided a DONATE NOW button which has been installed on this Web site. The button enables visitors to donate transparently without leaving the Foundation Web site. We are hopeful that these initiatives will usher in a new age of stable increased levels of support for current and future programs.

Robert B. Taylor
Key Trustee helped guide the Foundation With the death of Robert B. Taylor on July 25, 2000, The Quetico Foundation lost another of its early guiding Trustees that helped to establish the essence of the organization concerned with the protection and stewardship of Quetico and other wilderness parks in Ontario. Born in St. Thomas, Ontario on September 22, 1914, Bob had a distinguished business and academic career with positions at the Dominion Bank, Steel Company of Canada and Faculty of Business, University of Western Ontario. He also served with the Royal Canadian Navy as a Lieutenant during the Second World War. Later, he served as Vice Chairman and Chairman of Ontario Hydro until his retirement in 1979.
His long and outstanding contribution as a Trustee of The Quetico Foundation was recognized by his appointment as a Trustee Emeritus. Former Chairman of the Foundation and fellow Trustee Emeritus, Jack Bankes, noted that "Bob took his responsibilities seriously. He was intelligent and a man of integrity, well regarded and respected by his associates and peers. He also had a distinguished record of voluntary service as a Trustee of the Foundation, Member of the Ontario Economic Council and Chairman of the Board of Governors of McMaster University".
In memory of Robert B. Taylor, several memorial donations were received by The Quetico Foundation. Upon learning of his death, the Chairman of the Foundation, R. Lee Woods, expressed sympathy to his wife, Marian, and their children and also gratitude for the important contribution that Bob had made to the Foundation.

Quetico History

One of Quetico’s very special people has produced an exciting new book highlighting the people of Quetico Park. Local historian and park expert ShirleyPeruniak has spent countless hours interviewing and cataloguing the human history of the area and it has resulted in the publishing of Quetico Park - An Illustrated History.
'Quetico Park - An Illustrated History' by ShirleyPeruniak.

Published by the Friends of Quetico Park, Shirley’s book tells the perhaps surprising story of a wilderness park - and the people who made it. People like the late park naturalist ShanWalshe and the many other rangers, trappers and interior campers whose stories are well pieced together by Shirley’s patient and careful hands.
The book is loaded with a wealth of historic and personal photos which span many years. Shirley’s decades of dedicated work have produced a Quetico Park history like no other; highlighting the many unknown and wonderful people who make its wilderness worth while.
(Arthur Sauders, Treasurer).

A Quetico Scene

The waters of Quetico Park abound with scenic cliffs and rock faces. Many, like these in Darky Lake, are painted with ancient pictographs (which should not be touched) and most are a habitat for a variety of lichens, flowers and spiders! (Photo courtesy of Michael Peake).

The Quetico
Published by
The Quetico Foundation
48 Yonge Street, Suite 610
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5E 1G6
Tel: (416) 941-9388
Fax: (416) 941 9236

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