NVCA elects new leadership

The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) held its 60th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Jan. 24 resulting in Essa Township Councillor Keith White being elected chair, and Collingwood Councillor Mariane McLeod being elected as vice-chair.
“For the last 60 years, the NVCA has been protecting people, property and the environment by providing important and specialized technical services to our watershed,” said White. “The NVCA continues to play a critical role in managing this watershed as we face unprecedented pressures from population growth and associated land development, all the while adjusting to the realities of climate change. I look forward to working with our member municipalities, county partners, provincial and federal governments and all other stakeholders, as we continue to support integrated watershed management.”
In her nomination speech, McLeod said she doesn’t bring a ton of experience to the role of the vice-chair, but will bring the work ethic of a farm girl, curiosity of a journalist and the enthusiasm of a fly fisher to the work of the NVCA.
“I can offer no guarantees about the stand I will take on issues that have not yet been identified,” said McLeod. “But I do guarantee I will relentlessly advocate for the continued existence and reasonable mandate of conservation authorities in general and the NVCA in particular.”
AGM keynote speaker Jack Imhof delivered a strong message about the importance of integrated watershed management.
Conservation authorities are in a unique position to increase the functions of the watershed and to build resiliency so that we are able to cope with future extreme weather, drought and flooding brought by a changing climate.