Doug & Ted's most excellent plan to buy a local mountain

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY

************************* Conservancy sets its sights on 2,600 acres of King Mountain

Project jumpstarted thanks to $50,000 grant

SAULT STE. MARIE – Some two and one half billion years ago, the greatest mountains in North America were not the Rockies or the Appalachians, but a range that sprawled across eastern Canada.

Today, the legacy of these ancient peaks is represented by the stunning bluffs and canyons of the Algoma Highlands, dominated by King Mountain.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) just announced a one-year $50,000 grant to the Algoma Highlands Conservancy (AHC) to enhance their capacity to form new partnerships and fundraise the purchase of ecologically sensitive property for conservation, education, research, and silent sport recreation.

OTF representative Sergio Saccucci joined members of the AHC today to make the announcement near Stokely Creek Lodge.

OTF funding will be used to support two paid positions within the conservancy to support its volunteer board.

During Saturday’s presentation, Ted Curry was introduced as executive director and Craig Howard as campaign director - both local to the Sault area.

Last summer, the AHC negotiated a two-year option to purchase 2,600 acres that includes King Mountain and surrounding property for $1.5 million and immediate efforts will be directed at this fundraising goal.

“The Algoma Highlands Conservancy is known for its conservation and protection of the natural environment and lands. I applaud the Ontario Trillium Foundation for seeing the value of this proposal”, said Mike Brown, MPP, Algoma-Manitoulin.

The King Mountain area supports sensitive ecosystems and is a spectacular icon of the area.

The current owners of the property, Astina Establishment, value the forested land of Northern Ontario and practice sustainable forestry to maintain and enhance the natural beauty of the lands they own.

“We recognize the importance of protecting this sensitive King Mountain area as an island surrounded by land subjected to sound, sustainable forest management,” states AHC President Dr. Doug Pitt. “The result is a wonderful win-win situation for all concerned: the AHC, Astina, Stokely Creek Lodge, and the user public.”

Coupled with the AHC-owned Robertson Cliffs property, this new ownership would guarantee a solid, protected, 3000-acre land base for the conservancy to use as a platform for its core values: conservation, silent-sport recreation, outdoor education, and research - in perpetuity.

In addition, Astina has entered into a 10-year trail use agreement with the AHC and Stokely Creek Lodge for silent sport recreation.

Working from the philosophy of harmonizing with the natural world, within the limits of the bounty it provides, the Algoma Highlands Conservancy seeks to facilitate human access and use of this area while minimizing potential deleterious impacts on ecological integrity.

To date the AHC has purchased two properties: a one-acre site on Bone Lake and a 300-acre site that includes the Robertson Lake Cliffs.

Together with the sought-after 2,600-acre King Mountain property, these would serve as a base for the public to continue to enjoy remote cross-country skiing and hiking in the future, as they have in the past.

For more information, please visit here.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

For over 25 years, the foundation has supported the growth and vitality of communities across the province.

OTF continues to strengthen the capacity of the volunteer sector through investments in community-based initiatives.

For more information, please visit TrilliumFoundation.org

PHOTO CAPTION: The accompanying photo shows AHC president, Dr. Doug Pitt accepting the award from Trillium representative, Sergio Saccucci. From left to right are Ted Curry, AHC executive director, Sergio Saccucci, Trillium representative; Dr. Doug Pitt, AHC president and Dr. Gaylen Byker, AHC vice-president.

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