'Song for the Land' concert benefits local environmental group
A local group of musicians used the power of music to help protect natural habitats throughout the region.
The Orillia Vocal Ensemble put on the Song for the Land Concert Wednesday night at the St. Paul's Centre. Funds from the night benefited the Couchiching Conservancy, a not-for-profit group that protects critical pieces of nature.
"For us, we're right in the middle of a multiyear campaign to create a series of corridors throughout the region that we've identified as really critical for protection," says Mark Bissett, the group's executive director. "So this concert is very timely, it gives us some profile in the community that we might not otherwise have, and it helps us raise money."
The group is preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. Since 1993, its protected approximately 14,000 acres in the region, efforts that are nearly entirely reliant on funding from the public.
Bissett says the group's work is critical, saying there are very few wetlands, which are essential to filtering water and controlling floods, left on the lake bodies.
"We are really blessed here because we still have a lot of fairly pristine wild areas, but it's going fast, and this area is slated to be one of the most highly developed in all of Ontario over the next 25 years," says Bissett. "So it's really important that we protect a substantial amount of habitat for all the species that are at risk in the area."
For more information you can click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.