NEWMARKET – January 29, 2019 – The L​ake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority's Annual General Meeting was abuzz after guest speaker, climate change expert, Dr. Blair Feltmate's talk​​ about the increasing burden on homeowners and municipalities as a result of climate change impacts. 

“The Authority has been studying the impacts of climate change for years," says Mike Walters, LSRCA's CAO. “We already play a pivotal role in preventing cata​strophic damage and loss from flooding by controlling development in floodplains, but that's only a part of what we do. We're also building resilience through the protection of natural heritage features, restoration projects, and promoting low impact development, so that when floods and other extreme weather strikes, our communities are better able to cope," Mike adds. “Dr. Feltmate's emphasis on maintaining green infrastructure to support resilience aligns perfectly with the work we've been doing and supports the need for us to continue in that direction."​

​Feltmate, an associate professor and Head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo, is actively working with government and industry to develop standards to increase resilience to climate change impacts. His research validates and encourages LSRCA and conservation authorities across Ontario to continue focusing efforts on strategies to adapt to our changing climate and to mitigate the negative impacts.

The remainder of the meeting featured exciting achievements outlined in the Authority's 2018 annual report and video presentation. New board members were also welcomed and elections for a new chair and vice chair took place. York Region Chair, Wayne Emmerson, was elected to the position of LSRCA Board chair, and Oro-Medonte Councillor, Scott Macpherson, was elected to the role of vice-chair.

Chair Emmerson thanked the other board members for their confidence in him, adding that he is very excited about making things happen at the Authority. Councillor Macpherson expressed his enthusiasm with supporting the building of the Scanlon Creek Education and Training Facility.

Read a copy of LSRCA's 2018 Annual Report or ​view the video version​.