Along this peaceful path, trees stand in quiet tribute honoring remarkable individuals and meaningful milestones.

Cliff was a senior member of the RVCA staff for 34 years (1973–2007) holding the positions of Director of Land Management and Assistant General Manager. The final year or so before his retirement in December, 2007, Cliff agreed to manage construction of the Rideau Valley Conservation Centre on behalf of RVCA, which he completed with his usual thorough approach to conservation business.

Cliff’s tree is a white spruce, planted on May 1, 2008. During his tenure, Cliff oversaw the planting of millions of trees in the watershed of the Rideau River.

Mr. Ollie Stirajs, former General Manager of RVCA from 1973–1989, passed away suddenly in December 2007. Ollie managed the growth of our organization when we were actively acquiring conservation lands, when we were in the infancy of flood plain regulations and when we had 50 members representing 30 municipalities and the Province. This tree is dedicated in memory of Ollie by the RVCA Board of Directors.

Ollie’s tree is a white pine (Ontario’s official tree) planted on May 22, 2008.

Janet Stavinga is recognized by the planting of the Stavinga Maple for her outstanding community-minded efforts in fundraising and conservation awareness among business people in the valley and particularly in the campaign to finance the LEED features of the Rideau Valley Conservation Centre.

Janet’s commitment and energy was crucial in achieving the Gold Level LEED status for the new building.

Janet’s tree is a native sugar maple dedicated in February and planted in May, 2009.

Steve Simmering, long-time Vice-Chair of the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation, is recognized with the planting of the Simmering Oak for his sustained and very effective work in fundraising for the environment. During his 13 years of outstanding service, Steve was known for his calm “voice of reason”. Steve passed away unexpectedly in September, 2009. Sincere thanks from the people of the Rideau Valley.

Steve’s tree is a native red oak dedicated in February and planted in May, 2009.

The Bergins are the pioneer family who worked much of the land now known as Beryl Gaffney Park. The family arrived from Ireland and settled at Maple Hill (now the corner of Rideau Valley Drive and Prince of Wales Drive) in 1871 where they proceeded to raise five generations of Bergins on the family farm. Several family members assisted at the planting of the Bergin Maple including Frank and his mother Shirley. In honour of this family who took care of this land in the past, this tree is planted.

The Bergin Family tree is a native sugar maple dedicated on October 30, 2009 with the assistance of City Councillor Steve Desroches.

David Crowley has been a continuously appointed member of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority for the past 35 years. Dave has represented the Town of Perth since 1976 including during his five-year stint as RVCA Chair. Dave has been involved in every major RVCA decision and has personally known most of the people in the environmental and municipal community in Eastern Ontario. This tree is planted in honour of Dave’s outstanding achievement of dedication to conservation in this valley.

Dave’s tree is a lovely white pine, the provincial tree planted on May 27, 2010 by Mr Crowley, RVCA Chair Alan Arbuckle and the RVCA Board of Directors.

Ralph Raina is a name well-known in the Kemptville and North Grenville area. Former Mayor, real estate professional and intrepid fisherman, Ralph also took the time to join the Conservation Authority in the early 90s, and then accepted our invitation to join the Conservation Foundation where he spent 17 productive years helping us raise over $2 million for conservation.

Ralph’s tree is a young, opinionated sugar maple recognizing his 18 years of work in fundraising for the Conservation Foundation. It was designated on May 27, 2010 by RVCA Chair Alan Arbuckle, RVCA Board of Directors and former RVCF Chair Mary Bryden with Ralph and his wife Catherine in attendance.

The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation was founded in 1970 and revitalized in 2001 with updated direction, by-laws and strategy. The Foundation has raised over $2 million in gifts and in-kind services for conservation over the past 15 years. The success of the Foundation is the result of the generous conservation-minded people of this valley.

The Foundation’s 40th Anniversary tree is a local, consensus-building white spruce that provides generous shade to a small ecosystem of plants and animals along the trail. It was designated on Sep 27, 2010 in the presence of the past and present members of the Foundation, the Authority and the conservation community of Eastern Ontario.

City Stream Watch is a voluntary collaborative of community groups (Environmental Committee of Ottawa South, the Heron Park Community Association, National Capital Commission, National Defence HQ–Fish and Game Club, Ottawa Flyfishers Society, Ottawa Stewardship Council, Rideau Roundtable, City of Ottawa, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority) who monitor, document and improve the condition of local creeks and streams. Unprecedented volunteer investment into the health of local waterways.

City Stream Watch’s tree is, significantly, a red osier dogwood, one of the best shrubs for returning shorelines to a natural state.

The Rural Clean Water Program provides technical advice and financial support to rural farm and nonfarm landowners looking to protect surface and ground water quality. 1.4 million grant dollars given to support 964 projects valued at over $7.8 milllion. Community stewardship of our local water resources in action.

The Clean Water Program tree is a white cedar, one of millions we’ve planted since 1980 to protect the quantity and quality of water across the watershed.

Dell Hallett retired as General Manager of RVCA after 24 years at the helm. His ability to make the organization useful to many layers of government, to build partnerships and to inspire outstanding performance from his staff was responsible for the current high regard for the Conservation Authority in many quarters.

Dell’s tree is a very tough, very wise sugar maple, one of the climax species here in the Great Lakes-St Lawrence Forest Region. It was dedicated at Dell’s retirement on July 31, 2013.

RVCA started its forest management and tree planting program back in 1983. In spring 2015, the RVCA planted its five millionth tree. To recognize this significant milestone, a noble red oak has been selected as a living memorial of this achievement.

The tree was dedicated on May 28, 2015 with the help of Ottawa Councillor Scott Moffatt, RVCA Chair Lyle Pederson, Forest Ontario CEO Rob Keen, RVCF Chair Jason Kelly and LiVE 88.5’s Morning Start Up team in the presence of municipal dignitaries, funding partners, staff and landowners.

Since 2000, Ottawa’s Green Acres Program has partnered with the city’s three Conservation Authorities to plant trees across the region. In spring 2021, the program marked a major milestone: its 2 millionth tree. A white spruce was dedicated on October 22, 2021, by Mayor Jim Watson, Environment Committee Chair Councillor Scott Moffatt, and other dignitaries to celebrate the achievement.

Like the Green Acres partnership, the white spruce is hardy and adaptable — thriving alongside other native species such as pine, fir and willow. It stands as a living symbol of Ottawa’s ongoing commitment to tree planting and watershed health.