Monthly Archive

Accessibility overhaul transforming Baxter for people of all abilities

MANOTICK, June 15, 2021 – Accessibility and conservation advocates are teaming up to transform Baxter Conservation Area into the most accessible nature destination in Eastern Ontario – but they need your help. 

The Nature For All committee is working to upgrade Baxter’s bridges, boardwalks, trails and facilities to the gold standard of accessibility to make the park as inclusive as possible to all ages and abilities. 

Truly accessible natural areas are few and far between, which leaves people with disabilities or mobility concerns stuck on the sidelines. Nature For All believes every person should be able to enjoy the many physical and emotional benefits of the great outdoors without worrying about safety or logistics.

But to make this dream a reality, they need individuals, businesses and charitable partners to support the project.

Nature For All is now seeking funding partners and donations for Phase 1, which requires $750,000 to build a brand new, fully accessible bridge across Baxter’s marshlands – complete with several education platforms overlooking the water. 

Every donation, from $5 to $500,000, helps bring accessible wilderness one step closer to our friends, family and neighbours with disabilities and mobility concerns. 

And the timing is right: the current bridge has reached the end of its life cycle and was closed as a safety precaution in 2019. Replacing it presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make Baxter’s infrastructure as inclusive as possible. The new bridge will be wide enough for two people in wheelchairs to pass safely and easily; two large, accessible viewing platforms will facilitate better and more inclusive outdoor education programs, helping students with special needs get up close and personal with the natural world. 

“Nature and wilderness should be for everybody. That’s where you begin to find yourself: when you can get into nature and be at one with yourself,” said Mike Nemesvary, founder of Nature For All and long-time accessibility advocate. He has been visiting Baxter in his power wheelchair for nearly 20 years, after a training accident left him paralyzed on his path to becoming a world champion freestyle skier. “Baxter Conservation (will be) a model of accessibility for other conservation areas. People from all across Canada can come here and see how much effort and time was put into the planning, and that the planning has really paid off.” 

Nature For All’s fundraising efforts are being spearheaded by the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation, the charitable partner of Rideau Valley Conservation Authority which owns Baxter Conservation Area. The Foundation is a registered charity that can offer custom corporate sponsorship agreements and donor packages, with benefits to donor organizations such as media recognition, team building opportunities, naming rights and on-site signage.

To learn more about Nature For All or to make a donation visit www.rvcf.ca/nature-for-all. To discuss corporate sponsorship packages and partnerships contact . 

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Beaches roll out the welcome mat for people of all abilities

RIDEAU VALLEY, June 9, 2021 – Beach-lovers of all ages and abilities can enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches at Baxter and Rideau Ferry conservation areas this summer thanks to the RVCA’s new accessible beach mats. 

The heavy-duty mats will help people with mobility devices like wheelchairs, walkers and strollers access the Rideau River without worrying about getting stuck in the sand. They’re part of a suite of accessibility tools and upgrades the RVCA has introduced to make its conservation areas more inclusive. 

“Investing in accessibility is a priority for us, especially as the pandemic highlights the importance of getting outside and connecting with nature,” said RVCA’s Conservation Lands Manager Chelsey Ellis. “These mats will make our beaches a more welcoming space for everyone in our watershed.”

Baxter Conservation Area is located in Kars at the southernmost edge of the City of Ottawa. Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Conservation Area is located on the north shore of Lower Rideau Lake in the township of Drummond/North Elmsley.

Both boast beautiful sand beaches that are extremely popular during the hottest months of the year. But it’s difficult for someone in a wheelchair or pushing a walker or stroller to navigate the unstable sand. The mats solve that problem: they span the entire beach and even extend several feet into the water, allowing a wheelchair user to go for a dip if they choose. 

The mats, made by Mobi-Mats, are part of several accessibility upgrades recently introduced or in the works at RVCA properties. Earlier this winter, Baxter purchased a set of accessible sleds to help students with special needs participate in its outdoor education programs. 

Baxter is on the cusp of a major transformation to become Eastern Ontario’s most accessible wilderness haven thanks to the efforts of Nature For All, a fundraising campaign to upgrade the site’s boardwalks and marshland bridge to the gold standard of accessibility. The campaign, led by former world ski champion and accessibility advocate Mike Nemesvary, is now accepting public donations.

To find your local conservation area visit www.rvca.ca/conservation-areas. For more information about accessibility on RVCA properties contact. 

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Plant the seeds of a brighter future for your favourite teacher

RIDEAU VALLEY, June 7, 2021 – It’s been a hard year for students and teachers alike, but still your teachers have helped you grow and thrive. Now's your chance to return the favour!

The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation offers a range of commemorative programs that support a healthy and sustainable local environment for the future. Instead of trinkets and gift cards, consider planting the seeds of a thriving future, just as they have planted within you. 

Tree Planting: Each year the Foundation plants a combination of white cedar, white pine, red oak and sugar maple across the Rideau Valley watershed to clean our air, fight climate change and create beautiful natural spaces to unwind and reconnect. A single tree costs $25, while a grove of five costs $100. Ten trees cost $150 and a family grove of 25 costs $250 – just $10 a tree. More here: https://www.rvcf.ca/ways-to-give/special-occasion-tree-planting

Adopt an Acre: When you adopt an acre for $25, you protect land right here at home in the Rideau Valley. Your symbolic gift will protect more than 6,765 acres of wetlands, shorelines and forests and the many plants and animals they support. These crucial habitats are hard at work reducing our risk of floods, cleaning our water, stopping erosion and storing vast amounts of carbon to keep our communities healthy and resilient in the face of climate change. More here: https://www.rvcf.ca/ways-to-give/adopt-an-acre

Nature For All: Access to the great outdoors and its many health benefits is crucial for people of all ages and abilities. Our Nature For All campaign is fundraising to build new boardwalks and bridges at Baxter Conservation Area to the gold standard of accessibility. If this cause is close to your teacher’s heart, consider donating on their behalf to transform Baxter into Eastern Ontario’s most accessible wilderness haven. More here:https://www.rvcf.ca/nature-for-all

Online ordering makes gift-giving easy and fast. To purchase your gifts, visit www.canadahelps.org, choose your donation category and enter your information. You’ll receive a charitable tax receipt to your inbox right away. You can even send your teacher a personalized e-card in English or French.

The Foundation is a registered charity that supports the work of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, which monitors more than 4,000 km² of waterways across 18 municipalities in Eastern Ontario.

The authority is responsible for monitoring water quality, flood risks and other hazards to keep people, property and the environment safe. Planting trees is an important part of the authority’s efforts to promote biodiversity, protect our drinking water and reduce the risk of flooding.

For more information visit www.rvcf.ca or email . 

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