MANOTICK, March 3, 2023 – North Grenville Councillor Kristin Strackerjan is the new board chair for the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA). 

Strackerjan was elected at the RVCA’s board meeting on Feb. 23. Anne Robinson, citizen representative for the City of Ottawa, was elected vice chair.

“My time on the RVCA board has been very interesting, and adding the responsibility of chair will allow me to be further engaged in other areas of discussion, such as at Conservation Ontario meetings,” Strackerjan said. 

She noted that she lives in a high-growth area with many waterways intersecting with development. 

“The conservation of land and ensuring that developments proceed with due consideration to science is more important than ever. Protecting our watershed and our green areas is paramount.”

Robinson said she is keen to take on the role of vice chair, having supported the conservation authority’s purpose for many years. 

“The work of conservation authorities is vital to the health of our watersheds in Ontario and to our future,” said Robinson, who has been a board member since 2018. “I will do what I can and encourage others to do what they can to support and maintain what has been recognized throughout North America as a great watershed planning model.” 

There were many new faces around the board table on Feb. 23, the first formal meeting of 2023 and the start of a new four-year board term following municipal elections last October. 

Departing board chair Pieter Leenhouts brought extensive knowledge and a steady hand to the board during his four-year tenure as chair. Leenhouts was a dedicated board member, having participated as an Ottawa appointee since 2015 and serving as vice chair in 2018. The RVCA staff and board thank him for his service to conservation in the Rideau Valley watershed. 

To find information about RVCA’s governance structure, board meetings and agendas visit www.rvca.ca/governance. 

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