Funds Help Monarch Habitat Enhancement at Cooper Marsh
June 4, 2015
Jake Lapierre, Union Gas; Chris Doig, Union Gas; Brendan Jacobs, RRCA; Roger Houde, RRCA.
The Raisin Region Conservation Authority’s (RRCA), Monarch Habitat Enhancement Project received a $2,500 grant from Union Gas for improvements to implement habitat enhancement actions at the Cooper Marsh.
The monarch butterfly is an incredible insect known for its remarkable life cycle and migration and is a symbol of conservation and appreciation of nature. Monarchs migrate south to overwintering sites and then return to breed here in the spring. The monarch was listed as a species of Special Concern under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2013. The primary threats facing Monarch include degradation and loss of overwintering grounds, widespread use of pesticides and herbicides throughout breeding grounds and conversion of their breeding and nectaring habitat.
The Cooper Marsh Monarch Habitat Enhancement project will plant native plant species such as local species of milkweed in areas to re-naturalize areas to enhance breeding habitat.
“The proposed work will not only benefit Monarch Butterfly,” states Roger Houde, RRCA General Manager “but will provide breeding and enhancement habitat for a variety of native insects including bees.”
Chris Doig, utility services manager for Cornwall, presented the cheque to RRCA general manager, Roger Houde and RRCA Wildlife Biologist Brendan Jacobs at Cooper Marsh today.
“The Monarch Habitat Enhancement Project will help improve the Monarch’s breeding habitat,” said Chris Doig, Union Gas utility services manager for Cornwall. “We’re proud to support the important work the Raisin Region Conservation Authority is doing for environmental conservation in this community.”
About Raisin Region Conservation Authority
The Raisin Region Conservation Authority has been working effectively with our community partners for over fifty years to protect and enhance our local environment. It carries out this role through programs and services related to water and land management, conservation, recreation and plan input/review and community education. For more information, visit rrca.on.ca or find us on Facebook: facebook.com/raisinregion or Twitter: twitter.com/rrcawatershed.
About Union Gas
Union Gas Limited is a major Canadian natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario with 100 years of experience and service to customers. The distribution business serves about 1.4 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 400 communities across northern, southwestern and eastern Ontario. Union Gas, named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2015, is a Spectra Energy (NYSE: SE) company with assets of $7 billion and approximately 2,200 employees. For more information, visit uniongas.com or find us on Twitter: twitter.com/uniongas, Facebook: facebook.com/uniongas and YouTube: youtube.com/user/uniongas.
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CONTACTS:
Raisin Region Conservation Authority
Lissa Deslandes
Communications Coordinator
Ph: 613-938-3611 ext. 237
lissa.deslandes@rrca.on.ca
Union Gas Limited
Andrea Stass
Manager, External Communications and Media Relations
Ph: 519 436-5490 or 1-800-571-8446 ext. 5005490
Cell: 519 365-1010
astass@uniongas.com