Gord Brown helps celebrate St. Lawrence Islands National Park expansion

October 21, 2006

Mallorytown Landing - On behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, today took part in a ceremony to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions made by members of the community to St. Lawrence Islands National Park.

"Today I congratulate the many individuals, families and organizations who have worked alongside St. Lawrence Islands National Park towards achieving stewardship and conservation," said Minister Ambrose.

"The success being celebrated today is that of community effort which led to the doubling of the size of the park. This in turn greatly contributes to Parks Canada's ability to preserve and present this area and the 1000 Islands ecosystem and landscape to and for Canadians."

During the ceremony and Ecological Leadership award was presented to Don Ross, Executive Director of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve, for his exceptional environmental leadership.

An engraved window was unveiled to recognmize the generous contributions of local families - the Mallorys, the Skorynas, the Mathesons, the Blisses and the Smiths - who have previously transferred family owned lands to the national park as gifts to the people of Canada.

In addition, a land transfer from Ontario's St. Lawrence Islands National Park Commission and a land donation from the Nature Conservancy of Canada were celebrated.

The addition of these lands to the park will contribute both to its conservation role, and to sustainable tourism through the natural heritage experiences that it can offer to Canadians.

"Today is not only a day to look back on the successes of community stewardship efforts at St. Lawrence Islands National Park, but also a day to look forward to continued and strengthened ties between the park and its community," said Brown.

St. Lawrence Islands National Park includes more than 24 islands and 90 islets scattered through the St. Lawrence River corridor between Brockville and Kingston within the 1000 Islands ecosystem.

High levels of biodiversity, rare species habitat and exceptional landforms representative of the region are found within these areas.

Established in 1904 as the first national park located east of the Rockies, St. Lawrence Islands National Park is one of the 42 national parks and national park reserves of Canada that protect and present significant examples of our nation's natural and cultural heritage.