Kawartha Land Trust Boyd Island Campaign Update

 Peterborough and the Kawarthas – December 7, 2015

Kawartha Land Trust has achieved its fundraising goal on the campaign to save Boyd Island.  “The fundraising goal has now been achieved and we are just waiting on a final approval from the Federal Government”, said Mike Hendren, Executive Director.

The current landowner intends to generously donate the island to KLT and in order to responsibly own and manage the island long term, the KLT Board challenged the community in August of this year to raise $1,000,000 before closing the deal.

Over 575 pledges have been made to the campaign, dozens for $10,000 or more.  Local supporting businesses include British Empire Fuels and Kawartha Dairy.  A number of individuals have pledged $100,000 including one charitable foundation, an anonymous donor and Mike Wilson, the owner of the island.

“The campaign has made amazing strides and in only four short months has exceeded the fundraising goal!” say Chris Appleton, Campaign Chair.  “I am thrilled by the generosity of the community, and the commitment and hard work of all the volunteers on our campaign team and beyond.  We are still taking pledges to support the project however our minimum goal has now been achieved.”

Plans are now in the works to establish a stewardship committee who will develop and implement a detailed management activities and stewardship plan for the property including signage, trails, picnic sites, wildlife and invasive management and permitted uses. 

Boyd or Big Island is known as Chiminis by indigenous communities and is the largest undeveloped and unprotected island in southern Ontario.  The site is home to unspoiled wetlands, diverse and old growth forests, wildlife, and a wide variety of plant species. First Nations peoples used this Island as a meeting and harvesting place thousands of years ago and today it has compelling cultural value to them and to many others in the area. 

For more information, please contact:

Mike Hendren Executive Director mailto:mhendren@kawarthalandtrust.org

Chris Appleton Boyd Island Campaign Chair chris.ross.appleton@gmail.com