On July 6, 2024 the CIF-IFC Ottawa Valley Section (OVS) hosted their Annual General Meeting.

While it was one of those clear skyed hot, humid summer weekend mornings, it did not deter twenty dedicated souls from showing up at ‘La cabane en bois rond’ in Gatineau, Quebec for the OVS Annual Meeting.  The venue was ideal since the structure was essentially a very large log cabin made from local white pine that celebrated local history and decorated with local art …plus it was well air conditioned. All participants appeared in person except for two who participated by Zoom, and while the technology was not perfect, it allowed for broader participation and will be used again. Section Council decided to host the meeting on a Saturday, as opposed to the usual mid-week timing, to again allow for broader participation. The Council will be seeking feedback from Section members on the best timing of the AGM before our 2025 Annual Meeting.

Things got underway with Mark Pearson, Executive Director, CIF, providing a very thorough and informative update on national activities and plans in 2025 and beyond.  This was followed by the Chair and Director’s Report that included observations from the last national Annual Meeting in Nanaimo, 2023, update from the Forestry Chronicle modernization committee and announcement of a face-to-face format for the Christmas Seminar in Kemptville, December, 2024. The Treasurer’s report assured members that although not wealthy, we are most certainly solvent.  Thank you, Kathryn Buchanan. A new funding model and approach to OVS silver ring program was presented and discussed. A more detailed version of this will be circulated to all OVS members in the coming months to seek feedback and support. Other business included a short presentation on the upcoming field forestry show in Venosta, Quebec in September and mention of a new local museum ‘Musee regional de l’Outouais’ that is sponsoring free tours of a part of the EB Eddy mill until the end of August. The attendees also took a moment to note the passing of Dr Vidar Nordin, long time Section member and former Dean of Forestry at UofT and past President of CIF.

This was followed by an excellent presentation by Chantale Doucet and Christopher Minnes of Eco Echo (a local community based environmental Not-for-Profit) titled, ‘Mapping the Community Forest-300 Years of Local History’.  Chantale presented in French and was accompanied by power-point slides in English which offered an excellent bilingual and readily understandable format that prompted a number of probing questions and engaged discussion.

Much thanks go to Chair, Ken Farr who masterfully not only Chaired the session but also coordinated all the procedural logistics and preparations for the meeting. Council member, Victor Brunette, once again arranged for an excellent venue and for a caterer who provided a delicious lunch and gave a few lucky members bulging doggy bags for the trip home.  Another successful event.

 

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Submitted by: Jim Farrell, Director, CIF-IFC Northwestern Ontario Section

August 19, 2024