On an early summer morning, I joined the photographers capturing the progress of this year’s construction of a new 26-hectare conservation area on the shores of Lake Ontario as they prepare for the next Morphology photography exhibit.
As I watched the sunrise coming up behind the Toronto cityscape, it cast a golden light on the field of wildflowers around me. I turned to take in the view and caught a glimpse of a pair of deer running through the nearby trees. I wasn’t quick enough to grab a photo, but I was on alert. I’d love to see the bald eagle that has been in the area recently.
From the main road, you would never guess the transformation taking shape just a kilometre away. Five years ago, this area was completely different. It was an old industrial complex and a neglected waterfront.
When Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) was given the opportunity to transform the shoreline of Lake Ontario into a green oasis for wildlife and people, we took on a project unlike any that we’ve done before.
What does it take to create a conservation area? Building the new conservation area is a joint effort. Together, with the Region of Peel and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), we are creating a new waterfront conservation area that will connect people and wildlife back to nature.
Our restoration staff have been hard at work over the past five years. In partnership with TRCA, we have completed almost 1,000 metres of stream restoration, 1,600 metres of new shoreline along Lake Ontario and created approximately 17 hectares of new conservation land made up of wetlands, forests, meadows and beach. We have planted 27,034 trees and installed 74,507 wetland plants.
In the past year, we completed two major milestones: the reconnection of Serson Creek with Lake Ontario and the opening of the first wetland to fish and other aquatic wildlife. See our five-year construction update for more information.
We can’t wait to open the conservation area to the public in 2025.
Sign up to our Conversations mailing list to receive periodic updates about the progress at Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area. Visit cvc.ca/morphology to see past Morphology exhibits.
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By Nicole Di Cintio, Specialist, Marketing and Communications
Why can’t you partially open the Marie Curtis Park connection so we enjoy the areas already constructed.
Thank you so much for your interest in visiting the future Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area. We haven’t constructed our trails yet and aren’t able to provide safe access to the public. The entire site is still an active construction site with ongoing hazards such as large moving machinery, open trenches, stockpiled materials, and other construction related activities. We look forward to the near future where you’ll be able to enjoy the Conservation Area