Clinton News Record, 2015-02-18, Page 9Wednesday, February 18, 2015 • News Record 9
Soil, conservation pioneer to speak at
Conservation Awards
Don Lobb to present at March 19 event
in International Year of Soils 2015
Ausable Bayfield Conserva-
tion is to present the Conser-
vationist of the Year Award to
a person, farm, business, or
group at the annual Conser-
vation Awards to be held on
Thursday, March 19, 2015.
This year's event is being held
during International Year of
Soils 2015.
The conservation authority
has announced that the guest
speaker for the early -evening
event is Don Lobb, the first
national recipient of the L. B.
Thomson Award for soil con-
servation. "Don is a pioneer
of no -till and soil conserva-
tion," said Brian Horner, Gen-
eral Manager and Secretary -
Treasurer of Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority
(ABCA). "We are pleased that
Don will bring his passion
and knowledge about effec-
tive management of soil and
water."
The Ausable Bayfield Con-
servation Awards take place
on Thursday, March 19, 2015
at Ironwood Golf Club, 70969
Morrison Line, 2 km east of
Exeter. The evening begins
with social time at 5 p.m. fol-
lowed by a light supper at
5:30 p.m. and Conservationist
of the Year Award at 6 p.m.
This is followed by the feature
talk at 6:30 p.m. If you would
like to attend, please RSVP to
Sandra Funk at sfunk@abca.
on.ca by Thursday, March 12,
2015 for meal numbers. If you
have special dietary needs,
please let Ausable Bayfield
Conservation know in
advance. For more informa-
tion visit abca.on.ca or phone
519-235-2610 or toll-free
1-888-286-2610.
Don Lobb owned a success-
ful farming operation in
Huron County from 1962-
1997. The farm became a
model for sustainable man-
agement of soil, water, natu-
ral habitat and the environ-
ment and was the site of more
than 50 major research pro-
jects, many of which focused
on soil and water manage-
ment. Several were MSc. and
PhD degree research projects.
During this time, he was an
associate with Ecologistics
Ltd., and he served as a con-
sultant on applied soil con-
servation practices for the
Soil, Water and Environmen-
tal Enhancement Program
(SWEEP). Lobb also partici-
pated in the development and
delivery of the Environmental
Farm Plan and was an author
for Best Management Prac-
tices Manuals on Field Crop
Production, No -Till - Making
it Work, and Cropland
Drainage.
He has been writing a Land
Improvement Contractors of
Ontario drainage column for
Country Guide magazine
since 2012. Much of his time
is devoted to turf field con-
struction and management
and the installation of high-
quality travel surface (foot-
ing) at some of Canada's fin-
est equestrian facilities.
The guest speaker has
served as environmental
advocate for the Land
Improvement Contractors of
Ontario since 2001 and was a
member of the Pesticide
Advisory Committee (1993-
2005), Ontario's Pesticide
Regulatory Agency. He has
also served as a member of
the Advisory Board of the
Environment and Natural
Resources Research Program,
University of Guelph and The
Land Stewardship Chair Advi-
sory Committee, U. of G., and
from 2010 has been a member
of the Ontario Agricultural
Adaptation Council. Lobb
was founder of the Huron Soil
and Water Conservation Dis-
trict, The Innovative Farmers
Association of Ontario, The
Great Lakes No -Till Discus-
sion Group, and a founding
director of the Soil Conserva-
tion Council of Canada.
He has been recognized for
contribution to soil and water
conservation and leadership to
agriculture by the University of
Guelph (Distinguished Service
Award); Ontario Institute of
Professional Agrologists (Hon-
ourary Life Membership); Soil
Conservation Council of Can-
ada (Hall of Fame - the first
farmer from eastern Canada to
be inducted); Soil and Water
Conservation Society - Inter-
national Honour Award; the
Art Latornell Foundation (Con-
servation Pioneer); Ontario
Soil and Crop Improvement
Association (Honourary Presi-
dent, 2010); L. B. Thomson
Award for soil conservation -
the first national recipient; and
the Queen Elizabeth Diamond
Jubilee Award. In 2014, he was
inducted to the Caledon Walk
of Fame to join Norman Jew-
ison, Conn Smythe, Robertson
Davies and others.
The winner of this year's
Conservationist of the Year
Award will be announced on
March 19.
The Ausable Bayfield Con-
servation Authority has recog-
nized outstanding achieve-
ments in conservation, since
1984, with the annual presen-
tation of an award to the Con-
servationist of the Year. The
Conservation Award acknowl-
edges one individual or group
per year who demonstrates
positive conservation princi-
ples. The nominee must have
undertaken conservation
efforts over a number of years
that have shown long-term
benefits for the natural envi-
ronment and society.
Examples of conservation
work that protects soil, water,
and living things, include
improving local water quality;
conservation farming; reforest-
ation; environmental educa-
tion; providing wildlife and fish
habitat; promoting awareness
and action about the protec-
tion of soil, water, and living
things.
For more information visit
abca.on.ca. Type 'conservation
award' into the search box at
the top of the home page and
then press 'Search.' This will
show you the location of the
Conservationist of the Year
page.
clintonnewsrecord.com
Contributed photo
Mr. Don Lobb.
El raj '44W, TER
inn
A Draft Animal Control By-law
will be considered on March 2, 2015
The Committee of the Whole will consider a draft Animal Control By-law on
Monday, March 2, 2015, at 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers, Stanley Complex, 38594B
Mill Road, west of Varna.
We are seeking public comment as significant changes are proposed. The draft by-law
will replace the current Dog Licensing and Control By-law. Some of the key differ-
ences between the Draft Animal Control By-law and the current Dog Licensing and
Control By-law are:
• Prohibits exotic animals (existing exotic animals must be registered)
• Special permission for dogs working as guides, hunters, livestock guardians or herders
• Limit on the number of cats, mice, rats and rabbits per dwelling unit in an urban area
• Requires the owner of a vicious dog to carry liability insurance and have the dog
microchipped & increases licence fee for a vicious dog
• Prohibits dogs from designated Blue Flag beaches
• Increases number of offences and applicable fines; and increases fine amounts
The draft by-law is available at: www.town.bluewater.on.ca/news item.aspx?id=1518
We would appreciate receiving your comments by: February 23, 2015
Municipality of Bluewater, 14 Mill Ave, PO Box 250, Zurich ON NOM 2T0
Tim Masse, CBO/BLEO email: t.masse@town.bluewater.on.ca
tel: 519-236-4351 x 225 fax:519-236-4329