History and Milestones

Before It All Began

1900–1913

Wellington Field Naturalists

With membership primarily from the Ontario Agricultural College, this Club published the annual Ontario Natural Science Bulletin from 1905 to 1913, covering a wide range of topics.

1923–1957

Wellington County Fish and Game Association

Supported mainly by local industrial and commercial firms, it emphasized sporting aspects, such as trout restocking and pheasant release, but was also concerned with conservation.

1947–1957

Traverner Field Naturalists

Named after the great Canadian ornithologist, it drew its support from OAC staff members, and sponsored weekly columns in The Mercury.

1957–1964

Guelph Field Naturalists (Phase I)

The two preceding organizations co-operated on weekly columns in The Mercury, and joined forces in 1957 with emphasis on education and field trips. Interest waned and the Club became dormant until it was revitalized in 1966.

Milestones

1966

John Wismer, President
Guelph Field Naturalists reorganized as Guelph Naturalists’ Club

1967

Club participates in Christmas bird census

1968

Fred Hainsworth, President
Junior Naturalists program initiated
Constitution written

1969

Owen Washburn, President
Resolution on the restriction of snowmobile use

1970

Conservation Committee established

1971

Antonio Salvadori, President
Tradition of Members’ Night at December meetings begins

1972

Study of Hanlon Creek area conducted

1973

Tom Ball, President
Presentation on construction of Elora Gorge Bridge

1974

Jean Gosling, President
Checklist of birds and wild plants of Wellington County

1975

Position paper on the Speed River Dam

1976

Gordon Graham, President
Planning and directing of 1977 Federation of Naturalists (FON) Conference

1977

First Spring Bazaar at Willow West Mall
Name change from Guelph Naturalists’ Club to Guelph Field Naturalists

1978

Richard Reader, President
Meeting place moved to The Arboretum Centre, University of Guelph
New logo (Jack in the Pulpit inside ‘G’) designed by Alan Watson

1979

First potluck supper at November meeting

1980

Kathleen Brown, President
Planning and directing of 1981 Canadian Nature Federation Conference

1981

Established policies on use of Special Reserve fund on park development in Ontario

1982

Donated $1,000 to FON for the establishment of policies on park development in Ontario

1983

Stewart Hilts, President
Guelph Environment Council established
Constitution amended

1984

Financial support of FON in purchase of Petrel Point Reserve

1985

Sarah Lowe, President
Survey of wetlands within the City of Guelph

1986

Donated $1,000 to Hamilton Region Conservation Authority for the purchase of Fletcher Creek Swamp

1987

Richard Frank, President
Planning and directing of 1988 FON Conference

1988

Peregrine Falcon Release Project

1989

Review on policy of Nature Reserve Fund
Interest on $20,000 to be spent on conservation projects

1990

Dan Schneider, President
Submission to the City of Guelph on Mitchell Farm Development, Phase II (all on Second Line)

1991

Organized 25th Anniversary dinner
Three-year financial commitment to Trees for Guelph

1992

Greg Meredith, President
Record funds raised for Baillie Birdathon

1993

Naturalization design and planting on both sides of covered bridge in York Road Park
Hanlon Creek Watershed Plan presented to the City; mostly approved

1994

Cheryl Anderson, President
Draft of Guelph Green Plan distributed to City for review

1995

Working on the Green Plan Steering Committee, Environmental Advisory Committee, Mill Creek
Sub-watershed Steering Committee and River Systems Advisory Committee
Rails to Trails project
Starkey Loop inventory and River inventory

1996

Ian Hendry, President
Guelph to Goderich Rails to Trails
Starkey Loop inventory

1997

Updated Wellington County Bird Checklist

1998

Planning and directing 1998 FON Conference

1999

Craig Potter, President
In partnership with Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists, a wildlife inventory was conducted along proposed Highway 7 corridor to Kitchener
$1,000 to Nature Conservancy of Canada for the Agnew property

2000

Submissions on Environmental Advisory Committee reviews and Guelph’s Official Plan Review

2001

Signed property management agreement for stewardship of Agnew property, and began with wildlife inventory

2002

Paul Grant, President
Bird Wing bird study group began meeting monthly

2003

Hosted FON “Smart Communities” workshop
Assisted in biological inventory of Little Tract

2004

“Plant Branch” plant study group initiated and began meeting bi-monthly
Continued involvement with City of Guelph planning and development issues

2005

Carol Koenig, President
Submission regarding Victoria Park subdivision impinging on the Torrance Creek wetlands
Received grant from Grand River Conservation Foundation to support Young Naturalists

2006

Hosted Ontario Nature’s “Land Use Planning 101” workshop
Received grant from Parks & People Program for Young Naturalists
40th Anniversary celebration

2007

Naturalists In Training (NITs), formed – a new program for 13–16 year olds
$4,200 grant from Parks and People program used for items such as binoculars which were then donated to the Guelph Lake Nature Centre
John Brierley donated his Explorer Sightings software to the club to be sold as a fundraiser
Special meeting held in February to decide on purchase and stewardship of Hall’s Pond lands; majority votes were opposed
Indoor program attendance often reaching over 100
20 members volunteered to monitor local Chimney Swifts

2008

Valerie Fieldwebster, President
Received contract to produce the Grand River watershed birding trail map
Trails Take Flight brochure and website
Offer to buy Hall’s Pond land officially dropped
Opposed the plan to extract gravel from a site south of Guelph citing its proximity to Cranberry Bog wetlands; plan was eventually dropped

2009

New “Community Outreach Coordinator” executive post created to encourage university students to join; Jenn Bock first to hold the post

2010

Charlie Cecile reports City of Guelph agreed to amend the Natural Heritage Plan after five years of study
TD Friends of the Environment Award gives $1,750 to NITs
Larry Staniforth, along with a GRCA rep, accepted a medal for the Trails Take Flight brochure from EDAC, the Economic Development Association of Canada
Two NITs attend Ontario Youth Biodiversity Summit
Kyle Horner leads a Jane’s Walk hike along Speed River during Two Rivers Festival
Mike Cadman honoured as the celebrity birder in the Bailey Birdathon by the Ontario Field Ornithologists
Club donates bandsaw to bird nest box enthusiast Joe Kral

2011

Peter Kelly, President
Young NATs and parents have campout at Long Point, Lake Erie
Two teens sent to the Ontario Nature Youth Summit at Geneva Park in Orillia

2012

Club participated in Two Rivers Festival
Organized birdwatching backpacks, which could be borrowed from the Guelph Public Library

2013

Tamara Anderson officially starts the Tracking Club
Reinder Westerhoff Fund started to educate teens and send them to Youth Summit
Nature Guelph becomes the new name for Guelph Field Naturalists, with a new logo following soon after
Two of our nominees win Ontario Nature Awards – Philip Gosling and Chris Earley

2014

Jenn Bock, President
Christmas Bird Count for Kids held in early January
Nature in the City, a six-part evening talk, held for the general public
Charlie Cecile wins Mayor’s Award from City of Guelph
Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists get a warning from the Federal Government about partisanship

2015

The Wildflower Society reunites with Nature Guelph
Nature in the City is moved to the spring; involves Saturday talks and Sunday hikes
Social hikes begin: a Sunday hike followed by a get-together for coffee or drinks afterwards

2016

Raised the funds and facilitated treatment of windows at The Arboretum Centre to make them ‘bird friendly’
Celebrated Nature Guelph’s 50th Anniversary on October 16 at the River Run Centre, Guelph