NSFC Announces Official Winner of Fall/Winter 2010 Photo Contest

CHAPLEAU, [July 2011] – This past September, the Northeast Superior Forest Community invited all residents and visitors of

the Northeast Superior region to capture special moments spent enjoying our local forests and submit their photos for a chance to win prizes (and bragging rights). The organization challenged participants to take pictures of their favorite wildlife, trees, non-timber forest products like mushrooms and berries, scenic views, and cultural or recreational activities in the forest.

After much deliberation and careful judging the NSFC is proud to announce that Denise Godbout has won the photo contest with her submission “Tranquility”. Ms. Godbout, a Chapleau resident has won a beautiful framed print of her award winning picture, which she has decided to display in the lobby of Aux Trois Moulin for all to enjoy. The winning photo was chosen based on votes made by the NSFC’s Board of Directors, which is comprised of the Mayors of six local communities and a representative of the Northeast Superior Regional Chiefs’ Forum (NSRCF). Ms Godbout is pictured below receiving her prize from NSFC board member and Chapleau Mayor Andre Byham.

The goal of the contest was to encourage residents to head outside and enjoy the forest throughout the entire year, and to highlight the fact that the value of the north’s most precious natural resource extends well be

yond its value as a generator of revenue. The NSFC recognizes the importance of all forest benefits and values, including economic, social, recreational, cultural, and aesthetic and hopes that this contest has inspired local residents to do the same.

The NSFC received a number of breathtaking images from amateur photographers living across our region, and even from a few visitors. The organization received images of people planting trees, snapshots of wildlife, scenic views of our lush Boreal forests and thriving wetlands, and pictures of pets and people enjoying nature in various ways.

Clara Lauziere, the NSFC’s General Manager, commented on the submissions, saying “our organization was very impressed to see the many interpretations of our forests that were captured on film and submitted throughout the contest. The diversity of the submissions proves that our forests can be valued for endless reasons, and that for residents living in the north, it is impossible to not feel connected to the forest in some way.”

The NSFC hopes that the contest has helped to further emphasize the importance and value of our local forests and will consider hoding contest such as this one again in the future.

CHS Envirothon Team Scores Forestry Component Win at the 2011 Algoma Region Competition
By: Becky Hodgson, Education Coordinator – NSFC

On April 15th and 16th, the Chapleau High School (CHS) Envirothon Team participated in the 2011 Algoma Region Envirothon Competition at Kinsmen Park in Sault Ste. Marie.

The first day, was a day of review. The five teams (two from Superior Heights Collegiate & Vocational School, one from Korah Collegiate & Vocational School, one from Central Algoma Secondary School, and one from CHS) spent the day rotating through outdoor stations, and learning from resource personnel who are specialists in the four core subject areas: forestry, wildlife, aquatics and soils. Additionally, each team had a block of time to prepare for their oral presentations on this year’s current topic of “Salt and Freshwater Estuaries”.

Saturday, April 16th was competition day. Teams arrived bright and early for an 8:30 am start time. The format for the competition day was the same as the previous day, with teams rotated through each of the stations, completing a variety of activities and test questions.

It was noted that the day brought the worst weather conditions of any Algoma Envirothon competition to date, however, the teams’ spirits could not be dampened by the rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow. Armed with a combination of make-shift garbage bag rain suits, winter boots, rubber boots, toques and mitts, the teams headed outside to brave the elements in search of the highest honour: the top score and ultimately the Algoma Envirothon trophy.

Although the CHS team did not win the overall highest score for the competition (that honour went to a team from Superior Heights Collegiate & Vocational School), they did receive special recognition and a certificate for earning the highest score in the Forestry component of the competition! As the CHS Envirothon team formed less than two months ago, and this was the school’s first appearance at an Envirothon competition, this is an outstanding accomplishment.

A big congratulations goes out to the CHS Envirothon team. Good luck in next year’s competition!

The 2011 CHS Envirothon Team with their Forestry component highest score award: (back row) Mr. Mike Serre (teacher/coach), Tristan Larcher, (front row) Robin Raposo, Jessica Raposo, Sabrina Kanala, Kodiak Jolivet. (Missing: Meagan Jean and Mrs. Becky Hodgson (NSFC Education Coordinator/coach).

For more information about Envirothon, visit the official website http://www.ontarioenvirothon.on.ca/. Anyone from the Northeast Superior region who is interested in creating an Envirothon team for the 2011-2012 school year can contact:

Clara Lauziere
General Manager
Northeast Superior Forest Community
clara.lauziere@nsfc.ca
(705) 864.2031 x 224

Building Forest Professionals for the Future

The NSFC acknowledges that the youth in our region are our future. It is important to provide our local youth with educational opportunities at an early age to help ensure students begin to develop a deep understanding of the many uses of our forests. As we grow and continue to develop new opportunities, the NSFC hopes that these students will grow with us, becoming increasingly interested in innovative uses for the forest.

This year, as part of the our education program objectives, we are sponsoring the Chapleau High School (CHS) Envirothon team as a pilot project. The Ontario Envirothon is an opportunity for high school students to take what they learn at school and through their own research and apply their skills in an outdoor setting with like-minded peers, to interact with nature directly. The Envirothon involves a competition that tests each team's environmental smarts, and provides students with an opportunity to build friendships while learning about and exploring the natural environment.

Through sponsoring the CHS team, we hope to spark an interest in Envirothon that can be expanded to other schools in the Northeast Superior region. Ideally, we will generate enough interest in the program to create our own region for Envirothon competition purposes within the schools and communities of the Northeast Superior region.

As part of the Envirothon team, the CHS students will participate in a fun field testing competition, take part in outdoor workshops, find solutions to environmental problems, gain exposure to career opportunities, and discover ways to improve the environment. The environmental areas that students are responsible for learning about are: soil, aquatics, wildlife, forestry, and an annual current issue. This year's current issue is "salt and freshwater estuaries". The CHS Envirothon team meets twice per week to learn and study together.

On March 3rd, the CHS team attended an Algoma Region Envirothon Forestry & Wildlife Workshop Day held in Sault Ste. Marie. In the morning, the students took part in two educational workshops: a tree identification workshop led by Matt Kendrick, and a forest field equipment and forest management plan writing workshop led by Laurie Thomson, both of the Sault's MNR, Forests Division.



In the afternoon, the group participated in four wildlife focused workshops led by second year Fish and Wildlife students from Sault College. The topics of these workshops were: Nocturnal Creatures, Animal Tracks & Signs, The Four Ungulate Species (deer, elk, moose, and caribou), and Invertebrates. The team had a great day, and are looking forward to more opportunities to build on their skills before competition day.



In mid April, Chapleau High School will match their skills against W.C Eaket Secondary School (Blind River), Central Algoma Secondary School (Desbarats), Korah Collegiate & Vocational School (Sault Ste. Marie) and Superior Heights Collegiate & Vocational School (Sault Ste. Marie) at the Algoma regional competition. The winning team from the regional competition will then advance to the Ontario Envirothon provincial competition to be held at the Tim Horton Onondaga Farms in St. George Ontario in early May. The winning team from the provincial competition will represent our province at the North American Canon Envirothon competition to be held in New Brunswick during July.



Anyone from the Northeast Superior region who is interested in creating an Envirothon team can contact:

Becky Hodgson
Education Coordinator
Northeast Superior Forest Community
becky.hodgson@nsfc.ca
(705) 864.2031 x 225

Success Stories from Across the Country

The NSFC and our partner CMFN sites from across the country have developed a publication that highlights success stories from each of our 15 Forest Community/Model Forest sites. We work so hard to ensure that our forest has a sustainable future, and to encourage people to view our forest resources from all angles, and we thought it was about time that we brag a little!

The publication, titled Developing Sustainable Forests and Communities, was developed to broadcast the impact that Natural Resources Canada's Forest Communities Program has had on our country's forest economy and also on hundreds of communities across Canada.

Since the Forest Communities Program was founded, the network has leverage Natural Resources Canada's $12.6 million investment through the program to $60.3 million nationally. That's a leverage rate of 6 to 1! To find out more about this economic accomplishment, and many more accomplishments follow the link below to start reading Developing Sustainable Forests and Communities!

Developing Sustainable Forests and Communities

The NSFC gets a new home!

Beginning in February, the NSFC will be moving to a new administrative office space. We are leaving our current home at the Chapleau Innovation Centre (12 Birch Street East), and moving a few blocks away to 26 Pine Street West beside the Township of Chapleau building.

Our telephone and fax numbers will remain the same, as will our P.O Box number.

To summarize, beginning in February our new contact information will be as follows:

Northeast Superior Forest Community (NSFC)
26 Pine Street West, Box 1388
Chapleau, ON
P0M 1K0
T: (705) 864. 2031
F: (705) 864.0345

We are really excited to move into our new space! Make sure you come visit us!

In the News...

McGuinty Government Taking Next Step to Make Forest Industry More Competitive

On January 13th, the Ontario Government announced that the province will introduce legislation later this year that would modernize it's forest tenure and pricing system. The new legislation would create new jobs and attract investment while ensuring our forests continue to be managed sustainably.

Transforming and revitalizing the forestry sector is part of the Open Ontario Plan to create jobs and economic opportunities in Northern Ontario.

Click here to read the full article

Do you want to work for the NSFC?

Our organization is currently seeking a Forest Sector Project Specialist.

Visit our website Opportunities page to view the full job posting (in both official languages).

A Partnership for Change

Recently, an important step was taken towards strengthening the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in the Northeast Superior region. In August, the Northeast Superior Regional Chiefs' Forum (NSRCF), comprised of 6 Chiefs of 6 First Nations, and the Northeast Superior Regional Mayors' Group (NESMG) comprised of the Mayors of 6 local communities, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that outlined specific relationship building protocol. The relationship building process between the Mayors' and the Chiefs' began in 2008 and has been facilitated and aided by the NSFC whose board of directors is comprised of the Mayors and a representative of the Chiefs' Forum.

Manitouwadge Mayor and NSFC President John MacEachern outlines that the bonding process between the two groups hasn't always been smooth, but that the current strength of the relationship is unique across Canada. "The bond that has been formed between key Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal decision makers in our region is an anomaly" says MacEachern, " and people across the country are amazed when I tell them about the progress our region has accomplished because of the relationship." Additionally, Clara Lauziere, General Manager of the NSFC, outlines that the level of success the NSFC administrative staff have had to this point can be largely attributed to the ease of relations between the two groups.

The Mayors' and Chiefs' have long had common interests with respect to regional economic stability and the use of natural resources, and the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formally outlines this. The MoU details that the groups will continue to interact in a manner that is honest, transparent, fair, and equal, and that mutual trust and respect will form the cornerstones of their relationship. Chief Keeter Corston, Chief of Chapleau Cree First Nation points out that the relationship has also facilitated increased opportunities with local industry, saying "the memorandum of understanding between the Chiefs' and Mayors has important linkages to a separate MoU signed by the Chiefs' Forum, The Township of Chapleau, and Tembec Inc., and demonstrates a collaborative regional approach where our Municipalities, First Nations, and forestry companies work together to achieve positive change."

The Mayors and Chiefs will strive for resource development activities that support long-term environmental sustainability and an equal sharing of opportunities between local Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. The agreement also outlines that all local resources, such as wood fibre, are to be processed within the region and utilized in ways that optimize regional economic benefits.

Any successful relationship building process includes a great deal of teamwork, and the agreement outlines that the groups will meet in person at least once annually to identify priorities and undertake appropriate planning. All decisions will be made by consensus and will be supported by both scientific and traditional Aboriginal information.

The camaraderie and trust between our local leaders is a priceless gift and their recent agreement will ensure that the relationship remains strong and positive for years to come. With the continued bond of the Mayors' and Chiefs', the economic future of the Northeast Superior Region will surely be bright.

Learn more about our amazing partners

The NSFC doesn't achieve success all on our own! We have dedicated municipal and First Nations partners who support our projects, provide us with guidance, and offer us funding and in-kind contributions.

We think you should take the time to learn more about these valuable members of our team, and to help you do so we have created comprehensive community profiles which prove just how great the municipalities and First Nations communities in the Northeast Superior really are!

Select a community of interest from the list below to kick start your glimpse into the beautiful, investment ready Northeast Superior Region!

The Northeast Superior Region

The Northeast Superior Regional Chiefs' Forum

Chapleau- Building on a Spirit of Co-operation

Dubreuilville- Experience the Freedom!

Hornepayne- Your Oasis of Opportunity

Manitouwadge- Live Your Dream

Wawa- Passionate People, Perfect Place!

White River-Where it all Began