Ont. Woodlot Assoc. upcoming events

Canadian Forest Owners Group Insurance Program (29 Apr 2026)

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Canadian Forest Owners Group Insurance Program

Canadian Forest Owners (CFO), in association with the Ontario Woodlot Association (OWA), has appointed BrokerLink as our exclusive insurance broker. We’re proud to offer a comprehensive suite of insurance products designed specifically for forest owners. This partnership ensures our members have access to knowledgeable insurance advisors, competitive coverage options and personalized service — all backed by a respected national brand.

Members of the Ontario Woodlot Association have access to a full suite of insurance products designed specifically to protect both your personal and business assets. Designed by foresters and forest owners who understand your challenges, this practical solution offers peace of mind and financial security with the following suite of insurance products available.

Join us for an information session April 29, 2026 from 7:00 - 8:00 PM (ET) / 5:00 - 6:00 PM (MT).

The presentation will be recorded for sharing.

Presenter: Mark Campbell, Commercial Account Executive, BrokerLink

Our Team at BrokerLink is excited to partner with CFO and OWA to launch the Canadian Forest Owners Group Insurance Program. This Program offers both commercial and personal lines of insurance exclusively for members.

Starting with the Commercial Forest Damage and Vacant Land (Woodlot) Liability Insurance to protect your Woodlot, there's also Personal Home and Auto insurance, with discounted rates as well as many other coverages. I look forward to working with members to find an insurance solution tailored to suit your individual needs.

More information is available at:

www.ontariowoodlot.com/insurance

www.brokerlink.ca/insurance/associations/canadian-forest-owners

Lower Ottawa Valley Chapter: Chainsaw Safety and Maintenance (2 May 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Renfrew Chapter, Annual Meeting and AGM (2 May 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Theme: Managing our woods in a changing natural and political climate; Ray Bonenberg Chair

08:30 to 09:15 coffee and registration

09:15 Bob Dobson, natural grass beef farmer in Renfrew County

Context: Implementing multiple natural resource enhancements

10:00 Kris Heideman, Lavern Heideman and Sons Limited

Managing in economic challenging times

10:45 to 11;00 coffee break

11:00 to 11;30 Glen Prevost Executive Director of the AGM and OMF

Up to date on new technologies to help woodlot owners.

11:30 AGM and discussions by chapter members

12:30 Lunch

Address Eagles Nest Hall, 178 Jane Street Eganville ON

Registration: Member/student $10. Non member $20

Contact Robin Cunningham; crunning88@gmail.com 613 639 4343

Kawartha Chapter - Spring Walk in the Woods (2 May 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Annual Spring, Tour, Dinner & AGM - Huron-Perth (2 May 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Lower Ottawa Valley Chapter: Operations (Limbing & Bucking) (2 May 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Niagara - Woodlot Walk along Lyons Creek with Birds Canada & local ecologists (3 May 2026)

Sun, 03 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Please join us for a special morning walk in a special woodlot along Lyons Creek just east of the historical Cooks Mills in Niagara Falls. Birds Canada staff have generously offered their time, as well as several local ecologists, botanists & foresters, to take small groups through the trailless woodlot. The productive soils, steep valleys & long term impacts from beech bark disease (BBD) provide a unique opportunity to see spring ephemerals, forested slopes & productive wildlife habitat.

The woodlot is at 12571 McKenney Road, Niagara Falls & we will meet in the northwest corner of McKenney Rd & Yokum Rd, NF.

To take advantage of early morning birding there will be two starting times.

· 8 am early group – please exit your cars quietly, thanks in advance.
· 10 am mid-morning

There are no trails in the woodlot so walking requires some effort and suitable footwear. Binoculars are recommended and since we are aiming to see birds, unfortunately no dogs are allowed at this event. Also, be aware that it is tick season!

This is a special opportunity with talented guides in a hardwood forest struggling against BBD but still producing unique bird habitat.

There’s no rain date but the event could be postponed due to winds over 20kph. Please be sure to sign up so if we do need to cancel it will be announced through email.

For further information please call Paul Robertson (905) 650-7963 or Dan Root (289) 407-7948.

Lower Ottawa Valley Chapter: Felling (3 May 2026)

Sun, 03 May 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Tree ID and Woodlot Maintenance - Limestone Chapter (9 May 2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Tree ID and Woodlot Maintenance

Spring Woodlot Tour Hosted by the

Limestone Chapter of the OWA

Location: 2075 Battersea Road, Glenburnie

Date & Time: Saturday May 9, 2026 at 9:30 AM

Host: Tom Lavrisa

Join us for a fun and educational tour of the Roger Candy Memorial Park, which is behind the location shown above. Turn in at the large white sign for Frontenac County and drive straight along the drive until you come to the sign on the right for the Frontenac County Overflow Parking lot. Park there and you should see the park sign.

The tour is along a broken paved path for most of the 1.5 km route in a rolling countryside setting. Some trees will be marked with flagging tape and we will stop and try to identify the species of tree. To make this a fun and educational experience for all, we will arrange the group in order of experience with species identification. The youngest or with least experience will go first and make a guess. When they are done, they will say “Pass” and we will applaud their effort. The next will either add more information, or modify the previous guess. We will continue in this fashion until the tree species is identified. I will carry a field guide to confirm our guesses and add more detail.

We can then discuss whether that species is valuable, less valuable, or invasive, so as to guide efforts on your woodlot. Woodlot maintenance recommendations including eradication, thinning or nurturing will be discussed. The goal should be to obtain a diverse, uneven aged stand of trees.

We will observe the path for signs of wildlife in the area. Be sure to view the beaver lodge and his handiwork. If the spring rains have not washed away animal droppings, we can check out scat in the park.

Soil conditions have a great influence on tree health. Examples of loam, sand and exposed limestone exist in the park. Observe how the type of soil affects tree health.

This should be an entertaining time for all who attend. Families are welcome. The tour will go ahead rain or shine, so be prepared for the weather. I hope you can join us.

Huronia Chapter: FAMILY WILDFLOWER WALK (10 May 2026)

Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

FAMILY WILDFLOWER WALK

Sunday May 10, 2026 (Mother’s Day)

This is an informal social event to encourage Huronia members to “meet and greet” each other’s families: kids, grandkids, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, in-laws and outlaws. Wives and husbands, too!

Director DOUG FROST had hoped to lead this outing last year, but we had to postpone as the ice storm created dangerous trail conditions! Thanks to many volunteers and County staff, the trails have been cleared and are open again for hiking. Hooray!

We will be exploring the Oro Tract, which is located on the north side of the Bass Lake Sideroad, between Lines 7 and 8. Meet at 10:00 a.m. in the North Side Parking Lot (about 400 m east of Line 7).

While wildflowers will be the focus of the walk, a discovery of the wonderful biodiversity of the woodlot will be the overall quest.

Bring a water bottle and trail snack. (Note: no washroom facilities available)

For info: President: Doug Frost: (705-487-5723) doug@forksinthetrail.com

Forest Fire Fundamentals for Woodlot Owners - Near North (16 May 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Workshop Agenda

8:30 a.m. – Arrival, Registration, Coffee
9:15 a.m. – Ontario Woodlot Association (OWA) Overview: Glen Prevost or John Pineau
9:40 a.m. – Wildland Fire Mitigation and Preparedness for Woodlot Owners: Ken Cox, Ministry of Natural Resources
11:00 a.m. – Break
11:20 a.m. – Muskoka Wildfires Firsthand: Jonathan Taylor, Fire Prevention Officer, Town of Bracebridge - Fire Department
11:40 a.m. – Biochar Kilns: The Benefits of Burning Brush Safely: Elliott Groen, R.P.F. in Training with Scope, Sustainable Forestry Coordinator, OWA
12:30 p.m. – Adjourn
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – OWA Meet ‘n’ Greet BBQ and Tour of the recent harvesting at the Strak Woodlot (please let us know in advance if you have any dietary requirements)

OWA members $10+HST

Non-members: $20+HST

Maximum Capacity: 70

Woodland Tour - Elgin/Middlesex Chapter (23 May 2026)

Sat, 23 May 2026 17:30:00 GMT

This will be a very interesting tour. Fellow member Bert Brouwer is a retired tobacco farmer who manages 150 ac of woodlot near Aylmer, Ontario for timber and firewood production. He has produced maple syrup in the past and planted a plantation of hard maple many years ago with the aim of eventually using it for maple syrup production. He is struggling to control spice bush as it has become invasive in his woodlot.

Please join us!

Muskoka Silviculture Field Day (28 May 2026)

Thu, 28 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Organized by: Westwind Forest Stewardship

Participants will meet at the Lake of Bays Community Centre Arena at 10 AM on Thursday, May 28 for introductions, overview, and handouts. We will then carpool, leaving extra vehicles at the Lake of Bays Community Centre, then travel to the site to learn about silviculture systems, hawk nest protection, and basal area measurement. Afterwards, we'll drive to Dorset Beach Park for a washroom break and lunch (pack your own lunch). After lunch, we'll visit a beech study site to discuss Beech Bark Disease and management strategies. The day concludes at the final field site, with a return to Baysville for those that carpooled.

This field tour follows up on the March 2026 presentation by Javier Cappella, RPF, Silviculture on Crown Land in Muskoka, during Woodlands Appreciation Week.

Things to note:

Vehicles need to be SUVs or Trucks.
We will be walking into the forest on uneven rough terrain with fallen branches and tripping hazards. Wear sturdy footwear.
Wear long sleeves and pants, bug spray. Bring water and a lunch.

Detailed Agenda:

Meet at the Lake of Bays Community Centre Arena, 10AM, Thursday May 28

Address: 10 University St, Baysville, ON P0B 1A0

Introductions, overview of the day, paper handouts given to participants.
Carpool and park extra vehicles at Lake of Bays Community Centre Arena on University St.

Drive to Harvest Block, RIDMTM1a

20 min drive, HWY117, Echo Lake Rd, N Ril Lake Road, Fire Access Rd.

Silviculture in forest management. (RIDMTM1a)

Application of the selection, shelterwood and clearcut silviculture systems.
Hawk nest value protection
Basal Area measurement exercise

Drive to Dorset Beach Park

30 min drive, Fire Access Rd, N Ril Lake Road, Paint Lake Road, HWY117, HWY 35

Dorset Beach Park

Washroom break, 2 porta potties
Lunch (bring your own)

Drive to Beech Study Site

15 min drive, HWY35, Kawagama Lake Road, Livingstone Lake Rd, McClintock Rd, N Crk Rd (Fletcher Bay Road)

Beech Study Site

Presentation on Beech Bark Disease
Silviculture management options for addressing the impact of BBD on the forest.
Wrap up and thank you.

Drive to Baysville

40 min drive, 37km
For all who left vehicles at the community centre

Huronia Chapter: Forest Health Meeting (3 Jun 2026)

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

FOREST HEALTH MEETING

Our annual Forest Health meeting will be held on the evening of Wednesday JUNE 03, 2026 starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Oro Guthrie arena/community centre (Line 4 Oro-Medonte at Hwy 11 southbound intersection).

CALEB SUROWIAK will do an awareness presentation about Oak Wilt and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, two invasive species that are an imminent threat to our woodlots.

DAVID HAWKEwill host a panel discussion about the OWA’s “Forest Climate Resilience course”, an extremely informative offering that has been attended by several Huronia members. Doug Frost, Sandy Agnew, Ruth Henderson and David have taken this course and will share some of their resulting plans to manage their woodlots in a climate changing era.

Norfolk Chapter: Chainsaw Safety and Cutting Techniques (6 Jun 2026)

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Chainsaw Safety and Cutting Techniques

Do you operate a chainsaw as part of your work, or as a hobby?

Chainsaws are one of the most useful tools in a woodlot owner’s toolbox, but chainsaws are also one of the most dangerous tools a worker can use.

This one-day course is being offered in partnership between Norfolk Woodlot Owners Association and Norfolk County. The course is designed to educate personnel who use a chainsaw about safety, maintenance, use and handling. Participants will gain an understanding of what contributes to accidents and how to avoid them.

Hands on and practical work, including bucking and limbing, understanding compression and tension and dealing with spring poles will be coached and practiced in this course. Notching and back cutting will be introduced for small tree felling of 6" dbh or smaller trees. There is a strong focus on personal safety, risk assessment and accident prevention.

Training and developing skills that reduce variables and mitigate risks associated with chainsaws and cutting techniques is the focus of this training.

Course Outline:

- Start-up Planning: plan for emergencies and select your personal protective equipment.
- Starting and Operating a Chainsaw: parts of a chainsaw; safety features; reactive forces; starting techniques; two-point contact operation
- Tree felling: site risk assessment; work planning; cutting a notch; using felling sites; back cutting and understanding the hinge
- Limbing and Bucking: identify site risks; understanding compression and tension wood; limbing and bucking techniques; handling spring poles
- Basic Chainsaw Maintenance: fuel and lubrication; PPE and tools required; parts of the chain and cutter tooth; sharpening; other regular maintenance

Date: Saturday June 6, 2026

Time: 9am to 4pm with working lunch (Bring your own lunch.)

Venue: Norfolk County Shop, 8 Schellburg Ave, Simcoe, ON N3Y 2J4

Cost: $100 for NWOA members and $130 for non NWOA members. This includes coffee and snacks for the day but no lunch. Please bring your own lunch.

RSVP: Be sure to reserve your place (There is a maximum limit of 15 participants and a minimum of 6) by emailing jdewitt2025@outlook.com if you wish to attend. We will confirm receiving your email upon receiving it and notify you at the beginning of May with any updates or as they happen.

Huronia Chapter: Fall Field Day (26 Sep 2026)

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

FALL FIELD DAY

Tentatively set for Saturday September 26 (confirmations will be sent out in August).

Ruth Henderson has offered her property in Oro-Medonte as a possible site to visit. She and her partner have been actively managing their property and can share some experiences and insights.

Also (tentatively) will be a demonstration about bio-char production. This is a newer method that is gaining popularity amongst woodlot managers as brush and limbs too small for firewood can be converted to “black gold” as charcoal fertilizer.

Huronia Chapter: White Pine Award (12 Nov 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

WHITE PINE AWARD

Mark your calendars for the evening of Thursday November 12^th to attend the annual White Pine Award presentation. Please submit nominations to any Huronia Board member! More info to come.