Rewilding

REWILDINGKESWICKCREEKS

A Pilot Project by:

GETTING

STARTED

WITH

REWILD

ING

In the past few years, Lake Simcoe has had some major help. The federal government established the $30 Million Lake Simcoe Clean Up Fund to trigger projects that would reduce phosphorus leaching into the Lake. Ontario’s $20 million Lake Simcoe Protection Plan spelled out legislation and action to get phosphorus “loads” down to 45 tonnes by 2045. (Currently there are 72 tonnes a year compared to 32 tonnes before the impact of human activity).

The question is, why so much attention on phosphorus, and why should the community living in Keswick Creeks care?

While phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants and animals, when there’s too much of it―like here on Lake Simcoe―phosphorus is ominous. It gets into the Lake by air, and by filtering through the land and rivers. This overload puts the entire Lake out of balance and affects all life in and around it.

A THANK YOU TO PHOSPHORUS LOADING

So millions have been spent on reducing phosphorus. The challenge now is that most of the easiest things have been accomplished―fixing leaky septics, reducing agricultural runoff and the like―but we are still a long, long way from the target that will bring Lake Simcoe back to health.

Phosphorus might also be our saviour. Without high phosphorus levels so dramatically stimulating weeds and algae, we could remain oblivious to how out of balance our ecosystem and our lives have become.

Science is speaking out that we need to increase innovation and stewardship . This brings us to the ReWild!TM approach used in the ReWilding Keswick Creeks pilot. Innovation was amplified by public participation –and with that broad pubic participation,  the word “stewardship" went right out the door. 

Through this pilot, we discovered that the concept of stewardship was not resonating very well. Indeed, while the idea of managing our natural world continues to rally environmental “keeners,” it doesn’t seem to move the majority of community members to get involved. This dynamic lead participants in this project to the understanding that our future relationship with nature, framed differently, could go beyond managing our natural world -- to some amazing new possibilities.

For example, we found that the youth of South Keswick and Lake Simcoe share many common issues. Their lives are complex. They are undervalued. And, all too often, they face crises. By nurturing unique partnerships of people and nature, ReWilding Keswick Creeks set forth to inspire new possibilities.

In doing this ReWilding Keswick Creeks we bumped into walls, ran into dead ends, took numerous detours but, as a result, evolved. In the end, the pilot has demonstrated the enormous potential of a new methodology and approach to inspire and implement projects that benefit people AND nature while restoring Lake Simcoe to health.

Most importantly, the ReWilding Keswick Creeks pilot has given many of those involved hope -- a valuable currency in the 21st century. People now hope that they can create a better future for themselves and their natural habitat. They hope that they can, through baby steps, bring their communities back together; and they hope that once again music will rise from the shores of Lake Simcoe in celebration of a much needed reunion of people, land and water.

And all this... Thanks to phosphorus loading!Hilary Van Welter

Director of ReWilding Keswick Creeks and Co-creator of ReWild!TM

Annabel Slaight,

Co-founder and President Ladies of the Lake/ ReWildTM “Fairy Godmother”

POD

STORY

A POD STORY

November 20, 2010 was one of the coldest November Saturdays on record in the city of Keswick within the Town of Georgina on the shores of Lake Simcoe. But volunteers dressed in woollen animal hats joined by a friendly big brown bear were out in force to launch a new way of looking at the relationship between people and nature. Community youth had been invited to visit several locations in the area that needed improvement. The design thinking exercise they would participate in called PODcaching was the lead-in to ReWilding Keswick Creeks, a new social innovation project made possible by the Lake Simcoe CleanUp Fund, and the Regional Municipality of York.

Three of the students participating in the PODcaching, from Our Lady of the Lake Collegiate – were filmed for a Rogers TV special about the ReWilding Team project. Naturally, they went back to school and talked about their moment of fame and how amazing it was to look at things through the eyes of hummingbirds, bears and foxes which was their challenge. But best of all they shared their enthusiasm.

That enthusiasm was caught by a couple of the teachers who followed up with the ReWild Team to learn more about PODcaching – a way of envisioning familiar sites through animal lenses with special properties to see what could be improved for people and nature.

As a result, a larger group from the school put on critter masks to see their school property in a new ways and what they saw began a journey to turn ReWilding from an idea into a whole new form of stewardship.

The challenge was to discover projects on the land in the school yard could be good for the students and also help the health of Lake Simcoe. In a place where so many trees had been removed they became a focus and the students decided that they wanted to create a lunch park with trees and natural plantings – a place where they could relax, socialize and connect with nature. With landscape architect Mark Setter, their ideas began to take shape on paper, but then road blocks reared up. The school and board had regulations that required rethinking their original concepts of an outdoor space that could evolve over time into an outdoor classroom in order to reflect the following considerations:

• Crime prevention landscaping meant no clustered trees and no wooden benches or picnic tables. Instead, the design had to include large stone blocks that acted as landscaping features and seating.

• Because school regulation didn’t allow for eating lunch outside the cafeteria for all the students, the park was renamed a Student Park and placed within sight of the cafeteria windows so that students could still enjoy the natural view while they ate.

• Practical considerations had to be overcome. Since no one would be tending the park over the summer, plants had to be hardy, low maintenance and not require watering once established.

Caroline Przywolski, Bianca Caporiccio, Kassandra Caporiccio

To help with the project’s sustainability, Mary Mallany, one of the mentors and an external champion of the project helped the cause move forward by suggesting native plants according to their physical and spiritual properties. In turn each plant was adopted by a student for care passing the responsibility on at graduation.

With the commitment of the students and teachers, strong leadership from two internal champions, teachers Theresa Abbott-Howland, and Erin Elliott, and a professional design for the site that evolved as the process moved forward, all obstacles and delays were overcome. One year after the public PODcaching, the student park broke ground. The ground was cleared, boulders placed at the end of the day on a Friday, and teacher and student volunteers worked over the weekend. The rest of the school returned on Monday to the new garden. In addition, a unique plant guide of native species in the Keswick area was researched and developed for this project. This garden joined 250 white pines that had been planted in the spring as a ‘warm up’ project.

All this was accomplished because three friends went to try out PODcaching and were met by a friendly brown bear in a parking lot!

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE

REWILD

ING

UNIQUE

NESS

rewild!TM / re-wild / noun ReWild!TM is a concept to provide a “greenhouse” to gather, improve, cultivate and a wide variety of projects that benefit people and nature in the Lake Simcoe watershed through:

• It experiments through leading-edge design, innovation, and communications tools to develop projects

• It encourages a new breed of socio-economic/environmental entrepreneurs

• It provides seed funding for projects large and small

• It promotes synergies to increase impact

By partnering with nature’s intelligence in design, Rewild has the ability to:

• Transform tired jobs into evolving careers that create  roadmaps to the future.  Imagine― a designer who brings living buildings to life , or a public official, clever as a fox who uses the skills of a choreographer to advance public policy

• Redevelop typical environmental products into cool gadgets that blend science and art. Imagine – gardens that house solar trees with smart technology as well as plants, or birdhouses that tweet pictures.

• Provide hope and direction to communities.  Imagine - a neighbourhood that shares home grown and home made food, that honours how youth culture can bring new businesses to town.

rewilding / re-wild-ing / noun ReWilding Keswick Creeks is the first Rewild!TM pilot project: the Keswick Creeks subwatershed was chosen as it has the lowest natural cover and one of the highest phosphorus runoffs into Lake Simcoe. ReWilding Keswick Creek’s purpose is to inspire community redesign of public and private spaces through a partnership of people and nature.

NEW LENSES

THE CRITTERSIn ReWilding there is a trio of ‘Critters’ who provide unique lenses and insight to bring new visions to old places. There is the Fox, the shapeshifter who looks at the magic and potential that is hidden to create the ideal vision of the place; the Bear who mashes up things like soul and science to see an integrated vision, and the Hummingbird who sees a vision from what is currently viewed as impossible.

The critter masks seemed to have a magic of their own.

HUMMINGBIRDFOX BEAR

MASKS @ WORK

FOX

The cunning and innovative Fox let people see what could be worked with what was already

there―planting trees, pulling weeds, naturalizing parts of the shoreline and putting in a beach or

dock for swimmers.

BEAR

The Bear was uniquely down-to-earth with the ideas it generated. “Why is there no place to barbeque?”

asked the Bear.

“Where’s the picnic area?” and “Why don’t we fix the baseball diamond?”

HUMMINGBIRD

The Hummingbird wearers often took flights of fancy which inspired creative leaps – like

turning a rain barrel into a sculpture.

NEW LANGUAGE

PODcaching is ReWilding’s process of helping people imagine

things differently.

Cache is a hidden treasure or the collection of materials for future use.

POD stands for Potential Opportunity for Design. PODs are specific sites that are prime locations for improvement or change that makes them better for people and nature while benefiting Lake Simcoe.

NEW CRITERIAThe goal of ReWilding Keswick Creeks was to grow a number of projects throughout South Keswick area. To fulfill the requirements of the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund, each project had, as a key goal, to reduce phosphorus leaching into Lake Simcoe. Further, the each project had to have PIZZAZZ!

And so, PODcaching is identifying and redesigning sites so they optimize their potential to benefit people and nature by looking for hidden potential through the thoughts and feelings of the community.

REWILD

ING

DNA

PODcaching 101ReWilding begins with PODcaching – seeing a selected area through new eyes. The more stakeholders get involved at this initial stage, the better the project’s chances of succeeding. Community members, the designer and representatives from the governing authorities should be assembled to PODcache together. Our experience has shown that if all these entities view the site separately, conflicting visions often arise.

When the Rewilding team and the designer get together at the start with all the stakeholders this allows imaginative, collaborative ideas to come forward.. If anyone has an objection to one idea or another as impractical, the issue can get dealt with before the community gets "married" to it.

The PODcaching process uses specific steps, guided by the ReWilding team:

Step 1...Participants are asked to look around and identify how they feel about the space – not what they see or think. The most common answers are “fine” “bored” “sad” “depressed” “abandoned.” Sometimes the answer is “fine” because expectations are low. Then they are asked if they would spend time in the space and why or why not. This is followed by a question that asks: What would make a difference?

Step 2...Participants are asked to see the space from nature’s perspective to identify the key challenges for nature in the area.

Step 3...Each participant picks an animal lens to look through. For each lens there is a mask. The Fox is the magician and sees shapeshifting possibilities. The Bear represents the mash up of science and soul and sees what is possible for the future. The Hummingbird sees the big picture and sees the impossible. The purpose of the masks is to help people see the space with new eyes.

From these feelings, ideas and visions of the future, a rough plan is worked out. After the surveying the property, the designer then turns the rough plans into a master plan that is returned to the same group for input.

The video that follows was used to promote the seeking out of PODS and explained how individuals could PODcache on their own.

PODcaching 101

PODZAZZING 101

In the Rewilding Keswick Creeks pilot program it was, as might be expected, very exciting for people who had gathered for the PODcaching to see their ideas presented as professional plans. In shoreline projects there were even cross-sections where changes to the shoreline would be shown. Before the plans can be realized, they would have to be taken by the community to the governing authorities at the regional, provincial and federal levels such as:

• The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

• The Ministry of Natural Resources

• Fisheries and Oceans

Having a professional designer on the ReWilding team, such as landscape architect Mark Setter who participated in this pilot, is invaluable. The designer can bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the process of drawing up plans and seeking permits, plus knowledge of what elements will fast track a plan and what will raise red flags. The designer’s role at this point is to guide the community towards ideas with the best chance of success and provide supporting information to gain permissions, while honouring the communities’ needs. The provision of a range of plans such as the initial topographic survey, grading plans, planting plans, and cross sections adds significant supporting documentation to the submission which helps the community’s case, while providing key information to help the authorities in their decision making. This is especially true for shoreline designs that divert from conventional planning, which in ReWilding, is to be expected.

The more that authorities, community members and the designer work together from the beginning, the more likely permits and funding will be forthcoming.

Once the overall plan was approved, it was time to decide what to do first. What would kick-start the process? That’s where PIZZAZZ!ing comes in. The plan goes through the following review process.

• Promotes outreach partnership – What invites collaboration and funding? Right now, reducing phosphorus leaching into Lake Simcoe is a key factor. What other social/economic issues could also be addressed?

• Inspires contagious enthusiasm – What will keep people engaged with the area and the project?

• Zooms into new zones of thinking – Part of the excitement is in doing something that will make the community an innovative example to other communities.

• Zips people together through happy collaboration – What part of the project will serve the community, authorities and nature the best?

• Attracts people of all ages – Each community has different needs but all need a place where their members can come together. What features/innovations could achieve that?

• Zeroes in on practical innovation – How can nature and people be served at the same time?

• Zig-zags right out of the box and connects people to the Lake in new ways – because the old ways disconnect us from the natural heritage of the region.

• !Astonishes people with what ingenuity can accomplish.

Through this process, a Master Project Plan is developed to guide the community through a series of projects that may take more than 5 years. The beauty is they have a plan and know where to start.

PODcaching and PODzazzing are key elements of ReWilding DNA and are highly organic and dynamic processes that are carried out in a range of creative ways that meet the culture of the community.

REWILDING STREETTEAM The Rewilding Keswick Creeks story started with three girls and the impact they had. There were another three young people whose story should be told, who came to this project through a Youth and Social Justice Counsellor. These teens, who are a vital component of ReWilding’s DNA, were what many would see as outsiders who challenge every system they come across―at home, at school and even in the courts.

Our three members of The ReWilding Street Team were originally brought aboard the project to work on the beach projects that had been identified as Potential Opportunities for Design. Because of the delays getting permissions, they also worked at promoting ReWilding. They showcased what was possible in ways that were informative and entertaining. Through displays and one-to-one discussions with the public, they not just served nature and the community, but brought a new cultural vibe and captivating reasons to be in the spaces.

Jessica Halder, was a natural at sensing both the sadness of the Lake and land, as well as new potential youth enterprises; Travis Young-Robinson had a natural connection to the land, and was able to see practical ways of enhancing places so that teens could feel productive and learn new skills;

and finally Raymond Francis-Burroughs often emulated the fox with his questioning and probing to see what was hidden inside the superficial answers many youth get to their questions.

These three teens were lead by Kevin Hall, a recent graduate from the University of Western Ontario who had received his Masters in Engineering (Chemical Engineering), with a specialization in Environmental and Green Processes. Like many of our university graduates, Kevin was searching for a job in which he could apply his significant investment in education. In order to make ends meet, Kevin was working in a car wash when he was hired for ReWilding. Kevin was an award winning graduate who had never worked with teens before.

This ReWilding Street Team, a strange assortment of talents and experiences, brought the ReWildTM concepts to life. They translated theory into practical examples and expressions. Over the summer of 2011, these young people listened to the Lake and the land, in ways they hoped others would listen to them. Through this reignited connection, our street team remembered what it was like to feel valued, and with a glimmer of hope for their future.

THE

ROOTS

OF

REWILD

ING

“Where are the whales in Lake Simcoe?” Now that you are somewhat familiar with what ReWild!TM is, it’s time to look where it came from.

ReWild!TM did not just pop up as a concept, it grew from rich roots, aided by the innocent question above from a visiting student. The question highlights the disconnect between people―especially young people―and Lake Simcoe. The need to help young people reconnect with their historical and natural heritage―and the lake―was identified in a report called “Whales in Lake Simcoe.”

This Report gave rise to the WASTE (We Are Saving the Environment) Film Project. Young film makers―64 of them―were recruited, trained and set lose to create short films focussing on the dynamics of the Lake Simcoe watershed. The winners were showcased at a Gala at the Newmarket Silver City Theatre and on an online film festival. These films were used to bring life to the Where Waters Meet Conference, a recommendation of the Whales in Lake Simcoe Report. In turn, this conference gave birth to the ReWild! TM project and philosophy.

At the core of all these projects is the belief that to care for nature and the lake, people must feel a connection. For, ReWilding Keswick Creeks, this means that the land around the lake has to serve the needs of people and nature together. To do this we have to open up our imaginations, unlocking hidden potential, and envision fresh alternatives, inspired by amazing new possibilities that are happening in our backyards as well as from all over the world. These changes must also come from collaboration between the community, conservation authorities and professional designers of landscapes and unique experiences.

KESWICKCREEKS

INTERLUDE

Keswick Creeks is one of 23 sub watersheds draining into Lake Simcoe. One of the smallest sub watersheds, it is often overlooked on maps and people can’t see most of its rivers as they are underground.

Keswick includes the east shore of Cook’s Bay from Young's Harbour to Island Grove. Keswick Marsh is adjacent to Holland Marsh and with it forms one of the most fertile areas in Ontario. The marsh acts as the kidneys of the region, cleansing the water as it flows into the lake and acting as a natural reservoir for storm waters.

Just as the marsh cleans the water, tree cover cleans the air. Yet, Keswick has the lowest natural cover in the Lake Simcoe Region. The fertile soil that attracted agriculture, led to the draining of marshland and clearing of forests. Further depredations were made by housing construction. There is only 9 percent natural cover in this subwatershed where 35 percent natural cover is considered a minimum for ecological health.

ReWilding Sites

LAKE SIMCOE REGION

A little NATURAL HISTORY

A Community in Transition

Keswick began as a sleepy little settlement surrounded by farmland providing some basic services for farmers. Then came the radial railway and cottagers. Then came the 1970s―and everything changed.

When the Town brought municipal water and sewage services to the area, combined with Keswick’s proximity to Toronto, the community became developers’ heaven. New residential subdivisions were built, old cottages were replaced by permanent houses. Schools, stores and other businesses followed as Keswick rapidly become Georgina’s largest urban centre. It is still growing – and now, as a community in transition, the health of the lake is taking a back seat to commercial progress. There is a shift coming however as people begin to realize that our natural habitat and resources are key players in the health of our communities for a myriad of reasons that are uncovered in the ReWilding process. Commercial progress, the treasuring of our natural resources, and innovation must go hand in hand. The new goal that is emerging is not to put people above nature or nature above people, but to realize that these are two partners who offer unique intelligence and need to work together.

PODS

IN

ACTION

The following 3 PODS reflect various applications of ReWilding. PODcaching and PODzazzing were conducted at Young’s Harbour, however ended at the design stage. At Elmhurst Beach, PODcaching and PODzazzing were also conducted, with certain products emerging from the work there. Pine Beach fully embraced the ReWilding approach, and even though they came in late in the process, this community completed the PODcaching, PODzazzing, and their project embodied the essence ReWilding philosophy.

Elmhurst Beach

Pine Beach

Young’s Harbour

YOUNG’SHARBOUR

“COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS ARE ANESSENTIAL COMPONENTOF A SUCCESSFULPOD.”

ACTIONYoung's Harbour (also referred to as Beeg Park) is a multi-use park and boat launch located along Lake Drive at the foot of Walter Drive in South Keswick. In the summer it is a high traffic area where residents and visitors to Lake Simcoe launch boats and get access to the Lake. However, the boat launch area is simply a muddy ramp into the water, and the picnic tables are in disrepair. There have been efforts made in the past to revitalize the shoreline along the park; however, the boat launch area, picnic tables, and beach area have yet to receive attention.

All this made Young’s Harbour an excellent candidate for PODcaching, which was conducted during the ReWilding launch. Once the new ideas for Young’s Harbour had been translated into a new design concept, the ReWilding team went to the Council of the Town of Georgina that owned the land. The Council was enthusiastic about the ReWilding potential and referred the project to staff. Unfortunately the Town staff were not able to find the necessary resources nor move at the speed needed. There are possibilities here for the future, but there was also a valuable lesson. It isn’t enough to have an enthusiastic reception. There needed to be a community leader―a champion―or two, willing to roll up their sleeves and make projects happen.

The project at Our Lady of the Lake Collegiate also highlighted this lesson. The school also had a bureaucracy and policies to navigate, but because they had an insider who was willing to lead the project to a happy conclusion. It worked. Community Champions are an essential component of a successful POD.

YOUNG’S HARBOUR

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ELMHURSTBEACH

The Elmhurst Beach Association, who had received LSCUF support to repair their shoreline in order to help Lake Simcoe, invited ReWilding to look at Elm and Bayview Beaches. During the PODcaching, many problems were identified. These beaches have gorgeous views, but the role these shoreline properties played in the lives of the community members had diminished significantly over the years. The playground equipment was in disrepair. There was limited access to the water for boats or swimming. It all needed cleaning up, re-planting and more sitting areas.

Weeds on the land and in the water, a proliferation of geese, lack of native vegetation and habitat meant nature was suffering too.

Elmhurst and Bayview Beaches had a champion―a very keen group of citizens―but ReWilding was brought in after the shoreline commitments had been made. The PODcaching identified new opportunities for land use. Ideas were floated that could make these parks a major showcase. Delays began to chip away at the community plan. The desire to get approvals and complete the shoreline restoration on time, within budget, overtook the ambitious community design for the shoreline.

ACTION“PODCACHING IDENTIFIED NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAND USE.”

Overall design concepts, or Master Plans were developed for both Elm and Bayview Beaches. These designs emphasized the importance of having deliberate spaces for activities that can draw community members to the Lake.

ReWilding provided some innovative products for Bayview Beach, including a community garden based on the Square Foot Gardening approach which is the practice of planning small but intensively planted gardens. This garden is elevated so that adults can garden without excessive strain. The design is also conducive to children and keeps out animals. The community garden will be watered by an innovative and decorative rain catcher that reduces water runoff into the lake. A fire pit does double duty -- it burns cattails and provides a focal point for community activities.

ReWilding gleaned a valuable lesson from the Elmhurst Beach project. Providing access to the water is likely one of the most critical aspects of re-establishing a relationship between people and Lake Simcoe. People of all ages need to be able to touch the water, get into the water easily, and feel the water. This is extremely difficult with large boulders and plants all along the shoreline, the current ‘best practice’ for naturalizing shorelines. Soft launch areas for canoes and kayaks, as well as cleverly designed beach areas that don’t jeopardize aquatic habitat are also needed. This is an area where true collaborative innovation is needed between the environmental authorities and community designers.

“PEOPLE OF ALL AGES NEED TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH THE WATER.”

ACTION

ELMHURST BEACH

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RAIN CATCHERDESIGN

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PINE BEACH

It can feel overwhelming for a Beach Association to look over their property knowing that it is in desperate need, but revitalizing it is way beyond their means. Pine Beach has had fundraising events to pay for maintenance, but could not cover cover major renovation work. Delays at Elmhurst Beach allowed Rewilding to give more support to Pine Beach so it could also become a showcase for what Rewilding could achieve.

This reallocation funded the design of an overall concept for Pine Beach, the surveying of the property as well as the removal of the Pine Beach break wall. Also, because ReWilding was part of this initiative at the very beginning, a true collaboration on the shoreline restoration was possible with the community, designer and environmental authorities, along with the hiring of professionals who were supportive of new alternatives.

Having the opportunity to envision a new future for their beach area was a vital first step for the people of Pine Beach. Knowing that there was some money to start work was just the impetus they needed to move forward. The investment provided a master plan that will guide progressive work over the years. Having a comprehensive design concept in this project provides an opportunity for community members to truly explore how they wish to use the land and water, as well as a roadmap for ongoing work.

ACTION“A TRUE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION”

In addition the ReWilding Project has paid for the removal of 300 feet of a cement breakwall, and replacement with a naturalized shoreline. Accommodation has been made for future access points to the water such as a soft launch and structured beach.

The Project had other benefits. It strengthened the bonds between the key players of the Pine Beach Association. ReWilding helped to reawaken the emotional connection to the land, water and each other. A barge is being built that will help with the removal of the remaining breakwater this summer by the community members. Plans are afoot for a grand Re-Opening of the Beach that will honour the heritage and roots of the area while showcasing new possibilities for the future.

ACTION“STRENGTHENED BONDS BETWEEN THE KEY PLAYERS OF THE PINE BEACH ASSOCIATION”

PINE BEACH

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PINE BEACH

LOOKING

BACK OUR LESSONS LEARNED

People care less about places if they can’t connect with them...The ReWilding challenge was to help people re-imagine spaces so they served people and nature by connecting the two. For instance, the need to naturalize parks and redo shorelines has long been recognized, but if revitalized parks don’t engage people that use them, any good that is achieved by naturalization is not likely to be maintained. At the core however is the emotional connection to the land, water and other community members that is vital for the immediate work and the project’s sustainability.

When you stop caring about the land, you stop caring about the lake...Re-imagining spaces is more difficult than anticipated because we have been conditioned in how we see these spaces. Seeing things through the eyes of a hummingbird, which can see overview; a fox, who can explore ideas from the edges; and a bear that has soul and loves science does help. The animal lenses help people overcome conventional ideas about naturalization and apathy about places that just look depressing and boring.

Even if community can look at a space and dream, translating to real is a vital next step...Discovering the need for having a professional designer to be involved right from the beginning of imagining how a place can be transformed for nature and people was a key lesson learned. Designers know what is physically possible, what is allowed by governing authorities, and so from people’s dreams can create a design that is a master plan for the future. The designer must be in at the opening gate and intricately involved throughout given the pivotal role they play in a ReWilding project. These professionals make sure the community members have the right tools such as surveys. In addition to the design concept drawings, designers are also able to prepare proper working drawings for submissions for example, initial topographic survey. grading plans, planting plans, cross sections. This speeds up the process as it is easier to have everyone on the same page this way.

Making a project happen isn’t always easy, not always successful, but a key to success is collaboration at many levels...From PODcaching to implementation, projects require the collaboration of the community, a designer and the environmental authorities. We found where the three sides of the challenge are actively involved from the beginning, exciting innovation was possible.

There must be a community champion...This can be either someone who is found or has presented his or herself to be leader of the pack. It helps if this person―or it could be a team―understands local politics, is connected to decision-makers and can bring other community members to the project who can help realize the community’s plans.

The chosen area needs to be representative...Of all locations that might fit the bill for Rewilding, the best ones are areas that are visible so as to spur replication in other public areas and or visible private properties (like lake-front back yards).

MOVING

FORWARD

The Tree Lounge prototype at Splash!

L to R: Jacob Trudeau, Ray Francis-Burroughes, HIlary Van Welter, Nick Tache, David Rowe, Janice Chu (United Way), and Krista Lachapelle, Nikki Terrelonge (in window)

Pine Beach Open House

L to R: Dana Eldon, Rob Grossi, Peter Van Loan

Elmhurst Beach ReOpening

 L to R Paul Harris, Keith Baker, Edie Skinner, Annabel Slaight, Patti Dawson, Peter Van Loan

ReWilding with its unique PODcaching are innovative ways to get public spaces redesigned and funded. By promoting collaborative partnerships between community, designers and government authorities, people and nature can be served for the benefit of the lake. The feeling of helplessness, that community members experience when looking at distressed parks and beaches, is replaced by a sense of purpose and hope for the future.

During these times of uncertainty and volatility, purpose and hope are valuable tools. Since the completion of the ReWilding Keswick Creeks Pilot, word has spread about the unique approach and the powerful benefits of this social innovation. The Elmhurst Beach Association and Pine Beach Landowners Association held Open Houses in the early summer to share their accomplishments. Minister Peter Van Loan and Mayor Rob Grossi attended, both commenting on the impact of creativity and community spirit, as fostered by ReWilding.

The Pine Beach Executive shared their accomplishments at the 2012 Splash! Festival and have become a sought after group, with requests coming from other beach associations as to how to tackle their own properties.

This has lead to the concept of creating a collaboration of beach associations to create a critical mass of positive change that reduces phosphorus while reconnecting people to each other, the land and water. People and Nature: in partnership for a healthy sustainable future, brought together by phosphorous. Who knew?

The pilot project of ReWilding Keswick Creeks has also inspired a new project entitled ReWilding Youth Entrepreneurs that aims to develop a new generation of entrepreneurs. Our first project, The Tree Lounge, aided by funding from the United Way of York Region, has created a great buzz. Prototyped at the 2012 Splash! Festival, this project revolutionizes the traditional tree house, and offers cool and funky designs ‘to chill above ground’. True to the ReWilding philosophy, this project partners people and nature to nurture young people who have challenged the educational, legal and family systems to inspire us while they build their skills.

ReWilding is also committed to helping to cultivate a new breed of professional who collaborates with their clients, and balances the needs of nature with the needs of the community. The two don’t need to be separate. In fact, the more we connect with nature, the more we realize that our prosperities are intertwined.

But we have only just begun. Hopefully this ibook has whet your appetite to learn more

www. .ca

EPILOGUE

Our Gratitude

We have many people to thank for getting us to this point in the life of ReWild!

Our Partners: Environment Canada- Lake Simcoe Clean up Fund, York Region, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, Ministry of Natural Resources

The Players: Our Lady of the Lake Catholic College School, Elmhurst Beach Association, Pine Beach Landowners Association 

Project CreditsThe ReWilding Keswick Creeks Team

Project Director & Co-creator# # Hilary Van Welter

Co-creator and Fairy Godmother# Annabel Slaight

Project Manager# # # # Lesley Trentadue

Project Developer# # # # Kevin Hall

School Co-ordinator# # # # Christina Alcorn

Web Master & Graphic Design# # Anthony Saad – nth-## # # # # # # # digital

Landscape Architect# # # # Mark Setter and ### # # # # # # # Associates

Financial Management# # # # Janis Macaskill

LSRCA Advisor# # # # # # Peter Burtch

ReWilding Street Team# ## Jessica Halder, Tyler ## # # # # # # # Young-Robinson, ## # # # # # # # Raymond Francis-## # # # # # # # Burroughs

Videographer# # # # # Christopher McEnroe

Ibook Designers: ## # # Department of Unusual ## # # # # # # Certainties

Our Lady of the Lake Collegiate

Theresa Abbott-Howland, and Erin Elliott and the Environmental Club

Elmhurst Beach Association (during ReWilding)

President: Patti Dawson

Vice President: Paul Harris

Treasurer: Edie Skinner

Member: Josef Kreppner

Pine Beach Landowners Association

Co Presidents: Annelise Redmond & Kevin Redmond

Vice President: Dana Eldon

Treasurer: Richard MacLachlan

Secretary: Amanda Crowell

Head of Maintenance: Ian Walker

REWILDINGKESWICKCREEKS