Less than three months after being elected board chair of Kawartha Conservation, Pat Warren has been elected vice-chair of the board of Conservation Ontario — the organization that represents 36 conservation authorities across Ontario.
Warren is a longtime environmental advocate who also serves as councillor for Ward 2 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, which encompasses Bobcaygeon in the south to Kinmount in the north. She has previously served as both chair and vice-chair of Kawartha Conservation, including as vice-chair in 2023.
Warren also sits as the council representative on the Kawartha Lakes environmental advisory committee and is involved in various related initiatives, including the recent certification of Kawartha Lakes as a bird friendly city by Nature Canada and the city’s Bee A Hero and Environmental Hero Awards.
“This is an important time for both the conservation authorities and Conservation Ontario to have strong, committed voices advocating for our natural environments, and the important work conservation authorities do,” Warren said in a media release.
Ontario’s conservation authorities are local watershed management agencies, mandated to ensure the conservation, restoration, and responsible management of the province’s water, land and natural habitats through programs that balance human, environmental and economic needs.
Over the past five years, the Ontario government has been weakening the powers of conservation authorities, most recently with significant amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act that came into effect on April 1.
The amendments reduce the ability to protect water quality, reduce the distance between wetlands and development lands, and eliminate the need to acquire permits from conservation authorities for the construction of specific small structures.
“I am looking forward to working with the Conservation (Ontario) board on initiatives and policies that help to strengthen our environment, our communities, and make our environment sustainable,” Warren said.
As vice-chair of Conservation Ontario, Warren will work alongside five other board members to help guide the work of the organization, from policy and governance to strategic planning, advocacy and representation, and risk management.
According to Kawartha Conservation CAO Mark Majchrowski, Warren’s commitment to fostering sustainable communities and protecting natural resources “aligns seamlessly with the goals of Conservation Ontario.”
“Pat’s experience and passionate commitment to environmental conservation aligns with our commitment to sustainable development and community well-being and I’m confident her positive influence will be felt on the Conservation Ontario board of directors,” Majchrowski said.
“I am thrilled at the opportunity to not only represent Kawartha Conservation but to also support impactful environmental initiatives that bolster the well-being of people and communities across Ontario,” Warren added.
