Climate change is happening now with some of us already experiencing the impacts. We are all facing uncertainties as forests and ecosystems are changing due to climate change. In the face of these challenges, we have developed an instructional course focused on assessing and adapting the management of woodlots to projected climate change impacts.
We hope that through participation, landowners and forest practitioners will further develop their knowledge of potential impacts and adaptations to the unique challenges of climate change. By doing so we can work towards creating resiliency on the landscape and in society to face future uncertainties and disturbances.
The Ontario Woodlot Association and our partners at the Climate Risk Institute are proud to deliver this educational opportunity to OWA members and the public.
Course Information
Course Fees
Proof of attendance will be provided for professional development accreditation
An OWA membership is packed with value, please considering joining to have access to our many member benefits.
Student Membership - Free year with course registration Electronic Membership - $45.20 Single Membership - $56.50 Family Membership - $66.50
Student Membership - Free year with course registration
Electronic Membership - $45.20
Single Membership - $56.50
Family Membership - $66.50
All memberships are pro-rated and will be due for renewal on September 15, 2026.
For more information about Forest Climate Resilience: A Practical Course for Landowners and Practitioners please email us at: climate@ontariowoodlot.com.
Winter Workshop on Oaks, Bats and an OWA Woodlot Programs Update
Beat the winter blahs by enjoying your woodlot! Great news. The Lower Ottawa Valley Chapter has resurrected their Winter Workshop which has some excellent presentations for you.
Date: Feb 7, 2026
Location: Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road, North Gower (just off Malakoff Rd.)
Time: Coffee at 8:30 a.m. and presentations start at 9:00 a.m.
We have 3 presentations:
1. Did you know that some tree species hybridize? Some maples do and so do some oaks. Find out what oak species hybridize in Eastern Ontario and how to identify them.
2. The Ontario Woodlot Association has several projects that benefit woodlot owners. Come for an update on programs including:
3. Bats – for many they are creepy critters, but they are really very beneficial. Our most common bat, the little brown bat can eat their own weight in insects (or more) in a night, especially lactating females. They feast on flying insects like mosquitoes, moths, midges, mayflies, caddisflies, and beetles. Learn about what bat species we have and how you can help them by building bat houses.
Take a winter break and join us – it’s free. Bring a friend and spread the word. It’s open to everyone.
We will be gathering on Saturday February 07, 2026 to conduct our annual general meeting and present the Jack O’Hara Forestry Scholarship Award. Meeting will take place 1:00 p.m. at the Oro-Medonte Community Center (Guthrie Arena) located at Line 4 North and the southbound Hwy 11.
The agenda includes the mandatory financial report (very short and not boring), our year-end activity review (we did some fun things in 2025), an update of some very interesting Ontario Woodlot Association projects, an election of directors (again, not onerous) and… … the presentation of the Jack O’Hara Forestry Scholarship Award! As this goes to press the deadline is still open for applications (closes January 16). A subcommittee is reviewing the applications as they roll in, so stay tuned for the announcement of this year’s winner!
But wait, there’s more… Brett Dixon of Simcoe County Forestry will provide an overview and some insights to how the County has been dealing with the devastation of the March 2025 ice storm! If you think you had challenges with your 50-acre woodlot, try working your way through thousands of acres of damaged trees!
And… and… you will have a great opportunity to mix and mingle with other woodland owners and supporters! See you there!
Now in its 39th year, the Model Forest Winter Woodlot Conference (formerly the Kemptville Winter Woodlot Conference) is a long-running educational event of the Model Forest, originally organized by OMAFRA and the MNR.
The conference was taken over by the Model Forest in 1996 and later by the Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Chapter of the OWA, with invaluable support from local Stewardship Councils, Conservation Authorities and loyal sponsors over the years. The conference has evolved into an online webinar series on topics related to forestry, woodlot stewardship and wildlife.
Register to receive the Zoom link for each presentation you wish to attend. Links will be distributed in a reminder email 1-2 days prior to the presentation. Presentations may be subject to change.
Matthew will speak about the history of wild turkeys in Ontario, including their reintroduction, and where we stand today. The presentation will cover basic wild turkey biology and ecology, and how landowners can make their woodlots more turkey friendly.
Matthew is a Fish and Wildlife Biologist whose passion for conservation and science education drives his work with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. He is a former fishing guide, a life-long hunter and angler, and a freelance writer.
The Model Forest is a not-for-profit, charitable organization working with government, landowners, industry, First Nations, non-government organizations and others to develop new ways to sustain and manage our forest resources. The Model Forest provides a unique forum where forest owners, managers, and users can forge partnerships, share their knowledge, and combine their expertise and resources.
In this practical and forward-looking session, Ken Cox will explore how woodlot owners can reduce their wildfire risk through proactive planning, FireSmart Canada principles, and sensible on-the-ground management. With a focus on the wildland–urban interface, where many private woodlots and rural homes meet forested landscapes, Ken will outline the steps landowners can take to better prepare for and mitigate the threat of wildland fire. Ken will also provide a high-level introduction to prescribed fire: when it is appropriate, how it contributes to ecosystem health, and how to engage the qualified professionals required to plan and safely conduct a burn. This presentation aims to empower woodlot owners with practical knowledge, resources, and pathways to reduce risk while stewarding healthier, more resilient forests.
From buckthorn to dog-strangling vine and phragmites, we’ll explore a few different ways to turn invasive species into art supplies. Artist and maker Kate Hayday will share a few projects she’s made using the invasive species found in her forest as raw materials. Needlefelting, natural inks and dyes, automata, and sturdy basket handles, this talk is all about finding beauty in unexpected places.
Kate Hayday is a writer, artist, and technology consultant (www.makersdozen.ca) who works passionately in the spaces where art, science, and nature intersect. She is an enthusiastic guide and teacher, leading walks, talks and workshops that range from beginner robotics to understanding animal tracks. In 2018, Kate moved from the heart of downtown Toronto to a log cabin in a small 25-acre forest. In 2019, she began making her own art supplies from abundant and invasive plants. An avid naturalist, a walk with Kate through the woods can take a very long time, stopping to chat about every bird heard and each fungus found.
Retired biology professor and amateur luthier Doug Larson shares how he turns wood from invasive common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) into beautiful instruments. After harvesting large-diameter buckthorn cleared by the City of Guelph, he’s crafted ukuleles, guitars, and knife handles, demonstrating that a destructive plant can gain new value. Doug’s talk will blend research, relatable landowner experience, and creative reuse, inspiring woodworkers to transform a destructive species into something worth keeping.
Doug Larson retired from the University of Guelph 16 years ago after a 35-year teaching and research career. He is best known for the discovery of the ancient forests of the Niagara Escarpment. Four books and 130 research papers formed the core of the academic career. While not conducting research, Doug was heavily involved with woodworking, instrument building, songwriting, and recording.
Five albums with Kid Coma (see iTunes for Complete Metamorphosis) were recorded over 8 years, and the material in those records covered many environmental and political topics including homage to Aldo Leopold. Most recently Doug has recorded an album (Things that need to be said) with Steve Knox of the Kramdens.
Doug’s best known post-retirement project was the building of the Storyteller Guitar and the writing of a book of the same name (Dundurn, 2011). Seven other history-based guitar-building projects have been completed recently including three telling the story of the rediscovery the Dawn Redwood, one using wood from the 107-year history of Knight Lumber Inc. of Guelph, and six testing the incorporation into instrument building of the much-hated common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica).
In partnership with the OWA Kawartha Chapter and Fleming College, Frost Campus in Lindsay, Ontario
2026 OWA Conference and Tour Passing It On: Succession and Knowledge Transfer April 11 and 12, 2026
Woodlot owners invest significantly in their forests. Forest stewardship takes sweat, gumption, and money. Their hope is simple: healthy woods that endure long into the future.
There are many aspects to consider when planning for succession. This year’s conference will take a grounded look at that process in action. Sessions will explore ownership transitions, tax implications, and practical tools that help families and future stewards make decisions with confidence.
Knowledge transfer will guide the program throughout. We will look at how teachings move between generations and how memory lives in the land, shaped by Indigenous ways of knowing that broaden our understanding of responsibility and relationship.
Whether you have tended your woodlot for decades, recently stepped into ownership, or fall somewhere in between, there will be value here for you. We look forward to gathering together with you in April.
Learn more about the 2026 conference here.
All ticket prices are listed before tax and HST will be added at checkout. Registration is non-refundable.
Early bird registration closes on February 10th, 2026 at 11:59pm. Single day tickets will be sold if space remains available after February 27th, 2026.
Chainsaw Safety & Operation Workshops
Presented by the Quinte Chapter – Ontario Woodlot Association
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned operator, join us for expert-led training suitable for both men and women using gas or battery-powered saws.
Dates & Options
Location: Madoc, Ontario
Instructor: Marvin Kellar
Marvin has been working in the forest industry for over 30 years, currently as an instructor at Loyalist College, and has been teaching the course there for over 20 years. He is an approved trainer through the Ministry of Labour and provide certificates of completion to participants. Marvin has also provided training for Ontario Parks, OPG, OPP, Fire Departments, Snowmobile Clubs, Golf Clubs, Township Crews, and others.
️What You Will Learn
Day 1: Classroom & Bench Work
Day 2: Practical Felling (2-Day Course Only)
Participant Requirements
You must bring the following:
Investment
Course Type
OWA Member
Non-Member*
1-Day Course
$110.00
$189.00
2-Day Full Workshop
$230.00
$309.00
*Non-member price includes a 1-year OWA Membership ($79 value).
Optional: "The Cutting Edge" manual available for $27.00. Email quintewoodlotassociation@gmail.comto request and e-transfer payment.
How to Register
Deadline: March 20, 2026 (2-Day course limited to 12 participants!)
Questions? Text (preferred) or call Robert Wood at 306-630-6316.
If you are traveling a long distance, there is limited on site accommodation. Visit VRBO: https://www.vrbo.com/en-ca/cottage-rental/p978986vb . The Village of Madoc, in the Heart of Hastings, has a number of B&B’s available too.
Ontario Woodlot Association
10 Campus Dr., Unit 4
Kemptville, Ontario
K0G 1J0
Phone: 613-713-1525 Email: info@ontariowoodlot.com
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