24 | The Rights of Nature

The movement to designate lakes, river and other natural features legal “persons” with rights to self-preservation and legal redress is spreading through Indigenous communities in Canada. Will Ontario embrace the resolutions as a way of protecting its natural bounty? By Brian Banks

19 | Wellspring of Life

Simcoe County may be home to the world’s purest groundwater, but scientists worry that nearby gravel-pit expansions will leave its secrets untapped. By Ray Ford

30 | Trout in Trouble

A rare abundant population of brook trout in the West Credit River is under threat from a proposed wastewater treatment plant. Can a partnership between conservationists and anglers save this cold-water specialist? By Patricia Hluchy

38 | Last Word

When Tree Planting Harms More Than It Helps

By James Kamstra

34 | Our Member Groups 

Advocacy Efforts Pay Off with the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists

By Lisa Richardson

36 | Our Community  

A Life Well Lived – Carolyn Joyce Keen

By Kirsten Dahl with input from John, Paul, Scott and Doug Keen


ON Nature magazine is an award-winning quarterly that brings readers closer to nature by exploring Ontario’s natural species and spaces, and providing insight on pressing conservation issues.

The cost of an annual subscription is $50. If you are a senior citizen (65+) or a student, you can subscribe for a discounted rate of $40.

For just $9.95, you can purchase recent issues of our award-winning magazine. We have back issues available online dating to 1970!

For more information or to purchase a back issue, please contact Kamran Minai, at 416-444-8419 ext. 232 or kamranm@ontarionature.org.

Photos © Anne McArthur, Tobi Asmoucha, Fred Cattroll, Richard Gunion/Dreamstime, Pete Ryan, Ron Erwin, John Keen