Foundation Welcomes Balsom to Board of Directors

WELLAND (August 19, 2021) - Earlier this year, the Foundation established and approved a board recruitment process with the interest in appointing new members. 

“This new process encouraged us to actively seek new members for the board,” said Tom Insinna, NPCF Chair. “After thoughtful consideration of skill set and expertise, we are pleased to officially announce the appointment of Mr. Michael Balsom.”

 Member Balsom brings over 30 years of expertise as a Broadcaster for Cogeco YourTV and 30 years-experience as a secondary school teacher in Gananoque, Kingston, Brockville and St. Catharines. This news follows the exciting appointment of Wainfleet Councilor and NPCA Board Member, Donna Cridland, on April 8, 2021, with 30 years-experience in the private sector and strategic banking. 

“It's more important than ever that we work to protect our natural resources for future generations,” said Member Balsom. “I look forward to supporting the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority through my work with the Foundation to ensure we preserve and protect our natural spaces."

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About the NPCF: 

Founded in 1969, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF) is a registered charity, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are dedicated to raising funds that aid in the conservation of our natural environment for present & future generations.

When you donate to the Foundation (NPCF), you help support conservation projects and programs that contribute to improving our water quality, increasing green spaces, wetland and habitat restoration, and environmental research and education.

Questions related to the above release should be directed to:

Andrea Crosby-DiCenso
Executive Coordinator
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF)
250 Thorold Road West, 3rd Floor | Welland, ON L3C 3W2
Tel: 905-788-3135 | extension 435

Results from the 7th Annual Great Canadian Giving Challenge

From June 1 – 30, Canada Helps hosted their annual online Great Canadian Giving Challenge where every dollar donated to participating charities was an entry to win a prize donation of $20,000.00. 

The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation was one of 16,611 charities across the country that benefitted from this challenge which saw 233,027 donors who contributed over $26.2 million during the month of June. 

“We are pleased to announce $1,740.00 was raised during the challenge, towards the work of the NPCF,” said NPCF Chair, Tom Insinna. “Being so heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as many non-profits are, the support of the community is needed now more than ever and greatly appreciated.”

To donate to the NPCF, please visit niagaraconservationfoundation.com/donate.

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About the NPCF: 

Founded in 1969, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF) is a registered charity, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are dedicated to raising funds that aid in the conservation of our natural environment for present & future generations.

When you donate to the Foundation (NPCF), you help support conservation projects and programs that contribute to improving our water quality, increasing green spaces, wetland and habitat restoration, and environmental research and education.

Questions related to the above release should be directed to:

Andrea Crosby-DiCenso
Executive Coordinator 
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF)
250 Thorold Road West, 3rd Floor | Welland, ON L3C 3W2
Tel: 905-788-3135 | extension 435

NPCF Celebrates Speaker Series Success

The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation wrapped up its final session as part of the NPCF Speaker Series, a new fundraising initiative to 2021. 

The three-part series that included sessions with Mark Zelinski (April), and David Newland (May), was brought to a close June 30 with Yvonne Van Lankveld, raising an impressive $1,431.00 through the generous sponsorship of NPCF Chair, Tom Insinna, NPCF Vice-Chair, D. Gayle Wood, and participating attendees. 

“I’m thrilled this new initiative was such a success,” said Andrea Crosby-DiCenso, Executive Coordinator with the NPCF. “All three speakers gave exceptional presentations and we received a lot of positive feedback from attendees.”

Van Lankveld’s recent session featured a presentation and reading of her first novel, The Road to Alright, which attendees were encouraged to enjoy with a signed copy of the book and bottle of Ball’s Falls white wine from Calamus Winery, inclusions in the paid session.

“100% of every book I have written and sold is donated,” said Yvonne, author of A Road to Alright. “I think the NPCF is a really great organization, so, this is part of my journey to support a great cause.”

Proceeds from this initiative will support conservation projects within the Niagara Watershed.

NPCF Selects Recipients of 2021 Conservation Education Bursary

Through initial support of the Fort Erie Conservation Women’s Auxiliary, The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation is able to support an annual Conservation Education Bursary program. 

The bursary ranges from $250.00 to $1,000.00 annually, and is aimed at assisting secondary school students in their educational endeavours in a field relating to conservation, environment, forestry, natural resources, and/or fish & wildlife. 

“We are pleased to announce that a total of 15 outstanding individuals from the municipalities of Fort Erie, Hamilton, Haldimand, Pelham, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Thorold, and Welland, have been chosen as recipients of this year’s Conservation Education Bursary in the amount of $1,000.00,” said NPCF Chair, Tom Insinna. “The Committee and I were impressed by the recipients’ enthusiasm towards their studies, and sincerely look forward to congratulating these individuals in person.”

An official reception will be planned for the fall where recipients will receive their awards.

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About the NPCF: 

Founded in 1969, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF) is a registered charity, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are dedicated to raising funds that aid in the conservation of our natural environment for present & future generations.

When you donate to the Foundation (NPCF), you help support conservation projects and programs that contribute to improving our water quality, increasing green spaces, wetland and habitat restoration, and environmental research and education.

Questions related to the above release should be directed to:

Andrea Crosby-DiCenso
Executive Coordinator
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF)
250 Thorold Road West, 3rd Floor | Welland, ON L3C 3W2
Tel: 905-788-3135 | extension 435

NPCA Chair Johnson Donates Honorarium to Support Conservation in the Watershed

Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority Chair, Brenda Johnson, marks a fourth donation of her annual honorarium to support the work of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF), and Glanbrook Conservation Committee (GCC). “It is my sincere pleasure to donate this honorarium to the NPCF and GCC which are organizations that support the important work of the NPCA for the health of the Niagara Peninsula watershed.” says Chair Johnson. 

In 2020, the NPCF launched a ‘Directors Donation Challenge’, a motion tabled by Foundation Board member Dominic "Mickey" DiFruscio. Difruscio had envisioned every Conservation Authority and Foundation Board Member could participate in an initiative that would see donations supporting the conservation of greenspace and enhanced environmental educational programming. The initiative resulted in close to $8,000 in funding directly raised by both Board of Directors, NPCA Senior Staff, as well as the Authority’s Public Advisory Committee, with Chair Johnson taking the lead through an initial donation of her honorarium.

NPCF Chair Tom Insinna thanked Chair Johnson for her leadership demonstrated by donating her Conservation Authority honorarium to this new Foundation fundraising initiative. “The importance of protecting greenspace has never been more prominent in the minds of the watershed community than during the last year,” says Chair Insinna, “Through the support of our community and individuals like Chair Johnson, we can continue to protect our most important resource.”   

Chair Johnson noted that “It’s important to lead by example. As the representative of the City of Hamilton on the Conservation Authority Board, it was my request that part of my donation be focused on the Binbrook Conservation Area to support the ongoing efforts and hard work of the Glanbrook Conservation Committee." 

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About the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation: 

Founded in 1969, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF) is a registered charity, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are dedicated to raising funds that aid in the conservation of our natural environment for present & future generations.

When you donate to the Foundation (NPCF), you help support conservation projects and programs that contribute to improving our water quality, increasing green spaces, wetland and habitat restoration, and environmental research and education.

Questions related to the above release should be directed to:

Andrea Crosby-DiCenso
Executive Coordinator 
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF)
250 Thorold Road West, 3rd Floor | Welland, ON L3C 3W2
Tel: 905-788-3135 | extension 435

David Newland Joins as NPCF Speaker Series Guest

The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF) has launched their first Speaker Series. Taking place virtually on Zoom, guest speakers share their stories and their connection to nature. The Speaker Series, which kicked off in April with Mark Zelinski, will also feature David Newland on May 26, 2021. The Foundation hopes that the event will inspire participants to do more to conserve the watershed and the natural world.

David Newland is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, singer-songwriter, and radio host. The inspiration for his work comes from his own Arctic adventures, and the respect for indigenous culture and Canada's wild places. 

"David is an exceptional speaker,” says Andrea Crosby-DiCenso, Executive Coordinator with the NPCF. “He has a way of captivating audiences with stories and songs from his travels that when you close your eyes, you'd swear you're right there where it all happened. It's an absolute pleasure to watch him present."

The event is free to attend and will be held from 1 pm to 2:15 pm. Those interested can register here.

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About the NPCF: 

Founded in 1969, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF) is a registered charity, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are dedicated to raising funds that aid in the conservation of our natural environment for present & future generations.

When you donate to the Foundation (NPCF), you help support conservation projects and programs that contribute to improving our water quality, increasing green spaces, wetland and habitat restoration, and environmental research and education.

Questions related to the above release should be directed to:

Andrea Crosby-DiCenso
Executive Coordinator 
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF)
250 Thorold Road West, 3rd Floor | Welland, ON L3C 3W2
Tel: 905-788-3135 | extension 435

NPCF Announces 2021-2022 Chair and Vice-Chair

After a successful Annual Meeting on April 8, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation is pleased to announce the re-election of Tom Insinna as Chair and the newly elected Gayle Wood as Vice-Chair.

"I am honoured to be re-elected as the Foundation's Chair for 2021, stated Chair Tom Insinna.

Our accomplishments over the past year have been significant regarding our support for conservation areas and education.  I look forward to another productive year."

As the newly appointed Vice Chair, Gayle Wood advised that "the Foundation's work in supporting conservation is needed more now, than ever, as our community craves the opportunity to be outdoors with nature."

Both Insinna and Wood are pleased at the progress the NPCF has made so far in being a leader of providing resources to support conservation work and are looking forward to all the exciting endeavours 2021 will bring.

For a complete list of NPCF Board of Directors, click here.

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About the NPCF: 

Founded in 1969, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF) is a registered charity, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are dedicated to raising funds that aid in the conservation of our natural environment for present & future generations.

When you donate to the Foundation (NPCF), you help support conservation projects and programs that contribute to improving our water quality, increasing green spaces, wetland and habitat restoration, and environmental research and education.

Questions related to the above release should be directed to:

Andrea Crosby-DiCenso
Executive Coordinator 
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF)
250 Thorold Road West, 3rd Floor | Welland, ON L3C 3W2
Tel: 905-788-3135 | extension 435