PLANES, PADDLES AND PORTAGES
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Dear Wabakimi paddlers!
We're asking for your donations! Friends of Wabakimi (FOW) is working with Wabakimi Provincial Park to protect and promote this resource as a world class canoeing destination for the benefit of future generations as well as the local economy. This is our first FOW fundraising effort. Your DONATION NOW will help improve the Wabakimi Wilderness paddling experience. Vern Fish, President, FOW Our goal is to raise $7,300 CAD ($5,485 U.S.) to help Wabakimi Provincial Park remove legacy debris and trash from four lakes.
So far we've raised: $4,641 CAD/$3,630 U.S. Only a small part of Ontario Park’s budget comes from provincial taxes. Most of the funds to maintain, manage and protect Wabakimi Provincial Park come from day-use and camping fees, rentals, partnerships and donations. In 2021, the funds raised will be used to charter a Twin Otter bush plane with the cargo space required to fly large debris out from 4 lakes (Surprise Lake, Cache Lake, Burntrock Lake and Grayson Lake – see maps here). Wabakimi Canoe Rangers would prep the items for removal in advance and focus several days of effort towards debris removal. The goal is to restore the natural settings at these sites and improve the wilderness experience for future visitors passing through these areas A similar effort was undertaken as a pilot project in 2020. (see WPP Facebook page) One of the canoe rangers involved stated, "I’ve been paddling by this site on the Caribou River for 20 years and it feels great to finally have this broken canoe out of here!" Without help from the Friends of Wabakimi this debris on so many lakes may sit on the land for another 20 years. Your contribution will help Wabakimi Provincial Park do this work in 2021. |
Legacy Debris Project History
Park rangers maintain canoe routes in the park and have worked diligently to clear portages and are active in other duties related to inventory and monitoring in the park. (https://www.ontarioparks.com/parksblog/wabakimi-canoe-rangers/ ). Over the years these crews have documented the debris left on the landscape from a variety of sources in the park. Abandoned items such as damaged equipment or boats that have accumulated on portages and lakeside areas are unsightly and can have a negative impact on the environment or on visitor experience. However, since these crews are travelling by canoe, they have been limited to documenting these sites because removal was not an option at the time. The park has maintained a database which documents more than 100 items and 44 locations where items have been flagged for removal. 
Uncle Phil Cotton with his Wabakimi Project crew hauling out bags of trash.
This collaborative effort is the result of FOW’s two-year process of consultation with Superintendent Shannon Lawr and other park staff. ------------------------- 
With over 10,000 lakes, Wabakimi is one of the most expansive protected paddling destinations in all of North America!
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Our goal is to raise $7,300 CAD ($5,485 U.S.) for this 2021 project!
Yes, we have other FOW projects in mind too…but this is a start! Please Donate Now! Large or small it’s all needed and appreciated. Please contribute according to the following table:
Contributions may also be sent to: Friends of Wabakimi, 1060 Riverdale Road, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7J 1N2 or 3488 Kingswood Place Waterloo, Iowa 50701 All donors will receive a Canadian charitable donation tax receipt by contributing directly to:: Ontario Parks, 300 Water Street, 6th Floor South, Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 3C7 * To make a contribution by credit card over the phone call 705-313-2462, 9-4 EST weekdays.* *Specify FOW/Wabakimi Pr0vincial Park projects to be credited towards this FOW/WPP project. (Eligible Canadian donors receive a tax receipt for every donation over $25.) 
Next Steps: The Wabakimi Stewardship Initiative
Going forward the FOW (and hopefully others) will support stewardship activities to protect, restore and enhance the ecosystems within Wabakimi Provincial Park. This will help Wabakimi meet the following Ontario Parks objectives: 1. Protection of natural and cultural features 2. Provision of ecologically sustainable outdoor recreation 3. Natural and cultural heritage education 4. Fostering research |