Friends of Lemoine Point

The Friends of Lemoine Point is a local group of volunteers that helps to maintain and enhance the Lemoine Point Conservation Area, a magnificent forested waterfront conservation area located within the city of Kingston, Ontario.

We are a non-profit, charitable organization that actively undertakes various projects and programs to promote and protect Kingstonians' enjoyment of the natural environment at Lemoine Point.

Our specific goals:

• Undertake activities to protect and enhance the natural environment at Lemoine Point
• Promote public awareness and enjoyment of Lemoine Point's natural environment
• Advise and work with the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority and the City of Kingston's Lemoine Point Advisory Committee on the development and maintenance of Lemoine Point.

Projects and Programs

They include various aspects of maintaining and regenerating the natural environment as well as other ways of enhancing Lemoine Point. Current activities include:

Red Oak Reforestation Project
We are re-establishing a large grove of Red Oak trees, which were once abundant in Lemoine Point and are attractive to many forms of wildlife. With the help of our volunteers, we now have a good start on a Red Oak forest, and plan to continue planting 300-500 seedlings every year.

Heritage Forest Program
We have a special reforestation program funded entirely by public donations so dedicated, through which we are planting a number of groves of assorted species of native trees and shrubs in order to enhance the existing forest. Planting will continue as funding is available. Donations can be made in appreciation or support of Lemoine Point, to remember someone, or to celebrate a special event.

Native Plant Nursery
We developed and manage the half acre nursery at the north end of Lemoine Point to grow our own plant stock for our reforestation activities, using only seeds and cuttings collected from Lemoine Point’s own native trees and shrubs. Such local plant stock is more likely to lead to healthy and well-adapted plants, and is less expensive. The project has the support of various local environmentally-concerned organizations, is funded through fundraising and donations, and is conducted almost entirely through considerable volunteer labour.

Invasive Species Control
Several unwelcome and aggressive invasive species have become noticeably established at Lemoine Point and, as part of our efforts to encourage native plants, we try to control those species by volunteer work parties removing them as much as possible. Garlic Mustard is the tall white-flowered weed that displaces our native spring wildflowers, and Dog-strangling Vine (Swallowwort) is the milkweed-like vine that is threatening to cover native shrubs and plants. We are also trying to control European Buckthorn.

Trail Management
We constantly plan and work to improve and maintain Lemoine Point's trails so as to enable enjoyable walking as well as to encourage people to stay on the trails and thus protect habitat. It includes upgrading trails, providing signage, and closing unauthorized paths.

Accessibility
We improved accessibility to Lemoine Point through a project to enhance and resurface about half of the trails as well as to remodel washrooms and modify picnic tables to make them more friendly for wheelchair users and others with mobility issues. The project was funded largely through fundraising and public donations.

Policy and Planning
We represent the interests of those who use Lemoine Point and want to maintain its uniqueness, including advising the CRCA and the Lemoine Point Advisory Committee.

We conduct periodic surveys of visitors to Lemoine Point to determine interests and usage, helpful in such policy and planning matters. Our 2001 survey estimated about 208,000 visits per year (not including organized events) as well as about 67,000 dog visits. Traffic counters in 2007 and 2008 indicated about 320,000 entries per year.

Newsletter

Governance

Our Annual General Meeting is held every November and is a special opportunity for members as well as the public to have input into planning and to discuss issues affecting Lemoine Point. Only members have voting rights.

Click here to see our latest annual report including our financial statement.

Membership

As a member, you receive our newsletter every spring and fall, can participate in our various activities, and are entitled to vote at our Annual General Meeting.

Membership is $15.00 per year, renewable every November. To join, submit a completed Membership Form.

Donations

You can designate your support to go to a specific program or project, e.g. reforestation, the Heritage Forest, or accessibility improvement.

Contact

E-mail us: lemoine@cataraquiregion.on.ca
Phone and leave a message at (613) 546-4228 ext. 306
Write us at:
The Friends of Lemoine Point
c/o Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority
1641 Perth Road
P.O. Box 160
Glenburnie ON   K0H 1S0

EVENTS | CONSERVATION SERVICES | COMMUNITY RELATIONS | CONSERVATION LANDS | RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | FOUNDATION

Contact Us:
P.O. Box 160, Glenburnie, Ontario, Canada K0H 1S0
Telephone: (613) 546-4228
E-mail: crca@cataraquiregion.on.ca

©2010 Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority