Oh Canada! We Stand on Guard

 Congratulations to the Peninsula Lake Association.  A few years ago, two very generous families, the Lamons and the McCanns, donated land to the Muskoka Heritage Trust to be preserved for the future.

Part of it is woodland. Part of it is open hayfield and meadow. Part of it is dedicated to the Pen Lake Association to be a games and gathering site.

On Sunday, the members of the Association were out in force on their parcel of land to dedicate a flag (and if you could tell Bill when the flag was first adopted, and when Flag Day is, you got a souvenir Canadian flag of your own.)  (Feb. 15, 1965)

A lovely Stewardship Plaque was also unveiled. Created by local artist Brenda Wainman-Goulet, the plaque recognizes the McCanns and Lamons, and celebrates the gift of land.

Featured on the plaque are butterflies, flowers -- and a bird. That bird is a bobolink.  This is a species that has recently made it onto the endangered list due to loss of habitat.  The naturalists who look after the Heritage Trust were excited to discover that, nesting on this beautiful meadow, there are several families of bobolinks. That's exciting news, and something for everyone to treasure.

As we should treasure all our environment, our lakes, forests, dark skies and wildlife.

So here is a cheer for the wonderful families who gave this land as a gift. Another for the Pen Lake Association who value the gift. One more for the Heritage Trust who administer the land, and yes, three loud ones for the bobolinks who live there. Long may their lovely song be heard over the waving grasses.

Oh, Canada, this country has so much beauty, so much diversity... but we must ALL stand on guard for that, all the time.