From literature to land, a Canadian story of stewardship.

Jonathan Scott, chair of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, says Georgian Bay’s landscapes shaped his first year leading the authority and guided priorities on watershed-based planning, responsible growth, and operational efficiency.

Jonathan Scott, chair of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and a councillor in Bradford West Gwillimbury, reflects on how Georgian Bay’s landscape shapes local life and decisions. He writes that Canadian literature taught him to see nature as active and demanding of humility rather than merely a backdrop. Over the past year he says that sensibility framed the authority’s priorities and approach to conservation. The column emphasizes a practical, negotiated approach to planning and stewardship. Key points: - Jonathan Scott reports that the Georgian Bay region’s farms, rivers, wetlands and recreational areas strongly influence how people live and plan. - He describes conservation work as a negotiation with nature, drawing on Canadian writers to explain that perspective. - The article says the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority focused on responsible growth, clearer expectations for the building community, and improved permitting timelines. - It reports that the authority modernized operations, reduced expenses and delivered a restrained budget while maintaining public safety and environmental protection functions. - The column highlights the role of agriculture and tourism in the watershed economy and the importance of long-term soil, drainage and water quality. - The article advocates for provincial action on a limited-liability framework to address road salt costs and reduce salt pollution. Summary: The piece presents a year of sharpened priorities at the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, centered on balancing preservation with residential and economic growth while improving clarity and predictability for development. It reports operational changes that aimed to increase efficiency and maintain core safety and environmental roles. The column also calls for provincial measures on road salt liability as part of ongoing advocacy.