SNC-sponsored student thrilled by Latornell experience

For Sara Dillabough of Chesterville, it was "an experience of a lifetime." Dillabough was sponsored by South Nation Conservation this year to attend last month's 18th annual A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium at Alliston, one of Ontario's premier environmental events. The sponsorship was worth $2,000 covering registration, accommodation and incidental costs.

PHOTO CREDIT - South Nation Conservation

Finch - December 11, 2011 - For Sara Dillabough of Chesterville, it was "an experience of a lifetime."

Dillabough was sponsored by South Nation Conservation this year to attend last month's 18th annual A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium at Alliston, one of Ontario's premier environmental events. The sponsorship was worth $2,000 covering registration, accommodation and incidental costs.

Dillabough attended with several SNC staff members, Planning Services and Geomatics Technician Tom Byvelds, and Hydrogeologist Tessa Di Iorio, both of whom presented to the prestigious gathering on groundwater management topics, and Water Resources Specialist Kat Watson.

The conference provides a forum for practitioners, policy makers, non-government organizations, academics and businesspeople to network and discuss challenges and opportunities in the province's conservation field.

"It's a great learning opportunity for young people with an interest in the environmental sector as a career," said SNC Water Quality Coordinator Ronda Boutz. "That's why the Clean Water Committee introduced this sponsorship which we hope to offer annually."

In a letter thanking the SNC Clean Water Committee for the opportunity, Dillabough said she appreciated the variety of experts in attendance at Latornell, "allowing for sessions showing many perspectives on the topics discussed." She also thanked Dundas Federation of Agriculture which gave her the opportunity to apply for the sponsorship.

Among highlights, Dillabough said speakers at presentations she attended shared personal experiences in launching pilot projects within their communities, providing those in the audience with a head start in initiating similar programs back home.

"This was an amazing experience. With the knowledge I gained at these sessions, I have a newfound respect for the effort being done within our communities and government to keep our water and land safe and sustainable for years to come."

Di Iorio focused her talk on SNC's Vars-Winchester and Crysler-Finch esker studies which included vulnerability analyses which helped develop defensible wellhead protection areas.

The sub-parallel eskers supply drinking water to eight communities.

Byvelds reviewed SNC's geoportal project which allows staff to access watershed data with a user friendly web interface.