Kenauk’s successful $20M campaign announced: a major step forward in climate impact research and nature conservation
News release by The Kenauk Institute (KI)
The Kenauk Institute (KI) and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) are delighted to announce the successful completion of their $20M fundraising campaign, which includes the following;
● $15 million allowing the KI to create a permanent open-air lab devoted to conservation, education and the study of the long-term impacts of climate change,
● $5 million to enable NCC to continue the stewardship of Kenauk, including 7,000 hectares now protected by NCC.
Over the last 10 years, our partnership has achieved remarkable progress in biodiversity research and education at Kenauk. Together, we've established a solid foundation, including the protection of one of the largest remaining forested areas in southern Quebec, home to over 125 rare species, including large predators like the eastern wolf.
The generosity of everyone who donated, large and small, ensures that Kenauk will forever be dedicated to conservation, the study of natural sciences and educating future generations. A special shout out must be directed to our anchor donors who made a key difference in achieving our goal. They include Age of Union, Inovia Capital, Intact Financial Corporation, and the Gloria Baylis Foundation.
With this campaign completed, the Kenauk Institute now has the foundation capacity to become the effective long-term custodian of the Kenauk territory. In addition, the Institute is fortunate to have also built an accomplished, independent board of directors and a governance structure to support its long-term mission of conservation, research and education with dedication and determination.
Looking ahead, the Institute’s plans for the next decade includes the construction of a research and education pavilion, creating actionable conservation knowledge through university-driven research partnerships - with a special focus on Climate Change -, and inspiring passion in tomorrow’s leaders through our immersive education programs focused on conservation. In parallel to its focus areas, the Institute will continue its close collaboration with NCC. Located between Montreal and Gatineau, Kenauk falls within the heart of one of the few remaining natural corridors of continental importance. This ecological corridor links Kenauk to the Plaisance and MontTremblant national parks, encompassing an area that fundamentally represents the survival of wildlife threatened by climate change.
The conservation work on the wildlife corridor is an example of the scale at which NCC is now working to deliver positive conservation outcomes. Through partnerships, NCC’s success demonstrates the whole-of-society approach that is essential to conserve these natural areas: our life support systems. Protecting nature at scale is a tangible solution to counter biodiversity loss and climate change to ensure a nature-positive future.
Quotes
“As the executive director of the Kenauk Institute, I am extremely grateful to everyone who contributed to our campaign. The construction of the Kenauk Institute pavilion will significantly increase our capacity to host educational programs, giving youth the opportunity to enjoy nature and connect with the environment through university-driven research partnerships. Being able to share Kenauk with these students and witness their blossoming passion and curiosity is truly inspiring.” – Liane Nowell, Executive Director of the Kenauk Institute
“Being able to preserve and study these 65,000 acres of wilderness is an incredible opportunity for conservation, research, and education.The vision is to monitor and study the property for climate change with a 100-year horizon. The possibility of making new discoveries by sharing this property with researchers and students is exciting. The knowledge generated by our work is critical to the continued preservation of biodiversity.” – Doug Harpur, President of the Board of Directors of the Kenauk Institute
“In addition to the $20M raised, the Kenauk owners have also donated 7,000 hectares of land to NCC for permanent conservation, including the Papineau Lake shoreline, as well as lands with unique biodiversity and conservation potential. Kenauk is a time machine - If you want to see what nature looked like hundreds of years ago in Quebec, just step into the Kenauk forest or swim in one of its lakes. And with this land donation, we can continue this legacy for generations to come.” – Patrick Pichette, Board Member of the Kenauk Institute
"The success of this campaign exemplifies what we can achieve together to protect biodiversity and secure the future of our ecosystems in the face of climate change. Over the next decade, we will strengthen the Plaisance-Tremblant corridor, with Kenauk at its heart, as a crucial wildlife linkage across North America. We will continue to work closely with governments, the Kenauk Institute, and all our partners to ensure that this vital connected corridor remains intact and thriving." — Claire Ducharme, Vice President at the Nature Conservancy of Canada for the Quebec region
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