Anita Caveny prepared this note on the relationship between Nature London and Ontario Nature.
The Nature Network consists of all the member clubs in the Ontario Nature confederation, which used to be known as the Federation of Ontario Naturalists (FON). These clubs extend across Ontario and are listed in their respective Regions of the Nature Network. Nature London falls within the Carolinian West Region, which extends from Windsor and Sarnia eastwards to include clubs as far east as Ingersoll and Port Burwell, with Nature London among them. Regional club Directors report to Ontario Nature and are expected to be members of Ontario Nature as well as their own clubs, whereas Regional club Reps., such as I was until August 31, 2024, may choose whether or not to join Ontario Nature in addition to their own clubs. I was the Nature London Rep. at Regional meetings officially from August 2011 to August 2024, but am attending the next regional meeting this month because nobody has volunteered to take over my role as the Ontario Nature Rep. l also served as the Carolinian West Regional Director for Ontario Nature from June 2013 to June 2019, with meetings in-person in Toronto or by Zoom, and Board Retreat meetings over a weekend in fall each year at various venues some distance from Toronto.
Member clubs of Ontario Nature are asked to sign on to pertinent advocacy letters from Ontario Nature to the Provincial Government. For example, a letter to oppose the construction of Hwy 413 because of the harmful effects it will have on wild species and wild spaces in the Hwy 413 corridor.
I hope the above info helps clarify the close connection between the umbrella federation (Ontario Nature) and Nature London (a member club, of which there are about 150 across the province in the federation).
Anita
October 15, 2024