Oxford Stewardship Award winner: Middle Grand Chapter of Freshwater Conservation Canada
Local volunteers recognized for environmental leadership and restoring cold-water habitat along Horner’s Creek
Oxford County Warden Marcus Ryan presented the 2025 Oxford Stewardship Award to the Middle Grand Chapter of Freshwater Conservation Canada this morning, honoring their contributions to land improvement and sustainability.
The Middle Grand Chapter of Freshwater Conservation Canada, a passionate volunteer group, unites behind a vision to renew and protect the health and biodiversity of cold-water tributaries along the Middle Grand River. Over the past three years, the Middle Grand chapter has planted over 2,000 trees along a stretch of Horner’s Creek in Oxford County, between 8th and 10th Concession, just outside of Bright. The group pursues a simple goal: healthier water. Cool, flowing water equals healthy water. By planting trees, they create a buffer around the stream, reduce runoff and sediment, and, as the trees mature, provide shade that helps keep water temperatures down.
With support from the Oxford Clean Water Program, the group furthered these efforts by organizing a community planting event at a farm property along Horner’s Creek last spring, where 250 potted and bareroot trees were added. The chapter collaborated closely with the Grand River Conservation Authority, Enbridge, and local landowners, who provided access to their properties to assist with tree planting and the implementation of this project.
Three short-listed candidates were finalists for the award, chosen from a pool of projects supported by the Clean Water Program. The program, funded by Oxford County and administered by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority and the Grand River Conservation Authority, promotes water quality improvement and woodland and wetland conservation and enhancement. The finalists undertook various land improvements this year to protect the local environment.
Oxford County is honouring this year’s Oxford Stewardship Award recipient with a $500 gift certificate to purchase original artwork commissioned from an Oxford County artist of their choice OR an experience at a local destination featured through Tour Oxford. In addition to this prize, the Middle Grand Chapter has been added to the recognition wall at the Oxford County Administration Building, designed to honour all past and future recipients of the Oxford Stewardship Award.
The winner of the Oxford Stewardship Award is chosen by representatives of local stewardship organizations, with Marinda Gras, Soil & Crop Improvement Association, and Cher Sprague, Stewardship Oxford, leading the judging process. Find more information about the 2025 Oxford Land Stewardship Award candidates below.
Jim and Minnie Koteles
See project profile.
R.M. Matheson Farms
See project profile.
Middle Grand Chapter of Freshwater Canada
See project profile.