New committee for Lake Superior NMCA

By Michaela Campbell

What's new at the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA)?! We have some new staff to introduce and want to provide an update on the first meeting of a newly formed committee.

The team continues to grow as it works toward formal establishment! Five new employees have been hired in the last six months for a variety of positions including Visitor Experience Product Development Officer, Julie Rosenthal, two Interpretation Officers, Sarah Shruiff and Colin Crowell, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Michaela Campbell, and Site Manager, Sue Hamel, who reminds us every day that the Lake Superior NMCA is a hidden treasure right here in our region.

NMCA Staff during a boat trip on Lake Superior (left to right) Sylvio “Hoss” Pelletier, Cory Gaudet, Sadie Gross, Michaela Campbell, Sue Hamel, and Lisa Nyman © Parks Canada

After five years of hard work, dedicated time and energy, and commitment from the former Interim Management Advisory Board (IMAB), an Interim Management Plan (IMP) was recommended to Parks Canada, which the Minister recently approved in May 2016. The IMP provides strategic direction and is intended to guide the NMCA’s management during the first five years following establishment. One of the recommendations made by the former IMAB was that Parks Canada create and form an Interim Liaison Committee (ILC) for the Lake Superior NMCA.

We are pleased to share that this new committee was formed and the first meeting took place on June 29^th at The Chalet Lodge on Lake Helen Reserve in Nipigon. Norma Fawcett, Red Rock Indian Band Elder, played a significant role as she shared a beautiful and meaningful opening and closing prayer, along with a traditional smudge with Paul Cormier, Red Rock Indian Band representative. An impressive attendance was reached with 17 members present from 20 invited partner and stakeholder organizations. ILC members demonstrated the region’s outstanding passion and commitment towards protecting and conserving the Lake Superior NMCA in collaboration with Parks Canada for present and future generations.

Interim Liaison Committee members at their first meeting at Chalet Lodge © Parks Canada

The ILC serves as a forum for information exchange between partners and stakeholders and the Lake Superior NMCA team and will meet up to three times per year. The Lake Superior NMCA Site Manager will provide updates on current projects and receive input from the local communities and stakeholder organizations in the region related to the NMCA. Through this next phase towards establishing Lake Superior NMCA, Parks Canada is pleased to hear the shared excitement from so many members of this new committee.