Gananoque forest added to protected areas network

A 35-acre forest gifted to the Town of Gananoque in memory of longtime conservation advocate Judith Scott McLean has received national recognition as part of Canada’s protected lands network.

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has confirmed the Judith Scott McLean Memorial Forest has been added to the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), officially recognizing the property as a protected and conserved area.

The designation means the forest now contributes to Ontario’s protected land base, which currently accounts for 11.2 per cent of the province.

The recognition marks another milestone for the property, which was donated to the Town of Gananoque by the McLean family in September 2023.

Located on the town’s east side, south of the commercial district, the managed forest borders the St. Lawrence River and has long been part of Gananoque’s trail system, offering residents and visitors access to a natural landscape that supports native plants and wildlife.

The property was donated in perpetuity to honour the memory of Judith Scott McLean, whose family said preserving the land’s natural character was one of her lifelong goals.

A plaque installed at the site tells the story of the property’s history, noting that Ivan and Marguerite Scott purchased the land as a working farm in 1950 before it was inherited by their daughter, Judy, in 1981.

“Judy’s goal was to preserve a habitat for native plants and animals,” the plaque reads.

In keeping with that vision, the McLean family donated the property to the Town of Gananoque so it could be protected and enjoyed by future generations.

“Our hope is that the residents of Gananoque and its visitors will respect and enjoy the natural beauty of this property as much as Judy did,” the plaque states. “Please, respectfully enjoy the trails, animals, plants and lovely view of the mighty St. Lawrence River from ‘Turtle Rock.'”

The forest, formally known as the Judith Scott McLean Memorial Forest and commonly referred to as Judith McLean Woods, is intended to remain a place where the public can experience nature while protecting the habitat that Judith McLean worked to preserve.

Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.