Whitefish Nature Reserve
A New nature reserve in rideau lakes
Whitefish Nature Reserve is located at 172 Whitefish Lake Road in Rideau Lakes and is open between dawn and dusk, daily.
We are proud to honour the memory of Nick Brown, a man whose love for Whitefish Lake and the natural world will live on through a remarkable gift he and Jeanie Quirt Brown have made to our community: the creation of the new 209-acre Whitefish Nature Reserve in Rideau Lakes.
Conservation was always important to Nick, as he and Jeanie have been long-time volunteers and supporters of the land trust. When it came time to think about the future of their own property, Nick and Jeanie knew they wanted to protect it — its forests, wetlands, and meadows — from being divided or developed. The land trust provided a way to keep the property protected forever by facilitating a split-receipt eco gift. Nick and Jeanie donated 50% of the land's value, while the land trust was responsible for raising the remaining 50%.
Although Nick did not live long enough to see the final steps completed, he found peace in knowing that the Whitefish Nature Reserve would become a lasting part of his legacy. It was his wish that donations in his memory be made to the land trust to support this dream.
With help from the community, Whitefish Nature Reserve is now open and features a low-impact trail system and wildlife-viewing areas for everyone to enjoy.
Located at 172 Whitefish Lake Road near Jones Falls, the property features 171 acres of woodlands, 9 acres of wetlands, 11 acres of lakes and ponds, and 18 acres of meadow. These diverse habitats support an array of at-risk species, including the Eastern Wood-Pewee, Common Five-lined Skink, Gray Ratsnake, Blanding’s Turtle, American Eel, Barn Swallow, Midland Painted Turtle, Snapping Turtle, Eastern Musk Turtle, Butternut, Eastern Whip-poor-will, and the Yellow-banded Bumble Bee.
By preserving this special place, we not only protect vital habitats for at-risk species but also create an opportunity for the community to connect with the land that Nick loved. This is an important gift not just for today, but for generations to come!
This project was made possible by the Government of Canada through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program and by the Government of Ontario through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, administered by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance. A portion of this project was donated by Nick Brown and Jeanie Quirt Brown under the Government of Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program. Thank you to our generous community donors and project partners for helping preserve this special place for future generations.
