Our story
Founded in 2004 through a citizen effort, MECA now protects 2,500 acres of forest and habitat in the Sutton Mountains.
The Ruiter Valley Land Trust board of directors
It all began after the 1998 ice storm
MECA grew out of the Ruiter Valley Land Trust’s efforts to protect the vast territory of Mont Echo and Singer Mountain. It took off thanks to the Friends of the Watershed group, the creation of Appalachian Corridor and the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s purchase of the property that is now home to the Green Mountains Nature Reserve.
Our logo features the stream salamander, a symbol of the biodiversity of our natural areas. Thank you to its creators, Liz Davidson and Louise Gratton.
Key dates
The birth of MECA
The Nature Conservancy of Canada acquires Mont Echo and Singer Mountain, more than 10,000 acres protected forever. NCC then asks Louise Gratton, Jean Gaudet, Elizabeth Allistone, Brian Herman and Charlie Weldon to found MECA.
A first protected site
NCC buys 9.8 acres at the foot of Mont Echo, including one kilometre of Chemin de la Falaise, and donates them to MECA. The same year, MECA signs a perpetual 1,880-acre easement with NCC on Mont Echo.
The generosity of local families
Victor and Elizabeth Allistone donate several hundred acres to the Sutter family and to NCC so they can be conserved forever. From 2007 to 2021, the community entrusts MECA with 9 properties and 10 easements totalling 575 acres, most of them negotiated by Terri Monahan.
A new nature reserve
MECA renews its incorporation. From 2014 to 2019, it transfers part of Chemin de la Falaise to the Town of Sutton in exchange for two sensitive natural areas, which will become the Mabel Kirby Boyce Nature Reserve.
125 nest boxes for the bluebird
More than 125 nest boxes are installed in the region’s meadows. Volunteers inspect and clean them every year, coordinated by Michael Herman and Anne Stairs.
The Mont Echo and Singer Mountain trails
MECA brings together the Town of Sutton, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Appalachian Corridor and Les Sentiers de l’Estrie around an agreement to maintain the trails and create the new gorge trail.
Thank you to our donors
Sixteen families have generously entrusted us with their properties.
See all our donors
- Victor and Elizabeth Allistone (3 donations)
- Jocelyn Allard and Gaston Latourneau
- Charles Weldon and Lydia Gagnon (3 donations)
- Lynette Enevoldson, Catherine and Charles Gale
- Louise Gratton and Jean Gaudet (2 donations)
- Christian Godin
- Arthur Faucher
- Jean Claude and Maureen Lefebvre
- Pierre and Michelle Tourigny
- Elfriede Valenta
- Kimberly Ann Lightbody
- Louise Penny and Michael Whitehead
- Barbara Shrier and Jean-Maurice de Ernsted
- Steve and Heather Padner
- Brian, Donna and Michael Herman
- Charlie and Lydia Weldon
Board of directors
For 20 years, MECA has been run by dedicated volunteers who work behind the scenes to protect the natural habitats of our region.
Our partners
Mount Echo Conservation Association
546 Turkey Hill Road
Brome, Quebec J0E 1K0
