MONT ECHO CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Who We Are

MECA is a nonprofit environmental conservation group started in 2004 by concerned citizens to protect & conserve the natural habitats and biodiversity on the Mont Echo, Singer Mountain ranges and surrounding land within the Sutton region. Concerned with the need to protect local watersheds and wildlife, local citizens in cooperation with the N.C.C. and the A.C.A. in 2004 formed MONT ECHO CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION.

History of MECA

Ruiter Valley Land Trust Board of Directors

The Mount Echo Conservation Association (MECA)

was born out of the efforts of the members of the Ruiter Valley Land Trust (RVLT) to protect the vast territory of Echo and Singer Mountains in the aftermath of the 1998 ice storm. MECA really took off following the successful struggle of the Friends of the Watershed to fight against deforestation, the formation of the Corridor Appalachian (ACA) and the acquisition by Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) of the property that now shelters the Green Mountains Nature Reserve.

Purchase of the Domtar properties by NCC

2004 – 2005

2004: NCC purchased a 10,000 acre property on Singer Mountain and Mont Echo from Domtar! A large media event was held at Auberge West Brome, followed by the NCC Victory Party held at Turkey Hill Farm (photo).

NCC asked Louise Gratton and Jean Gaudet, Victor and Elizabeth Allistone, Brian Herman and Charlie Weldon to create the Mont Echo Conservation Association, MECA. We were incorporated in 2004. Our Logo was designed by Liz Davidson and Louise Gratton

NCC Victory Party

2005: Nature Conservancy of Canada purchased 9.8 acres of land at the base of Mont Echo, including almost one kilometer of Chemin de la Falaise, and then donated the properties to MECA as our first dominant lands.

The same year, MECA signed a wilderness conservation servitude agreement with the Nature Conservancy of Canada on 1880 acres of their property on Mont Echo in Sutton. The RVLT signed an identical servitude on the Domtar territory on Singer Mountain in Potton Township.

MECA wardens: Ian Medland, Terri Monahan, Jim Ferrier

2014: MECA renewed its Federal Mandate.

“It gives me great pleasure to send you the official Certificate of Continuance of Mont Echo Conservation Association (MECA) dated October 1, 2014 and the Articles of Continuance attached to it.”

Thomas R.M. Davis
Senior Partner

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada S.E.N.C.R.L., s.r.l. / LLP

2014-2019: MECA agreed to transfer its ownership of our part of Chemin de la Falaise to the Town of Sutton in return for a complicated transfer of land at the end of Chemin de Loup and adjacent to the Green Mountains Nature Reserve. MECA now owns 14.5 acres at the end of Chemin de Loup, which should soon become the Mabel Kirby Boyce Nature Reserve.

2016: MECA began our Bluebird Trail project; initiated by Michael Price and sustained by Brome Bird Care and Turkey Hill. This is a vibrant ongoing project; now with more then 125 active bird habitats and more bluebirds every season (photo)

2020-2021: MECA was an integral part of the process of negotiating an agreement for the management of the Mont Echo trail network and access to the Mont Echo Gorge with NCC, the Town of Sutton, Appalachian Corridor and Sentiers de l’Estrie. MECA has had a strong influence on the content of the agreement because MECA is the signatory to the wilderness conservation servitude on the Green Mountains Nature reserve. This agreement is the result of our commitment to conservation over the demands of Recreo Tourism.

Jackson's Stream

2007 – 2021

2007: Victor and Elizabeth Allistone sold/ donated hundreds of acres of land to the Sutter Family and to the NCC, which was a truly bold and generous commitment to conservation & essential to the vision of MECA and the ACA. Thank you Terri Monahan, Louise Graton, Joelle Bonin and the Nature Conservancy of Canada, as well as Michael Price, Charlie Weldon, Michael and Brian Herman. Thank you Ian Sutter and the Sutter family. Thank you Victor and Elizabeth Allistone.

2007-2021: During this period, MECA received additional donations from the local community of 9 properties and 10 servitudes for a total of 575 acres. Most of the early donations were negotiated with the land owners by Terri Monahan. Each year all of our properties are inspected by our primary MECA Warden, Ian Medland, with the help of Jim Ferrier and other volunteers. (photo)

MECA would like to thank the following donors for their contributions of land and servitudes:

Victor and Elizabeth Allistone, Jocelyn Allard and Gaston Latourneau, Charles Weldon and Lydia Gagnon, Lynette Enevoldson and Catherine and Charles Gale, Louise Gratton and Jean Gaudet, 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, and the Padherwel families (Steve and Heather Padner, Brian, Donna, and Michael Herman, Charlie and Lydia Weldon).

Mike Herman & Helpers, Bluebird project

2022+

2022: MECA continues to work actively with its partners to protect the biodiversity of our region's natural environments through the goodwill of its members and the community. So much more to do. Open to suggestions! Please take an active role.