In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, The Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation has partnered with Indigenous residents of North Grenville to create an Indigenous commemorative site at the Ferguson Forest Centre Arboretum.

The vision for the site has been designed by Finian Paibomesai, a local artist.

The dedicated site is designed to recognize the culture, traditions and history of the area which is part of the Algonquin territory.  It is a welcoming and open space that will be used to celebrate Anishinaabe culture and as a site for cultural events.

The site is designed in the form of a medicine wheel which is symbolic of the four elements fire, earth, water and wind. The medicine wheel is also a symbol that contains many teachings about Mino-Bimaadiziwin, which means a way to live a good life.

The site will be used to share traditional Anishinaabe teachings with local residents and will be a gathering space for community to acknowledge important days for the Anishinabek people. It will be a site for gathering, meeting, learning and reflection.

The committee of the Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation working on this initiative is looking for community sponsors to help with the cost of developing the space.

For more information on this project or to learn how you can get involved, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To make a donation towards the development of this site, you can send an e-transfer to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or a cheque payable to the Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation, 275 County Rd. 44, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0, stating “Indigenous Space Donation” on both.

FOR RELEASE APRIL 12, 2024

Growing a Sustainable Future: Ferguson Forest Centre Proposes Land Sale to Ensure Long Term Viability

North Grenville, Ontario, April 12, 2024

The Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation (FFCC) will be presenting to the Municipality of North Grenville on April 16, 2024, a proposal requesting the sale of approximately 5.3 hectares (13.1 acres) of under-utilized land to fund a future sustainable capital investment plan. The land is located along the northern side of County Road 43 between St. Michael’s Catholic High School and Anniversary Way. Leased from the Municipality of North Grenville, the parcel of land is within the Kemptville urban service area and is of lower quality than other lands used by the Ferguson Tree Nursery and is not required for tree growing purposes. The land is not classified as prime agricultural land within the Canada Land Inventory and has required continuous supplementation to grow nursery stock of acceptable quality. 

The Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation operates as a social enterprise non-profit organization that owns and provides oversight to the Ferguson Tree Nursery. Profits from the Nursery are invested into sustaining the Nursery and maintaining and enhancing the recreational trails and amenities, as well as conservation of the green spaces.

“In recent years, the Ferguson Tree Nursery has diversified product offerings and has implemented improvements in how they operate with their current resources. The reality is that the Nursery is operating with equipment and infrastructure much of which was in place when the province operated the facility in the 1990s, and those assets are reaching end of life,” stated FFCC President, Carl Doucette. “The Nursery can no longer operate as a small farm, so a carefully planned sustainable capital investment strategy has been developed that will position the Nursery to grow and strengthen its competitive advantage and, in doing so, will ensure the long-term viability of the organization.”

The Ferguson Tree Nursery produces millions of native and naturalized non-invasive species annually. Under the Federally funded Two Billion Tree program, the Ferguson Tree Nursery has secured a contract to 2031 for the provision of bareroot seedlings. As well, the product diversification initiative towards potted stock of perennials and shrubs is proving very successful. This bodes well for a positive outlook for the future.  That future, however, depends upon securing funding for the capital investment program. “We have explored private sector partnerships and government grants and funding but were not able to identify feasible funding options through those avenues. As a non-profit organization with depreciated assets and without ownership of the land on which the Nursery operates, funding through traditional financial institutions is also not an option,” Doucette explained. “This proposal and capital investment strategy is necessary for the continued viability and long-term sustainability of both the Ferguson Tree Nursery and the recreational and conservation green space that has been under our stewardship for more than 20 years.” No public recreation spaces, trails or community groups would be impacted by the release of this land. Once in stronger financial position, the Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation can continue to enhance recreational and conservation activities.

The Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation presents their proposal as an opportunity to protect the long-term viability of the Nursery and the Centre, while giving the Municipality the opportunity to address social pressures of concern in the community through appropriate designation and future use of the land. This could include, in addition to commercial uses, affordable and accessible housing along a main thoroughfare with a future active transportation corridor, all located within the designated urban boundary with access to substantive existing and planned infrastructure.  

Lynne Tyler, Chair of the Friends of Ferguson Forest advised, “Given the reality of what the nursery operation is facing, we support the proposed solution.” She further noted “We would like to thank the staff and board members for their hard work and diligence in pursuing every possible avenue to avoid having to make this difficult decision. By pursuing this solution, the Ferguson Forest Centre will be able to maintain both the nursery operations and the forest that are so important to this community.”

KEY FACTS

• The Ferguson Forest Centre is located on 1100 acres of multi-use green space in the Municipality of North Grenville, on the doorstep of downtown Kemptville, a short drive south of Ottawa, Canada.
• Ferguson Forest Centre is governed by the not-for-profit Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation, which has operated a 300-acre forest tree nursery on leased municipal land since 2000.
• The Ferguson Forest Centre employs 18 full time and 5-7 part-time seasonal workers.
• This includes managing and maintaining the 740-acre Ferguson Forest and it’s 22 plus kilometres of public-use recreational trails through an agreement with the provincial government, and also manage and maintain a smaller recreational green space which houses an arboretum, an 18-hole disc golf course, dog park, toboggan hill, Giving Garden, Indigenous space (in progress), parklands, picnic shelter and water access.
• The Ferguson Tree Nursery has produced hundreds of millions of seedlings in its history.

For additional information including a detailed presentation and questions and answers, please visit https://www.fergusonforestcentre.ca/news

Carl Doucette, President, Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

613-302-9040

Attachments:

Media Release - Ferguson Forest Centre - Growing a Sustainable Future - 12 Apr 2024.pdf
1. FFCC Land Disposition Proposal Presentation Public Meeting - April 2024.pdf
2. FFCC Disposition of Land Proposal - Q&A June 2024.pdf
3. FFCC Disposition of Land Proposal - Summary Fact Sheet Public Meeting - April 2024.pdf

North Grenville, September 26, 2023 – The Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation proudly commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Municipality of North Grenville, in recognition of a partnership that has yielded notable achievements in forestry, conservation, and community recreation. This enduring collaboration has been instrumental in transforming the Ferguson Forest Centre into a thriving hub of environmental sustainability, outdoor recreation, and education.

Carl Doucette, President of the Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation's Board of Directors, reflects on this anniversary, stating, "In recognition of North Grenville's 25th Anniversary, I would like to recognize the foresight of the Council of the day, on its decision to lease the nursery lands to the newly formed Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation."

Today, the Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation operates a social enterprise tree nursery and manages recreational and conservation lands within the Municipality of North Grenville. The organization's mission is to oversee the tree nursery, utilizing its profits to promote awareness of, and interest in, forestry, particularly afforestation and sustainable forest management. Additionally, the Corporation strives to maintain, enhance, and advocate for the responsible use and stewardship of the recreation and conservation lands under its purview, all for the benefit of North Grenville's residents.

Doucette notes that, “Over the years the Nursery has produced tens of millions of trees and seedlings and now produce native species of perennials and shrubs as well as fruit trees. With profits from the nursery and in partnership with the municipality and local organizations the Corporation provides a host of amenities in the Forest Centre for residents of North Grenville, which include 22 kilometres of walking and hiking trails, a beautiful arboretum, dog park, toboggan hill, a disc golf course and groomed cross country ski trails. The excellent support and cooperation from the Municipality will ensure the Corporation will meet its mandate for the next 25 years and beyond".”

The enduring support and cooperation between the Municipality of North Grenville and the Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation are a testament to their shared commitment to environmental stewardship and community well-being. This partnership, which has thrived for more than two decades, is poised to continue its valuable work for the next generation of this community. “The late Don Cameron, Reeve in Oxford-on-Rideau and North Grenville’s first Mayor as an amalgamated municipality, had the vision and foresight to work on behalf of North Grenville to acquire and protect this forest, which has served our community so well for 25 years. Ferguson Forest will continue to be an integral part of North Grenville for generations to come,” emphasized Mayor Nancy Peckford.

About the Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation

The Ferguson Forest Centre was first known as the Kemptville Nursery when the first seedlings were planted on farmland purchased by the Department of Lands and Forests in 1945. The nursery retained this name until September of 1949, when it was changed to the G. Howard Ferguson Forest Station to honour a past Premier of the province whose origins were in Kemptville.

The Forest Station continued to be operated by the Government of Ontario first under the guidance of the Department of Lands and Forests then by the Ministry of Natural Resources after reorganization in the 1970’s until 1995. While under the control of the Government of Ontario the nursery produced greater than 310,000,000 seedlings for plantings in Southern Ontario. In 1995 it was determined that seedling production was no longer in the mandate of the government and over the next few years all Ontario provincial government nurseries were either closed, sold or leased. The G. Howard Ferguson Forest Station stopped operating in 1995 and lay uncared for except for volunteer workers until the Township of Oxford on Rideau purchased it in the fall of 1997.

Between 1995 and 1997 there was a concerted effort by volunteer, local organization, local townships and the Eastern Ontario Model Forest to save the Forest Station. Volunteers tried to control weed conditions in the fields and meetings were held with government officials to determine if the station could be reopened or purchased. The local township purchased the property in 1997, with the Municipality of North Grenville assuming ownership at amalgamation.

In the fall of 2000 it was determined that the Forest Station would be better suited to operate separate from the township as a not-for-profit corporation and the not-for-profit Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation was created and entered into a lease agreement to operate a nursery.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:

Shannon Nicholson
Chair, Public Relations and Communications Committee
Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation
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The Ferguson Forest Centre Veterans Way Memorial Park and Veterans Way lane are special sites of remembrance and reflection that were created to honour all those who served, and continue to serve, in the Canadian, British and United States of America Armed Forces. Along Veterans Way, you will notice bronze memorial tree plaques honouring and remembering individuals who have served. These trees provide a beautiful, peaceful living memorial framing this quiet lane.

Over the past few weeks, the FFC has begun a major project to remove and replace a large number of dead ash trees along Veterans Way. The ash borer insect that killed ash trees across the province, hit Veterans Way particularly hard as well. Many of them were memorial trees with veteran’s plaques. The trees have now been cut and removed. In the spring, their stumps will also be removed and replacement trees will be planted. Memorial plaques will either remain in place under the new trees, or be moved to other locations along Veterans Way. This work will allow us to preserve Veterans Way as a tranquil and fitting memorial of our veterans for many years to come.

For more information on veteran memorial trees and plaques, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

“From seed to seedling and then off to grow a new forest. The process of afforestation all starts at the Ferguson Tree Nursery in Kemptville.”

Kemptville Advance new coverage of a visit from Forest industry leaders, representing conservation authorities from across Ontario, to the Ferguson Forest Centre nursery on Wednesday, Oct. 12, to check out its stock. 
Read Details

As you walk through the arboretum at the Ferguson Forest Centre, you will notice a number of recently installed tree identification plaques. The arboretum, among other roles, is intended to serve as a place where trees, shrubs and herb like plants are cultivated and kept for the enjoyment of the general population as well as for educational and scientific study. The tree identification program was designed to enhance the Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation’s (FFCC’s) forest related educational role.  The program provides an opportunity for public donations to purchase approximately thirty (30) ground mounted plaques with the print reflecting the strategically located trees and shrubs name in Latin (genus and species), English, French and Algonquin as available, a few lines of relevant plant information and the donors name.   The FFCC is very happy to announce that this first phase of our tree plaque program has sold out, and we would like to thank all of our donors for their generosity!  We are in the midst of placing remaining plaques and expect to be completed very soon.

Canada's Forest Trust (CFT) is pleased to share the launch of their $250,000 Student Scholarship Program for students pursuing education in the environment.

Over the next five years, CFT will activate various scholarship opportunities to engage students. Funds will be available for programs, activities and educational pursuits related to the environment to promote students' continued engagement in climate action.

The 2022 activation invites students from across Canada aged 13-18 to submit a 30-second TikTok style video answering the question: Why a Forest and Not a Tree?

Through CFT’s School Smart Forest and $250,000 Student Scholarship programs, students will become more educated and engaged in promoting climate solutions that are impactful and sustainable.

For more information, questions or inquiries, please visit the CFT Scholarship Program webpage at https://www.canadasforesttrust.ca/scholarship-program or contact CFT’s Marketing and Communications Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Canada’s Forest Trust is a strategic partner of the Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation.