A New Nature Reserve in Rideau Lakes?

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 is 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.

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With help from the community, we plan to open Whitefish Nature Reserve in the spring of 2026. The reserve will feature a low-impact trail system for everyone to enjoy.

Located near Jones Falls, close to Rock Dunder Nature Reserve, the property features 69.22 Hectares of Forest/Woodland, 3.7 Hectares of Wetland, 4.5 Hectares of Lakes and Ponds, and 7.12 Hectares 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 a important gift not just for today, but for generations to come!