Leading Edge 2008

The Leading Edge 2008 Conference was a return to the roots of the series with a focus on the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve. The event brought together more than 100 delegates including representatives from Canada's Biosphere Reserves, municipal and provincial government, universities, community organizations and corporations. Leading Edge 2008 took place October 1 and 2 at Monora Park in Orangeville, Ontario.

The Leading Edge conference series, begun in 1994, fulfills a key component of the Niagara Escarpment's mandate as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The series provides a forum to explore the topics of community involvement, scientific research, environmental monitoring and demonstrations of sustainable development in the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve.  

This installment of the conference series included a range of dynamic presentations on sustainable tourism initiatives in biosphere reserves, biosphere eco cities, local adaptation to climate change and community consensus and involvement in environmental programs.

Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Donna Cansfield (above) welcomed Leading Edge delegates to Monora Park in the beautiful Headwaters region of Ontario's Niagara Escarpment.

Presentations

1.Detecting Land Cover Change in the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area with Satellite Remote Sensing
Holly Waite, University of Waterloo  

2. Legends and Folklore Tourism in Niagara
Kerri Mulder & Alison Powell, Brock University  

3. Monitoring and Reporting Ecosystem Health: A Report Card on the Health of the Humber River Watershed
Sonia Dhir, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority  

4. Manitoulin’s Emerging Escarpment Trail
Bob Barnett, Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy  

5. Digital Discovery and Electronic Explorations: Promoting Sustainable Tourism in the Niagara Greenbelt
David Brown & Renato Romanin

Economic Development and Biosphere Reserves

Don Ross, Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve

Christian Hart, Lac St. Pierre Biosphere Reserve

Eco Cities

Jim Birtch, Environment Canada

State of the Niagara Escarpment

The Niagara Escarpment Commission's Development Permit Tracking System
Daniel Ventresca, NEC

An evaluation of the effectiveness of  the Niagara Escarpment Plan in protecting Provincially Significant Life Science Areas of Natural & Scientific Interest (PS LS ANSIs)   
Anne Marie Laurence, NEC

Visual Assessment Guidelines for the Niagara Escarpment
Linda Laflamme, NEC

Forest Cover on the Niagara Escarpment
Lisa Grbinicek, NEC

Leading Edge 2008 Sponsors

Partners
Leading Edge 2008 was presented by the Niagara Escarpment Commission in association with the Ontario Heritage Trust, Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association.

Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors - Walker Industries  
Gold Sponsors - Dufferin Aggregates and Nelson Aggregate Co.  
Silver Sponsors - Lafarge North America and MHBC Planning  
Bronze Sponsors - County of Dufferin and the Town of Orangeville