Members of the Renfrew Mason Lodge No. 122 cooked and served up the pancakes
Renfrew, ON – Members of the forest sector and the general public attended Forest Life Expo’s Pancake Breakfast in Renfrew on June 15th. The event was hosted by Forests Ontario under the It Takes a Forest initiative, a fact-based public awareness campaign, and attended by Forests Ontario’s CEO, Rob Keen, and the President of the International Maple Syrup Institute and Sugar Bush Owner, Ray Bonenberg. Members of the Renfrew Mason Lodge No. 122 assisted by preparing and serving pancakes.
Since 2016, It Takes a Forest has taken great pride in hosting Pancake Breakfasts for the Expo. In addition to the 20 litres of maple syrup provided by Ray’s Mapleside Sugar Bush, this year’s breakfast featured discussions on the Ottawa Valley’s long history of sustainable forest management led by Keen and the health benefits of maple syrup led by Ray Bonenberg. Attendees were encouraged to discuss and reflect on the importance of sustainable forest management and forest products – from maple syrup, to recreation, to lumber.
The Forest Life Expo ran from June 14th – 16th with an action-packed schedule of forest tours, tree plants, an artisan gallery, live music, and job fairs. “It Takes a Forest is honored to participate in the Forest Life Expo,” said Keen. “The Ottawa Valley is the birthplace of the It Takes a Forest initiative, so it’s always a pleasure to celebrate the region’s commitment to sustainable forest management with the community members who are directly responsible for ensuring the success of the local forest sector.”
The It Takes A Forest initiative is a collaborative of 40-plus like-minded organizations that promotes awareness of Ontario’s world-class forests and forest management practices and sustainable forest management practices. The initiative aims to reach Ontarians with fact-based information and spread the message that forests are central to our lives.
“As Ontarians, we have every reason to be proud of our province’s world-renowned forest management practices,” said Keen. “The Forest Life Expo and Pancake Breakfast provide excellent opportunities to showcase this pride.”
For more information on It Takes A Forest, visit www.ittakesaforest.ca or follow activities on Twitter and Facebook @ittakesaforest.