KLT’s Roussel-Steffler Memorial Forest, situated within KLT’s Roussel-Steffler Memorial Sanctuary, is a place of peace and reflection in nature.
On September 27th, 2024, Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) held an opening ceremony for its newly established memorial forest — the Roussel-Steffler Memorial Forest, located in the heart of Douro-Dummer Township in Peterborough County.
The Roussel-Steffler Memorial Forest is situated within one of KLT’s recently protected nature reserves, the 102-acre Roussel-Steffler Memorial Sanctuary. The nature sanctuary, which protects forests and a section of a Provincially Significant Wetland, was generously donated to KLT in 2023 by the Roussel-Steffler family in honour of late husband and father Paul Roussel who loved and cared for the land for decades.
The reforestation of sections of the nature sanctuary through Memorial Forest plantings will continue the legacy of care for the land that Paul Roussel and his sons Dan and Mike started. Along the edges of the now protected forest is an embrace of trees the family planted during the 40 years they owned the property as they worked to reforest sections of their land.
The 2024 memorial forest plantings and future plantings of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers in the retired agricultural field will continue the Roussel-Stefflers’ long-time stewardship of the property and grow into one thriving ecosystem that supports biodiversity, provides vital wildlife habitat, and contributes toward natural climate solutions for the region.
Hayden Wilson, KLT’s Land Stewardship Manager, spoke at the event about community, the ecology of the site, and reforestation plans. “People exist in communities and forests are communities, as well,” Wilson shared. “From the growing community of understorey plants to the eventual towering canopy, we’re building toward a forever forest here.”
Other speakers at the opening ceremony included John Kintare, Executive Director; Oriona Rendon, Donor Relations Coordinator; and Mary Anne Caibaiosai, a Knowledge-Keeper originally from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, Manitoulin Island, who spoke about connecting to those who have passed through nature and the nature of grief. The Mayor of Douro-Dummer, Heather Watson, was also in attendance.
The Roussel-Steffler Memorial Forest sign was unveiled at the ceremony.
“Every year, Kawartha Land Trust is honoured to receive gifts to protect nature in memory of loved ones who have passed,” shared Kintare.
“When my father died unexpectedly in 2020 I learned first-hand how touching it can be to know that other people are memorializing the ones we love. I also learned how difficult it can be to come together to remember, especially when our loved ones are laid to rest far away. KLT’s Roussel-Steffler Memorial Forest provides this space.”
Giving a gift to protect nature in remembrance of a loved one is a special way to memorialize their impact on your life and leave a powerful and lasting legacy.
Community members can give to nature in memory of a loved one through KLT’s donation page or Canada Helps page. To have their loved one’s name included on the Roussel-Steffler Memorial Forest sign at the memorial forest — a place they can visit throughout the year to remember loved ones who have passed — individuals can make a gift of $100 or more through the donation form on KLT’s Giving In Memory page. Donations will support the reforestation of the site and other priority land protection and stewardship projects in the Kawarthas.
The memorial forest sign will be updated each year with the names of those recognized through in-memoriam donations. KLT will hold an annual ceremony at the Roussel-Steffler Memorial Forest each fall to honour and remember those recognized on the memorial forest sign.
“I am so grateful to the Roussel-Steffler family for making this possible through their generous donation of the land and I hope this property becomes a place of memory and celebration for our community,” shared Kintare.
Main photo: Dan Roussel, Marlene Roussel, and Mike Roussel after planting a ceremonial Burr Oak to mark the opening of KLT’s Roussel-Steffler Memorial Forest, which is located within KLT’s Roussel-Steffler Memorial Sanctuary, generously donated by the Roussel-Steffler Family to KLT in 2023. (Stephanie Lake for KLT)
Gallery photos (note: depending on screen size, order of photos may not match order of descriptions): Roussel-Steffler family and John Kintare planting a ceremonial Burr Oak to mark the opening of the Roussel-Steffler Memorial Forest (Stephanie Lake for KLT); Kawartha Land Trust staff, volunteers, and Douro-Dummer Township Mayor Heather Watson (far right) beside Roussel-Steffler Memorial Forest sign (Stephanie Lake for KLT); John Kintare, Executive Director, speaking at event (Stephanie Lake for KLT); Red Oak planted in memorial forest in Spring 2024 (KLT); Nannyberry shrub planted in the memorial forest in Spring 2024 (KLT); Hayden Wilson, Land Stewardship Manager (Stephanie Lake for KLT); Knowledge Keeper Mary Anne Caibaiosai speaking at the event (Stephanie Lake for KLT); Red Oak Tree at KLT’s Roussel-Steffler Memorial Sanctuary (KLT); Derek Macrae, guitarist at the event (Stephanie Lake for KLT); Oriona Rendon, Donor Relations Coordinator, and Mary Anne Caibaiosai (Stephanie Lake for KLT).
