Our History

Erwin Meissner

Erwin was one of the people instrumental in eyeing the Milliken Mine tailings pond remediation site as a wonderful set-up as a wildlife sanctuary, convincing the mine and the city to use it as a focus on educating the many newly arrived residents from southern Ontario about local nature “snooping”.  

Erwin was likely best known by later members of PHFN as the intrepid leader of birding trips for the club around back roads and down private driveways in search of species along the north shore.  A long caravan of cars would snake along, Erwin and his wife Annie leading the way, throwing on the brakes in the fast lane of highway 17 when spotting an eagle on the Mississagi river.  Everyone else kept their eyes glued on his bumper!  Everyone would stop (safely) and spill out of the cars, bedecked with binoculars and spotting scopes.  Meanwhile, his species duly recorded, Erwin would speed off eagerly to the next promising spot while the rest of the line of drivers tried to figure out which way he had turned.

Birds were not Erwin’s only interest, although because of his copious notes he could tell you that the yellow-rump warbler would likely be first back in spring, and you probably had not seen the magnolia warbler because it was too soon.  His other notes included every discovery of an animal carcass he encountered along the highway.  These notes contributed eventually to the wildlife overpass and fencing along highway 69 as it was being rebuilt.

He covered miles almost every day, so we always were up to date on where things were happening – such as his other love, the blooming of the orchids.  Without his knowledge, and with the ever-changing climate, and high gas prices, we miss knowing where to snoop for each part of nature when it’s at its best.  Erwin would have known when!

Jim Johnston

          After retiring in Elliot Lake in 1996, Jim became immediately involved with environmental and conservation issues.  He served on the Board of Directors of Penokean Hills Field Naturalists for over 8 years, and as President of Friends of Mississagi (now Friends of Algoma East) for over 12 years.

         Jim was responsible for changing Elliot Lake’s approach to dealing with bears & making it a model for other communities in Ontario.  After voluminous correspondence with bear experts across North America – and attending 3 Black Bear Field Study courses at the Wildlife Research Center in Ely Minnesota – he teamed up with Dr Josef Hamr- a Wildlife Ecologist Professor at Cambrian College to develop the first Bear Smart Project in Ontario to deal with nuisance bears in Elliot Lake.

When the Province took over the program in 2004, renamed it Bear Wise and rolled it out across Ontario, Jim and Dr. Hamr partnered with the MNR, and obtained funding for extensive research which resulted in over $225,000 being granted to convert to bear proof waste management in public areas, better landfill practices as well as increased awareness & education components.

         He is well known for his many public presentations in our area – and in other Ontario cities – on Co-Existing with Bears and other wildlife.  Besides this, his commitment to Nature has been expressed in such projects as:  a Wild Rice Re-introduction program for migratory birds and other wildlife;  a Northern Saw-whet owl Nesting Box and Banding Project, which has placed nesting boxes from Sault Ste. Marie to St. Joseph’s Island and from Manitoulin to West Nipissing:  he initiated a Species at Risk Project with the University of Guelph and the MNR; galvanized a host of helpers to build and install myriads of Nest boxes for Wood Ducks and Bluebirds;  energized volunteers to clean up 80 kilometers of Highways 108 and 639;  was heavily involved in encouraging people to participate in the Herpetofauna Atlas.  And this list does not include all of the projects and activities which he has advanced!

         Jim has been presented two awards from Ontario Nature, along with the Sault Ste Marie District  Ministry of Natural Resources Volunteer of the Year Award in 2005 along with other formal recognitions.  Only a complete Biography could attempt to reveal the many contributions that Jim has made to our area, and our lives.       Due to his presentations on the 'True Nature of Black Bears', many people once too afraid to enjoy walking & being outdoors are again able to enjoy being out in nature again with a new sense of awareness.