Province gives $75,000 to Brampton’s Heart Lake Turtle Troopers to protect vulnerable species

Brampton’s local turtle protectors will be able to help more vulnerable species and critters thanks to nearly $75,000 in funding from the Province.

The Province made the announcement earlier this month awarding a $74,605 grant to the Heart Lake Turtle Troopers – a citizen volunteer group working to safeguard Brampton’s local turtle population.

The funding comes from Ontario’s Species at Risk Stewardship program and will help the Turtle Troopers to provide a safer environment for native turtles at Loafers Lake

“The Heart Lake Turtle Troopers are thrilled about this project,” said Lori Leckie with the Brampton Turtle Troopers. “The Species at Risk Stewardship Program funding provided will help protect vulnerable species in our region.”

The project will help protect the habitat of Snapping Turtles who call the lake and surrounding area home with restorations and nesting beaches to enhance their habitat.

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Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks David Piccini was in Brampton to mark the funding announcement on March 1 alongside members of the Troopers, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, members of Brampton City Council and Brampton North MPP Graham McGregor.

McGregor applauded the work of the Heart Lake Turtle Troopers to rescue and protect Brampton’s turtle population.

“It has been my privilege to work closely with this committed volunteer-run organization where I have made some incredible friends,” McGregor said in a release.

The Province says the Species at Risk Stewardship Program has supported over 200 projects in Ontario since 2018 and contributed to the restoration of over 13,590 acres of habitat for species at risk, equal to the size of 31,160 hockey rinks. The province says 1,000 jobs have been created under the program and has engaged some 8,000 volunteers.