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© BOPINION :WELL-LOVED TRAILS TELL OF me HENDREN The IFP - Halton Hills | Thursday, Febru; eel Close your eyes. Picture yourself beneath a tree, and breathe cee In vo yard, ina park or the boreal forest, ita doesn't matter where you're stand- ing in your mind's eye. Your tree is cleaning the air you just breathed in, and it might also be shel- tering a squirrel or boast- ing a choir of songbirds. That's the power of nature. olours stresses mount uj Over the last 24 months, the footsteps on trails in conservation areas and parks across Ontario have irked our rekindled con- nection with the natural ie ross the brovince, peonle are flocking to na- re to help soothe anxi- eties brought on or ampli- fied by the pandemic. Infact, results froma re- cent Ipsos Public Affairs poll for the Nature Conser- vancy of Canada (NCC) pointed out that 40 per cent of people in Ontario are spending more time in na- ture now than they were before the pandemic be- gan. One- third of all respon- dents said that being in na- ture helps them cope with These findings “under- score why protecting and caring for nature is so vi- tal. People are turning | to nature ind green, $ spaces for phys jelly dis- : tanced outdoor activities OUR RELIANCE ON NATURE our community, Canada, and the world, and Sorever altered the future. that support their physi- cal, mental and emotional health. We are embracing op- portunities to get fresh air, exercise, feel a sense of calm and take a break from increased telework and screen time. Of the 18 per cent of peo- ple in that poll who said they are spending less time , lack of access was a barrier for many who said they require transpor- tation or don't have natural spaces close to where they ive. Others said they sim- Rs don't have time. garden 15 wniltion hectares that NCC has helped protect across Canada — roughly double the size of New Brunswick — each leaf, bird and bug plays an im- portant role, not just in our own well-being, but also in the natural systems that support biodiversity and help lessen the impacts of climate change. It's why we're taking sig- nificant steps to help pro- tect 30 per cent of Canada's land by 2030, because when. nature thrives, we all So, ” wherever you are, take a deep breath in and experience the power of na- ture surrounding you. Mike Hendren is the regional vice-president for the Nature Conservancy of Canada in Ontario. TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT THEIFPCA ADVISORY COUNCILS INSPIRE THEMED EDITION It's about trust. Our rela- tionship with our readers is built on transparency, hon- esty and integrity. As such, ve launched a trust initiative to tell you who we are and how and why we do what we do. This column is part of that project. When we set out to hear from leaders in our com- munity and invited them to join our advisory council, we knew we'd be engaging in many meaningful con- versations. These discussions have yet to disappoint. In fact, they've proven to bea source of greati inspira- tion for many editorial ini- tiatives, including today's themed _ edition: Our Changed World. It's thanks, in part, to members of Torstar and Metroland's advisory councils that we set out to explore the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our everyday lives. We heard through many discussions how the demic had forced munich CATHERINE O'HARA Column palities, groups, business- es, not- for- profit organiza- to adapt to a new way of life. And this got us thinking: are these changes perma- nent? Sustainable? Innova- tive’ Sur Changed World is a robing examination of the impact of the pandemic on our lives. While our jour- nalists dig deep to explore the impact on the local community, some of Cana- da's leading thinkers help us understand how the pandemic changed em- Ployment and work, health rmment, our elationship with the natural world, housing, community, education, im- migration, our children — nighout this special ction, youll also hear local sidents cant impact on their day- to-day life, while others re- port having to shift and piv- ot to adapt to what they now e consider to be the new They have reconsid- cred “how they operate their business, re-evaluat- ed their relationship with nature, and reconsidered how they access health zs, all, & we hope that this will enlight- en, er aicnt and inspire you. Catherine O'Hara is deputy director of content for Metroland. We welcome your ques- tions and value your com- ments. Email our trust committee at trust@met- roland.com. ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member ‘to bring their concems to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2, Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca __ focna newsroonvathel IndependentAndFreePress. @IFP_11 WHO WE ARE VP, Regional Publisher Kelly Montague Regional General Manager Jason Pehora Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Deputy Director of Content Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Director of Distribution Charlene Hall Circulation Manager Kim Mossman Director Cindi Campbell and Graeme Macintosh CONTACT US Burlington, ON L7R 3N8 Phone: 905-873-0301 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-873-0398 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. 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