About Latornell Conservation Symposium

The Latornell Conservation Symposium is co-hosted annually by Conservation Ontario and the University of Guelph.

MISSION STATEMENT
The Latornell Conservation Symposium is an annual event that provides a forum for practitioners, students, academics, government, and non-government organizations to discuss issues, challenges, and opportunities in the conservation movement in Ontario and learn about new tools, techniques, and strategies for natural resources management.

OBJECTIVES

  1. To engage knowledgeable and interesting speakers to provide insights into the trends, challenges and opportunities associated with natural resource management.
  2. To provide information about leading-edge tools, techniques, and strategies to improve our understanding and management of natural resources.
  3. To provide an educational forum encouraging networking, debate, and discussion.
  4. To foster, acknowledge, and celebrate achievements in the fields of natural resource management, conservation, and the environment.
  5. To provide sessions and activities that meet Arthur D. Latornell’s recognized objectives to promote grassroots conservation and provide mentoring and/or educational opportunities for conservation students.

Latornell Numbers at a Glance

317 delegates attended the 2023 Latornell Conservation Symposium.

 

2023 Attendance by Sector

  • Conservation Authorities 38%
  • Private/Consulting 29%
  • Students 13%
  • NGO 10%
  • Municipal 8%
  • Provincial 1%
  • Federal 1%

LATORNELL THEMES FROM 1994-PRESENT

2024

COLLABORATION:
The Future of Conservation is Collaborative

2023

Changing Climates:
Our Watershed Moment

2022

Re-imagining Conservation

2019

Currents of Change:
Inspiring, Creating, Transforming

2018

Lands to Great Lakes – Relationship Status: It’s Complicated

2017

Succession – the Nature of Change

2016

Green Infrastructure:
Collaborating with Nature

2015

Weathering Change

2014

Growth & Transformation

2013

Resilience: The Ability to Adapt to Change

2012

Prescription for a Healthy Environment

2011

Water: The Future of the Source

2010

Biodiversity:
Connecting People, Land and Water

2009

The Currency of Ecology

2008

Local Solutions for Global Challenges

2007

Your Watersheds, Our Great Lakes

2006

Creating a Climate for Change

2005

Healthy Waters, Healthy Communities

2004

Stewardship: From Strategies to Actions

2003

Source Protection: From Upstream to Downstream

2002

Conservation in Action – Crossing Boundaries & Connecting Communities

2001

Conservation, Water & Health – The Ripple Effect

2000

Growth & Conservation – Chaos or Compatibility

1999

Future of Conservation – Where Are We Going and How Are We Going to Get There

1998

Land, Water, Climate

1997

Conservation in Communities – Sustaining Culture and Economy

1996

Entrepreneurial Solutions

1995

Watershed Solutions

1994

Resource Management through Partnerships

AUDIENCE
The Latornell Conservation Symposium attracts a wide range of knowledgeable speakers and delegates from Conservation Authorities, federal and provincial governments, municipalities, universities, private businesses, and non-profits.

ARTHUR D. LATORNELL
The Latornell Conservation Symposium is held in memory of Arthur D. Latornell, one of Canada’s foremost conservationists. Mr. Latornell was dedicated to the grassroots conservation movement in southern Ontario and a very supportive mentor to students and Conservation Authorities. The Latornell Conservation Symposium is a beneficiary of the Latornell Endowment Fund, administered by the University of Guelph.

LATORNELL LOGO
Latornell LogoThe Latornell logo was designed to represent the significant aspects of Arthur D. Latornell’s life and legacy. The black portion of the logo is a silhouette of an ancient tree, representing the conservation of natural resources and Mr. Latornell’s long-standing interest in the natural world.

When viewed in the negative, however, the white areas formed by the trunk contain the profiles of two people, a young student and an older man, with their heads lowered as if studying something on the ground. This view of the logo represents Mr. Latornell’s belief in the importance of mentoring and teaching, which he practiced in his lifetime and continues through his bequest in the Latornell Programs.