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News from the Ignatius Old-Growth Forest
We received a grant from the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund through the Ontario Ministry of the Environment & Climate Change (MOECC).
This ecological restoration project, located on 100 acres of Ignatius Jesuit Centre land, aims to foster the conditions needed for the development of old-growth forest. The land will form a band of protected natural space along the Speed River, serving as an ecological corridor from the woodlots, wetlands and organic agriculture of Ignatius to the Guelph Lake Conservation Area. This green belt will benefit the health of the Speed River, the Grand River watershed and ultimately Lake Erie, increasing biodiversity and providing habitats for fish and wildlife.
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Grade 3 students from St. John Brebeuf Catholic School in Erin and expert tree planters from the Wellington Catholic District School Board's high school TERRA program based at Ignatius Jesuit Centre. |
We are very grateful to be awarded this grant to assist with this year's project goals:
- Engaging 700 students/volunteers in 18 events where 1,500 native trees and shrubs will be planted and invasive species such as the Common Buckthorn and Phragmites will be removed
- Securing new restoration tools for volunteers
- Hiring a short-term restoration assistant (welcome Paul Fantauzzi)
- Reconstructing two pedestrian bridges for better and safer access to the trails
- Installing new educational signage
With the help of over 300 local students we have planted 1000 trees this spring!
Please continue to keep the Sacred Ground campaign in your thoughts & prayers. Make a donation.
For more information, please contact the Campaign Assistant 519 824 1250 ext 257 or
send an email.
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UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS
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IGNATIUS FARM - New and Well-loved Opportunities for 2016!
Register now for
Community Garden Plots
and 
Community Shared Agriculture vegetable shares
through our
online store
or with the 2016
registration form
. If you haven't had a CSA share before or in a while, try an Early Summer Share for just 5 weeks to get a taste of goodness!
Last window to sign up for a 2016 Community Garden plot! Register by May 16 to have your plot ready for the May 21 Spring Field Day and orientation.
Be a neighbourhood farm host!
Your workplace, home, school, or gathering place could be a new CSA pick-up location for fresh-picked organic vegetables from the wonderful Ignatius soils. For 15 shares, a 16th share is donated to the host for their use or distribution within the community.
Contact Heather to find out how you and your community can have a closer connection with Ignatius Farm.
Be a farm working share partner!
Curious about Ignatius Farm activities? Review the
farm brochure ,
get in touch and/or come visit...
be part of your organic neighbourhood farm this spring!
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LAND BLESSING 2016 - Sunday, May 29 @ 10 am
 Be sure to join us for our annual Land Blessing event.
We will gather at St. Brigid's Villa, participate in the liturgy of the Word, go for a wagon tour and bless the land, have Eucharist and then a potluck lunch.
Bring your water bottle, coffee mug, plate & utensils along with your potluck dish.
We hope to see you there!
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 In the IGNATIUS OLD-GROWTH FOREST...
Early spring is the perfect time to plant trees which means a busy couple of months ahead. With lots of help from local schools and community members, we will be planting 1,500 native trees this year! We are excited to offer a number of hands-on events - Join us and learn about wildlife, ecology, and forest restoration.
See our 2016 Calendar of Events for more information.
Community Workday: Habitats for Birds & Other Critters 
Sunday May 15th 1-4pm
Interested in attracting more birds to your backyard and restoring natural areas? Join birding expert Richard Tofflemire as we restore an area of forest to return it to a rich habitat for wildlife.
To sign up for one of our community workdays or for further information about programs, volunteering or donating to the project please contact Martin Tamlyn, the Old-Growth Forest Coordinator by
email or call 519 824 1250 ext 224.
Spring Awakes!
Sunday May 29th 1-4:30pm
Ignatius Jesuit Centre - Orchard Park parking lot
SKSS (Shannon Kingsbury and Sue Smith) productions present this annual performance arts hike adventure through the forest with song, music, poetry, prayer and dance. All proceeds are donated to the Ignatius Old-Growth Forest. Potluck picnic to follow.
Advance tickets only - Adult $25, Children free (must be able to hike with a group) and are available at Janus Books. Royal Plaza, 10 Paisley St. Guelph (plus handling) and at Loyola House. Cash only, please.
Find out more about Spring Awakes here.
Spring is here...come for a hike!
It's been ten years since the launch of the Old-Growth Forest Project and last year two new trails were named: James (Jim) Profit Trail and The Creation Trail. IJC's Development Assistant, Vanessa Hyland, volunteers as a hike leader with the Guelph Hiking Trail Club. She is leading several hikes. Each hike is a moderate speed walk on a cleared trail through mixed forests of white pine, hemlock, cherry, ash and maple and cedar groves. You'll also have an opportunity to learn about the restoration plans and workshops to be offered this year.
Next hikes: Wed. May 18, 6:30pm; Creation Trail; 1 hr; 2.5 km
Wed. June 8, 6:30pm; James Profit, SJ Trail; 1.5 hrs; 6 km
Meeting place:
Community mail boxes on Cross Creek Blvd., Guelph/Eramosa, located between house #51 and house #55. For more information,
email Vanessa Hyland or call 519-803-6301.
A Taste of Italy 2016 
We had a full house on April 20...be sure to get your tickets for the upcoming dates of June 15 and September 28. A tasty gift! Tickets are $60 ea per dinner.
There are some tickets left for June 15 - be sure to book yours today!
You can purchase
by email or by calling 519 824 1250 ext 221.
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Thirty-five Poems
In celebration of his 80th birthday, Eric Jensen, SJ, has published a little book, Thirty-Five Poems. You may purchase this book for $10 by contacting him directly at Loyola House by email, or call 519 824 1250 ext. 227.
igNATION, A Jesuit Blog
The Spiritual Exercises...what an experience! - posted by Erik Oland, SJ
Every January I have the privilege to accompany Jesuit novices on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola. The Spiritual Exercises is one of the mainstays of modern Catholic spirituality and one of the key drivers behind the revival of individually directed retreats and one on one spiritual direction since the 1960s. Read it here.
From the Loyola House Kitchen
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 LOYOLA HOUSE RETREATS & PROGRAMS
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Upcoming Retreats - Each retreat date is linked to our website for more information
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