Our Turtle Conservation Program
The Friends of Stittsville Wetlands are rolling out a turtle conservation program for the Goulbourn Wetland Complex and its two tributaries, Poole Creek and Flowing Creek. The cold or cool waters of Poole Creek, running through the heart of Stittsville, are considered a crucial and rare habitat, sustaining a unique ecological system of significant environmental and recreational value to the community of Stittsville and Ottawa.
To gauge community support for this initiative, we hosted an “All About Turtles” Earth Day Forum on April 22, 2026, from 7 – 9:30 PM at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. The evening raised public awareness about turtles, conservation, and explored the key elements and benefits of rolling out a community science program for our community.
Our guests included David Seburn, Freshwater Turtle Specialist, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Janet Mason, Chair, Friends of Carp Hills, and Lisa Browning, Education Coordinator, Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre.
Seburn focused on saving our turtles and provided practical advice on how you can help them. Mason spoke about the Friends of Carp Hills' highly successful turtle conservation program and provided lessons to consider when we roll out a program for Stittsville. Browning highlighted the work of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, which includes a turtle hospital for treating, rehabilitating and releasing injured turtles, alongside conservation initiatives, education and outreach programs.