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Hi there HVRA members

Bob Barnett, a resident of Harbord Village for over 30 years, is the Executive Director of the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, which is dedicated to creating nature reserves along the Niagara Escarpment and the Lake Huron shoreline. Since 1996, the EBC has created 84 nature reserves, protected over 7,000 acres of land and become the second largest regional land trust after the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

For more than 10 years Bob has also used Escarpment Telecom as a small fund raising venture. Using a Canadian company based in Nepean, Ontario, Telecom provides long distance phone services to customers at competitive rates. Instead of making a profit, 20% of customers’ phone charges are considered a donation to conservation. Customers receive a tax receipt for their EBC donation each year.

Escarpment Telecom also has several partners such as the Sierra Club and the Ontario Environment Network. Partners receive half of the donation proceeds. Telecom has raised over $100,000 and at the same time has allowed EBC to purchase a number of properties for conservation.

Harbord Village is one of Telecom’s partners and has been for about 10 years.... we just have not got around to telling you more about it until now.. The more members participate, the more donations pour into HVRA’s coffers. As a complete exercise in conservation, Bob hand delivers the invoices each month to our members (thus saving postage and getting some great exercise) and many members drop their payments off in Bob’s mailbox on Sussex (some just empty out the change from their pockets!).

Our brochures give you all the details. Questions will be answered by Anna Barnett at 416-960-8121. Bob and The Escarpment Project will be at the Fall Fair this Sunday with more information

I have been a member of the Escarpment Telecom service for 10 years - great prices and a great eco bonus to boot.

Best
Rory 'Gus' Sinclair
Chair