The Visitors Centre building at Cooper Marsh Conservation Area will once again be welcoming guests visiting the popular nature spot in South Glengarry. The Centre is set to open on June 1, 2022, after being closed for over two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and various upgrades and renovations. Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) staff will now be greeting visitors at the Centre seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

“Since its construction in 1991, the Cooper Marsh Visitors Centre has served as an educational and interpretive centre for tourists, students, and nature enthusiasts. For many, a stop at the Visitors Centre was simply part of the Cooper Marsh experience, whether to observe the various displays and taxidermy, discuss wildlife sightings with staff, or simply get a break from the heat on a warm summer afternoon,” says RRCA Nature Interpreter, Ashley MacCrimmon. “We are pleased to be able to offer this experience once again.”   

The RRCA and its community partners are inviting the public to join them during an official re-opening event set to take place at Cooper Marsh on June 18, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Event details will be posted on the RRCA’s social media and website at rrca.on.ca. 

Cooper Marsh Conservation Area is nestled on the picturesque north shore of the St. Lawrence River, a few minutes’ drive from South Lancaster. The 663-acre wetland is home to a rich variety of plant and animal species and is part of the larger Charlottenburgh Marsh – one of the most significant wetlands in all of Ontario. The RRCA actively maintains, enhances, and restores this natural area, which also features viewing blinds and towers, and a five-kilometre system of boardwalks and nature trails. 

Visitors exploring the trail system will notice another recent improvement: the installation of strategically placed wayfinding signs and trail markers. 

“This new signage is designed to help users confidently navigate our trails, while being minimally obtrusive,” says MacCrimmon. “It’s been great to see visitors use the trail map signs as they plan their excursions.”   

Wayfinding signs and trail markers have also been installed in the nature trails at the RRCA’s other Conservation Areas: Charlottenburgh Park and Gray’s Creek. In all, the RRCA welcomed 175,000 visitors to its Conservation Areas last year.   

For more information, and directions to all three RRCA Conservation Areas, go to rrca.on.ca or contact (613) 938-3611 or info@rrca.on.ca.