April 29, 2025, Toronto, ON – Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is pleased to recognize the election of Dave Barton, TRCA Vice-Chair and Mayor of Uxbridge, as Chair of Conservation Ontario, the non-profit association that represents Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities.
Conservation Ontario supports the collective voice of Conservation Authorities, advocating for sound watershed management, supporting policy and program development, and coordinating province-wide collaboration.
Conservation Ontario is governed by a six-member elected Board of Directors and directed by a Council comprised of appointed and elected municipal officials from the 36 Conservation Authorities Boards of Directors and Conservation Authorities staff.
“Vice-Chair Barton has been a great supporter and communicator with all levels of government, not for profit, and community partners and I have appreciated his support on our important conservation work at TRCA,” said Paul Ainslie, Chair of TRCA and Toronto City Councillor Ward 24 Scarborough Guildwood. “I am excited about working even more closely with him in this new role.”
“Vice-Chair Barton is a champion of environmental stewardship, climate resilience, and collaborative governance,” said John MacKenzie, Chief Executive Officer of TRCA. “His extensive experience across municipal and conservation sectors, including his work to spearhead the establishment of the Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park and support government investments on TRCA projects, will serve Conservation Ontario well and we are thrilled to see him take on this important leadership role.”
In addition to his current roles at TRCA and the Township of Uxbridge, Vice-Chair Barton is also Chair of Public Works for Durham Region, and has served on the boards of Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) and Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA).
The official announcement from Conservation Ontario can be found HERE.
About Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
Since 1957, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), as enabled through the provincial Conservation Authorities Act, has taken action to enhance our region’s natural environment and protect our land, water, and communities from the impacts of flooding and increasingly extreme weather events – Ontario’s leading cause of public emergencies.
As the region’s first line of defence against natural hazards, TRCA maintains vital infrastructure and provides programs and services that promote public health and safety, protecting people and property. TRCA mobilizes a science-based approach to provide sound policy advice, leveraging its position as a not-for-profit operating in the broader public sector to achieve collective impacts within our communities and across all levels of government.
TRCA’s dedication to its employees and sustainability has earned it recognition as both one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers and one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. These distinctions highlight TRCA’s commitment to fostering a supportive, innovative, and environmentally responsible workplace – dedicated to driving meaningful change and create lasting positive impacts in the communities it serves.
TRCA’s jurisdiction includes nine watersheds and their Lake Ontario shorelines, spanning six upper-tier and fifteen lower-tier municipalities and representing almost five million people, approximately 10% of Canada’s population.
To learn more about TRCA, visit trca.ca.
Media Contact
Afiya Jilani
Specialist, Communication and Media Relations
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
afiya.jilani@trca.ca