Valuing the watershed
Beaver Valley Destination Stewardship endeavors to see the whole watershed as interconnected, not only with the flow of every drop of water above and below the surface, but also interconnected as a natural corridor for wildlife, and as an interconnected community of people who care, both historically and in the present.
Rob Leverty, Watershed Historian
Since 1973, Rob’s home has been an organic farm on the western slopes of Beaver Valley, designated “Natural” and “Protection” in the Niagara Escarpment Plan.
He has a deep knowledge of the watershed and conservation efforts, environmental advocacy and the past and current development pressures affecting the future of the valley and its surrounding countryside.
Rob has been active in the watershed beginning decades ago, when he built close relationships with local residents concerned with protecting farmland and the continuous natural environment.
He listened to his “environmental hero” Herman McConnell, who was deeply concerned about threats to wildlife corridors and realized their critical importance.
There is now a 103-hectare Herman McConnell Memorial Forest named in Herman’s memory along the local Bruce Trail and embedded as part of the Niagara Escarpment Parks System.
Rob brought his passion for Ontario’s history and natural heritage advocacy to his career as the former Executive Director of the Ontario Historical Society (OHS), where he served the province’s historical community for over 30 years.
Founded in 1888, the OHS is a non-profit corporation and registered charity, bringing together people of all cultural backgrounds who are interested in preserving and protecting Ontario’s history and built and natural heritage.
Rob is currently the volunteer President of the Niagara Escarpment Foundation (NEF). In this role he was integral to finding funding for the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Network’s required report on the UNESCO World Biosphere in 2024.
The NEF also assisted in the publishing and promotion of Donald H. Avery’s Protecting the Ontario Niagara Escarpment (Friesen Press 2025). This book outlines the past, present and future struggles to preserve the unique ecological habitat of the entire Niagara Escarpment Plan, Canada’s first large-scale environmental land use plan, designated a World Biosphere and now part of Ontario’s Greenbelt.
Rob’s networking and background have been essential to educating people on development pressures and the community-led advocacy behind provincial protections, which are eroding back to corporate control of our natural heritage. Learn more about ongoing efforts and get involved through the NEF website.
Rob’s Personal Intentions
Listening to nature and fellow citizens
Learning continuously
Collaborating to protect and enlarge continuous natural, wildlife corridor and Beaver Valley watershed
Sharing knowledge and history