A tundra swan in flight (Photo Courtesy of Lambton Heritage Museum)A tundra swan in flight (Photo Courtesy of Lambton Heritage Museum)
Chatham

Sanctuary Throws Party For Founder

The Jack Miner Sanctuary in Kingsville is celebrating what would have been its founder's 150th birthday this weekend.

Events this weekend at the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Kingsville kick off National Wildlife Week. Organizers of this weekend's celebration say they're bringing in musical acts Bigg Wiggle and Rock Farm Band.

Jack Miner started the sanctuary in 1904 and at first, curator Craig Capacchione says the townsfolk thought he was crazy. "At the time it was a really strange and crazy idea. There weren't any bird sanctuaries in the area let alone in the province."

Four years later, the birds began nesting at Miner's pond and by 1913, the entire homestead was turned into a sanctuary.

Miner is considered the father of Canadian conservationism.

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