Dawson Island Preserve has expanded!
Central Algoma Land Trust
News Release
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The Central Algoma Land Trust is excited to announce that the Dawson Island Preserve has almost doubled in size, thanks to an exceptionally generous donation from the Welles family.
This newly acquired tract will be named the E.K. and Betty Welles Point. Named after the property's original owners, the tract was collectively donated by five of their grandchildren who recently inherited the land.
At just over one hectare in size, the point features 250 metres of pristine shoreline, offers scenic views characteristic of the St. Joseph Channel, and provides crucial habitat for a diverse range of wildlife.
E.K. and Betty Welles Point, a tract of the Dawson Island Preserve.
Over 55 wildlife species have been documented on the point alone, and our team looks forward to identifying more this summer. This addition brings the total number of species documented across the entire Dawson Island Preserve to 184.
“My grandparents bought the place we call “the point of Dawson” — with its beautiful, exposed rock face — with the dream of protecting it forever. They knew it was a truly special place, being the highest point on the island and standing like a beacon over Portlock Harbour. Our family is excited that the Central Algoma Land Trust will be stewarding this land, honouring my grandparents’ original vision for generations to come.”
Combined with the original tract, also donated by the Welles family in 2008, the nature preserve now spans 2.4 hectares.
Dawson Island itself is a 142-hectare island in the St. Joseph Channel, where 60% of the land is protected as Crown land. The Dawson Island Preserve, flanked by Crown land on either side, secures an uninterrupted 1,200-metre stretch of shoreline. This contiguous corridor ensures high-quality, protected habitat for wildlife.
A view from the E.K. and Betty Welles Point
The Dawson Island Preserve is open to the public for low-impact, light recreational use. Please note that the preserve has no established hiking trails or infrastructure and is accessible only by watercraft. Visitors are encouraged to maintain the undisturbed nature of the preserve and respect the island’s fragile ecosystem when landing. To learn more and see our map of protected areas, click here.
About the Central Algoma Land Trust
The Central Algoma Land Trust is a registered charitable organization dedicated to protecting the natural heritage of the Central Algoma region. Since 2001, the organization has helped establish sixteen protected areas, totalling nearly 500 hectares of ecologically sensitive land. In addition to land conservation, it manages two public hiking trails and delivers a wide range of community programs and initiatives, including bird counts, water quality monitoring, bat research, youth education, guided hikes, litter cleanups, and tree planting events. For more information, please contact the Central Algoma Land Trust at info@calt.ca or 705-782-2200.
The Central Algoma Land Trust depends on the generous support of our local community to carry out our work. Please consider making a donation to help advance conservation efforts across the Central Algoma region. Your contribution will help protect the natural spaces and wildlife that make this area so special.
