Growing up in Otterville, Gord Pennington remembers a time when the natural world was often taken for granted. Barns full of nesting swallows and bluebirds in the fields were common sights. But over the course of his life, Gord has witnessed a great deal of change and come to realize how much can be lost if people don’t pay attention. 

As a teacher, naturalist, landowner and conservation advocate, he has dedicated much of his life to caring for nature and inspiring others to do the same. 

Gord was a high school geography teacher for many years at Simcoe Composite School. Former student and LPBLT volunteer Ron Shrubb remembers the impact he had in the classroom: “By combining in-class learning with field trips, Mr. Pennington made Geography come alive.” 

Gord often took his students outdoors, encouraging them to explore and understand the landscape around them. His enthusiasm was contagious. 

Caring for Rowanwood 

Gord discovered and subsequently purchased a gem of a property along Big Creek in South Walsingham back in 1973, now known as Rowanwood. It was formerly a farm and parts of the floodplain were still used for pasture and hay. Over the years, Gord devoted countless hours to caring for the property, planting trees, allowing the floodplain to regenerate and protecting it from encroachment and damage by trespassers. 

Under his care, the property gradually returned to nature. Today, Rowanwood includes a rich floodplain forest, mature trees and deep hemlock ravines, and provides habitat for an impressive diversity of wildlife. Gord was particularly impressed by the property’s native snakes. 

His connection to Rowanwood went beyond simply owning the land. He wanted to see it protected for the future and worked to have the property acquired by the Ontario Heritage Trust in 1986. The Norfolk Field Naturalists subsequently became the custodians and stewards, with LPBLT’s board chair Peter Carson taking the lead on ensuring that the natural character Gord had worked so hard to protect would endure. 

Now the care of the property has transferred to LPBLT through a recent agreement with Ontario Heritage Trust.  As of August 2026, LPBLT will continue to steward this magnificent forest.  

Speaking up for Little Otter Creek 

Gord also understood that protecting nature sometimes means speaking up when a project threatens the places we value. 

In the 1970s, Gord served on the board of the Big Creek Conservation Authority.  At this time plans were in the works to build a dam on Little Otter Creek, which was in the neighbouring jurisdiction of Otter Creek Conservation Authority. The proposal would have flooded a significant stretch of coldwater creek and forested ravine, with consequences for fish habitat and the surrounding landscape. 

Gord questioned whether the benefits of the project justified the ecological cost. At a time when there was little support for his position, he continued to push for the proposal to be reconsidered. As the economics of the project came under greater scrutiny, the plans were ultimately abandoned.  

It was an early example of the kind of conservation champion Gord is: someone willing to ask difficult questions, look beyond the immediate objective and advocate for the long-term health of the landscape. 

A legacy of helping people care 

Perhaps Gord’s greatest contribution has been the people he has inspired. 

Through his teaching,  his care for Rowanwood and his advocacy for local natural areas, he has encouraged and inspired others to spend time outdoors, learn about the natural world and understand why it matters. 

For someone who remembers a time when nature was easy to overlook, Gord has spent much of his life making sure other people don’t make the same mistake. 

His story is a reminder that conservation isn’t only about protecting land. It’s also about helping people build a connection with the places around them – and giving them the knowledge and confidence to speak up for those places when they need a champion. 

Gord and his wife Ruth are strong supporters of Long Point Basin Land Trust, and his example reflects the spirit of so many people who have helped shape conservation in the Long Point Basin: people who noticed something worth protecting, cared for it, and encouraged others to care too.