Today (Aug. 12) is International Youth Day! This day is commemorated to bring youth issues to the attention of the international community and to celebrate the potential of youth as partners in today’s global society. The idea was proposed by young people gathering for the first session of the ...World Youth Forum on the United Nations System in 1991 and was first observed on Aug. 12, 2000.

The theme in 2026 is “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” which recognizes that young people’s lives are shaped by different national and local realities, but their aspirations are quite similar. Across the globe, young people seek dignity, opportunity, meaningful participation, decent work, quality education and a sustainable future.

This year’s theme draws attention to young people living in least-developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states. While they may experience overlapping challenges linked to poverty, climate change, geographic isolation, limited economic opportunities and unequal access to digital technologies, they still demonstrate resilience, leadership and innovation in advancing sustainable development within their communities and beyond.

On this International Youth Day, we celebrate young people’s voice, actions and initiatives. Happy International Youth Day!

Learn more at https://www.un.org/en/observances/youth-day

A special unveiling took place at the Lanark County Administration Building on Aug. 8 as the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) revealed its new native seed drill, funded through a $54,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation Capital Grant. The unveiling marked the launch of a community restoration ...equipment library that will help to establish native meadows for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.

Lanark County partnered with CWF in 2019 in an award-winning pilot project for monarch butterfly recovery and continues work on pollinator habitat restoration to help increase odds of successful migration to Mexico for monarch butterflies, which depend on native wildflowers for food and shelter.

CWF works with land managers and community organizations to create native meadows, and the new Truax native seed drill is specifically designed for planting native seeds at precisely the correct depth and provides optimal soil coverage, which improves germination rates and the success of restoration projects. As part of the restoration library, the drill will be offered at no cost to municipalities, conservation organizations and other restoration partners undertaking native meadow projects. Such equipment is typically cost-prohibitive.

The drill was named “Polly Planter” by 11-year-old Lily Jellositz as part of a community naming contest and is a nod to pollinators and planting. After the unveiling, participants learned how to identify milkweed, monarch eggs and caterpillars and submitted observations as part of an International Monarch Blitz.

It's Weedy Wednesday! Six invasive plants and noxious weeds have been targeted in Lanark County's Vegetation Management Plan.

Learn more about them at
https://www.lanarkcounty.ca/government/environmental-initiatives/vegetation-management/

To report noxious weeds on ...County property, contact Lanark County Public Works at ivm@lanarkcounty.ca or 613-267-1353. For noxious weeds on town or township properties, contact the respective municipality.

Today's feature: Dog-strangling