Ontario Conservation Accelerator
Ontario Conservation Accelerator is a Canadian non-profit founded in 2024 that accelerates land conservation across Ontario by convening public-private partnerships, providing fundraising and policy support, and leading direct land protection projects for conservation organizations, Indigenous communities, government agencies, private landowners, and youth organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersPeterborough, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ontario Conservation Accelerator does
Ontario Conservation Accelerator (OCA) is a Canadian charitable non-profit organization founded in 2024 and headquartered at 273 Charlotte Street, Peterborough, Ontario (charitable registration number 734144959 RR0001). The organization provides conservation planning, policy advisory, fundraising support, and direct land protection services, with the stated mission of accelerating environmental conservation across Ontario. OCA serves a multi-stakeholder constituency including conservation organizations, Indigenous communities, federal and provincial government agencies, private landowners, and youth-serving organizations such as Scouts Canada.
OCA's core offerings consist of conservation partnership services and direct land conservation projects rather than technology products. The organization convenes public and private partnerships, supports partners across forestry, conservation, Indigenous, and government sectors, and leads direct land conservation efforts in areas without active land trusts. The project portfolio includes the 26,300-acre Land'escapes property (recognized in the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database as the largest individually-owned protected area in Ontario and Canada), the 50-hectare Deerock Lake acquisition (OCA's first direct acquisition), the 123-hectare Biddy Creek Wetland partnership with Northumberland Land Trust and Ducks Unlimited, the Elzevir Marsh partnership with Quinte Conservation, the 566-acre Crowe River property, and a multi-year Scouts Canada conservation-agent arrangement. Internally, OCA applies GIS, remote sensing, and restoration ecology expertise; it has no proprietary technology product, AI/ML systems, or APIs.
OCA generates revenue through donations and charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations, supplemented by government grants including federal funding announced in 2025 for the Windsor National Urban Park. The organization operates with a five-person core team (Executive Director Mike Hendren, Managing Director Kristyn Ferguson, Director of Development Jill Murray-Dimic, Conservation Manager Luke Ridgway, Manager of Operations Sophie Goutos) backed by a five-member board that includes two nationally-honored figures (Peter Kendall, Order of Canada; Cathy Wilkinson, King Charles III Coronation Medal 2025). To date OCA reports 10,600 hectares conserved in partnership, 53 projects in the pipeline, and 60+ collaborators and funders, with cited potential conservation impact of 750,000 hectares.
Ontario Conservation Accelerator firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ontario Conservation Accelerator
- Legal name
- Ontario Conservation Accelerator
- Website
- https://theoca.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ontario Conservation Accelerator is a Canadian non-profit founded in 2024 that accelerates land conservation across Ontario by convening public-private partnerships, providing fundraising and policy support, and leading direct land protection projects for conservation organizations, Indigenous communities, government agencies, private landowners, and youth organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ontario Conservation Accelerator industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Land Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM)
Keywords
Where Ontario Conservation Accelerator is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Peterborough
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ontario Conservation Accelerator business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Receives donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support conservation projects across Ontario.
- Government Grants and Funding: Secures funding from federal and provincial government programs for conservation initiatives, including federal funding announced in 2025 for the Windsor National Urban Park project.
- Direct Donations: Accepts donations through the organization's website donation page.
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Ontario Conservation Accelerator product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ontario Conservation Accelerator is a non-profit organization that accelerates land conservation across Ontario by convening public/private partnerships, supporting conservation partners (forestry, Indigenous, government), and leading direct land protection projects in areas without active land trusts. It provides conservation planning, policy advisory, fundraising support, and executes direct land conservation projects through acquisitions and stewardship arrangements with partner organizations.
Product overview
Ontario Conservation Accelerator (OCA) is a non-profit conservation organization offering land conservation services rather than a traditional product platform. The organization provides a portfolio of conservation projects including protected properties (Land'escapes, Biddy Creek Wetland, Elzevir Marsh, Deerock Lake, Crowe River) and partnership-based conservation initiatives (Scouts Canada). OCA's core offerings include convening private and public conservation partnerships, supporting partners across forestry, conservation, Indigenous, and government sectors, and leading direct land conservation efforts where gaps exist. These projects and services work together to protect hundreds of thousands of hectares of land across Ontario.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Conservation Partnership Services Services that convene private and public partnerships and support forestry, conservation, Indigenous, and government partners across Ontario. Intended for conservation organizations, Indigenous communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders engaged in land protection.
- Direct Land Conservation End-to-end land conservation project execution including acquisition, negotiation, mapping, and stewardship handoff in regions underserved by existing land trusts. Targets conservation outcomes in Ontario.
- Land'escapes Conservation Project OCA-led conservation initiative protecting a 26,300-acre property featuring 20 untouched lakes, over 5,000 acres of wetlands, and 13 species at risk; recognized as the largest individually-owned protected area in Ontario and Canada.
- Deerock Lake Conservation Project OCA's first direct land acquisition: a 50-hectare wetland expanding the 2,246-hectare Elzevir Peatlands Conservation Reserve, providing habitat for Blanding's Turtle, Five-lined Skink, Southern Twayblade orchid, and reintroduced elk.
- Biddy Creek Wetland Conservation Project OCA-supported partner-led project protecting 123 hectares of wetlands and mixedwood forests in Brighton, Ontario, in collaboration with Northumberland Land Trust and Ducks Unlimited.
- Elzevir Marsh Conservation Project
Quantifiable outcome
- 53 projects in pipeline, 10,600 hectares already conserved, potential impact of 750,000 hectares
Companies that use Ontario Conservation Accelerator
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Ontario Conservation Accelerator technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ontario Conservation Accelerator partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.
- Scouts CanadamajorOCA partnered with Scouts Canada to act as their conservation agent for a multi-year initiative potentially including conservation of thousands of acres of natural lands in Ontario while ensuring ongoing use by Scouts youth and volunteers.
- Northumberland Land TrustcoreLed by Northumberland Land Trust (NLT), supported by OCA, the Biddy Creek Wetland project protects 123 hectares of ecologically significant area in Brighton, Ontario.
- Ducks Unlimited CanadacoreDucks Unlimited partnered with Northumberland Land Trust and OCA to protect the Biddy Creek Wetland, a vibrant 123-hectare natural haven.
- Quinte ConservationcoreOCA partnered with Quinte Conservation for the Elzevir Marsh project, where Quinte Conservation serves as the long-term stewards of the protected property.
- Parks CanadacoreCollaborating with Parks Canada on the proposed National Urban Park in the Windsor area, which would protect the Ojibway Prairie Complex. OCA is one of multiple land administrators involved in the project.
- Essex Region Conservation AuthoritysupportingOne of the land administrators for the proposed National Urban Park in Windsor area, contributing 40.3 hectares to the project.
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and ParkssupportingOne of the land administrators for the proposed National Urban Park in Windsor area, contributing 67.9 hectares to the project.
- City of WindsorsupportingMajor land administrator for the proposed National Urban Park, contributing 302.6 hectares to the project.
- Indigenous Governments and CommunitiescoreEngaging Indigenous governments in conservation projects within traditional territories, supporting reconciliation through conservation action.
- Ben SamanncoreOwner of Land'escapes property (26,300 acres), the largest individually-owned protected area in Canada, working with OCA to ensure long-term conservation management.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Ontario Conservation Accelerator competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ducks Unlimited Canada: Major Canadian land conservation nonprofit focused on wetland and waterfowl habitat. OCA has partnered directly with DUC on the Biddy Creek Wetland project, and both work on ecologically significant land protection in Ontario.
- Nature Conservancy of Canada: Canada's largest private land conservation organization. OCA's leadership team is largely alumni of NCC, and both organizations focus on private land conservation, large landscape protection, and partnership-based deal execution across Canada.
- Ontario Nature: Ontario-based conservation charity focused on protecting wild spaces and species through land acquisition, policy, and stewardship. Operates in the same Ontario geography with overlapping conservation and advocacy mandate.
- Ontario Land Trust Alliance: Provincial alliance supporting Ontario land trusts. OCA operates alongside OLTA's member organizations and Mike Hendren previously chaired OLTA, giving direct overlap in mission and constituency.
- Kawartha Land Trust: Ontario-based land trust where OCA's Executive Director previously served. Operates as a regional land trust in the same Ontario geography as OCA, focused on private land conservation and stewardship.
- Northumberland Land Trust: Regional Ontario land trust that OCA is actively partnering with on the Biddy Creek Wetland project. Comparable regional land trust model focused on private land conservation in eastern Ontario.
Regional players
- Quinte Conservation: Ontario conservation authority partnering with OCA on the Elzevir Marsh project. Conservation authorities are watershed-based public bodies that OCA works alongside rather than competes with directly.
- The Land Conservancy of British Columbia: Provincial land trust in British Columbia operating a comparable private-land conservation model in a different Canadian province. Useful as a structural peer for accelerator-style regional conservation organizations.
Others
- Parks Canada: Federal agency that OCA collaborates with on the Windsor National Urban Park. Not a competitor but a key government partner and ecosystem participant in Ontario's conservation landscape.
Broad incumbents
- Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS): National conservation advocacy organization focused on parks, protected areas, and biodiversity. CPAWS works on similar policy and protected-area advocacy but operates at national scale across Canada rather than as an Ontario-focused land accelerator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ontario Conservation Accelerator social profiles
Digital presenceOntario Conservation Accelerator financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ontario Conservation Accelerator leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Ontario Conservation Accelerator funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ontario Conservation Accelerator M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ontario Conservation Accelerator
What does Ontario Conservation Accelerator do?
Ontario Conservation Accelerator is a non-profit organization that accelerates land conservation across Ontario by convening public/private partnerships, supporting conservation partners (forestry, Indigenous, government), and leading direct land protection projects in areas without active land trusts. It provides conservation planning, policy advisory, fundraising support, and executes direct land conservation projects through acquisitions and stewardship arrangements with partner organizations.
Is Ontario Conservation Accelerator a public or private company?
Ontario Conservation Accelerator is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ontario Conservation Accelerator founded?
Ontario Conservation Accelerator was founded in 2024. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ontario Conservation Accelerator based?
Ontario Conservation Accelerator is headquartered in Peterborough, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Ontario Conservation Accelerator make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Funding and direct Donations.
Who are Ontario Conservation Accelerator's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ducks Unlimited Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ontario Nature, Ontario Land Trust Alliance, Kawartha Land Trust and Northumberland Land Trust. Regional players are Quinte Conservation and The Land Conservancy of British Columbia. Parks Canada is listed as an others. Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Ontario Conservation Accelerator have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ontario Conservation Accelerator.
What industry is Ontario Conservation Accelerator in?
Ontario Conservation Accelerator's product category is Land Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAMAH, Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration, with a secondary code of BPAIAMAG, Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 800.