Special offer: Redside dace pins

They sold out quickly in December, but more may be available

Glen Williams artisan ZsuZsa Monostory is willing to make more of these shiny, hand-painted ceramic dace pins, if enough people order.  Looks great on a scarf, hat, coat or sweater. Get yours! Just $35, no tax, and free delivery in Halton Hills in late January. To be on the waiting list, or for more info please write: haltonhillsclimateaction@gmail.com

This tiny but mighty endangered minnow is holding back construction of Highway 413, an unnecessary, expensive and sprawl-enabling highway.

The pin is about 6 cm long (2 1/2”), hand painted ceramic with a glossy finish.

More about the Ontario Redside Dace

 I am a small but vital fish that thrives in the cool, clear streams of this province. My shimmering scales once flashed beneath the water’s surface, a sign of Ontario’s rich biodiversity. As a key species in freshwater ecosystems, I help control insect populations and support the delicate balance of life in our rivers and streams.

But I am disappearing. Habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change have pushed me to the edge of extinction in Ontario. Now, my greatest threat comes from Ontario Bill 5, which weakens the protections that safeguard endangered species like me. By replacing the Endangered Species Act with the Species Conservation Act, this bill prioritizes development over conservation, stripping away the safeguards that ensure Ontario’s wildlife can survive.

Federal laws now prohibit any activities that would destroy my habitat, so that would include building Hwy 413.

Without strong environmental protections, and if Highway 413 goes through, I—and many others—will vanish. My loss would signal the decline of Ontario’s waterways, disrupting ecosystems that support amphibians, fish, and countless other species. Protecting me means protecting the integrity of our freshwater habitats, ensuring future generations inherit a province rich in biodiversity.