PEI·NewAn ecologically important property near Lennox Island has been donated for conservation in memory of the First Nation’s former chief.Property will be known as the Chief Jack Sark Memorial Natural AreaMarilee Devries · CBC News · Posted: Sep 01, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 31 minutes agoThis property near Lennox Island First Nation has been donated to Island Nature Trust for conservation. (Aaron Adetuyi/CBC)An ecologically important property near Lennox Island has been donated for conservation in memory of the First Nation’s former chief.The 333-acre property will be known as the Chief Jack Sark Memorial Natural Area. Sark’s family donated the land to the non-profit organization Island Nature Trust, in collaboration with L’nuey. Sark was chief of the Lennox Island First Nation from 1972 to 1988. He died in February 2024 at age 83. The donated area includes four kilometres of forested coastline with rocky beaches, salt marsh and glacial erratics, which are rocks transported by glaciers from where they originally formed.Trees like white ash, white spruce and jack pine — a rare tree in P.E.I. — grow throughout the property, which is also home to wildlife including the Canada warbler and the eastern wood-peewee. Both birds are federally designated as at-risk species. ‘A great respect’ for conservationSark’s family said in a news release that this land donation was his wish.The property, which will be known as Chief Jack Sark Memorial Natural Area, was donated by Marilyn Sark, his widow, and son Darcy Sark. (Submitted by Island Nature Trust)”We are proud to be donating this property in Jack’s memory,” his widow, Marilyn Sark, and son Darcy Sark are quoted as saying in the release.”He had a great respect for the conservation of nature and the environment.”The donation was made in connection with Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program, which provides a way for Canadians to donate ecologically sensitive land and receive tax benefits for doing so. Island Nature Trust said the ecological significance of the land will continue to support biodiversity and conservation for generations to come. The donated land includes forested coastline, rocky beaches, and salt marsh. Trees including white ash, white spruce and jack pine grow on the property. (Aaron Adetuyi/CBC)”We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Marilyn and Darcy Sark for their generous donation of this invaluable coastal land in memory of Chief Jack Sark,” Melissa Cameron, executive director of Island Nature Trust, said in the news release.”The size and ecological significance of this land, including its rare coastal white ash forest, will continue to support biodiversity and conservation for generations to come.” ABOUT THE AUTHORMarilee Devries is a journalist with CBC P.E.I. She has a journalism degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. She can be reached at marilee.devries@cbc.ca
Family of late Lennox Island chief donates 333 acres for conservation in his memory
