There are places…
that mean something to all of us!
We acknowledge the Territory of the Anishnabek Nation: The People of the Three Fires known as Ojibway, Odawa,and Pottawatomie Nations. And further give thanks to the Chippewas of Saugeen and the Chippewas of Nawash, now known as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, as the traditional keepers of this land.
Located on the eastern edge of Ashfield/Colborne/Wawanosh Township in Huron County, Ontario.
Although named after a cluster of little lakes, the presence of the Menesetung (Maitland) River is felt as it loops around this area, creating a valley teaming with wildlife and a vibrant ecosystem.
What if…
...If the vision described to us by a representative of the aggregate company comes true, and all of the land that it has secured is turned into a large industrial aggregate operation.
For thirty years or more, heavy machinery would disrupt the peace and destroy the complex integrated ecosystem of wildlife, woodlands, wetlands and agricultural land. The mining, processing, and traffic from 100 dump trucks a day would drive away all life forms, including our relatives and children who now enjoy, congregate and plan to get married on the historic Balls Bridge. Precious patches of biodiversity - interconnected webs of life forms and cultural histories - would disappear. Entire species could disappear. Agriculture and woodland spanning over 100 acres would eventually become a dead lake, destroying precious agricultural land as well as impacting the river, neighbouring woodlands and surrounding ecology. Old growth forest would be replaced by sterile ‘reforestation’. This vision could become a reality. Is this what we want to leave our children and their children?
For close to 50 years those who own property in this area have willingly complied with numerous restrictions placed by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority because they thought they were helping to protect the land for the future.
The "zoning" codes in the area are confusing and at times contradictory. Zoning for agriculture, resource extraction and natural environment co-exist as though lines on a map describe distinct, separate, hermitically sealed containers, not nodes in a complex interrelated ecosystem. The surrounding and inclusive woodlots are "designated" [rather than "zoned"] as both "Provincially and locally significant woodland" AND "Significant wildlife habitat.” There is a continuous belt of land designated along the Menesetung River from Benmiller to Auburn constituting a dense and continuous forest on either side of the river: the river valley is a wildlife corridor.
This land must be protected for our children and their children, for everyone into the future.
Any rezoning would require an MNR aggregate license, and hence an Environmental Assessment by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. It would then have to go through a community review and community consultation in order to be approved by Ashfield/Colborne/Wawanosh Township.
We invite you to help us work to protect this precious ecosystem. It is our common wealth!
Our mission is to protect this special place.
Ink Drawing by J Marlatt