28 August 2007
land of stone and water
Aberfoyle-Mill Creek flows diagonally across Puslinch Township to its confluence with the Grand River in Galt/Cambridge. This long narrow valley 6.5 to 8km wide is surrounded by two pervious valley walls—The Paris Moraine in the north and the Galt Moraine in the south.
The valley floor is formed of outwash gravel deposits; discontinuous till sheets found below and within outwash gravel deposits; in the central watershed, sand and gravel outwash deposits directly overly the bedrock. The watershed consists of broad gravel terraces with swampy lowlands. Rainfall falling on the moraines infiltrates the soil and recharges the groundwater system which flows into the valley floor forming wetlands which eventually discharge into Mill Creek. The existing Mill Creek eco-system depends on the recharge-discharge relationship.
The terrain, generally, is quite rolling, with short, sharp hills and many ponds and swales in the hollows and ravines. The soil is a lime stone clay loam formation with gravel soil showing in spots. Being of glacial origin, field stone is plentiful; shallow gravel and sand banks are numerous but few large deposits exist. This sub-watershed contains highly productive aquifers, relied on for local water supplies.
The watershed is located at the intersection of 2 forest regions: Great Lakes/St. Lawrence & Carolinian. This edge location results in high diversity of plant and wildlife species of which a high number, i.e. 31% significant of 956 plant, fish, and wildlife species inventoried in the Cambridge study area: 2 globally, 7 regionally, 17 provincially significant requiring environmental protection; greatest concentration of rare and sensitive species occurs in the bogs and fens of this area (Leather-leaf, Labrador-tea, and orchids). Aberfoyle-Mill Creek is a cold, ground-water fed stream that supports brook and brown trout.
It's highly unlikely that Augustus Jones, who surveyed the Haldimand Tract, would have seen this creek as he blazed the trails that are now straight lines on our maps. In 1784 Jones surveyed the eastern boundary of the land grant across the height of land, the Baseline Road, proceeded north to Fergus and then surveyed west of the Grand River. By 1791, Jones surveyed the remaining eastern boundary of the land grant (now Townline Road). These two survey lines define the eastern and western boundaries of today's Puslinch Twp./Wellington County and explain the interesting V-shaped pattern of roads within the township--which run due East/West from Townline Road and NW/SW adjacent to Baseline Road. The lands were set aside as a clergy reserve even as other settlements opened up. In 1828-1831, David Gibson surveyed the roads and divided the land into 200 acre lots for settlement.*
The township was initially settled by crofters--"Highland Scots and Irish, both Protestant and Catholic) felt more at home with rocks. But stony soil made indifferent farms. The settler failed, sold out and moved away.** The bottom of this long narrow valley was in pioneer days a dense swamp of the choicest cedar. The soft, water soaked soil and bog bordering each side of the stream
formed an almost impassable barrier across the Township, especially in the Spring season...Few lots were taken up before 1842, also an exceptionally heavy growth of pine covered many lots especially on the rear or north side. Hardwood logs would burn and the stumps decay in ten years, but pine logs would not burn and the stumps would not decay; therefore settlers were not always anxious to locate on pine land." (1)
This early Scottish/Irish heritage is reflected in the names of the township and its hamlets. Puslinch Township was named after the English home of Elizabeth Yonge, wife of Sir John Colborne, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, 1828-35. In 1830, Irish Patrick Mahon settled in Aberfoyle and constructed a dam but decided there was not enough water to power a mill. In 1832 settlers arrived from Invernesshire, Scotland, District of Badenoch and therefore this settlement became known as Badenoch. In 1847, R. B. Morrison opened a store and a blacksmith shop and so founded the village of Morriston. In 1861, George Mclean (born in Badenoch Scotland emigrated to Badenoch, Puslinch in 1833) relocated to Aberfoyle and built the Aberfoyle Mill ca 1862-63 to grind wheat and oatmeal into flour. Puslinch Township's most famous offspring were the sons of Crieff's first Presbyterian minister. Col. John Bayne Maclean, who founded the Maclean-Hunter Publishing Company, and his younger one, Hugh, started the Hugh C. Maclean Publishing Company, which became the nucleus of Southam Business Publications.
There's another history of Puslinch Township told by the its roads we still travel today--the story of those who left this land of stone and water**. Highway 6 (Guelph to Hamilton) originally the Brock Road was built 1848–– 1850 (on early maps called the Aboukir)was used by pioneers before surveying commenced in 1828. Highway 401 was built through swampy portions of this land during the late 1950's from Morriston to Woodstock. To preserve high quality farm land the highway was routed through wetlands and woodlands at the backs of farms. Highway 401 cuts through the Mill and Irish creeks’ watersheds, and has had a profound effect on water drainage and wildlife. In this area, wildlife habitat has been compromised by fragmentation due to urban and rural development, and invasion of exotic species.
Where once these two highways (6 and 401) made it easier for the young to move out to nearby urban centres, the 21st century finds Puslinch Township being resettled once again. "Puslinch (Township) can be expected to attract younger households because of its location along (Highway) 401 will attract commuters... Cf 1982 land uses: 74% agriculture, 14% rural residential, 5% GRCA holdings, 3% aggregate industrial, and 4%commercial-industrial. Now, residential development, aggregate extraction, and commercial development have increased significantly along major transportation routes. Although Puslinch Twp is made of rough moraines, gravel spillways, and swamps with only 32% in cropland, this area has become an attractive bedroom community for the GTA. In 2,000, Puslinch had an 81% non-farm populations (total pop.5,034/total land area 21,690 hectares or 53,599 acres). (2) Gentle reader, looking to escape the city? This weekend's Record listed a modern home set on 4 acres of land for sale in Puslinch Township for a mere $699,000! The township will draw even more settlers as soon as the Highway 24 connecting Brantford to Highway 401 is completed.
Notes: * The first settlers were happy to purchase one half of a lot; thus, their farms consisted of 100 acres---many covered by swampy areas. The V-shaped roads created decidedly ungrid-like triangular pieces of land called "gores." European military history is revealed in the settlement of these gores: "In the Gore, extensive grants of land had been made to soldiers who were presumably veterans of the wars about the time of Wellington’s campaigns eg. Captain John Lamprey received 801 acres, William Wade Leslie 397 acres." **The first settlers moved to Minto Township, Wellington County when those lands were offered up for sale post-Manitowaning Treaty of 1856. A reading of MInto Township history shows a conintuance of the Scottish clannishness.<=== When RR was exploring this watershed, she paused by the roadside to study her maps. A local resident came to ask, "Are you lost?" An interesting discussion ensued regarding the Killean cemetery she had just visited. Apparently this settlement required not one but two cemeteries -- as one clan refused to be buried beside the other. Sources: (1) Puslinch Township website.
Photos top to bottom: (1)stones sit on the surface of the Galt Moraine farmlands; (2) Ontario House fieldstone farmhouse now part of CBM McNally pit operations; (3) boulders line many fields and are a testament to the back-breaking work involved in clearing lands for agriculture; (4) front door of the restored Aberfoyle Mill; (5) Galt Moraine kettle lake on private property; (6) the Crieff stone school house (1874) built for 50 pupils and now McLean Hall to honour Crieff's first minister; opposite the school house are fences made of pine stumps that hae yet to decay! & repositioned: pumpkin field on Gore Road.
From this valley they say you are going,
I will miss your sweet face and sweet smile,
Just because you are weary and tired,
You are changing your range for a while...
When you think of the valley you're leaving
Oh how lonely and drear it it would be,
When think of the fond heart you're breaking
And the pain you are causing to me...
Must the past with it's joys be blighted
By the future of sorrow and pain,
And the vows that were spoken be slighted?
Don't you think, you can love me again?
...As you go to your home by the ocean
May you never forget those sweet hours
That we spent in the Red River Valley
And the love we exchanged 'mid the flowers
Labels: aggregates, history
22 August 2007
message in a Pure Life (trademark) bottle
The Region of Waterloo in partnership with the Counties of Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk as well as the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and The Misssissaugas of New Credit First Nation issued public notice of their Request for Expressions of Interest in The Nanticoke Grand Valley Area Water Supply Project--Feasibility Study as of 21 August 2007.
Quite a mouthful, gentle reader? Yes, it's all about "deliver[ing] Lake Erie water to the above partners by utilizing....existing assets owned by Haldimand County at Nanticoke. So much for the anticipated date of 2031 to augment water supplies in Region of Waterloo-- are we running short already? or just anticipating shortages*? Only the Region of Waterloo has access to groundwater whereas the other partners listed above already draw their water from the Grand River.
Elsewhere in the Grand River watershed, a $3,000 annual water-taking permit allows transnational corporation Nestle Waters Canada to pump 3.6 million litres of "Pure Life" water from Aberfoyle each day + another 1.1 million litres of water from Hillsburgh, also within the Grand River watershed gratis. According to Wellington Water Watchers, "the 3.6 million litres is the equivalent of about seven per cent of the water used daily in Guelph... which would cost about $2,700 a day if drawn from a tap in Guelph." (1)
When Nestle applied in 2005 for a two-year renewal of its permit to take that much water, "only two people commented" on the little-known MOE registry.However, this year s application to renew the water-taking permit was opposed by some 6,000 public comments posted to the MOE website. For now, the application is on hold. At request of MOE, Nestle is doing more monitoring of Mill Creek stream flow and temperatures. For the record, Nestle reports “water temperatures are healthy and water flow is normal.” (2)
“In 2005 local natural resources officials had cause to believe that Mill Creek, and the adjoining Aberfoyle Mill Pond, along with the groundwater system associated with it, was under stress from drought conditions and water extraction by Nestle....’staff ...feel that additional pumping from this well will have a negative impact on shallow groundwater discharge to the Aberfoyle Mill Pond tributary of Mill Creek.’” (3) A consultant's report supported the MNR staff position thus: “Data collected in late 2004 by Conestoga Rovers Associates showed that increased water extraction at supply well TW3-80 resulted in a measurable reduction of the amount of groundwater entering Mill Creek...When Nestle was pumping from their well.., Mill Creek was not being charged by groundwater; in fact, Mill Creek was recharging the groundwater. (1)
The consultant for Puslinch Township has this to say: "As in other streams in Ontario, during periods of low precipitation, Mill Creek relies upon groundwater discharge for flow volume and for cooling. In 1999, the
stream flow in Mill Creek downstream from the Nestle Waters Canada facility decreased to a historic low....this is attributed to drought conditions, groundwater diversion into aggregate areas and water taking at Aberfoyle
Springs Co. Ltd.”.....”The Nestle Waters Canada documentation suggests that local impacts to Mill Creek are negligible. It is our opinion that significant impacts to Mill Creek are inevitable given the nature of the flow system.” (3)
“The [Aberfoyle/Mill Creek] watershed is being depleted rather than restored and conserved. ...Since Nestle pays nothing for the water they take, the only beneficiaries seem to be Nestle’s shareholders.” (1)
"They are threatening our future water supply, and my question is why the province is giving it away for free to a multinational that puts it in plastic bottles, creating mountains of waste, when [the province] should be preserving that water for our grandchildren." (4)
Note: if this permit is approved, it will be valid for 5 year period. $4,927,500 Aberfoyle = $1,527,525 Hillsburgh = $6,455,025 free ride for Nestle. Long term cost to entire Grand River watershed? incalculable!
Photos copyright Sandamara Images 2005L to R: Aberfoyle-Mill Creek upstream at Killean & Aberfoyle Mill Pond.
Sources: (1)Wellington Water Watchers letter to MOE re Nestle Renewal of Permit to take Water dated 8
May 2007; (2)Magda Konieczna, Water bottler steps up monitoring, The Record 18 Aug 07; (3)Puslinch Twp/Harden Environmental letter to MOE re Nestle application dated 1 June 2005; (4)Doug Hallett, “ Move to cap water bottler,” Guelph Tribune 20 Apr 07. Also: (3)Rob O’Flanagan , Nestle water permit draws fire, The Record 10 Jul 07.
Notes: *Lake Erie pipeline by 2031? Talks held with Haldimand, Norfolk, Brant counties as well as
Guelph, Brantford, and First Nations communities per news report by Bob Burtt, Puslinch residents worry about wells planned for Cambridge side of border, The Record 06 Jul 06;
Labels: water
source water protection (SWP)
Passage of the Safeguarding and Sustaining Ontario's Water Act, is intended to strengthen the management, protection and conservation of Ontario's water resources. However, [provincial NDP leader] Hampton said the legislation is toothless: "While the rhetoric of the legislation is all high sounding and has all of the right buzz words in it, when you actually look at the legal standards in the legislation and the legal requirements in the legislation, they are very lax.There is nothing in the legislation to prevent a large private company from taking large quantities of water from local aquifers or from transferring water out of the Great Lakes." (1)
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement, signed by the province of Ontario and the other provinces and states bordering the Great Lakes. Article 201 (1) a. December 2005:
“All water withdrawn from the basin shall be returned, either naturally or after use, to the Source watershed.” Clearly this clause prohibits the use of water outside its watershed of origin. (2)
How can one protect source water? "In considering of groundwater and linked surface water resources, a key issue in watershed protection is the recognition and evaluation of sensitive hydrogeological terrains such as recharge areas, preferential pathways and discharge areas. To adequately assess flow systems from 'source to tap' requires a geological framework developed using a basin analysis^ principle...It is clear that our understanding of most moraines in southern Ontario is poorly developed, particularly in the subsurface and with respect to aquifer characterization.*" (3)
Perhaps the following principles should apply to all planning decisions? cf. “The principles....--- precautionary principle, ecosystem approach, cumulative impact assessment, inter-generational protection and conservation of our waters–-are currently contained in the Ontario government’s law and policy.” (2)
Maps and notes: ^ the Grand River watershed drains 6965 km2 = to 10% of direct drainage to Lake Erie & is part of the larger Grand, Long Point, Catfish and Kettle SWP
* Kame or stratified** moraines*** are composed of gravel, sand and silt, deposited at the margin of inactive ice. Till moraines are mapped as massive sediment bodies and thought to be deposited by advancing ice. It is increasingly apparent, however, that many so-called till moraines are also stratified." (3)
** for map of Ontario stratified moraines go to: http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/research/3DWorkshop/2005/pdf-files/russell2005.pdf
*** to understand moraines in general, use the following links: http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/landscapes/pdf/moraines_e.pdf
and
http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/maps-data-pub/publications/geobits/geobit2.shtml
Map above of Waterloo Moraine differentiates between kame and till moraines-- a crucial distinction in terms of source water as kame moraines^ encourage infiltration of water into aquifers whereas till moraines prevent infiltration of water and act as aquitards. A brief glossary of geological terms coming into common usage:
Glacial till is a poorly-sorted mixture of clay, silt, sand and stones deposited by glacial ice. It appears in various forms: a) drumlins (elongated ridges of glacial drift); b) kames ( conical hills or short ridges); c) eskers (elongated, serpentine ridges of sand and gravel). ^ From study of Waterloo Moraine cross-section between St. Agatha and Mannheim: "the surficial geology consists primarily of fine sand, silt and silt-sand toclay-silt dimaticons....can be abruptly overlain by mud-rich units of 1-3 m thickness...laterally continuous for 100's metres and in the absence of erosion windows are aquitards." (5)
Sources: (1)Rob O'Flanagan, Province isn't doing enough to protect water: NDP leader, Guelph Mercury 21 Jun 07; (2)Wellington Water Watchers letter to MOE re Nestle Renewal of Permit to take Water dated 8 May 2007; available at this link: (http://www.wellingtonwaterwatchers.ca/WWWsubmission-010-0224may07.pdf {3) Sharpe and Russell, Geological Frameworks in Support of Source Water Protection in Ontario, State of Illionois 2005. Conference paper; (4) Golder Associates, Groundwater Resource Assessment County of Huron, ON undated but recent as part of 2005 Water Source protection legislation; (5) Russell, Sharpe, and Bajc, Sediment Architecture and compostion of the Waterloo Moraine, Southern Ontario: Emerging Insights, 2005 Conference paper.
Labels: water
waste not, want not
"The bottled water industry [ @ US $400 billion: Nestle, Danone, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola] is 30% larger than the pharmaceutical industry & is one of the fastest growing and least regulated industries in the world...Worldwide bottled water consumption increased 250% (58 billion litres in 1994 to 144 billion in 2002) largely as result of successful marketing i.e. “America’s most affordable status symbol.” (1)
The hidden cost?
1) "Fossil fuels are used for packaging, for transporting bottles and running both the industry and recycling plants. Polyethylene terepthalate (PET), derived from crude oil, is commonly used for water bottles. More than 1.5 million barrels of oil are used to supply the annual American demand for bottled water. As stated by the Earth Policy Institute in 2006, this is “enough to fuel around 100,000 U.S. cars for a year.” Globally, this figure totals 2.7 million tons of plastic used for this market each year. (2) Only 15% are recycled; it takes more than 1,000 years for a plastic bottle to biodegrade." (3)
“Some people think that bottled water is safer than municipal tap water,
but there is no evidence to support this.”--Health Canada
2)"Water quality from bottled water has also raised concern. A recent study has proven PET bottles increase antimony levels in bottled water. Antimony is an element with potentially toxic effects to humans. To validate their results, the researchers who did this study compared the source water to the same water purchased
in PET bottles after 3 months of storage. Antimony levels were significantly higher. In addition, Sb2O3, antimony oxide, was used as a catalyst in PET manufacturing, a suspected carcinogen." (2)
“Due to stricter regulations and daily testing, tap water
[is] the safest and cheapest alternative to bottled water.”--City of Toronto study
3) "UN estimates if only half of $100 billion spent annually on bottled water were invested in water infrastructure and treatment, everyone in the world would have access to clean drinking water. Clean drinking water is already out of reach for over one billion people in the world. With water increasingly being sold as private commodity, the lives of impoverished people in water-scarce regions are increasingly in the hands of corporations. As bottled water is sold to the upper and middle classes, support for public drinking water infrastructure begins to trickle away. Each time a bottle of water is purchased, transnational corporations, whose thirst for profit outweighs concern for public welfare, grow stronger." (1)
“Kitchener Utilities’ water is the most economical choice.
It costs just 1 cent to fill ten 500 ml bottles with tap water.”
-- Kitchener Utilities brochure, “It’s up to you,” Aug 07
Sources: (1) Ashley Walters, “Tapped resources: the dirty truth about bottled water,” Briarpatch Magazine 5 Aug 07; (2) Silvie Fojtik, “ Citizens fight Nestlé over town water,” posted June 18, 2007 tohttp://www.insidethebottle.org/canada-citizens-fight-nestle-over-town-water(3)CCPA Monitor/CALM reprinted in OSSTF bulletin.
Labels: water
18 August 2007
Gentle reader, the post hard rock cafe is intended as a conversation opener concerning the entire aggregate industry and is a brief compilation of articles and clippings from RR's 2005 files. Much has changed since then. In particular, four pieces of legislation passed in 2005 (Oak Ridges Moraine Act, Greenbelt Protection Act, Places to Grow Act, Clean Water Act) ensure that the Region of Waterloo will undergo extreme pressures to grow but at what cost? Surely this Region's natural resources and drinking water supply deserve the same measures of protection accorded to the GTA and other communities in the Golden Horseshoe area? This question deserves some thoughtful discussion as part of this year's provincial election process. In order to become more informed about the impact of gravel extraction on our moraine lands, RR urges you to use the links below as they are most helpful.
"Gravel Watch Ontario acts in the interests of residents and communities to protect the health, safety, quality of life of Ontarians and the natural environment in matters that relate to aggregate resources." Link:http://www.gravelwatch.org/
Link also to useful other links concerning aggregate resources here: http://plg.uwaterloo.ca/~holt/pit/
"Aggregates and Roadbuilding Magazine serves the entire aggregate and roadbuilding industry by providing readers with up-to-date news and information, features on aggregate plants, case stories on quarry and highway construction operations, in-depth coverage on vital topics affecting the industry including taxation, land use, trucking and other regulatory issues, updates on new products and equipment and maintenance tips as well as personnel changes, manufacturer / supplier news, convention / trade show coverage and other items of interest to aggregate producers and roadbuilding contractors." Link:http://rocktoroad.com/index.html
Pembina Org. report critical of Ontario's aggregate industry and pit rehabilitation efforts Rebalancing the Load: The need for an aggregates conservation strategy for Ontario (2005) by Mark S. Winfield and Amy Taylor is available at this link: http://pubs.pembina.org/reports/Aggregatesfinal-web2.pdf
Photos copyright Sandamara Images 2006: MPP John Milloy and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty pressing the flesh at Oktoberfest 2006, Kitchener City Hall.
Labels: water
16 August 2007
hard rock cafe
Canada's aggregate industry @ $15 billion annually is among the largest in the world with over 5000 pit and quarry sites across the country producing in excess of 500 million tons annually. At 17 tons per person per year, Canada’s consumption rate of construction aggregates is about double the per capita usage of the United States and triple the average among the major European Union countries. Approximately 60% of our annual production is used to build, maintain and repair the nation's 500,000 miles of primary and secondary roads. (1)
“Why is it no matter how destructive these pits are to the environment and the residents, they seem to approved by the provincial government?” (3)
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation says the province will invest nearly $1 billion in highway infrastructure improvements to relieve congestion on some of southern Ontario’s largest freeways including the 400, 427 and 401 [==> i.e. in 2005 & does not include 2007 announcements]. According to the Transportation Minister,“Investing in our highways not only makes our roads safer, it spurs economic growth by creating jobs and keeping goods and people moving.” (1)
[Peter] Krause [GRCA board chair] “also expects protection of gravel-rich moraine areas to become a hot political issue this year. Queen’s Park is being pushed to expand development controls imposed on the Oak Ridges Moraine north of Toronto to moraines across the province....Left behind by retreating glaciers, moraines are massive ridges of piles of gravel mined for use in concrete to build road and buildings. The gravel also makes moraines prime groundwater supply areas. Development and gravel extraction need not be banned on moraine areas, but such activities need stricter controls to protect water supplies, he said.” (4)
“A strong infrastructure is key to Ontario’s economic success and our quality of life. Vital infrastructure–-schools, hospitals, roads, public transit, sewers and water mains, treatment plants and power generation stations–- relies on a steady supply of stone, sand and gravel. Ontario consumes more than 170 million tonnes of stone, sand and gravel each year – more than any other natural resource. Demand isn’t going away. A steady supply of stone, sand and gravel are essential to build and renew Ontario’s vital infrastructure and maintain our standard of living.
Stone, sand and gravel. Essential materials for building a strong Ontario. For more information about how stone, sand and gravel impact every* aspect of your life in Ontario, visit www.ontariossga.com "(2)
“Puslinch and North Dumfries townships look like moonscapes from the air because of thedestruction of fertile lands for gravel pits, and the residual lakes from the mining. These lakes connect to our groundwater supplies, and some of them are to have house built on their shores.
Surely this is a recipe for the contamination of our water.” (5)
“Puslinch Township,” concludes a survey done in 1982 for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, “has significant possible resources of sand and gravel and should be able to meet local requirements for many years.” Puslinch has abundant aggregate resources and proximity to the high urban demand areas in the Golden Horseshoe i.e. 90% of aggregate production moves south to Hamilton or east to Toronto; increased protection of the Niagara Escarpment and Oak Ridges Moraine shifts aggregate extraction to more remote sources where environmentally significant features may not be accorded the same high degree of protection. Aggregate demand is projected to increase to 192 million tonnes/year from 1996 to 2,000 and to 209 million tonnes from 2001 to 2005 (MNR 1993 report).** (1)
The Kitchener-Cambridge-Guelph market area is the only remaining net exporter of aggregates to other market areas in the province specif. Dumfries Twp in Region of Waterloo.
The Milton quarry of Dufferin Aggregates-- a division of St. Lawrence Cement Inc--, located some 40 km west of Toronto, is well known to readers of Aggregate’s & Roadbuilding. For the last three years it has topped our Top 20 quarries list as Canada’s largest quarry, including 1999 with annual production of 5.8 million tonnes of dolomitic limestone. Dufferin Aggregates produces over 12 million tonnes per year of crushed stone, gravel and sand for the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors, as well as for civil engineering work. We also supply aggregates to sister companies, Dufferin Concrete, Dufferin Concrete/Boehmers, and Dufferin Construction. Although the main office is located at Concord, Ontario, the company operates three licensed gravel extraction sites in the Township of Puslinch. The Mill Creek property (approximately 303 ha) is used as a partnership with the University of Guelph as the landowner.
"High recharge areas such as moraine landscapes are situated at the top of the groundwater flow system. The sedimentary properties of moraines control flow paths of a significant percentage of the watershed recharge, and consequently, have long-term implications for source water protection." & The Oak Ridges Moraine ...forms the principal recharge area for groundwater flow to more than 30 watersheds in the Greater Toronto Area."(7)
St Marys Cement Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Votorantim Cimentos, an international cement manufacturer based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Cf. CBM Aggregates div of St Mary’s Cement @ 1.5 million tonnes sand & gravel from
Aberfoyle is listed as #6 in Canada.
In 1986, U of Guelph/TCG and Warren Bitulithic applied to mine below water table over 25 years (Class 2, 3 farmland @ 186 hectares) would leave a combined lake area of 107.5 hectares.*** U of Guelph property could be the single largest resource remaining in southern Ontario with a minimum estimated volume of approximately 34.4 million tonnes.
"The Grand River Conservation Authority does not support the application [i.e. for Category 1, Class A pit below the water table.]"
Note also: GRCA extracts aggregates in floodplains to increase flood capacity, enhance degraded habitats, and obtain revenues from aggregate levy to support other conservation programs eg. Woolner Flats and Preston Sand & Gravel project.
“Yes, it begins with you. Government is not some entity separate from the people. If citizens don’t like the government’s environmental policy, then it is up to the people to change that policy. Tell your municipal politician and your federal politician that the environment is your priority.” (8)
Notes: * bolding occurs in the source document; ** cf. stats from another source: 1981 Puslinch @ 1.6 million tonnes extracted; 1989 Puslinch @ 4 million tonnes; 1991 @ 2.2 million tonnes put Puslinch to ninth highest aggregate- producing municipality in Ontario; *** amount of water being drained from regional aquifers thereby???
Photos copyright Sandamara Images 2004-05 L to R: CBM/St Mary's Mcnally Puslinch Twp pit with post-extraction lake forming--note Schneider's sign beside Hwy 401 in background; Domtar Woodstock quarry was open to public as Doors Open 2005 tour event.
Sources: (1) unknown--various clippings dating to 2005 from RR's files; (2) Ontario Sand, Stone, and Gravel Association, Half page advertisement The Record 30 Sept 06; (3)Linda Inglis, Wrong Place for a pit, The Record 22 Aug 06; (4)Kevin Swayze, Conservation authority names Krause as chair for eighth year, The Record ca 2005; (5)John Hueton, Landscape pit-marked, letter to editor The Record undated; (6) GRCA letter dated 22 April 2004 cited Wellington County minutes; (7) David R. Sharpe and Hazen A. J. Russell, Geological Frameworks in Support of Source Water Protection in Ontario, 2005 State of Illinois Conference paper; (8)Celeste Walker, Pit is not appropriate, letter to editor The Record 23 Nov 06.
Labels: aggregates
09 August 2007
a fine balance
"You will make all kinds of mistakes;
but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce
you cannot hurt the world or seriously distress her.
She was made to be wooed and won by youth."
--Winston Churchill
Carter writes: "This [i.e. the Bush] administration always chooses politics over what is best for the country. Carter then proceeds with a series of choices that somehow always favoured "Choose politics"...to finally ask,"Protect our environment or turn public lands and waterways over to Republican-base polluting interests? Choose politics." ===> How sincere is Prime Minister Harper's assertion of Canadian sovereignty over the Arctic when his government leaves our Coast Guard badly funded with ships desperately needing repairs? when his government abandoned the Kelowna accord that would have strengthened the lot of our aboriginal peoples who are settled in the northern reaches of our country?....
But those questions are a diversion from the issue of the controversial developments on the West Side of Waterloo.
In arriving at these posts, RR sifted countless reports, articles, and e-mails. In the end, only one questions remains--worded variously depending on the person's point of view/bias. In the Record's opinion, the environmentalists lost their battle to stop the proposed developments. In an e-mail from a local environmentalist, the writer opined that these developments are a compromise hammered out over the last twenty years. In the opinion of Ms. Rogers, the legal counsel to the developers, these subdivisions are a remarkable development.
Yes, Ms. Rogers*, they are indeed a remarkable development and a remarkable achievement resulting from extensive public consultation, due diligence applied by municipal and regional staff, and a remarkable willingness on the part of the developers to accommodate public input. Much has been accomplished by the ongoing political process. It's easy to forget the tremendous courage and vision demonstrated a year ago by the Councils of the City of Waterloo and the Region of Waterloo when they approved the Laurel Creek Headwaters ESL designation. That decision effectively decreased the quantity of developable greenfield lands within the City of Waterloo & made approval of the agricultural lands in question virtually a done deal. Nonetheless, the Laurel Creek ESL will be enhanced by the hotly contested developments as those lands within ESPA 19 (Forested Hills) will be protected by an enhanced buffer that far exceeds the minimum legal requirement. As well, there will be buffers to protect the scenic rural portions of the Wilmot Line.
Another outcome of the extensive public involvement in these developments has been the Ministry of Environment review of the Waterloo and Galt-Paris moraines during the next 18 months. It's time to reframe this particular discussion to acknowledge that everyone involved has achieved a fine balance that respects our love for the land and our need for a place to grow.
It's time to move on as pressures are mounting elsewhere on the Waterloo Moraine. The expansion of Hwy 7 between Kitchener and Stratford will consume more of the Waterloo Moraine and prime agricultural lands. Pressure for a Trussler Road access to Highway 401 will increase traffic through the Alder-Strasburg watershed and put at risk the Region's water supply. Faced by provincial pressures to grow, we need to ask the question, "How much development can the entire Grand River watershed sustain before we have to put limits on growth?" All local municipalities are updated their official plans by 2008 and have invited public input. The time to think about the larger issues and to speak up is now.
Together
we will work
to support courage where there is fear,
foster agreement where there is conflict,
and inspire hope where there is despair.
The Elders Manifesto 2007
Notes: * Ms. Rogers is an expert in municipal, environmental, and planning law and a past member of the Ontario Municipal Board.
Photo copyright Sandamara Images 2002: exploring the Grand River.
No end is visible,
or even conceivable,
to this kingdom of adventure.
--G. L. Mallory
Labels: land use, politics
a little learning
"A little learning is a dangerous thing;
drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
and drinking largely sobers us again."
--Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744, An Essay on Criticism, 1709
Gentle reader, shall we start with the shallow draught that intoxicates the brain-- i.e. the "misinformation" or rather the erroneous information that has inflamed the controversial developments on the Waterloo Moraine?
"Longtime development opponent David Wellhauser warns that ignoring First nations’ interest in the issue could unleash a ‘powder keg’ that explodes into another Caledonia. Reference is made specifically to
i. “The Six Nations claim that all soil ‘within six miles’ of either side of the Grand River, which at the river’s westernmost point would just include the development along Wilmot Line.”
ii. Cf. Floyd Montour, a Six Nations elder, invited by Wellhauser to meet with Waterloo Mayor Halloran, who said: “It’s our land. They must consult* with the Six Nations people before they go ahead and develop.” (1)
iii.“The Six Nations Confederacy has claim to the Haldimand Tract, six miles deep on either side of the river from source to mouth, which seems to include the area in question. The Record could have verified that with a phone call. It was foolish for The Record’s editorial to dismiss Six Nation’s land rights with no better attempt to verify facts.” (2)
The Record's response was swift and unequivocal: “Why is David Wellhauser suddenly suggesting that the aboriginal protests that have rocked the town of Caledonia could erupt in the City of Waterloo? Why is
[he]...grasping at a ridiculous, possibly dangerous straw in the campaign to stop the developments from being built? Why indeed? ....There is no outstanding aboriginal claim to any land in Waterloo Region, except to the bed and banks of the Grand River itself....So far, natives have not brought forward no documented challenge to the Six Nations sale of lands in Waterloo Region which was made in 1798.... No one should manufacture a native land-claim dispute in west Waterloo where none exists....To do so....would be irresponsible....[thereby] conjuring up the spectre of an ugly standoff...that could, with the wrong kind of interference, quite positively be arranged.” (3)
However, Record editorial staff contributed to the misinformation in not proofreading the news report and correcting the following sentence: "The Six Nations claim that all soil ‘within six miles’ of either side of the Grand River" (2) --essentially, when the the phrase within six miles is set within quotation marks, a certain ambiguity has been created as the punctuation marks suggest "supposedly" whereas in actual fact, the entire statement is erroneous.
An alert reader picked up the flawed reporting of the Wellhauser/ Montour foray into Mayor Halloran's office thus:
“Articles that don’t expand on the realities of the situation, but are published verbatim do not act as responsible journalism. I would request that the Record have a set paragraph to include with such articles that states it is the interviewee’s opinion only, and not necessarily the present state of the land in question. Many of The Record’s readers may not know the historical records and are being misled by erroneous statements.” (4)
For the record, Rambling Rose has posted the federal government backgrounder regarding Six Nations outstanding claims awaiting settlement in a previous blog headed "70,000 page homework assignment." The blog's title is a Freudian slip and fantasy that has RR envisioning herself as the all-powerful ruler of a benevolent dictatorship who could make such a homework assignment to the author(s) of the above-cited misinformation (hogwash) and demand a precis of same documents before allowing any further speeches and/or video appearances by this particular activist. ****
Quite simply, the lands in question were offered up for sale by the Six Nations and sold by a land speculator, Richard Beasley, to Pennsylvania German Mennonites. When it became clear that Beasley was unable to pay the mortgage he had incurred in acquiring those lands, the migrating Pennsylvania German Mennonites formed the The German Company and raised the funds to secure their lands legally and free and clear. What is in dispute is what the government of Upper Canada (the individual referred to as Claus in the backgrounder)did with the funds i.e. made foolish speculative investments that essentially within two decades rendered the Six Nations destitute & legally constitutes a breach of fiduciary trust. As to the six miles on either side? the survey was conducted in a straight line starting from Burlington north-west-- the land parcel thus surveyed has neat geometrical lines at its boundaries whereas the river wiggles (meanders) here and there considerably.
However, the following is correct information and does apply: consultation is required per 1996 Supreme Court Ruling on outstanding land claims i.e. “Six Nations claim to own the bed and the banks of the Grand River.” ===> would require consultation on all river projects eg. bridges and bridge repairs Note: City of Brantford has more formal notification arrangement with Six Nations whereas Region has “gentleman’s agreement” ** & it is unlikely that Region will sign the existing formal agreement as cf. “It’s a bit unlikely the region would sign on to the existing Grand River notification agreement because I think events are going to overtake that.... cf also Six Nations’ spokesperson, “”I don’t think we can change it too much to
accommodate all of this other stuff that’s coming down the pipe.”*** (5)
** as late as 2006, both Region of Waterloo and GRCA officials were dragging their heels on the required notification process but have since complied with the Supreme Court ruling; *** possibly a settlement of all outstanding Six ations’ claims in time for October provincial election? As note since 29 June 07 day of action, the federal government has settled with the East James Bay Cree and also the issue of rebuilding Kashechewan;
**** Why such a harsh punishment? RR is infuriated that this young man***** would play the politics of fear and tap into latent issues of racism that derive from that fear and ignorance. There are real issues that Canadians need to resolve arising from this country's historical relationship with its indigenous peoples that are deep-seated, complex, and will require insight, goodwill and compassion on the part of all. After posting the Manitowaning !836 Treaty, RR wondered to herself whether those "red children of the forest" who participated in that meeting promptly dubbed Sir Frances Bond Head "the silver crooked tongue"?
*****Not only has this spokesperson confused the political discourse, he also subverted the democratic process twice: 1) delegates were only allowed 5 minutes each to address Waterloo Council: by means of a subterfuge, a representative from Toronto-based earthroots.org spoke for 1 minute and then played video footage of Mr. Wellhauser walking through the proposed developments; 2) after that he booked a meeting with the Mayor and then turned over the scheduled meeting to the Six Nations elder. Rookie Mayor Halloran has a steep learning curve ahead of her as she could have refused both Trojan-horse delegations as being less than honest and straightforward.
Gentle readers, do take note of this: Rambling Rose is not now and never has been a member of Waterlooians.ca. Nor does she consider herself an environmental activist as she sees any kind of ------ism movement and ------ist role as traps that restrict her freedom to think and to explore all sides of an issue. In allowing comments to this blog, RR is merely facilitating public discussion of issues that affect us all.
Photos Sandamara Images 2003: 1) Bridgeport Bridge repairs and construction of roundabout to ease traffic gridlock will be proceeding shortly as the Region has consulted with Six Nations as required; 2) Grand River downstream of the bridge as seen from the Walter Bean Trail.
Sources: (1)Greg Mercer, Six nations to ‘step in’ on moraine, The Record 30 Jul 07; (2)Connie Kidd, Canadians for Aboriginal Rights, “Natives claim moraine,” letter to editor 08 Aug 07; (3) Don’t inflame moraine debate, The Record 31 Jul 07; (4) Ernie Crump, Six Nations sold Grand River Land years ago, the Record 01 Aug 07; (5)Jeff Outhit, Region to consult Six Nations on projects along Grand River, The Record date 28 Jul 07.
Labels: aboriginal, land claims, land use
what's done is done and cannot be undone?
Although it is clear that the City of Waterloo will need to proceed with the controversial west side developments, the entire issue continues to generate a heated emotional response. Rambling Rose attended the 23 July 07 City of Waterloo Council meeting and noted how polarized and politicized the community dialogue had become. On the one hand, Regional and City staff were insisting they were willing to listen to any "additional technical professionally-substantiated information" and bemoaned the abundance of "misinformation" [=====> a lie or erroneous information?] that was clouding the issue. On the other side, the dedicated environmentalists hammered away at the related environmental issues with one delegate asserting, "this is a democracy not a bureaucracy!"
With a provincial election just around the next corner, it was hardly surprising to find candidates appearing as delegates or pressing the flesh-- a dozen or so politicians-- present, past and future had determined that spending a summer Monday evening in Council Chambers was a politically correct move. More than one delegate issued a call for provincial intervention in this municipal planning issue. This, in spite of assurances by the regional director of Community Planning that he would be using the Places to Grow Act to protect the Waterloo Moraine. Perhaps few in the audience were aware that this individual had been seconded to work with provincial planning staff in devising the greenbelt legislation. There were even out-of -town delegates representing earthroots.org who rose to challenge developments that were leapfrogging the greenbelt.
The morning after the night before, the local rag opined thus: "“The battle to keep three new subdivisions out of Waterloo’s west side has been lost...The province has designated Waterloo Region as an area for significant growth, growth that will demand not only more dense developments in city centres but new housing subdivisions – as the three that will and should be built in west Waterloo....If we want to grow...we have to find new places to put growth, to house the workers expanding our high-tech sector. The challenge facing us to do this in a way that reconciles competing interests, that protects prime farmland as well as environmentally sensitive lands.” (1)
If The Record's verdict was meant to resolve the issue once and for all, it did not. Following are brief excerpts from the ongoing discussion:
- “City council doesn’t actually have much say in development, beyond what it has set out in its
official plan. If an area is listed as residential in the plan*, then the city is bound to allow
residential development. If it doesn’t, developers have a case they can appeal to the Ontario
Municipal Board...The OMB is a board of 25 unelected officials, who hold the real power over
development...Even when city councils do choose to deny development in favour of promoting
the environment, many developers will appeal the decision....Why not?....excellent rate of
success....2003 study commissioned by the Federation of Ontario Naturalists found 70% of OMB
decisions in favour of developers over environmental proponents...
a. Notes: * Apparently in 1995 and 2000, the City of Waterloo did not update the
plan ====> and why not? ....[hence, the effective plan dates to 1990 but is currently being updated ==> public input at www.waterloo.ca > plan it ] (2) - “...council, with all of its good intentions and campaign promises is simply a collection of well-meaning people whose voice is ultimately directed by city staff...The politicians do what city staff advises and the developers influence city staff and few new visions, from a democratic perspective, really take flight. Our public meetings are merely a chimera of democracy." (3)
- "We are painted into a corner by archaic provincial legislation that allows developments to be 'grandfathered' to only conform to the applicable rules of the day when they were submitted. In this case, we are dealing with a 1992 scenario in an increasingly intelligent and environmentally aware 2007." (4) ===> this rookie councillor had the wit to ask staff, "... a planning decision based on market forces???"
Current status? Apparently the regional planning commissioner wants sufficient time to review comments made at the 23 July 07 Waterloo Council meeting "to ensure that we have considered all of the options." Draft approval is pending the Wilmot Line EA to be presented to Regional Council 14 August 07. (5) Noted in passing (literally)-- RR had to pass by the three developers conferring with their legal counsel following this meeting and overheard one suggest, " maybe we should huddle about this in another few days?" As well, any member of the public can appeal Region's decision to the OMB within twenty working days following that decision.
Time for some more homework and more questions to ask? For starters, the pre- and post-development infiltration rates cited as justification for CWC (third pipe) system need clarification: 1) are the pre-development infiltration rates based on tile-drained agricultural lands and the post-development rates based on the same lands with the drainage tiles removed during the development process? and 2) would the CWC system break down if every householder installed rain barrels to save on rising water costs? --that question was raised and elicited this response "we need most of the water to recharge the aquifer."
“One of the problems with modern society is that it places more importance on things that have a price than on things that have a value. Breathing clean air, for instance, or having clean water in the rivers, or having legal rights -–these are things that don’t have a price but have a huge value. Oil does have a price, but its value is much less. And sometimes we make the mistake.” Fajardo quoted by Alex Shoumatoff, “The Gasping Forest,” Vanity Fair May 2007
Photo copyright Sandamara Images 2002: split cedar rail snake fence in the Halliburton Highlands suggests the 20 years these three subdivisions have been in the planning stages.
Sources: (1)“New subdivisions need to be built,” editorial the Record 25 Jul 07; (2)Helen Kaluzny, The Citizens of Waterloo must push for smarter growth,” The Record 07 Aug 07; (3)Marty Remple, Waterloo city staff dominates the city,” letter to editor The Record 02 Aug 07; (4) Karen Scian, Waterloo council ignores the long-term view, The Record 02 Aug 07; (5) Jeff Outhit, No time line for housing approval, The Record 07 Aug 07.
Labels: land use
08 August 2007
70,000 page homework assignment
1. What are the outstanding Six Nations claims? Per federal backgrounder, there are 14 issues to be resolved; RR has only copied the three that are pertinent to Region of Waterloo in this excerpt:
"In March 1995, the Six Nations of the Grand River Band of Indians filed a lawsuit against the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario. The lawsuit involves allegations of breaches of fiduciary duty in the administration of Six Nations lands and assets, most of which are based on events that took place before Confederation. In other words, the Six Nations claims focus on how land and money were managed, rather than questioning ownership and/or a return of lands.
"Specifically, the Six Nations give fourteen examples of claims, or allegations, which they are attempting to prove against Canada and/or Ontario, including:
- the Crown did not give the Six Nations all the land promised in the Haldimand Proclamation;
- William Claus, a Crown agent, misappropriated monies belonging to the Six Nations and the Crown did not properly secure reimbursement;
- the Crown speculatively invested the Six Nations’ trust monies in the Grand River Navigation Company;....
"As outlined in its Statement of Defence, the Government of Canada’s position is that the Six Nations validly surrendered all the lands that are not now part of the reserve; that the Six Nations received full and fair compensation for the lands they surrendered; and, that if there is any liability, the liability related to breaches that pre-date Confederation rests with the Province of Ontario.
"In 1999, 2000 and 2001, all three Parties – the Six Nations, the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada – turned from active litigation and towards talks to find common ground upon which to proceed with some form of out-of-court resolution. Since 2004, the Government of Canada has been in exploratory discussions with the Six Nations’ elected Chief and Council and the Province of Ontario to address the claims.
"This timeline reflects the tremendous complexity of the factual issues that must be addressed. There are already more than 70,000 pages of material dating from the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. A full response to the Six Nations’ allegations requires a comprehensive social, political, legal and economic history of southwestern Ontario from 1784 to the present." Source: federal backgrounder to Six Nations claims===>
To read the entire document go to:
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nr/prs/j-a2006/snjsbk_e.html
2. How was the Haldimand Tract cf. map above surveyed?
"....it was unanimously agred upon and determined That the bend of the river easterly, nearly two miles from its mouth or issue into Lake Erie, and the Mohawk Village shall be the two fixed points and that a line drawn straight from one of these points to the other shall form the centre line of the Indian Settlement or Lands on the grand River, and that two parallel lines to this, six miles distant on each side of the river shall form the bounds between them and the Settlement of Nassau." (1)
3. Why did the Augustus Jones survey not continue to the source of the Grand River?
"The plan prepared by Augustus Jones of the tract granted to the Six Nations, extending from Lake Erie at the mouth of the Grand River to the northern limit of the lands purchased from the Mississaga Indians on 22 May 1784 is stated to contain about 674, 910 acres and has an extract from the deed of feoofment dated 7 December 1792 endorsed on it." (1)
4. What about the Mississaga Treaty signed 22 May 1784 at Niagara?
"The speaker for the Mississagas stated that they were not the owners of all the land between the three lakes, but that they were willing 'to transfer our right of soil and property to the King our Father, for the use of His People, and our brethren the Six Nations from the Head of the Lake Ontario or the Creek Waghauata to the River La Tranche then down that River until a South Course will strike the mouth of Catfish Creek on Lake Erie." (2)
5. Why were portions of the Haldimand Grant sold?
"Although it was Haldimand's intention that the Six nations would retain these lands in perptuity, Brant was adamant that they should be immediately be enabled to sell or dispose of their lands without restriction. As tension increased over the land question, it was finally agreed that the land would be surveyed and sold by the government on behalf of the Six Nations, thus providing some control over the loyalty and integrity of the purchsers of such a major tract of land in the very heart of the province. More than half of their entitlement, mainly those lands furthest removed from the lakefront, were surveyed, divided into six separate blocks and offered for sale." (2)
Maps L to R: Grand River highlighted in blue from source in Dundalk highlands to mouth in Lake Erie; 1813 Chewitt map of Upper Canada showing the Haldimand Tract as surveyed by Augustus Jones as wells as the blocks of land offered up for sale. Block Two sold to Germany Company and now Region of Waterloo is shaded orange (just above Block One shaded green and now North & South Dumfries Townships)>
Sources: (1) Brig. General E. A. Cruikshank, the Reserve of the Six Nations on the Grand River and the Mennonite purchase of Block No. 2, Waterloo Historical Society 1927; (2) unknown source from RR's files long before blogging ever crossed her mind-- apologies.
Labels: aboriginal, history, land claims
"my red children of the forest"
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above,
Don't fence me in.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love,
Don't fence me in.
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze,
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees,
Send me off forever but I ask you please,
Don't fence me in.
The Queen's Bush/Indian lands shaded yellow on the map were acquired by means of the Manitowaning Treaty negotiated by Sir Francis Bond Head on 9th August 1836. RR is transcribing portions of that treaty for you, gentle reader, and highlighting key phrases/sentences for reflection:
The treaty document begins with the salutation, "My children:--
"Seventy snow seasons have now passed away since we met in Council at the crooked place (Niagara), at which time and place your Great Father, the King, and the Indians of North America tied their hands together by the wampum of friendship.
Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies.
On my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise
"Since that period various circumstances have occurred to separate from your Great Father many of his red children, and as an unavoidable increase of white population, as well as the progress of cultivation, have had the natural effect of impoverishing your hunting grounds, it has become necessary that new arrangements should be entered into for the purpose of protecting you from the encroachments of the whites.
I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hovels and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in.
"In all parts of the world farmers seek for uncultivated land as eagerly as you, my red children, hunt in your forest for game. If you would cultivate your land it would be considered your own property in the same way as your dogs are considered among yourselves to belong to those who have reared them; but uncultivated land is like wild animals, and your Great Father, who has hitherto protected you, has now great difficulty in securing it for you from the whites, who are hunting to cultivate it.
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies,
Don't fence me in.
"Under these circumstances, I have been obliged to consider what is best done for the red children of the forest, and I now tell you my thoughts.
"It appears that these islands on which we are now assembled in Council are, as well as those on the north shore of Lake Huron, alike claimed by the English, the Ottawas, and the Chippewas,
" I consider that from their facilities and from their being surrounded by innumerable fishing islands, they might be a desirable place of residence for many Indians who might wish to be civilized, as well as totally separated from the whites; and I now tell you that your Great Father will withdraw his claim to these islands and allow them to be applied for that purpose.
No. Poppa, don't you fence me in
"Are you ,therefore, the Ottawas and Chippewas, willing to relinquish your respective claims to these Islands and make them the property (under your Great Father's control) for all Indians whom he shall allow to reside on them: if so, affix your marks to this my proposal." ====> signatures and totems follow & monetary payment for all of these lands amounted to "twelve hundred and fifty pounds per annum, as long as grass grows or water runs."
A second treaty with the Saugeen and Newash First Nations was entered into on the same day and same location. Excerpt follows:
"I now propose to you that you should surrender to your Great Father the Sauking (Saugeen) territory you at present occupy, and that you should repair either to this Island or that part of your territory which lies on the North of Owen Sound, upon which proper houses shall be built for you, and proper assistance to enable you to become civilized and to cultivate land, which your Great Father engages forever to protect for you from the encroachment of the whites....." Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies, Don't fence me in. Let me ride through the wide open country that I love, Don't fence me in.
Shortly thereafter, the Upper Canada Colonial Government advertised 50 acre lots of free land for sale to white, supposedly civilized settlers. And yes, the stage was set for land speculators and elsewhere Robertson's History of the County of Bruce there is an entire chapter devoted to the land scandal.
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please,
Don't fence me in
Maps L to R: (1) Ontario road map adapted: A indicates the source of the Grand, B indicates the point where A. Jones stopped the survey to the source of Grand River and headed west, C indicated the present location of the Six Nations and New Credit (Mississauga) Reserves, D indicates the mouth of Grand River: the line drawn across map would indicated that approximately 1/3 of the land promised to the Six Nations was never properly surveyed or granted to them. (2) map of Upper Canada map showing in yellow the Queen's Bush and Indian lands covered by the Manitowaning Treaties excerpted in this post. These lands currently are best known as Bruce County and Manitoulin Island.
Primary source: Norman Robertson, The History of the County of Bruce, Bruce County Historical Society 1900; Bing Crosby "Don't fence me in" lyrics at this link: http://www.lyrics007.com/Bing%20Crosby%20Lyrics/Don't%20Fence%20Me%20In%20Lyrics.html
maps in public domain and copied years ago from a library book.
Labels: aboriginal, history
07 August 2007
the sararas* springs mystery
Photos: first frame house in Wilmot constructed by Jacob Bettschen in 1830 (thanks to sawmill built by Reichard brothers in 1828), detail of this sleuth's 1861 map, one-storey log school house built in Waterloo (1820) and one of the two Neutral artifacts in Waterloo park that prompted this adventure of discovery!
- "These boulders* were presented to Waterloo Park by Jacob Stroh. These great stones have hollows on a flattened side, serving the purpose of holding corn** being pounded to a coarse meal held in the hands...[and] were no doubt kept at regular seasonal abodes, and there used from year to year." Source: WHS 1930, p. 221.
- "...a very large stone of grey granite, about three feet by six feet in dimension, and weighing approximately a tone and a half. One side of this huge stone is flat, and a part of this upper flat surface was used by [aboriginals]*** in grinding grain and nuts and pulping food. This surface contains two shallow bowls or circular depressions, each about a foot in diameter, which were used in grinding food. The other half or more of the large flat surface is worn and polished very smoothly and was no doubt used in dressing skin and rurs, which were the clothing of the [aboriginals] in those early days. This latter stone was found on the site of an Indian village at Sararas Springs on the Huron Road two miles south of Mannheim." Source: WHS 1928, p. 23.
The photo above and the reference to Suraras Springs sparked further historical sleuthing. The Region of Waterloo website places Suraras Springs at the intersection of Mannheim and Huron Roads. If there ever was a settlement at that intersection, all that remains are farmers' fields currently being plowed. Was there ever a spring there? -- yes, in all likelihood as there are many pioneer accounts of springs gushing from the hillsides which were used to cool foods inside stone shelters built to cover these springs. The historical records indicated that Suraras Springs had been renamed Rosebank for the banks of wild roses that once grew there and still do on the roadsides and in the cemetery.
Rosebank can be found a short distance away on the Huron Road & a short visit to the hilltop Rosebank Cemetery(1830) revealed graves of early settlers: Bettschen, Reichard, Suraras, and Trussler families -- whose headstones face east toward the rising sun according to Mennonite/Amish tradition. Digging deeper into Wilmot history, Alice Walker tells us: "An Indian encampment used to be situated on the south side of Huron Road where Alder and Beaver creeks meet... Beaver Creek derived its name from the large colonies of beaver which lived in its waters...Every autumn several families of Indians, belonging to a tribe called Neutrals, pitched their tents on the banks of this stream and trapped the beaver. They traded the skins at Dundas and Toronto and even as far distant as Kingston and Montreal. As the country became more and more settled the beaver was destroyed to the great vexation of the [aboriginals]."
This portion of Wilmot Township, known as Block A in historical maps, was opened to settlement by the Canada Company, who, in 1828, had the Huron Road built to connect Guelph to Goderich in the Huron Tract to the northwest. Among the first to settle here were the Surarus, Reichard, and Bettschen families as shown on the detail map per Tremaine 1861. The Reichard brothers--Samuel and Jacob-- acquired 100 acres of land and water power rights to build a sawmill on Alder Creek in 1828. In return, they constructed two miles of the Huron Road. The first frame dwelling in Wilmot Township was built by Jacob Bettschen in 1830 & is now the site of Alder View Century Farm on Bethel Road. At one time, Rosebank had stores and a wayside inn for travellers on the stage coaches travelling from Hamilton to Goderich. Descendants of the original Suraras family still live nearby & are actively promoting Wilmot built heritage. -- for those interested in Wilmot Township, why not read More than a Century (Dewey Call # 971.344)?
Suggestion for the pause that refreshes? Take Ottawa South to where it turns into Bleams Road & left turn on Mannheim Road to where it ends at Huron Road; Right on Huron Road to visit the Rosebank cemetery & afterwards continue on to Hallman Road to achieve the height of land here & note the farms on the plateau; Left on Bethel Road for a scenic roller-coaster country drive; Left on Trussler for the last of Kitchener's scenic heritage roads (posted speed limit is 60!) until you arrive at the intersection with Ottawa Street & back into the city once more!
Notes: * Sararas really should be spelled Suraras Springs; * the other boulder was found at Glennie's Springs, north of Conestoga; ** although the aboriginals grew corn and passed this foodstuff on to the European settlers, the new settlers initially cleared the lands to grow wheat as that commodity found a ready market elsewhere; *** original text reads "Indian" but has been replaced 1) to move beyond the stereotype that has bedevilled the peoples of Canada's First Nations ; and 2) can only be applied correctly to those aboriginals who have status under the Indian Act; even in rephrasing language used, the writer is aware there are some within First Nations communities who believe the word "aboriginal" is in itself discriminatory===> to avoid giving offense, it is likely wiser to use the term Neutral or Mississauga once it can be correctly determined who occupied this area before the European Contact period.
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Labels: history
old-time land developers
Photos copyright Sandamara Images 2005 L to R: Joseph Brant memorial in City of Brantford, Iroquois long house and palisade at Kanata Historical Indian Village, Brantford ON.
1838 map on right shows locations along southern reaches of the Grand River where the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy settled after sale of the northern blocks of land.
- 1784 Haldimand Grant: Chief Joseph Brant representing the Six Nations seeks and receives the lands bordering the Grand River from source to mouth as reward for loyalty to the Crown in the American Revolutionary wars. He determines that some of the lands are excess to his nations' needs and proceeds to parcel out six blocks for sale to settlers.
- 1796 Richard Beasley acquires Block Two (94,012 acres) from Joseph Brant but is prevented from subdividing the lands or selling plots within it until the full mortage is paid. In 1800, he begins selling off land to Pennsylvania Mennonites in order to pay off his mortage and eventually leads to an agreement between Beasley and Brant to allow such sales.
- 1804 The German Company of Pennsylvania is formed to purchase 60,000 acres of Block Two lands and is represented in Upper Canada by Daniel Erb and Samuel Bricker. Pennsylvania Mennonite emigration to Upper Canada resulted from these factors: a) scarcity of land in Pennsylvania; b) Lancaster County, Pennsylvania experienced a severe agricultural depression during the 1820's; c) promise of regligious freedom re pacifism.
- 1822 Christian Nafziger comes to Upper Canada to find land on which to settle some 70 German families--the first Amish Mennonite to settle here. With the assistance of a group of Mennonites headed by Jacob Erb, who had settled nearby, a petition was made to the the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Peregrine Maitland for land i.e. the Crown Reserve just west of Waterloo. The first Mennonite settlers objected to these blocks of wild lands interspersed among the land which they were trying to settle. They impeded road building and harboured the foxes and wolves which preyed on their livestock.* A few years later the government hired a surveyor, John Goessman, to lay out three parallel roads in a westerly direction from the Waterloo settlement, with 200-acre lots on each side of the roads. The understanding was that the settlers pay for the survey, clear the roadway, clear a certain amount of land and build a house of sufficient size, and then they would be granted a patent to the front 50 acres of their lot.Three parallel roads were surveyed from Waterloo---one west from Erbs Mills, another one from Schneiders (or Snyders) Mills, and the third from Bliehms (or Bleams) Mills . The settlers called these "Oberstrasse," - Mittelstrasse," and "Unterstrasse."The 60,000 acres of the German Block in and around New Hamburg became the nucleus for these Germans and was the beginning of large-scale German emigration to Upper Canada from both the United States and continental Europe, and the establishment of such communities in the region as Heidelberg, Breslau, Mannheim, Baden, Wallenstein and Berlin, place names reflecting their roots on the Continent. *"these Reserve lands, lying in a "wild" state, were a source of annoyance because they are "a great harbor for Wolves and other beasts of prey, frequently making depredations on our. . .Cattle, Sheep, and Hogs, especially Sheep - an animal of primary importance
to us . . . ." - 1825-6 A Scot, John Galt, becomes active in the formation and chartering of the Canada Company and in company of a government-appointed Commission sails for Upper Canada to visit Crown land . They proceeed to purchase the Huron Tract, a triangle of Crown land nearly one million acres in size. The cost was approximately£1,000,000. Their first task is to cut a settlement road northwest from a site in present-day Guelph northwest through the Huron Tract to the deepest harbour on the Canadian side of Lake Huron--site of present-day Goderich. The building of the Huron Road is supervised by Dr. William Dunlop, often referred to as "Tiger" or the "Warden of the Forests." ** Tiger Dunlop is one of the most interesting characters in local history. For starters, he travelled everywhere in the company of his twelve apostles. The twelve apostles were twelve bottles of good Scots whiskey conveniently stored in a chest. He is also famous for his final will-- a most delightful wry document that I shall share as soon as it resurfaces in my pile of disorganized papers!
- 2006 Record report: "Things are getting tighter and tighter and prices are starting to escalate substantially. It's the old law of supply and demand." Of course, there is a solution according to Whitney: [the urban expansion of city boundaries is "something that definitely needs to be discussed." However, the region's director of community planning insists"Waterloo faces land shortage for all types of development (residential, commercial, industrial) per realtor John Whitney: "Essentially, where they are today is where they will stay. They will be permanent boundaries."
- 2006 City of Kitchener Council motion: "That the current selling price of City-owned industrial land be increased from $125,000/acre to $195,000/acre." ===> +56% increase in land values??? inflationary??? will Bank of Canada follow with interest rate increases to slow down this building boom? cf Today's Record business section: "Real estate still red hot: More sales/higher prices expected in region in 2006....net migration into the region @ 4,500 with average house price @ #235,000 (cf $220,511 = + 6.6% increase)
- Sources:
Www.collections.ic.gc.ca/heirloom_series/volume3/chapter10/200-207.htm
http://www.mhso.org/publications/Ontmennohistory14-2.pdf
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Labels: Berlin/Kitchener history, history, land use
04 August 2007
runaway growth
Provincial legislation under the Planning Act PPPs* requires municipalities City to provide a) at least a 10 year supply of land designated for new residential development and residential intensification; and b) at least a 3 year supply of residential units with servicing capacity in draft approval and/or registered phase.
Per City of Waterloo planner, Cotter [who] "said people have questioned why the city should go forward with the development at all. He said the answer is simple: while the city is committed to intensification, the growth rate simply demands more housing. "We have a rapidly growing municipality. It's a desirable place to live and we have a strong economy." According to Cotter, the disputed north west Waterloo subdivisons can go ahead as per: "The conclusion (reached) through all the 20 years of planning is the agricultural fields are suitable for development."** (1) The three subdivisions -- Vista Hills, Clair Creek Meadows and Activa/Greyerbiehl -- could mean up to 1,600 new homes.
Two years ago, RR asked and explored the question, "Is the City of Waterloo facing an impending housing shortage?" cf. the original post "slippery statistics" (3) and copy a few relevant points here:
In a report on growth management roles, Melanie Hare reports: "In the early 1990's, the City of Waterloo....determined that an annual increase of 750 dwelling units per year was sustainable..... While
on average, growth in the City has been in line with (its Growth Management Strategy), rates over the
past few years have exceeded this target i.e. in the range of 1,050 units per year....One demographic forecast suggests that the City of Waterloo is to undergo a 54.4% population increase of 38, 719 to 109,900 pop. by 2016*** ( projection is based from 1991: 109,900-71, 181 = 38,719 or +54.4%) which will require 18, 979 additional households.
According to City of Waterloo planner at the community meeting held last month, City of Waterloo currently has only a 1 year supply available. In short, the City of Waterloo has run out of greenfield development lands.
It's all a question of basic market economics and the law of supply and demand, isn't it? Note the conclusion presented to City of Waterloo Council by the lawyer representing the three developers: "During public delegations, Susan Rogers, the lawyer representing the landowners, said her clients have been patient and have remained open to resolve concerns put forward by the public and by experts. 'I'm here to make the positions of my clients clear," she said. 'This should conclude this phase of the development process. . . . Approval should be given, and we should move on to the next phase of this process.' " (2)..."The developers of the planned three subdivisions have been in a legal position for over a year to take the matter to the Ontario Municipal Board, but as yet have chosen not to do so. Going to this provincial body that adjudicates over contested planning issues would be a last resort, said Larry Masseo, vice-president of Activa Holdings, one of the main developers of the west side project." (2)
Note: the same pressures apply as well to the City of Kitchener, currently advertising for two members of the public to sit on the Kitchener Growth Management Task Force who will be examining how to manage that city's growth. Deadline for applications is 10 August 2007 and more information is available at www.kitchener.ca
Photos copyright Sandamara Images 2006: Huron Natural Area in City of Kitchener is currently undergoing some trails development. Pictures chosen to highlight two thoughts: (1) none of the environmental advocates have protested the many subdivisions adjacent to this environmentally sensitive area within the Strassburg Creek watershed---mmm? ; and (2) the City of Waterloo has a wonderful opportunity to develop a similar natural area in the McNally lands it owns and that section of Forested Hills it will acquire as part of the development process.
Notes: * acronym for Provincial Policy Statements; ** the subdivision proposals have been revised to include an enhanced buffer around ESPA 19, Forested Hills and will see the sensitive lands conveyed to the City at a cost of approximately $2,650 per acre; ***City of Waterloo has now posted current population at 115,000 as of 2007!!!!;
Sources: (1)MELINDA DALTON, Pleas to revisit moraine plan The Record 24 Jul 07; (2) Frances Barrick, Moraine project’s future unclear,” The Record 06 Jul 07Friday; (3)April 02, 2005 blog slippery statistics? link http://grandriver.blogspot.com/search?q=slippery+statisticsLabels: land use
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Nice colors. Keep up the good work. thnx!