Mike recently picked up a brochure from the Town of Caledon, called Explore Caledon’s Trails and Bikeways. It has a useful map of Caledon, showing the locations of trails and features of interest. It includes this description of the Niagara Escarpment:
            “Where visible, the Escarpment is a massive forested ridge that extends 1,100 km from western New York to Niagara Falls, across southern Ontario, up the Bruce Peninsula, under the waters of Georgian Bay to Manitoulin Island, and down the western shore of Lake Michigan. The process that created the Escarpment began more than 400 million years ago when the limestone and sandstone formed. These geological events are responsible for a myriad of specialized habitats where diverse plants and animals thrive. Recognized as one of Canada’s more significant land formations, the Escarpment was designated as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1990.”
     Well done, Caledon, for this complete information!
     The brochure also promotes Caledon’s portions of the Trans Canada Trail, Caledon Trailway, The Bruce Trail and Humber Valley Heritage Trail. All these trails make sense of the brochure’s title. There’s plenty to explore in Caledon.

Tags: Caledon, Niagara Escarpment, outdoor activities | Click here to add a comment »

Here is an important statement in response to the news that the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) has denied the Rockfort Quarry application:
     The Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Caledon applauds the OMB decision having to do with the James Dick Construction Limited Rockfort Quarry application for an open pit dolostone mine at Winston Churchill and Olde Baseline in the Town of Caledon.
     The Coalition, which has mounted a determined 13-year campaign against the designation and development of this inappropriate mineral aggregate proposal, includes thousands of supporters from Caledon, Erin, Wellington, Halton and Peel, as well as cycling, skiing, fishing, archery, equestrian and hiking enthusiasts from far and wide.
     The proposed quarry, which would have involved the extraction of dolostone up to 100 feet below the water table, involved a water mitigation system never before used in a similar scale, manner and setting. It could also have created negative impacts on local roadways, the Niagara Escarpment ecosystem and the Paris Moraine.
     The Board in its conclusion found:”The balance among competing interests mandated by the PPS (Provincial Policy Statement) and the OP (Official Plan) has been thoroughly considered by the Board. It is apparent, that with respect to these particular applications, the interest in protecting the natural heritage and cultural heritage resources of the subject lands and those surrounding them outweighs the interest in making the aggregate resource on the subject property available to supply mineral aggregate needs. Too much of enormous value to the Province, the Region and the Town could be lost if the proposed quarry went forward. A failure in the mitigation measures proposed for the quarry, as set out in the AMP (Adaptive Management Plan), would have a catastrophic impact on the natural environment or the natural features and functions of the area. Such an impact cannot be countenanced by the Board. In addition, the fundamental change to the character of the area attendant upon the proposed quarry would not be acceptable. The loss of views of rural lands, the loss of a cultural heritage landscape and cultural heritage resources and the conversion of a rural area into an urban area centered on a heavy industrial operation cannot be permitted in the interest of the production of more aggregate for infrastructure development. It is time for alternatives to aggregate for infrastructure construction to be found. Too much of what is essential to the character of this Province would be lost if aggregate extraction were to be permitted on lands like the subject property. Lands situated in a significant cultural landscape, surrounded by significant natural heritage features and functions, are not lands on which extraction should be permitted in the absence of demonstration of no negative impacts. No such demonstration has been completed in this case. Having regard to the provisions of the PPS, the ROP (Region of Peel Official Plan) and the OP, the Board finds that the requested OPA (Official Plan Amendment) and ZBLA (Zoning By-Law Amendment) do not represent good planning. Having regard to the ARA (Aggregate Resources Act), particularly section 12(1), the Board finds that the requested licence should not be issued.”
     “On behalf of the people of Caledon and all the Coalition supporters, we applaud the OMB’s decision to uphold good land use and environmental planning,” said Coalition President Penny Richardson. “We would like to thank all our supporters who devoted their time, energy, money and skill, as well as our legal and expert advisers. We also commend the Town of Caledon, the Region of Peel and Credit Valley Conservation for their opposition to this proposal. Time and again, they argued that this particular application did not meet an acceptable standard for protecting our water resources, sensitive natural heritage and local endangered species.”
     “While we are pleased with the decision, we will wait for the 30 day OMB appeal period to close before opening the champagne,” Richardson said.
     The OMB decision is available on the CCC website.

The next question is, is this a one-time decision, or a new precedent for the future of the Niagara Escarpment and its neighbouring areas? 

Tags: Caledon, Niagara Escarpment, opinion, sustainability | Click here to add a comment »

Lorraine Roberts welcoming guests to Delphinium Day.

Dining among the delphs as Christine Gill speaks.

Christine discusses delphs with nursery beds in the background.

An important event somehow was missed from our Autumn Events section. OK, it’s entirely my fault as editor, but I honestly don’t know how it slipped from my list.
     The annual Delphinium Day on July 3 at Plant Paradise Country Gardens in Caledon was a lovely event on a beautiful summer’s day. Hosts Lorraine and Robb Roberts had everything organized for the garden luncheon and talk. Guests first strolled past the lavish nursery beds and display gardens and then gathered under a white tent at dining tables decked with vases of delphinium bouquets. A light, fresh lunch was provided by Léna Valliquette of Tea Boutique in Caledon East.
     We were pleased to see some friends and acquaintances who had come to Delphinium Day after reading our feature interview with Lorraine in our summer issue. After lunch there was an informative presentation about growing delphiniums by Christine Gill of the Ontario Delphinium Club. After a flurry of questions from the audience, there were draws for gardening prizes. Mike was lucky enough to win a new compost holder, which he promptly gave to me as I’m more of a gardener than he is. He prefers to plant native species of trees and shrubs.
     Delphinium Day ended with each guest choosing a potted Asiatic Lily to take home. This event is a must for gardeners who’re fond of delphiniums, but it’s a lovely way to spend a Saturday even if all you want is to enjoy a stunning flower garden at a peak season. One of their spectacular flower beds is in one of Mike’s photos that are in rotation at the top of this page.
     For information on next year’s Delphinium Day, you can contact the Roberts. For more about delphiniums grown at Plant Paradise Country Gardens, see “Delphinium: Queen of Perennials” in our summer issue. It will appear online at this website soon.
     If you grow delphiniums, what’s your secret? What other memorable gardens have you seen?

Tags: Caledon, events, gardening | Click here to view 2 Comments, or to add your own comment »