As published in The Erin Advocate
By June, Wellington County is expected to be declared a "Safe Community", enhancing its reputation as an excellent place to live and work.
The designation is awarded by a Parachute, a national charitable organization dedicated to preventing injuries and promoting a culture in which everyone takes responsibility for safety.
About 22 per cent of Canadians live in municipalities designated as "safe communities", but Wellington will be only the second county (after Bruce County) to achieve that status.
Wellington's quest for the designation was co-chaired by County Councillor Gary Williamson (Mount Forest) and OPP Staff Sergeant Jack Hunjan, and involved meetings with local Community Oriented Policing (COP) committees, a survey of existing services, a Leadership Table with representative of various sectors, a "priority exercise" and a strategic plan to promote awareness.
"Injury is predictable and preventable," said Hunjan, in a presentation to Erin Town Council. "Pain and suffering can be reduced."
A world convention on injury prevention in Stockholm back in 1989 helped start the effort, declaring that a safe life is a basic human right.
Parachute is an amalgamation of four groups – Safe Communities Canada, SmartRisk, Safe Kids Canada and Thinkfirst. Safe Communities Canada is dedicated to mobilizing efforts to reduce the rates and severity of injuries by coordinating efforts among various agencies ranging from police and fire departments, to schools, public health, drug and alcohol prevention, and workplace safety.
The priority exercise identified various categories of injuries, which were analyzed based on death rates, potential years of life lost, the number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations, and the length of hospital stays.
Final rankings show the sources of injuries, starting with the most common:
#1 Falls
#2 Motor vehicle accidents (on and off-road)
#3 Intentional self-harm
#4 Sports and recreation accidents
#5 Agriculture and machinery accidents
#6 Accidental poisonings
#7 Pedestrian and cycling accidents
Safety has financial benefits, including savings for the health care system, and improved morale and productivity in the workplace. The World Health Organization estimates that every dollar a community invests in safety will return at least 40 dollars in savings. Wellington County plans to provide sustained funding for this effort.
There are also tourism and economic development advantages for "safe communities", since they will be seen as a preferred place for visiting or investing.
"A sign in the county that says 'Designated Safe Community' is going to bring in a lot of tourism," said Hunjan. "It's an investment which can attract new residents and businesses."
The designation will be another feather in Wellington County's safety cap, since they were also selected in December by Macleans Magazine as Canada's Safest Community. The title was previously held by the Town of Caledon.
That ranking was based on analysis of Statistics Canada's Crime Severity Index, and of police data for six types of offences: homicide, sexual assault, aggravated assault, robbery, break-ins and auto theft.
March 27, 2013
March 20, 2013
Could septic inspections reduce need for sewers?
As published in The Erin Advocate
A lot of money has been spent on the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP), seeking a vision for Erin's future, and building a case in favour of a sewer system. Many people don't want sewers, but is anyone building a practical case against them?
Is anyone still hoping this problem will go away if we just do nothing? Are local politicians hoping the province will force them to bring in sewers, so it won't be their fault?
It is quite a tangle of issues, including affordable housing, taxes, business development (or survival) and the Town's precious charm, but at the core is a basic question: Can Erin take care of its own waste, while protecting the river?
Private septic systems have been good enough in the past, but environmental standards are higher now, and there are more of us. The amount of pollution caused by septic systems is difficult to measure, but it is still a huge concern for the Ministry of the Environment (MOE).
In a recent letter, the MOE said it had opposed a sewage treatment plant in the past, largely due to "the need to protect the high quality aquatic ecosystem in this branch of the Credit River". But they said, "In a number of instances, development on small lots has now resulted in septic system failure. Given the risk of contamination from these failing systems, MOE has agreed to consider municipal sewage treatment."
They don't sound very enthusiastic about sewage treatment. What if Erin could clean up its act, with properly functioning septic systems in every back yard? Could we make the case that moderate growth and environmental protection could be achieved, without digging sewer trenches and spending 65 million dollars?
SSMP Consultant Matt Pearson paints a bleak picture of the "do nothing" option, predicting declining house prices, no jobs, closing schools, inadequate business taxation and insufficient housing for seniors and young people. Maybe he is right.
"I don't see it working, but you may be able to lobby the government to have big lots on septic systems," he said at a recent public meeting, exploring the possibility that a sewage system is decided to be too expensive. "You might get some growth out of that, but is that good growth?"
The option that is called "do nothing" would in fact take a lot of work, and some extraordinary exemptions from normal standards. What would it take to go this route? I'm not convinced it is possible, but I would like to explore the options. Maybe we could build on smaller lots using more elaborate backyard technology or communal septic beds. Send in your practical ideas as letters to the editor.
Historically, the Town has enforced the Ontario Building Code for the construction of septic systems. But how people maintained those systems has been none of the Town's business. Each homeowner has been solely responsible for their own miniature sewage plant.
That structure has to change. A septic system is not like a roof. Leaks affect the whole community, threatening public health and the environment. There should be Town staff dealing with wastewater issues, whether there is a sewer system or not.
The Ontario Building Code was amended a couple of years ago to provide for mandatory municipal inspection of private septic systems, in "vulnerable areas".
Andrew Harbolt, Erin's Chief Building Official, said the Town is awaiting final approval of those exact areas, through Ontario's Source Water Protection initiative. It is focused on preventing contamination of wells for municipal water systems. The Town will have to decide whether to have inspections done by their own staff, hire a contract inspector, or accept inspection certificates from third parties.
After an inspection, you may get an order to pay for further testing. If your septic system violates the Building Code, you will get an Order to Comply, requiring repair or replacement at your expense. This mandatory program only affects only a small number of properties close to municipal wells. But Council has the authority to extend the inspection system to other areas, or the entire Town.
Should all wells, streams and ponds be protected against faulty septic systems? By promising to force people to fix their septic systems, could the Town convince the MOE that a sewer system is not needed?
There are a number of complications, one being the fact that many properties are too small for a standard septic system under today's standards, and would need a tertiary system costing several thousand dollars extra. I have an idea to offset that cost, which I will explain in a future column. It's an idea that will cost money, but it will be a lot less than $65 million.
A lot of money has been spent on the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP), seeking a vision for Erin's future, and building a case in favour of a sewer system. Many people don't want sewers, but is anyone building a practical case against them?
Is anyone still hoping this problem will go away if we just do nothing? Are local politicians hoping the province will force them to bring in sewers, so it won't be their fault?
It is quite a tangle of issues, including affordable housing, taxes, business development (or survival) and the Town's precious charm, but at the core is a basic question: Can Erin take care of its own waste, while protecting the river?
Private septic systems have been good enough in the past, but environmental standards are higher now, and there are more of us. The amount of pollution caused by septic systems is difficult to measure, but it is still a huge concern for the Ministry of the Environment (MOE).
In a recent letter, the MOE said it had opposed a sewage treatment plant in the past, largely due to "the need to protect the high quality aquatic ecosystem in this branch of the Credit River". But they said, "In a number of instances, development on small lots has now resulted in septic system failure. Given the risk of contamination from these failing systems, MOE has agreed to consider municipal sewage treatment."
They don't sound very enthusiastic about sewage treatment. What if Erin could clean up its act, with properly functioning septic systems in every back yard? Could we make the case that moderate growth and environmental protection could be achieved, without digging sewer trenches and spending 65 million dollars?
SSMP Consultant Matt Pearson paints a bleak picture of the "do nothing" option, predicting declining house prices, no jobs, closing schools, inadequate business taxation and insufficient housing for seniors and young people. Maybe he is right.
"I don't see it working, but you may be able to lobby the government to have big lots on septic systems," he said at a recent public meeting, exploring the possibility that a sewage system is decided to be too expensive. "You might get some growth out of that, but is that good growth?"
The option that is called "do nothing" would in fact take a lot of work, and some extraordinary exemptions from normal standards. What would it take to go this route? I'm not convinced it is possible, but I would like to explore the options. Maybe we could build on smaller lots using more elaborate backyard technology or communal septic beds. Send in your practical ideas as letters to the editor.
Historically, the Town has enforced the Ontario Building Code for the construction of septic systems. But how people maintained those systems has been none of the Town's business. Each homeowner has been solely responsible for their own miniature sewage plant.
That structure has to change. A septic system is not like a roof. Leaks affect the whole community, threatening public health and the environment. There should be Town staff dealing with wastewater issues, whether there is a sewer system or not.
The Ontario Building Code was amended a couple of years ago to provide for mandatory municipal inspection of private septic systems, in "vulnerable areas".
Andrew Harbolt, Erin's Chief Building Official, said the Town is awaiting final approval of those exact areas, through Ontario's Source Water Protection initiative. It is focused on preventing contamination of wells for municipal water systems. The Town will have to decide whether to have inspections done by their own staff, hire a contract inspector, or accept inspection certificates from third parties.
After an inspection, you may get an order to pay for further testing. If your septic system violates the Building Code, you will get an Order to Comply, requiring repair or replacement at your expense. This mandatory program only affects only a small number of properties close to municipal wells. But Council has the authority to extend the inspection system to other areas, or the entire Town.
Should all wells, streams and ponds be protected against faulty septic systems? By promising to force people to fix their septic systems, could the Town convince the MOE that a sewer system is not needed?
There are a number of complications, one being the fact that many properties are too small for a standard septic system under today's standards, and would need a tertiary system costing several thousand dollars extra. I have an idea to offset that cost, which I will explain in a future column. It's an idea that will cost money, but it will be a lot less than $65 million.
March 13, 2013
Arrival of syrup season brings renewal of hope
As published in The Erin Advocate
I recently started a new full-time job, after a year of part-time work, and it actually feels good to be back in the rat race. As usual, the rats are in the lead.
As a graphic designer at a small retail print shop in Brampton, I am keeping customers happy, one small project at a time.
For many people, there is a powerful link between employment and a feeling of well-being. I know that my worth is not determined by the work I do, but I feel more worthwhile when I'm doing it.
My buoyancy of mood has been helped by the imminent arrival of spring. There are the annual rituals, like putting away winter coats, and getting our hopes up about the Blue Jays. Spring is a good time for hope, no matter what the circumstances.
I am glad to give up one hour of sleep every year to get back my extra hour of evening sunshine. It's little wonder that some cultures have revered the sun as a god, considering the uplifting energy it provides.
And of course, there are the maple syrup festivals. Even if you don't go to them, it's encouraging to know that the sap is running. They are being held at Mountsberg Conservation Area (Campbellville), the Kortright Centre (Woodbridge) and in Elmira where it has been going for 49 years and now draws 70,000 people out on a single day (April 6 this year). For details, go to www.elmiramaplesyrup.com.
On a smaller scale, the “Sweet Taste of Spring” will be held at Terra Cotta Conservation Area, March 23-24, 9 am - 3 pm. There will be pancakes, local maple syrup and educational stations on the tapping of maple trees.
It's also an opportunity to learn about bird migration and spring baby animals, make your own pine cone bird feeder, get expert gardening advice for spring or enjoy a wagon ride and live entertainment. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children (4-12) and seniors. Call 1-800-367-0890 or visit www.creditvalleyca.ca/sweettasteofspring.
For part of last year I was employed as a part-time inventory analyst at a large grocery store. It is a super place to work, if you have a taste for organized chaos.
On one occasion, I had to heave a case of 10 bottles of maple syrup into the trash compactor. One of the bottles had broken and leaked, and it was not considered worthwhile to wipe off the other bottles so they could be sold.
The amount of waste in the food industry is obscene, but I don't blame the front-line workers or managers. It's a corporate business model that attempts to move huge volumes, while keeping costs low.
It's a mainly part-time / low-wage workforce, an odd combination of young people hoping for something better and older folks who cannot yet afford to retire. It's a very competitive business, and the focus is quite rightly on satisfying the needs of customers.
The waste in the system, however, is directly related to the customer demand for an incredible variety of foods, always fresh and attractively displayed. And of course, there must always be the perception of low price and good value.
Vast selection and huge waste are luxuries for which we all must pay. They are signs of an affluent society that has grown out of touch with the values that made it prosperous. It is an unsustainable pattern of behaviour, one which will inevitably be corrected.
I recently started a new full-time job, after a year of part-time work, and it actually feels good to be back in the rat race. As usual, the rats are in the lead.
As a graphic designer at a small retail print shop in Brampton, I am keeping customers happy, one small project at a time.
For many people, there is a powerful link between employment and a feeling of well-being. I know that my worth is not determined by the work I do, but I feel more worthwhile when I'm doing it.
My buoyancy of mood has been helped by the imminent arrival of spring. There are the annual rituals, like putting away winter coats, and getting our hopes up about the Blue Jays. Spring is a good time for hope, no matter what the circumstances.
I am glad to give up one hour of sleep every year to get back my extra hour of evening sunshine. It's little wonder that some cultures have revered the sun as a god, considering the uplifting energy it provides.
And of course, there are the maple syrup festivals. Even if you don't go to them, it's encouraging to know that the sap is running. They are being held at Mountsberg Conservation Area (Campbellville), the Kortright Centre (Woodbridge) and in Elmira where it has been going for 49 years and now draws 70,000 people out on a single day (April 6 this year). For details, go to www.elmiramaplesyrup.com.
On a smaller scale, the “Sweet Taste of Spring” will be held at Terra Cotta Conservation Area, March 23-24, 9 am - 3 pm. There will be pancakes, local maple syrup and educational stations on the tapping of maple trees.
It's also an opportunity to learn about bird migration and spring baby animals, make your own pine cone bird feeder, get expert gardening advice for spring or enjoy a wagon ride and live entertainment. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children (4-12) and seniors. Call 1-800-367-0890 or visit www.creditvalleyca.ca/sweettasteofspring.
For part of last year I was employed as a part-time inventory analyst at a large grocery store. It is a super place to work, if you have a taste for organized chaos.
On one occasion, I had to heave a case of 10 bottles of maple syrup into the trash compactor. One of the bottles had broken and leaked, and it was not considered worthwhile to wipe off the other bottles so they could be sold.
The amount of waste in the food industry is obscene, but I don't blame the front-line workers or managers. It's a corporate business model that attempts to move huge volumes, while keeping costs low.
It's a mainly part-time / low-wage workforce, an odd combination of young people hoping for something better and older folks who cannot yet afford to retire. It's a very competitive business, and the focus is quite rightly on satisfying the needs of customers.
The waste in the system, however, is directly related to the customer demand for an incredible variety of foods, always fresh and attractively displayed. And of course, there must always be the perception of low price and good value.
Vast selection and huge waste are luxuries for which we all must pay. They are signs of an affluent society that has grown out of touch with the values that made it prosperous. It is an unsustainable pattern of behaviour, one which will inevitably be corrected.
March 06, 2013
All the tree news that newsprint can handle
As published in The Erin Advocate
As Erin's self appointed tree reporter, I am glad to bring you all the breaking news about our strong, silent companions. The recent heavy snow has certainly tested their flexibility and shown off the dramatic beauty of their limbs.
Trees will certainly carry on without us when we're gone. But considering how hard we've tried to reduce their population, it only seems right that we give them a hand up. Bountiful greenery is one of the best ways to offset climate change, and there's no harm in boosting the oxygen supply.
For rural landowners, planting trees can reclaim land from agriculture, help protect streams and wetlands, and increase wildlife habitat. Working with the Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) Tree Seedling Program, you can plant your own forest for about $150.
Anyone with an interest can drop in to a free information session tomorrow (Thursday, March 7) at the CVC Forestry Services’ new office, 15526 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon, any time between 7 and 9 p.m.
“Many landowners interested in planting trees might not know where to start,” said Mike Puddister, CVC's Director of Restoration and Stewardship. “This is an opportunity to get in-depth, one-on-one advice from our forestry department to help plan your next tree planting project.”
Those with existing hardwood and evergreen woodlots will learn about forest management challenges and best practices.
CVC has three programs to promote private land reforestation and stewardship, offering inexpensive tree planting services and plant materials to eligible landowners.
Their mechanized reforestation service plants more than 100,000 bare root seedlings every year, in late April to mid-May. The main tree species used in the program are White and Red Pine, White Spruce, Tamarack, Cedar, Sugar Maple, Red Oak, Silver Maple and Black Cherry.
The Naturalization Planting Program provides a more customized service, using potted trees and shrubs, for properties over two acres that need natural improvements. CVC also sells its potted stock directly to qualified landowners (over one acre) who want to do the planting themselves, as long as they order at least 20 units.
For more information, including a link to details on Ontario's Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP), go to www.creditvalleyca.ca. Check out the Your Land and Water section, which includes a series of pages on Countryside Living.
To discuss tree planting options on your property, contact Brian Boyd, Forestry Planting Project Coordinator, at 905-838-1940 or bboyd@creditvalleyca.ca.
Another option for those with properties of one acre or more is an upcoming "Caring for Your Land and Water Workshop", offered free by CVC on Tuesday, March 19 at the Inglewood Community Centre.
CVC staff will guide participants through the completion of worksheets from the Your Guide to Caring for the Credit Handbook on special interest topics such as forests, wetlands, septic systems, water wells and landscaping. Participants receive customized property maps, a copy of the handbook and a homeowner stewardship kit.
Register this week, with your lot and concession number, by contacting Andrea Morrone, 1-800-668-5557, ext 436 or amorrone@creditvalleyca.ca.
Meanwhile, tree huggers and planters should mark May 4 on their calendars. Erin's Trails Committee is teaming up with CVC, members of the Rotary Club and other community volunteers for a tree-planting blitz.
The target is the slope of the Deer Pit next to the Elora Cataract Trail, just north of the high school. Last year's successful planting was done along the Rotary Trail, between the water tower and the Delarmbro subdivision.
That first weekend in May is shaping up to be a busy one in Erin, since the Environmental Advisory Committee is holding its annual Clean-Up Day, and the new Transition Erin group is holding its big "Unleashing" event.
So check The Advocate for more details in the coming weeks, and be sure to recycle it when you're done. And in case you're wondering, the production and use of paper is not causing forests to disappear. Trees for paper are grown and replenished like a crop.
Like any product, paper should not be wasted. But newsprint makers say that not using paper in order to save trees is like not eating salad in order to “save” vegetables. Do you buy it?
As Erin's self appointed tree reporter, I am glad to bring you all the breaking news about our strong, silent companions. The recent heavy snow has certainly tested their flexibility and shown off the dramatic beauty of their limbs.
Trees will certainly carry on without us when we're gone. But considering how hard we've tried to reduce their population, it only seems right that we give them a hand up. Bountiful greenery is one of the best ways to offset climate change, and there's no harm in boosting the oxygen supply.
For rural landowners, planting trees can reclaim land from agriculture, help protect streams and wetlands, and increase wildlife habitat. Working with the Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) Tree Seedling Program, you can plant your own forest for about $150.
Anyone with an interest can drop in to a free information session tomorrow (Thursday, March 7) at the CVC Forestry Services’ new office, 15526 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon, any time between 7 and 9 p.m.
“Many landowners interested in planting trees might not know where to start,” said Mike Puddister, CVC's Director of Restoration and Stewardship. “This is an opportunity to get in-depth, one-on-one advice from our forestry department to help plan your next tree planting project.”
Those with existing hardwood and evergreen woodlots will learn about forest management challenges and best practices.
CVC has three programs to promote private land reforestation and stewardship, offering inexpensive tree planting services and plant materials to eligible landowners.
Their mechanized reforestation service plants more than 100,000 bare root seedlings every year, in late April to mid-May. The main tree species used in the program are White and Red Pine, White Spruce, Tamarack, Cedar, Sugar Maple, Red Oak, Silver Maple and Black Cherry.
The Naturalization Planting Program provides a more customized service, using potted trees and shrubs, for properties over two acres that need natural improvements. CVC also sells its potted stock directly to qualified landowners (over one acre) who want to do the planting themselves, as long as they order at least 20 units.
For more information, including a link to details on Ontario's Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP), go to www.creditvalleyca.ca. Check out the Your Land and Water section, which includes a series of pages on Countryside Living.
To discuss tree planting options on your property, contact Brian Boyd, Forestry Planting Project Coordinator, at 905-838-1940 or bboyd@creditvalleyca.ca.
Another option for those with properties of one acre or more is an upcoming "Caring for Your Land and Water Workshop", offered free by CVC on Tuesday, March 19 at the Inglewood Community Centre.
CVC staff will guide participants through the completion of worksheets from the Your Guide to Caring for the Credit Handbook on special interest topics such as forests, wetlands, septic systems, water wells and landscaping. Participants receive customized property maps, a copy of the handbook and a homeowner stewardship kit.
Register this week, with your lot and concession number, by contacting Andrea Morrone, 1-800-668-5557, ext 436 or amorrone@creditvalleyca.ca.
Meanwhile, tree huggers and planters should mark May 4 on their calendars. Erin's Trails Committee is teaming up with CVC, members of the Rotary Club and other community volunteers for a tree-planting blitz.
The target is the slope of the Deer Pit next to the Elora Cataract Trail, just north of the high school. Last year's successful planting was done along the Rotary Trail, between the water tower and the Delarmbro subdivision.
That first weekend in May is shaping up to be a busy one in Erin, since the Environmental Advisory Committee is holding its annual Clean-Up Day, and the new Transition Erin group is holding its big "Unleashing" event.
So check The Advocate for more details in the coming weeks, and be sure to recycle it when you're done. And in case you're wondering, the production and use of paper is not causing forests to disappear. Trees for paper are grown and replenished like a crop.
Like any product, paper should not be wasted. But newsprint makers say that not using paper in order to save trees is like not eating salad in order to “save” vegetables. Do you buy it?
February 27, 2013
Many consider sewer system too costly
As published in The Erin Advocate
A public meeting on the prospect of a sewer system last week revealed a strong block of opposition, as residents of Erin village and Hillsburgh learned about the costs and disruptions they may have to face.
Concerns ranged from the impact of a sewage treatment plant to the projections of significant population growth, but there were also people who were optimistic about the benefits that sewers might bring to the community.
Matt Pearson, the consultant managing Erin's Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) revealed details of his rough cost estimates, based on a sewage system for a combined urban population of 6,500 (the current total is now about 4,200).
The underground pipe system, with pumping stations, could cost $27 million for Erin village and $9.8 million for Hillsburgh. The sewage treatment plant could cost $28.6 million, bringing the total for the system to $65.4 million.
The cost share for each urban homeowner could total $32,000 (including $19,500 for collection, and $12,500 for the plant). The cost of the collection system would only be about $5,700 per lot for future subdivisions, with the same $12,500 for treatment, bringing that total to $18,200.
These costs, plus interest, would be spread over 10 to 20 years, as a separate charge either on the tax bill, or more likely on the water bill. The system would be built in phases, and property owners would not be charged until they actually have sewer service.
Pearson said there is a good chance of federal and provincial grants to reduce the cost to home and business owners by as much as two-thirds. He said the Town could only borrow up to $14 million towards the project. Additional revenue would come from development.
"There are two things going for us," he said. "We have this old aging infrastructure of septics. And we've got growth, and governments like growth because growth is jobs. You've got a case, and the SSMP is your case to carry forward and try to get a grant. I don't think you're going to build this on your own."
Some of the 150 in attendance at the Centre 2000 meeting were skeptical about the plan, or openly hostile.
"A lot of people live here for the size of it, for the quaintness of it," said Matthew Sammut. "Growth is a reality of the GTA area and we have to accept it, but at a manageable level. Is it reasonable to double our town in a relatively short period of time?"
"We already have debt in this town. My tax bills are pretty darn high. I've compared it to other communities in our region, and we are 20-40% higher than most areas. Our costs are not going to go down with this, and over time will drive residents out of Erin – simple," he said, to a round of applause.
"I think that's irresponsible. I'm not counting on grants. Our governments are broke, and they may come through – they may make themselves broker," he said, arguing that even if the bill for homeowners was reduced to $20,000 or $10,000, it would still be "not acceptable".
Pearson noted that virtually none of the aging septic systems in the urban zones are being replaced, as people await the outcome of this process. Replacement can cost $20,000, and possibly much more for small lots.
Sammut also said it would be "inexcusable" to build a sewage treatment plant in a location that could hurt existing residents through "lifestyle or financial impact."
County Councillor Ken Chapman said growth is essential for the quality of life in Erin. "If we do not grow, we will lose the high school," he said.
"Everybody bitches about how high their taxes are, and ours are the same, but if we can get some business into town, that will drop the tax rate down," said Shelley Foord, Chair of the Business Improvement Area, and a member of the SSMP Liaison Committee and Transition Erin. "We need to look at some option, because they're just going to keep going up."
"Is business actually going to come?" said Andrew Gorsky. He lives close to the possible treatment site near Tenth Line and County Road 52, and believes a plant would "massacre house pricing".
"We don't have close proximity to 400 series highways. Looking at knowledge base (software) we don't have the infrastructure. Who's going to want to come here to build an infrastructure? Are we actually going to get any business out of this, other than just homes?"
Pearson said the annual sewage bill for homeowners could be $450-500, as a rough estimate, but it could be higher depending on how much revenue needs to be generated for future replacement of part of the system.
There would be additional costs, including a fee to hook up, the cost of laying pipe from the house to the road, and the cost of ripping out or decommissioning the old septic system.
The SSMP has concluded that a gravity-based system could be built, with no pumping stations in Hillsburgh and a big pipe to Erin village along the Elora-Cataract Trail. Two pumping stations would be needed in Erin, and about 10% of properties would need individual sewage pumps to move their waste from low elevations up to the main sewer line.
To finish off the SSMP, the Ministry of the Environment MOE and Credit Valley Conservation will review the Assimilative Capacity Study, which measures the ability of the West Credit River to tolerate effluent from a treatment plant using current technology.
They will set a long-term population limit for the combined Hillsburgh-Erin village urban areas, possibly in the 9,000 to 13,000 range – though at the high end, nitrate and phosphorus contamination are above MOE limits.
"The river is telling us, through this chemistry, what it can accept," said Pearson.
The final draft report will be reviewed with the liaison committee, and the core management team (which includes representatives of the Town, MOE, CVC, Wellington County, Peel Region, Ministry of Natural Resources and Triton Engineering), and council will make comments on it. The report will be finalized, the public will have a period of time to make comments, then council will vote on revising or approving the plan. This could take two months, said Pearson.
The SSMP study has covered the first two phases of the full environment assessment that would be required for a sewer system. Town council will have to decide whether to proceed with the next phases.
A public meeting on the prospect of a sewer system last week revealed a strong block of opposition, as residents of Erin village and Hillsburgh learned about the costs and disruptions they may have to face.
Concerns ranged from the impact of a sewage treatment plant to the projections of significant population growth, but there were also people who were optimistic about the benefits that sewers might bring to the community.
Matt Pearson, the consultant managing Erin's Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) revealed details of his rough cost estimates, based on a sewage system for a combined urban population of 6,500 (the current total is now about 4,200).
The underground pipe system, with pumping stations, could cost $27 million for Erin village and $9.8 million for Hillsburgh. The sewage treatment plant could cost $28.6 million, bringing the total for the system to $65.4 million.
The cost share for each urban homeowner could total $32,000 (including $19,500 for collection, and $12,500 for the plant). The cost of the collection system would only be about $5,700 per lot for future subdivisions, with the same $12,500 for treatment, bringing that total to $18,200.
These costs, plus interest, would be spread over 10 to 20 years, as a separate charge either on the tax bill, or more likely on the water bill. The system would be built in phases, and property owners would not be charged until they actually have sewer service.
Pearson said there is a good chance of federal and provincial grants to reduce the cost to home and business owners by as much as two-thirds. He said the Town could only borrow up to $14 million towards the project. Additional revenue would come from development.
"There are two things going for us," he said. "We have this old aging infrastructure of septics. And we've got growth, and governments like growth because growth is jobs. You've got a case, and the SSMP is your case to carry forward and try to get a grant. I don't think you're going to build this on your own."
Some of the 150 in attendance at the Centre 2000 meeting were skeptical about the plan, or openly hostile.
"A lot of people live here for the size of it, for the quaintness of it," said Matthew Sammut. "Growth is a reality of the GTA area and we have to accept it, but at a manageable level. Is it reasonable to double our town in a relatively short period of time?"
"We already have debt in this town. My tax bills are pretty darn high. I've compared it to other communities in our region, and we are 20-40% higher than most areas. Our costs are not going to go down with this, and over time will drive residents out of Erin – simple," he said, to a round of applause.
"I think that's irresponsible. I'm not counting on grants. Our governments are broke, and they may come through – they may make themselves broker," he said, arguing that even if the bill for homeowners was reduced to $20,000 or $10,000, it would still be "not acceptable".
Pearson noted that virtually none of the aging septic systems in the urban zones are being replaced, as people await the outcome of this process. Replacement can cost $20,000, and possibly much more for small lots.
Sammut also said it would be "inexcusable" to build a sewage treatment plant in a location that could hurt existing residents through "lifestyle or financial impact."
County Councillor Ken Chapman said growth is essential for the quality of life in Erin. "If we do not grow, we will lose the high school," he said.
"Everybody bitches about how high their taxes are, and ours are the same, but if we can get some business into town, that will drop the tax rate down," said Shelley Foord, Chair of the Business Improvement Area, and a member of the SSMP Liaison Committee and Transition Erin. "We need to look at some option, because they're just going to keep going up."
"Is business actually going to come?" said Andrew Gorsky. He lives close to the possible treatment site near Tenth Line and County Road 52, and believes a plant would "massacre house pricing".
"We don't have close proximity to 400 series highways. Looking at knowledge base (software) we don't have the infrastructure. Who's going to want to come here to build an infrastructure? Are we actually going to get any business out of this, other than just homes?"
Pearson said the annual sewage bill for homeowners could be $450-500, as a rough estimate, but it could be higher depending on how much revenue needs to be generated for future replacement of part of the system.
There would be additional costs, including a fee to hook up, the cost of laying pipe from the house to the road, and the cost of ripping out or decommissioning the old septic system.
The SSMP has concluded that a gravity-based system could be built, with no pumping stations in Hillsburgh and a big pipe to Erin village along the Elora-Cataract Trail. Two pumping stations would be needed in Erin, and about 10% of properties would need individual sewage pumps to move their waste from low elevations up to the main sewer line.
To finish off the SSMP, the Ministry of the Environment MOE and Credit Valley Conservation will review the Assimilative Capacity Study, which measures the ability of the West Credit River to tolerate effluent from a treatment plant using current technology.
They will set a long-term population limit for the combined Hillsburgh-Erin village urban areas, possibly in the 9,000 to 13,000 range – though at the high end, nitrate and phosphorus contamination are above MOE limits.
"The river is telling us, through this chemistry, what it can accept," said Pearson.
The final draft report will be reviewed with the liaison committee, and the core management team (which includes representatives of the Town, MOE, CVC, Wellington County, Peel Region, Ministry of Natural Resources and Triton Engineering), and council will make comments on it. The report will be finalized, the public will have a period of time to make comments, then council will vote on revising or approving the plan. This could take two months, said Pearson.
The SSMP study has covered the first two phases of the full environment assessment that would be required for a sewer system. Town council will have to decide whether to proceed with the next phases.
February 20, 2013
Hillsburgh sax player recalls his adventures
As published in The Erin Advocate
James Kelso is going on 97 this year and is still going strong, thanks in part to the lively music that has been woven through his life.
He lives at the Hillsburgh Rest Home on Trafalgar Road, worships just across the road at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and is supported by many friends and good memories.
He was raised by his grandparents, on a farm outside Guelph at the time, near today's Bullfrog Plaza. He remembers doing lots of chores, taking care of his pet horse Dan, and going to school in the basement of the British Methodist Episcopalian Church on Essex Street.
His grandfather James was both a thundering preacher and a bootlegger – the latter resulting in the family moving away from Guelph. They ended up on a farm outside Montreal.
While Kelso was in school, grandpa always insisted on A's, and grandma got him started playing the piano. He played the clarinet in school, but the saxophone became his main instrument. Learning French threw him for a bit of a loop, but he adapted well to the environment.
"In high school, it was like a big honour to be the only black person," he said. "I was treated with respect."
Kelso worked his way through McGill University in the 1930s, becoming the first black to graduate from the music program there. That's an achievement worth noting during Black History Month, which has been celebrated each February in Ontario for the past 20 years.
He went on to earn a Masters degree, and a place in the lively music scene that flourished in Montreal during the 1940s. It was the city that launched Oscar Peterson to stardom, and a favourite spot for musicians like Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.
Kelso played in different bands at famous hotspots such as Rockhead's Paradise (the first black-owned club in Canada), the Esquire Showbar and Chez Paree.
"I had a whole lot of fun," he said. "People came just to see me."
Montreal had become a North American entertainment capital, with big names like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker jamming with the locals. Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Jimmy Dorsey brought their dance bands to Montreal clubs. Various forms of jazz, blues, swing and bebop flourished, along with burlesque nightclubs and vaudeville shows.
Kelso was not just a jazz musician, but adapted to whatever style was popular with audiences. He often encountered people, however, who assumed that his talent was linked to his race.
"They'd say, 'All you people can do music' – they were brainwashed to think that," he said. In his career he did encounter discrimination, discovering that he couldn't make the same money as a white musician.
"They wanted you to play, but they didn't want to pay," he said, though he did do a bit better touring in New York State. He taught others to play, was involved in recording projects, and also toured in England. He returned to Ontario, and worked as a cook at a hotel and the University of Guelph.
"I had many jobs," said Kelso. "You had to go with the flow. But I was involved with music all my life."
James Kelso is going on 97 this year and is still going strong, thanks in part to the lively music that has been woven through his life.
He lives at the Hillsburgh Rest Home on Trafalgar Road, worships just across the road at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and is supported by many friends and good memories.
He was raised by his grandparents, on a farm outside Guelph at the time, near today's Bullfrog Plaza. He remembers doing lots of chores, taking care of his pet horse Dan, and going to school in the basement of the British Methodist Episcopalian Church on Essex Street.
His grandfather James was both a thundering preacher and a bootlegger – the latter resulting in the family moving away from Guelph. They ended up on a farm outside Montreal.
While Kelso was in school, grandpa always insisted on A's, and grandma got him started playing the piano. He played the clarinet in school, but the saxophone became his main instrument. Learning French threw him for a bit of a loop, but he adapted well to the environment.
"In high school, it was like a big honour to be the only black person," he said. "I was treated with respect."
Kelso worked his way through McGill University in the 1930s, becoming the first black to graduate from the music program there. That's an achievement worth noting during Black History Month, which has been celebrated each February in Ontario for the past 20 years.
He went on to earn a Masters degree, and a place in the lively music scene that flourished in Montreal during the 1940s. It was the city that launched Oscar Peterson to stardom, and a favourite spot for musicians like Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.
Kelso played in different bands at famous hotspots such as Rockhead's Paradise (the first black-owned club in Canada), the Esquire Showbar and Chez Paree.
"I had a whole lot of fun," he said. "People came just to see me."
Montreal had become a North American entertainment capital, with big names like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker jamming with the locals. Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Jimmy Dorsey brought their dance bands to Montreal clubs. Various forms of jazz, blues, swing and bebop flourished, along with burlesque nightclubs and vaudeville shows.
Kelso was not just a jazz musician, but adapted to whatever style was popular with audiences. He often encountered people, however, who assumed that his talent was linked to his race.
"They'd say, 'All you people can do music' – they were brainwashed to think that," he said. In his career he did encounter discrimination, discovering that he couldn't make the same money as a white musician.
"They wanted you to play, but they didn't want to pay," he said, though he did do a bit better touring in New York State. He taught others to play, was involved in recording projects, and also toured in England. He returned to Ontario, and worked as a cook at a hotel and the University of Guelph.
"I had many jobs," said Kelso. "You had to go with the flow. But I was involved with music all my life."
February 13, 2013
Sewers would bring new growth, new costs
As published in The Erin Advocate
A sewer system for Erin village and Hillsburgh could cost about $60 million, creating a long-term surcharge on the tax bills of urban homeowners, according to the consultant running the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) study.
Matt Pearson of B.M. Ross hosted a special workshop last week, to discuss servicing issues with Erin councillors and staff in advance of a public meeting planned for February 21.
He has no mandate to provide detailed estimates, and insufficient information to do so, since the exact nature of a system would be studied in a future environmental assessment. He was willing to give rough estimates in response to councillors' questions.
He said the maximum combined population of Hillsburgh and Erin village could be set in the 9,000 to 12,000 range, based on the capacity of the Credit River to handle sewage treatment effluent.
The users of a sewer system would have to share the capital and borrowing costs (spread over 10-20 years on the tax bill), plus pay a hook-up fee and an ongoing usage charge.
Pearson said each urban property owner could be faced with a cost of $35,000 to $40,000, once a sewer line is available on their street. This could be reduced by a federal/provincial grant. If a grant covered 50% of the cost of the system, for example, the individual debts would be cut in half.
"We have to have an active strategy in place to go after a grant," said Councillor Barb Tocher.
New housing and business development would also help fund such a system. Pearson said without a grant, the system will be beyond the Town's borrowing capacity.
"You need a grant, and I think you'll get one, because you have a septic problem and economic development opportunities," he said.
The urban population within the Town of Erin, according to the 2011 census, was 3,739, including 2,674 in Erin village and 1,065 in Hillsburgh. (There is uncertainty about the accuracy of the census count, and B.M. Ross is using an estimate of 4,280 as the current urban total.) The population of Erin's rural area (including hamlets) is about 7,000.
If the Solmar subdivision is built as currently proposed, it alone could boost the urban total to about 7,200 over more than 20 years.
The land within the existing urban boundaries could theoretically house a total of up to 23,000 people, based on provincial density targets, but that is not considered realistic.
The maximum possible population will be determined by the maximum waste that the Credit River can safely absorb (assuming the sewage is not pumped to another municipality).
The final SSMP report (expected this spring) will include an Assimilative Capacity Study that will estimate how many people the river could handle, based on Ministry of the Environment standards for various pollutants, and regular sewage treatment technology.
More expensive treatment could increase the quality of the effluent, creating capacity for more population.
The final figures are not public yet, but last week's workshop included projections, showing how urban population totals of 6,480, 10,000 or 13,500 would affect the health of the river.
For criteria such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Dissolved Oxygen and Total Suspended Solids, even the highest population would be well within provincial limits. For e. coli bacteria, the levels today are already spiking slightly above the limits, and new development would not change the situation.
For nitrates and phosphorous, the low-end projection is within the limits, and the high end is at or above them, depending on treatment options.
More detailed information will eventually be released, after Credit Valley Conservation and the MOE review the draft report, but Pearson predicted the population limit could end up in the 9,000 to 12,000 range.
"The [development] capacity will have to be meted out, in some way that you will have to figure out," Pearson told councillors.
He will present his draft report to council on February 19, but does not plan to provide copies for the public, either of the draft, or of the Assimilative Capacity Study, which is intended to be released as background to the final report.
Councillor John Brennan said council would have to consider whether to release the draft material now, depending on whether it contains sensitive information that could, for example, affect property values.
There will be a public meeting on February 21, 7 pm, at Centre 2000, where Pearson will make a presentation on the draft report.
The meeting is intended to "present alternative community planning and servicing strategies and preferred solutions" according to the SSMP flow chart, and to get "public input on evaluation and implementation".
Pearson said the report will outline the consequences of not proceeding with sewers for existing homes, which he said include a "devaluation of properties" in existing urban areas.
He said it would not be good to have a "two-tier system", in which new homes have sewers and old ones do not, with the old areas being shut out of any housing or business redevelopment.
He noted that some homeowners are delaying replacement of septic systems, in case a sewer system is built.
"People are holding off, but they can't wait forever," he said, pointing out that a homeowner's share of the cost of a sewer system is roughly comparable to the cost of replacing a septic system. Many urban lots in Hillsburgh and Erin village are too small under current regulations for a standard septic system, and would require a more expensive level of treatment.
Homeowners with relatively new septic systems could be allowed to delay hooking up to the sewers for a set number of years, he said. Once the sewer went down their street, they would still have to pay a share of the construction costs through a surcharge on their tax bill. But they could defer the hook-up charge and the on-going regular sewage bill (similar to a water bill).
Solmar has said it is prepared to build an expandable sewage treatment plant to service its own subdivision, and later turn it over to the Town.
"You don't want that," said Pearson, saying that the Town should be in control of the project to ensure everything is designed for its needs.
He noted that a treatment plant would be an advantage to rural residents, since it would provide a convenient location for dumping of septage, the material from septic tanks. This would not create a huge impact on the plant, since only two truckloads of the highly concentrated material would be fed into the system each day.
A sewer system for Erin village and Hillsburgh could cost about $60 million, creating a long-term surcharge on the tax bills of urban homeowners, according to the consultant running the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) study.
Matt Pearson of B.M. Ross hosted a special workshop last week, to discuss servicing issues with Erin councillors and staff in advance of a public meeting planned for February 21.
He has no mandate to provide detailed estimates, and insufficient information to do so, since the exact nature of a system would be studied in a future environmental assessment. He was willing to give rough estimates in response to councillors' questions.
He said the maximum combined population of Hillsburgh and Erin village could be set in the 9,000 to 12,000 range, based on the capacity of the Credit River to handle sewage treatment effluent.
The users of a sewer system would have to share the capital and borrowing costs (spread over 10-20 years on the tax bill), plus pay a hook-up fee and an ongoing usage charge.
Pearson said each urban property owner could be faced with a cost of $35,000 to $40,000, once a sewer line is available on their street. This could be reduced by a federal/provincial grant. If a grant covered 50% of the cost of the system, for example, the individual debts would be cut in half.
"We have to have an active strategy in place to go after a grant," said Councillor Barb Tocher.
New housing and business development would also help fund such a system. Pearson said without a grant, the system will be beyond the Town's borrowing capacity.
"You need a grant, and I think you'll get one, because you have a septic problem and economic development opportunities," he said.
The urban population within the Town of Erin, according to the 2011 census, was 3,739, including 2,674 in Erin village and 1,065 in Hillsburgh. (There is uncertainty about the accuracy of the census count, and B.M. Ross is using an estimate of 4,280 as the current urban total.) The population of Erin's rural area (including hamlets) is about 7,000.
If the Solmar subdivision is built as currently proposed, it alone could boost the urban total to about 7,200 over more than 20 years.
The land within the existing urban boundaries could theoretically house a total of up to 23,000 people, based on provincial density targets, but that is not considered realistic.
The maximum possible population will be determined by the maximum waste that the Credit River can safely absorb (assuming the sewage is not pumped to another municipality).
The final SSMP report (expected this spring) will include an Assimilative Capacity Study that will estimate how many people the river could handle, based on Ministry of the Environment standards for various pollutants, and regular sewage treatment technology.
More expensive treatment could increase the quality of the effluent, creating capacity for more population.
The final figures are not public yet, but last week's workshop included projections, showing how urban population totals of 6,480, 10,000 or 13,500 would affect the health of the river.
For criteria such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Dissolved Oxygen and Total Suspended Solids, even the highest population would be well within provincial limits. For e. coli bacteria, the levels today are already spiking slightly above the limits, and new development would not change the situation.
For nitrates and phosphorous, the low-end projection is within the limits, and the high end is at or above them, depending on treatment options.
More detailed information will eventually be released, after Credit Valley Conservation and the MOE review the draft report, but Pearson predicted the population limit could end up in the 9,000 to 12,000 range.
"The [development] capacity will have to be meted out, in some way that you will have to figure out," Pearson told councillors.
He will present his draft report to council on February 19, but does not plan to provide copies for the public, either of the draft, or of the Assimilative Capacity Study, which is intended to be released as background to the final report.
Councillor John Brennan said council would have to consider whether to release the draft material now, depending on whether it contains sensitive information that could, for example, affect property values.
There will be a public meeting on February 21, 7 pm, at Centre 2000, where Pearson will make a presentation on the draft report.
The meeting is intended to "present alternative community planning and servicing strategies and preferred solutions" according to the SSMP flow chart, and to get "public input on evaluation and implementation".
Pearson said the report will outline the consequences of not proceeding with sewers for existing homes, which he said include a "devaluation of properties" in existing urban areas.
He said it would not be good to have a "two-tier system", in which new homes have sewers and old ones do not, with the old areas being shut out of any housing or business redevelopment.
He noted that some homeowners are delaying replacement of septic systems, in case a sewer system is built.
"People are holding off, but they can't wait forever," he said, pointing out that a homeowner's share of the cost of a sewer system is roughly comparable to the cost of replacing a septic system. Many urban lots in Hillsburgh and Erin village are too small under current regulations for a standard septic system, and would require a more expensive level of treatment.
Homeowners with relatively new septic systems could be allowed to delay hooking up to the sewers for a set number of years, he said. Once the sewer went down their street, they would still have to pay a share of the construction costs through a surcharge on their tax bill. But they could defer the hook-up charge and the on-going regular sewage bill (similar to a water bill).
Solmar has said it is prepared to build an expandable sewage treatment plant to service its own subdivision, and later turn it over to the Town.
"You don't want that," said Pearson, saying that the Town should be in control of the project to ensure everything is designed for its needs.
He noted that a treatment plant would be an advantage to rural residents, since it would provide a convenient location for dumping of septage, the material from septic tanks. This would not create a huge impact on the plant, since only two truckloads of the highly concentrated material would be fed into the system each day.
February 06, 2013
Public must demand benefits from growth
As published in The Erin Advocate
With the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) wrapping up in the next two months, Erin residents should finally get an estimate of the cost of a sewer system.
That will be a major issue, but the question to consider first is: Do people really accept the need for sewers in the existing urban areas? If the answer is yes, then we need to know: How much development and sewage effluent can our branch of the Credit River handle?
Once we have those answers, we could turn our attention to: How might we build it and pay for it?
The process has been very long, but for those who are trying to keep track, there is a workshop meeting tonight (Wednesday), at 7 pm at the Town office, where SSMP consultant Matt Pearson will discuss aspects of his coming report with councillors and staff.
The public is welcome to attend, but not to participate at this stage. The draft report will be formally presented to council at their Feb. 19 meeting. Residents will get a presentation and a chance to speak, at a public meeting on February 21, 7 pm, at Centre 2000.
It is still just a "draft" report. It will then be reviewed by the Liaison Committee, the Core Management Committee and Council, then submitted as a "final" report. Council will have to decide whether or not to approve the report's recommendations.
Running at the same time as this is the Solmar plan for a large subdivision in the north end of Erin village, which is likely to move ahead regardless of what council decides on the SSMP.
One of the key links is the SSMP background report on the assimilative capacity of the river. Based on provincial guidelines, it will indicate the limit on how much discharge from a sewage treatment plant could go into the river without harming it. The limit will vary based on the intensity of the treatment.
I have no idea what that capacity will be, but what if it is fairly low? Could we end up in a situation where the Solmar subdivision uses up most of the available capacity, leaving not enough to allow sewers in existing neighbourhoods, or for other proposed developments that have been on hold for many years?
The restrictions may not be that severe, but the capacity of the river will effectively limit future growth, perhaps at a level that is less than the population targets for Erin now being considered by Wellington County.
Many other aspects of the Solmar plan must be scrutinized. Solmar submitted a series of reports with its development application, but not all of them have been available on the Town website, partly due to the large size of the files. The Transition Erin group has obtained lower-resolution versions of some key ones, such as the subdivision sewer and storm water plans, and have posted them at www.aanimad.com/transition.
The Town should also be thinking creatively about how this development might proceed with the greatest benefit for the public.
For example, Solmar has ambitious plans to bring in 900 jobs, with new commercial and industrial development on their "employment lands". They have shown (in Bolton, for example) that they can do this sort of thing.
But what if approval for construction of residential units was tied to new business development. The residential component could be split into smaller phases. The developer could have incentive targets: bring in a certain dollar value of new commercial/industrial assessment, to get approval to proceed with a certain number of new homes. Bring in more assessment, build more homes.
The province is demanding denser housing in urban areas, and Erin may have to take its share. But the province also wants "complete" communities, with more local jobs.
Many things are open to negotiation between a developer and a municipality, so Erin may be able to exercise some leverage in this area without triggering an expensive fight at the Ontario Municipal Board.
With the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) wrapping up in the next two months, Erin residents should finally get an estimate of the cost of a sewer system.
That will be a major issue, but the question to consider first is: Do people really accept the need for sewers in the existing urban areas? If the answer is yes, then we need to know: How much development and sewage effluent can our branch of the Credit River handle?
Once we have those answers, we could turn our attention to: How might we build it and pay for it?
The process has been very long, but for those who are trying to keep track, there is a workshop meeting tonight (Wednesday), at 7 pm at the Town office, where SSMP consultant Matt Pearson will discuss aspects of his coming report with councillors and staff.
The public is welcome to attend, but not to participate at this stage. The draft report will be formally presented to council at their Feb. 19 meeting. Residents will get a presentation and a chance to speak, at a public meeting on February 21, 7 pm, at Centre 2000.
It is still just a "draft" report. It will then be reviewed by the Liaison Committee, the Core Management Committee and Council, then submitted as a "final" report. Council will have to decide whether or not to approve the report's recommendations.
Running at the same time as this is the Solmar plan for a large subdivision in the north end of Erin village, which is likely to move ahead regardless of what council decides on the SSMP.
One of the key links is the SSMP background report on the assimilative capacity of the river. Based on provincial guidelines, it will indicate the limit on how much discharge from a sewage treatment plant could go into the river without harming it. The limit will vary based on the intensity of the treatment.
I have no idea what that capacity will be, but what if it is fairly low? Could we end up in a situation where the Solmar subdivision uses up most of the available capacity, leaving not enough to allow sewers in existing neighbourhoods, or for other proposed developments that have been on hold for many years?
The restrictions may not be that severe, but the capacity of the river will effectively limit future growth, perhaps at a level that is less than the population targets for Erin now being considered by Wellington County.
Many other aspects of the Solmar plan must be scrutinized. Solmar submitted a series of reports with its development application, but not all of them have been available on the Town website, partly due to the large size of the files. The Transition Erin group has obtained lower-resolution versions of some key ones, such as the subdivision sewer and storm water plans, and have posted them at www.aanimad.com/transition.
The Town should also be thinking creatively about how this development might proceed with the greatest benefit for the public.
For example, Solmar has ambitious plans to bring in 900 jobs, with new commercial and industrial development on their "employment lands". They have shown (in Bolton, for example) that they can do this sort of thing.
But what if approval for construction of residential units was tied to new business development. The residential component could be split into smaller phases. The developer could have incentive targets: bring in a certain dollar value of new commercial/industrial assessment, to get approval to proceed with a certain number of new homes. Bring in more assessment, build more homes.
The province is demanding denser housing in urban areas, and Erin may have to take its share. But the province also wants "complete" communities, with more local jobs.
Many things are open to negotiation between a developer and a municipality, so Erin may be able to exercise some leverage in this area without triggering an expensive fight at the Ontario Municipal Board.
January 30, 2013
CVC chief fears erosion of political support
As published in The Erin Advocate
Erosion of political support for environmental protection could have disastrous consequences, according to Rae Horst, Chief Administrative Officer at Credit Valley Conservation (CVC).
Those who care about the environment must keep up the pressure on politicians at all levels, not just on local issues, but for the preservation of the Green Belt and the survival of conservation authorities (CAs), she said.
"Conservation authories are under serious threat," said Horst, who will be retiring in May. "All could be lost, if decisive action is not taken by all environmentalists in the province – the crisis is coming."
She was speaking to members of the Credit River Alliance, a coalition of environmental groups, who met last week in Brampton to renew their commitment to the watershed, and to refocus on new environmental threats.
They are also mourning the death in December of one of their founders, Peter Orphanos, former Chair of Sierra Club for Peel Region, who dedicated more than 30 years to the protection and restoration of the Credit River.
When Horst worked for the province in the 90s she said the Ministries of Natural Resources and the Environment were well-funded.
"They have been decimated and are skeletons of their former selves, incapable of protecting the natural environment locally," she said. "The inability of the province, and the unwillingness of the federal government to protect the natural environment could not happen at a worse time. We're at an all-time weak position in Canada."
She said one major threat is extinctions – locally there are 42 rare, threatened or endangered species. The other is climate change, already too late to stop. Much of the burden for promoting protection and adaptation (ie stronger infrastructure) is falling on conservation authorities.
Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak has said that he wants to dissolve conservation authorities or strip them of their powers. The CAs long ago lost their strong provincial funding, but municipalities such as Peel Region have stepped up with major support. From 2001 to 2013 the CVC budget went from $3.5 million to $25 million, and staff increased from 35 to 175. CVC spent $1 million in the successful fight to stop the Rockfort quarry.
"CVC is a force to be reckoned with environmentally in this watershed. This happened largely because of the Credit River Alliance. The CA has the clout if it wants to use it, and the Alliance can make the CA use it and keep the municipalities honest."
Many would like to see Ontario's Greenbelt expanded, but Horst said it could be a struggle just to hold on to what we have. The Greenbelt, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Niagara Escarpment Plan are all to be reviewed in 2015.
Horst said the creation of the Alliance in 2004, representing over 20,000 people, helped ensure that the CVC's mandate to protect the watershed was taken seriously by local politicians.
"The challenge of unbridled development was starting to tell on the watershed – Mississauga was already experiencing flooding and erosion," said Lorraine Symmes, who is stepping down as coordinator. "More ominously, Brampton was beginning a huge era of expansion that would seriously threaten the health of the river. The Credit is the most diverse cold water fishery in the province."
They formed a coalition of community groups to raise awareness with local governments about their concerns, at a time when the Walkerton report emphasized the importance of looking entire ecosystems. The Credit runs through 10 municipalities.
"Only the conservation authority has the big picture of the watershed and the ability to do the science which is really key to understanding and supporting the river's overall health," said Symmes.
They came up with seven guiding principles, pushing for: better storm water management and sediment control, funding for land acquisition of sensitive sites, a prohibition on stream course alteration, limits on water-taking permits, funding for tree planting in stream corridors and incentives to increase wetlands and forest cover in the watershed.
They were able to speak out on behalf of their 31 member groups, which include environmental activists, fishing advocates, quarry opponents, local land stewardship organizations, naturalists, organic farmers and neighbourhood associations. They've made many presentations on municipal issues, attended and addressed meetings of the CVC board, and generally promoted low-impact development. More information is available at www.creditriveralliance.ca.
"We have spoken up for the river," said Symmes. "It's better than it would have been without us."
Erosion of political support for environmental protection could have disastrous consequences, according to Rae Horst, Chief Administrative Officer at Credit Valley Conservation (CVC).
Those who care about the environment must keep up the pressure on politicians at all levels, not just on local issues, but for the preservation of the Green Belt and the survival of conservation authorities (CAs), she said.
"Conservation authories are under serious threat," said Horst, who will be retiring in May. "All could be lost, if decisive action is not taken by all environmentalists in the province – the crisis is coming."
She was speaking to members of the Credit River Alliance, a coalition of environmental groups, who met last week in Brampton to renew their commitment to the watershed, and to refocus on new environmental threats.
They are also mourning the death in December of one of their founders, Peter Orphanos, former Chair of Sierra Club for Peel Region, who dedicated more than 30 years to the protection and restoration of the Credit River.
When Horst worked for the province in the 90s she said the Ministries of Natural Resources and the Environment were well-funded.
"They have been decimated and are skeletons of their former selves, incapable of protecting the natural environment locally," she said. "The inability of the province, and the unwillingness of the federal government to protect the natural environment could not happen at a worse time. We're at an all-time weak position in Canada."
She said one major threat is extinctions – locally there are 42 rare, threatened or endangered species. The other is climate change, already too late to stop. Much of the burden for promoting protection and adaptation (ie stronger infrastructure) is falling on conservation authorities.
Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak has said that he wants to dissolve conservation authorities or strip them of their powers. The CAs long ago lost their strong provincial funding, but municipalities such as Peel Region have stepped up with major support. From 2001 to 2013 the CVC budget went from $3.5 million to $25 million, and staff increased from 35 to 175. CVC spent $1 million in the successful fight to stop the Rockfort quarry.
"CVC is a force to be reckoned with environmentally in this watershed. This happened largely because of the Credit River Alliance. The CA has the clout if it wants to use it, and the Alliance can make the CA use it and keep the municipalities honest."
Many would like to see Ontario's Greenbelt expanded, but Horst said it could be a struggle just to hold on to what we have. The Greenbelt, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Niagara Escarpment Plan are all to be reviewed in 2015.
Horst said the creation of the Alliance in 2004, representing over 20,000 people, helped ensure that the CVC's mandate to protect the watershed was taken seriously by local politicians.
"The challenge of unbridled development was starting to tell on the watershed – Mississauga was already experiencing flooding and erosion," said Lorraine Symmes, who is stepping down as coordinator. "More ominously, Brampton was beginning a huge era of expansion that would seriously threaten the health of the river. The Credit is the most diverse cold water fishery in the province."
They formed a coalition of community groups to raise awareness with local governments about their concerns, at a time when the Walkerton report emphasized the importance of looking entire ecosystems. The Credit runs through 10 municipalities.
"Only the conservation authority has the big picture of the watershed and the ability to do the science which is really key to understanding and supporting the river's overall health," said Symmes.
They came up with seven guiding principles, pushing for: better storm water management and sediment control, funding for land acquisition of sensitive sites, a prohibition on stream course alteration, limits on water-taking permits, funding for tree planting in stream corridors and incentives to increase wetlands and forest cover in the watershed.
They were able to speak out on behalf of their 31 member groups, which include environmental activists, fishing advocates, quarry opponents, local land stewardship organizations, naturalists, organic farmers and neighbourhood associations. They've made many presentations on municipal issues, attended and addressed meetings of the CVC board, and generally promoted low-impact development. More information is available at www.creditriveralliance.ca.
"We have spoken up for the river," said Symmes. "It's better than it would have been without us."
January 23, 2013
Getting the inside story on Great Lakes novel
As published in The Erin Advocate
It is interesting how personal connections from the past will spark the interest of people, especially when it comes to the myriad of subcultures that thrive outside the mainstream of Canadian society.
Erin publisher Tim Inkster received a manuscript in 2005 for a semi-autobiographical novel called Sailor Girl, by Sheree-Lee Olson, about the adventures of a young woman working in the kitchen of a Great Lakes freighter.
He did not publish it until 2008, but he initially gave it a serious look because he knew about that culture – his father and grandfather had worked on the boats. He is proud of his grandfather, Captain Walter Inkster of Collingwood, who became a friend of Scott Misener while travelling across the Atlantic to deliver a boat to Montreal in 1903. Misener went on to operate a shipping fleet, and that same boat was later named after Inkster.
Shelley Austin, a member of a book club called the Joyous Erin Wine & Literary Society (JEWLS) was recently looking for ideas for a book event. Elke Inkster of Porcupine's Quill suggested Sailor Girl, and she took an immediate interest because her grandfather had been an engineer for Misener Steamships from 1925 to 1950.
She planned an evening that brought together about 30 women from four local book clubs last Friday at Tintagels Tea Room on Main Street, to meet Sheree-Lee Olson. The event was sponsored by Jim and Audrey Devonshire, owners of Tintagels and the Devonshire Guest House, and by Tim and Elke Inkster of Porcupine's Quill, who also run a small bookstore, located in comfortable surroundings at the back of the Renaissance store in downtown Erin.
When Shelley asked me about covering the event, I was interested not only because of the local aspects, but because my uncle had been a Great Lakes freighter captain. I grew up within earshot of the boats on the Welland Canal, and as a kid found it strange that my uncle Bernard had a job that only allowed him to be home with his wife and children during the winter.
Conditions could be harsh on that edge of society, as Olson discovered over seven summers, working her way through university. She went on to be the Style Editor at The Globe and Mail, and is currently a copy editor for Globe Life.
"I was so thrilled to finally get this book published, after spending twenty years writing it," she said. After many false starts in her 20s, she finally found an opportunity to work all week at her job, and every weekend for four years on the book.
Finishing it in her 40s made it "much more informed by my own experiences in the working world, and by feminist issues, and just trying to honour people whose lives are pretty much invisible...They are an outlier society."
While she had personal experience on the lakes, she found it was necessary to do a lot of research to recapture details about the lifestyle. Some characters were based on real people, others were composites, and others, like Calvin, were inventions. "I made him up because I wished I had Calvin, instead of the other jerks," she said.
She promotes Sailor Girl as having "salty dialogue and gripping description", as a "uniquely Canadian story, one that distills a vanishing part of our heritage", and as a love story in which "a middle class girl finds a deep connection with the unruly young men and toughminded women of the lakes."
The book has had critical acclaim and won a bronze in the 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards, but sales have been modest, and she describes marketing a book as something of a "crapshoot".
Sailor Girl got a boost with the placing of a "Bookmark" in Port Colborne, at Lock 8 on the Welland Canal, in 2011. Project Bookmark Canada installs plaques bearing selections from notable Canadian works, in the exact locations where scenes are set.
There is also a movie version of Sailor Girl in the works, with Markham Street Films (MSF) planning to start shooting this year. Naturally, Inkster is hoping that goes well, since there's nothing like a successful movie to propel book sales.
MSF describes it as a coming of age story, in which "19-year-old art student rebel Kate McLeod signs on to a Great Lakes freighter and sails off into an unexpected world of stormy, sexy and dangerous adventures."
Olson said that to distill the story, screen writer Johanna Schneller had to "really collapse the book – a whole new treatment that was very visual and very visceral, and really cut out all the boring stuff – it was great."
For more about the author, go to www.sheree-leeolson.com, and for a taste of that Great Lakes shipping culture, go to www.boatnerd.com.
It is interesting how personal connections from the past will spark the interest of people, especially when it comes to the myriad of subcultures that thrive outside the mainstream of Canadian society.
Erin publisher Tim Inkster received a manuscript in 2005 for a semi-autobiographical novel called Sailor Girl, by Sheree-Lee Olson, about the adventures of a young woman working in the kitchen of a Great Lakes freighter.
He did not publish it until 2008, but he initially gave it a serious look because he knew about that culture – his father and grandfather had worked on the boats. He is proud of his grandfather, Captain Walter Inkster of Collingwood, who became a friend of Scott Misener while travelling across the Atlantic to deliver a boat to Montreal in 1903. Misener went on to operate a shipping fleet, and that same boat was later named after Inkster.
 |
| Shelley Austin, Sheree-Lee Olson and Tim Inkster |
She planned an evening that brought together about 30 women from four local book clubs last Friday at Tintagels Tea Room on Main Street, to meet Sheree-Lee Olson. The event was sponsored by Jim and Audrey Devonshire, owners of Tintagels and the Devonshire Guest House, and by Tim and Elke Inkster of Porcupine's Quill, who also run a small bookstore, located in comfortable surroundings at the back of the Renaissance store in downtown Erin.
When Shelley asked me about covering the event, I was interested not only because of the local aspects, but because my uncle had been a Great Lakes freighter captain. I grew up within earshot of the boats on the Welland Canal, and as a kid found it strange that my uncle Bernard had a job that only allowed him to be home with his wife and children during the winter.
Conditions could be harsh on that edge of society, as Olson discovered over seven summers, working her way through university. She went on to be the Style Editor at The Globe and Mail, and is currently a copy editor for Globe Life.
"I was so thrilled to finally get this book published, after spending twenty years writing it," she said. After many false starts in her 20s, she finally found an opportunity to work all week at her job, and every weekend for four years on the book.
Finishing it in her 40s made it "much more informed by my own experiences in the working world, and by feminist issues, and just trying to honour people whose lives are pretty much invisible...They are an outlier society."
While she had personal experience on the lakes, she found it was necessary to do a lot of research to recapture details about the lifestyle. Some characters were based on real people, others were composites, and others, like Calvin, were inventions. "I made him up because I wished I had Calvin, instead of the other jerks," she said.
She promotes Sailor Girl as having "salty dialogue and gripping description", as a "uniquely Canadian story, one that distills a vanishing part of our heritage", and as a love story in which "a middle class girl finds a deep connection with the unruly young men and toughminded women of the lakes."
The book has had critical acclaim and won a bronze in the 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards, but sales have been modest, and she describes marketing a book as something of a "crapshoot".
Sailor Girl got a boost with the placing of a "Bookmark" in Port Colborne, at Lock 8 on the Welland Canal, in 2011. Project Bookmark Canada installs plaques bearing selections from notable Canadian works, in the exact locations where scenes are set.
There is also a movie version of Sailor Girl in the works, with Markham Street Films (MSF) planning to start shooting this year. Naturally, Inkster is hoping that goes well, since there's nothing like a successful movie to propel book sales.
MSF describes it as a coming of age story, in which "19-year-old art student rebel Kate McLeod signs on to a Great Lakes freighter and sails off into an unexpected world of stormy, sexy and dangerous adventures."
Olson said that to distill the story, screen writer Johanna Schneller had to "really collapse the book – a whole new treatment that was very visual and very visceral, and really cut out all the boring stuff – it was great."
For more about the author, go to www.sheree-leeolson.com, and for a taste of that Great Lakes shipping culture, go to www.boatnerd.com.
January 16, 2013
Time to get hopping mad on climate change
As published in The Erin Advocate
Don't try this at home, but if you were of a mind to boil live frogs in an open pot, the secret is supposedly to increase the temperature slowly. The frogs would adjust to the new "normal" environment, not suspect imminent danger, and die.
Now if the frogs in the pot realized they were causing the boiling, they might get hopping mad and demand relief. If they were part of a democracy, maybe they could figure out a way to turn the heat down.
And maybe the whole frog metaphor has its limitations, especially since real frogs hop out of heated pots, and we do not have the option of hopping out of ours. But it still makes for a good film title to kick off Erin's fourth annual Fast Forward Environmental Film Festival.
It starts tonight (Wednesday) at the Legion hall, 7 pm, with the documentary How to Boil a Frog, by Canadian Jon Cooksley. He uses zany visual effects to teach about "overshoot" – too many people, using up too much of the planet, way too fast.
"Global warming isn't the problem, it's a symptom of a much bigger problem," he says. "This is called overshoot. It turns out that you can go past what nature can give you, the same way you can keep buying things you can't afford."
The trailer says the film is a "change the world by learning how screwed we are and what we can do create a sustainable future while peeing you pants laughing so hard kind of a movie." Check the website, www.howtoboilafrog.com.
The evening is sponsored by Transition Erin and Harmony Acres, and will include the usual mix of environmental news, healthy snacks and information displays, which go well with the sub-title of the movie: "make friends / make fun / make trouble".
It is part of a movement that does not pretend we can simply do away with our industrial, consumption-driven economy. It is possible, however, to build a culture that recognizes the need to live more conservatively, and to encourage the growth and diversity of our natural environment.
These environment conversations often come back to the importance of trees, those organisms that actually sustain our atmosphere by capturing carbon and pumping out oxygen. At a recent stewardship conference hosted by Credit Valley Conservation, I saw a presentation by Azadeh Chobak of the group Trees Ontario (www.treesontario.ca).
"We need to create natural playgrounds," she said. "If there is high quality greenspace available, people are more encouraged to go out there and get their physical activity. Physical activity itself has been linked with positive impacts on physical and mental health. It also reduces the risk and severity of heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and osteoporosis."
She said even a view of trees has been shown to reduce the amount of medications needed in hospitals. Greenspace has also been linked to lower heart rates and blood pressure, with improved rehabilitation and recovery rates for hospital patients, and less severe symptoms in attention deficit disorders.
She said a minimum of 30% forest cover is needed for a healthy, sustainable ecosystem (Wellington County has about 17% now, and growing). Lack of sufficient forest is impacting our resistance to climate change, she said.
"With forestry, it is a huge infrastructure and we really need to invest in that. It's not just about planting the trees. It's to collect the right seeds, to have the nurseries, to be able to develop those seedlings and educate our foresters.
"It's about education and culture change at the individual and societal level. We really need to educate the younger generation. They need to be aware that our health is impacted by the health of our natural environment – it's a two-way relationship."
Bill Kilburn of the Royal Botanical Gardens also spoke at the conference. He manages the Back to Nature Network (www.back2nature.ca), a consortium of groups funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
He said that kids are suffering from "nature deficit disorder" and that they are immersed in technology even before they are born.
"They learn that the essence of being human is using technology," he said. "What is the cause of this disconnection between ourselves and nature? I think it can be encompassed in decreased access to natural spaces."
He said convenient natural areas are becoming fewer, people have less time to go to them, they often cost money, and parents are afraid to let kids go there unsupervised.
The Network's mandate says a connection to the natural world is fundamental to all aspects of child development and is essential for a sustainable society:
"Research shows that when we foster a child’s connection with nature, the child flourishes: child obesity decreases, bullying rates decrease, child injury rates decrease, while academic achievement rises, physical activity rates increase, attention spans improve, physical and cultural barriers melt away and environmental stewards of the future emerge."
Don't try this at home, but if you were of a mind to boil live frogs in an open pot, the secret is supposedly to increase the temperature slowly. The frogs would adjust to the new "normal" environment, not suspect imminent danger, and die.
Now if the frogs in the pot realized they were causing the boiling, they might get hopping mad and demand relief. If they were part of a democracy, maybe they could figure out a way to turn the heat down.
And maybe the whole frog metaphor has its limitations, especially since real frogs hop out of heated pots, and we do not have the option of hopping out of ours. But it still makes for a good film title to kick off Erin's fourth annual Fast Forward Environmental Film Festival.
It starts tonight (Wednesday) at the Legion hall, 7 pm, with the documentary How to Boil a Frog, by Canadian Jon Cooksley. He uses zany visual effects to teach about "overshoot" – too many people, using up too much of the planet, way too fast.
"Global warming isn't the problem, it's a symptom of a much bigger problem," he says. "This is called overshoot. It turns out that you can go past what nature can give you, the same way you can keep buying things you can't afford."
The trailer says the film is a "change the world by learning how screwed we are and what we can do create a sustainable future while peeing you pants laughing so hard kind of a movie." Check the website, www.howtoboilafrog.com.
The evening is sponsored by Transition Erin and Harmony Acres, and will include the usual mix of environmental news, healthy snacks and information displays, which go well with the sub-title of the movie: "make friends / make fun / make trouble".
It is part of a movement that does not pretend we can simply do away with our industrial, consumption-driven economy. It is possible, however, to build a culture that recognizes the need to live more conservatively, and to encourage the growth and diversity of our natural environment.
These environment conversations often come back to the importance of trees, those organisms that actually sustain our atmosphere by capturing carbon and pumping out oxygen. At a recent stewardship conference hosted by Credit Valley Conservation, I saw a presentation by Azadeh Chobak of the group Trees Ontario (www.treesontario.ca).
"We need to create natural playgrounds," she said. "If there is high quality greenspace available, people are more encouraged to go out there and get their physical activity. Physical activity itself has been linked with positive impacts on physical and mental health. It also reduces the risk and severity of heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and osteoporosis."
She said even a view of trees has been shown to reduce the amount of medications needed in hospitals. Greenspace has also been linked to lower heart rates and blood pressure, with improved rehabilitation and recovery rates for hospital patients, and less severe symptoms in attention deficit disorders.
She said a minimum of 30% forest cover is needed for a healthy, sustainable ecosystem (Wellington County has about 17% now, and growing). Lack of sufficient forest is impacting our resistance to climate change, she said.
"With forestry, it is a huge infrastructure and we really need to invest in that. It's not just about planting the trees. It's to collect the right seeds, to have the nurseries, to be able to develop those seedlings and educate our foresters.
"It's about education and culture change at the individual and societal level. We really need to educate the younger generation. They need to be aware that our health is impacted by the health of our natural environment – it's a two-way relationship."
Bill Kilburn of the Royal Botanical Gardens also spoke at the conference. He manages the Back to Nature Network (www.back2nature.ca), a consortium of groups funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
He said that kids are suffering from "nature deficit disorder" and that they are immersed in technology even before they are born.
"They learn that the essence of being human is using technology," he said. "What is the cause of this disconnection between ourselves and nature? I think it can be encompassed in decreased access to natural spaces."
He said convenient natural areas are becoming fewer, people have less time to go to them, they often cost money, and parents are afraid to let kids go there unsupervised.
The Network's mandate says a connection to the natural world is fundamental to all aspects of child development and is essential for a sustainable society:
"Research shows that when we foster a child’s connection with nature, the child flourishes: child obesity decreases, bullying rates decrease, child injury rates decrease, while academic achievement rises, physical activity rates increase, attention spans improve, physical and cultural barriers melt away and environmental stewards of the future emerge."
January 09, 2013
Growth will increase pressure for bypass
As published in The Erin Advocate
If you think traffic in downtown Erin is heavy now, imagine what it will be like with a few thousand more residents and a new industrial zone in the north end of the village. There will have to be an alternative route for heavy trucks and other vehicles that are travelling through.
As a result of increasing local and regional traffic by 2032, intersections at the north and south of the village are expected to exceed their capacity at the afternoon peak time, resulting in noticeable delays, according to a traffic study completed for Solmar Development Corp.
The study, which is available on the Town website (www.erin.ca), also recommends new traffic lights at County Road 124 & Winston Churchill Boulevard, at County Road 124 and Tenth Line (on the north side of the Solmar subdivision) and at County Road 124 and Erinville Drive (south of Tim Hortons).
Over the next 20 years, traffic volumes are expected to increase by 1% per year on Winston Churchill, County Road 124 and County Road 52 (Bush Street). An increase of 2% per year is expected on Dundas Street and Shamrock Road.
Wellington County has no current plans for major improvements to its arterial roads in the Erin village area, but its 2012 Development Charge Background Study reports that traffic projections show a need to eventually widen or add more passing lanes on County Road 124 between Erin and Guelph.
Within Erin village, the County study says projected traffic growth "would require widening to a four-lane cross-section by the 2031 horizon", but says this may not be feasible "due to potential impacts to existing development" (ie. downtown businesses).
"An alternative solution might be to provide a truck by-pass road along a new alignment around Erin. The viability of this solution could only be properly validated/confirmed through the completion of an Environmental Assessment."
A bypass to the north of the village has been studied, but never acted upon. Bypasses to the south would also be possible, involving Wellington, Peel Region and Halton Region.
Drivers coming west towards Erin village on County Road 124 could be directed to turn south on an upgraded Winston Churchill Boulevard. They could then use County Road 52 to reconnect with 124, though intersection improvements would be needed at the south end of the village.
If drivers instead continued south on Winston Churchill to the Erin-Halton Hills Townline (Sideroad 32/County Road 42), then west to Ballinafad, they could turn south or north on Trafalgar Road. Or they could continue all the way to Crewson's Corners, joining Highway 7 on the far side of Acton.
The Niagara Escarpment Commission expects that proposing a haul route on 32 Sideroad will generate "a lot of push-back" from residents, and that the intersection at Ballinafad would need major improvements.
In this context, it is interesting (and instructive) to read about the efforts of Halton Region to find a solution for similar (but more severe) truck problems in Acton. An update to their Transportation Master Plan in 2011 proposes a solution for Acton that could assist Erin.
"Regional Road 25 and Highway 7 through downtown Acton will be over capacity by 2031 requiring one additional lane in each direction," the report said. "Heavy truck traffic is part of the problem in this area and has also resulted in safety concerns in the downtown area. "
They considered a southern bypass, a northern bypass and the prospect of widening to four lanes through downtown Acton. The recommendation is to build a new northern four- lane alternate route starting at Highway 7, going north along the Fourth Line. It would turn west along 32 Sideroad (the Erin-Halton Hills boundary), around the north side of Acton, and reconnect with Highway 7 at Dublin Line or Crewson's Corners.
The Erin and Acton bypasses could have a common section on 32 Sideroad, with the potential for cost sharing.
"While this alternative will have greater effects on the agricultural community and natural environment, the socio economic effects of a widened Highway 7/Regional Road 25 through downtown Acton and the capital costs to do so are so great that they outweigh the negative effects of the northern alternate route," the report said.
The Town of Halton Hills wants Halton Region to take over responsibility for Winston Churchill, south of 32 Sideroad, since it carries "a significant amount of long-distance traffic that is not locally generated or destined." They also want Halton to take over 32 Sideroad if it is to become a major arterial route.
Ted Drewlo, Manager of Engineering Services for Halton Hills, said his staff found that "traffic volumes are forecast to increase and could triple by 2031" on 32 Sideroad.
Peel Region is already planning to reconstruct the unpaved section of Winston Churchill from Olde Baseline Road to Terra Cotta. They are also undertaking a study to "confirm and identify priority routes within Peel, having regard for connectivity with key external routes". Peel Engineer Gary Kocialek said they "will be looking at the potential upgrades that Halton is considering for Ballinafad Road".
If you think traffic in downtown Erin is heavy now, imagine what it will be like with a few thousand more residents and a new industrial zone in the north end of the village. There will have to be an alternative route for heavy trucks and other vehicles that are travelling through.
As a result of increasing local and regional traffic by 2032, intersections at the north and south of the village are expected to exceed their capacity at the afternoon peak time, resulting in noticeable delays, according to a traffic study completed for Solmar Development Corp.
The study, which is available on the Town website (www.erin.ca), also recommends new traffic lights at County Road 124 & Winston Churchill Boulevard, at County Road 124 and Tenth Line (on the north side of the Solmar subdivision) and at County Road 124 and Erinville Drive (south of Tim Hortons).
Over the next 20 years, traffic volumes are expected to increase by 1% per year on Winston Churchill, County Road 124 and County Road 52 (Bush Street). An increase of 2% per year is expected on Dundas Street and Shamrock Road.
Wellington County has no current plans for major improvements to its arterial roads in the Erin village area, but its 2012 Development Charge Background Study reports that traffic projections show a need to eventually widen or add more passing lanes on County Road 124 between Erin and Guelph.
Within Erin village, the County study says projected traffic growth "would require widening to a four-lane cross-section by the 2031 horizon", but says this may not be feasible "due to potential impacts to existing development" (ie. downtown businesses).
"An alternative solution might be to provide a truck by-pass road along a new alignment around Erin. The viability of this solution could only be properly validated/confirmed through the completion of an Environmental Assessment."
A bypass to the north of the village has been studied, but never acted upon. Bypasses to the south would also be possible, involving Wellington, Peel Region and Halton Region.
Drivers coming west towards Erin village on County Road 124 could be directed to turn south on an upgraded Winston Churchill Boulevard. They could then use County Road 52 to reconnect with 124, though intersection improvements would be needed at the south end of the village.
If drivers instead continued south on Winston Churchill to the Erin-Halton Hills Townline (Sideroad 32/County Road 42), then west to Ballinafad, they could turn south or north on Trafalgar Road. Or they could continue all the way to Crewson's Corners, joining Highway 7 on the far side of Acton.
The Niagara Escarpment Commission expects that proposing a haul route on 32 Sideroad will generate "a lot of push-back" from residents, and that the intersection at Ballinafad would need major improvements.
In this context, it is interesting (and instructive) to read about the efforts of Halton Region to find a solution for similar (but more severe) truck problems in Acton. An update to their Transportation Master Plan in 2011 proposes a solution for Acton that could assist Erin.
"Regional Road 25 and Highway 7 through downtown Acton will be over capacity by 2031 requiring one additional lane in each direction," the report said. "Heavy truck traffic is part of the problem in this area and has also resulted in safety concerns in the downtown area. "
They considered a southern bypass, a northern bypass and the prospect of widening to four lanes through downtown Acton. The recommendation is to build a new northern four- lane alternate route starting at Highway 7, going north along the Fourth Line. It would turn west along 32 Sideroad (the Erin-Halton Hills boundary), around the north side of Acton, and reconnect with Highway 7 at Dublin Line or Crewson's Corners.
The Erin and Acton bypasses could have a common section on 32 Sideroad, with the potential for cost sharing.
"While this alternative will have greater effects on the agricultural community and natural environment, the socio economic effects of a widened Highway 7/Regional Road 25 through downtown Acton and the capital costs to do so are so great that they outweigh the negative effects of the northern alternate route," the report said.
The Town of Halton Hills wants Halton Region to take over responsibility for Winston Churchill, south of 32 Sideroad, since it carries "a significant amount of long-distance traffic that is not locally generated or destined." They also want Halton to take over 32 Sideroad if it is to become a major arterial route.
Ted Drewlo, Manager of Engineering Services for Halton Hills, said his staff found that "traffic volumes are forecast to increase and could triple by 2031" on 32 Sideroad.
Peel Region is already planning to reconstruct the unpaved section of Winston Churchill from Olde Baseline Road to Terra Cotta. They are also undertaking a study to "confirm and identify priority routes within Peel, having regard for connectivity with key external routes". Peel Engineer Gary Kocialek said they "will be looking at the potential upgrades that Halton is considering for Ballinafad Road".
January 02, 2013
New Homechild production recalls a shameful era
As published in The Erin Advocate
Erin playwright and composer Barb Perkins continues to have success in her quest to both entertain and educate Canadians with her story about British Home Children – a part of our history that needs to be better known.
"I'm just thrilled that the word is getting out," said Perkins, who is helping Orangeville Music Theatre with a new production of Homechild – The Musical, which premiered in Erin in 2005.
Back in 1984, she learned that her grandmother and three of her eight siblings had arrived in Canada from Wales in 1907 as "home children", and she later travelled to Wales to meet relatives and research the child emigration movement. She used her talents as a music teacher and songwriter to create a show that would capture more than just the historical story of a separated family.
"The music really brings out the emotion," she said.
The play had an extensive workshop at the Charlottetown Festival in 1999, but really came to life in Erin in 2005 with the help of Brett Girvin, Steve Sherry and Erin Community Theatre. There was broad community support to mount the first full production at Centre 2000.
Since then it has been produced at West End Studio Theatre in Oakville in 2009. Awareness of the history has grown, with Canada Post creating a special stamp to mark the Year of the British Home Child in 2010.
The play was produced again at Goya Theatre in Ottawa in 2011, and Ontario declared September 28 as the annual British Home Child Day. Now, Orangeville Music Theatre has taken it up close to home, with performances this month at the Town Hall Opera House on Broadway.
The show dates are January 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 8:00 pm, and on Sunday afternoons, January 13 and 20 at 2:00 pm. Regular tickets are $20, with children 12 and under $15 (plus a box office fee). The box office can be reached at 519-942-3423, with on-line tickets available at www.orangevillemusictheatre.com. There is more information at www.homechildmusical.com.
The new production is directed by Raeburn Ferguson, with musical direction by Pam Claridge and choreography by Mariah Abbott, and will include some Erin talent, including Dick Murray, who acted in the 2005 show.
Starting January 9, Orangeville Library will be presenting a display of Homechild memorabilia including trunks and memorial quilts, as well as available books on the subject.
The stories of home children are particularly tragic because many were not orphans, but simply from poor families who thought they were doing the right thing by sending them to a land of opportunity – an escape from the social upheavals of the industrial revolution.
The agencies that set up the Child Migration schemes had good intentions, assuming that poor or orphaned children would have a better life in a new land that needed workers. The emigration undoubtedly saved some lives, and some children were fortunate to be taken in by kind families, but for many it was a life of unremitting hardship and abuse. Siblings were separated and any contact with the parents was strongly discouraged.
The practice gained popularity in the era of child poverty and workhouses made famous by Charles Dickens in novels such as Oliver Twist, and even though slavery had been abolished in England by then, the parallels with that particular evil are inescapable.
Some home children did commit crimes here, but many were falsely accused of criminal behaviour, denied access to basic education, and denounced by doctors, politicians, union leaders and newspaper writers as degenerates and carriers of disease.
Many were forced to work under terrible conditions. Some were severely beaten and systematically starved, while others were sexually abused. Some died as a result of their treatment, and others took their own lives.
Most survived and made lives for themselves in Canada. About 118,000 came here between 1833 and 1939, and it is now estimated that 12% of our population has a home child in their ancestry.
Like the abuse of aboriginal children in residential schools, the story of the home children is a shameful element of Canadian history that needs to be understood by future generations. Perkins said efforts are being made to include it in the Canadian History curriculum. To learn more go to www.britishhomechildren.org or www.canadianbritishhomechildren.weebly.com.
Famed psychiatrist Dr. C.K. Clarke (after whom Toronto's Clark Institute was named) campaigned relentlessly from the late 1800s until his death in 1924 against allowing "defective and insane" immigrants into Canada. Like many others, he believed home children were part of Great Britain's plan to ship sub-normal people out to the colonies.
The belief that "feeble-mindedness" was a hereditary problem was the basis of the eugenics movement that swept the world, and took particular hold in Alberta, where thousands of people were unjustly confined, stigmatized and sterilized between 1929 and 1972.
Is our modern society now morally superior to those earlier times when terrible injustices took place, or are we simply so affluent that we are not tempted into desperate measures?
If Canada were plunged into real poverty and chaos, would we have learned anything from our history? Or would we be as cruel and lacking in human decency as our ancestors?
Erin playwright and composer Barb Perkins continues to have success in her quest to both entertain and educate Canadians with her story about British Home Children – a part of our history that needs to be better known.
"I'm just thrilled that the word is getting out," said Perkins, who is helping Orangeville Music Theatre with a new production of Homechild – The Musical, which premiered in Erin in 2005.
Back in 1984, she learned that her grandmother and three of her eight siblings had arrived in Canada from Wales in 1907 as "home children", and she later travelled to Wales to meet relatives and research the child emigration movement. She used her talents as a music teacher and songwriter to create a show that would capture more than just the historical story of a separated family.
"The music really brings out the emotion," she said.
The play had an extensive workshop at the Charlottetown Festival in 1999, but really came to life in Erin in 2005 with the help of Brett Girvin, Steve Sherry and Erin Community Theatre. There was broad community support to mount the first full production at Centre 2000.
Since then it has been produced at West End Studio Theatre in Oakville in 2009. Awareness of the history has grown, with Canada Post creating a special stamp to mark the Year of the British Home Child in 2010.
The play was produced again at Goya Theatre in Ottawa in 2011, and Ontario declared September 28 as the annual British Home Child Day. Now, Orangeville Music Theatre has taken it up close to home, with performances this month at the Town Hall Opera House on Broadway.
The show dates are January 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 8:00 pm, and on Sunday afternoons, January 13 and 20 at 2:00 pm. Regular tickets are $20, with children 12 and under $15 (plus a box office fee). The box office can be reached at 519-942-3423, with on-line tickets available at www.orangevillemusictheatre.com. There is more information at www.homechildmusical.com.
The new production is directed by Raeburn Ferguson, with musical direction by Pam Claridge and choreography by Mariah Abbott, and will include some Erin talent, including Dick Murray, who acted in the 2005 show.
Starting January 9, Orangeville Library will be presenting a display of Homechild memorabilia including trunks and memorial quilts, as well as available books on the subject.
The stories of home children are particularly tragic because many were not orphans, but simply from poor families who thought they were doing the right thing by sending them to a land of opportunity – an escape from the social upheavals of the industrial revolution.
The agencies that set up the Child Migration schemes had good intentions, assuming that poor or orphaned children would have a better life in a new land that needed workers. The emigration undoubtedly saved some lives, and some children were fortunate to be taken in by kind families, but for many it was a life of unremitting hardship and abuse. Siblings were separated and any contact with the parents was strongly discouraged.
The practice gained popularity in the era of child poverty and workhouses made famous by Charles Dickens in novels such as Oliver Twist, and even though slavery had been abolished in England by then, the parallels with that particular evil are inescapable.
Some home children did commit crimes here, but many were falsely accused of criminal behaviour, denied access to basic education, and denounced by doctors, politicians, union leaders and newspaper writers as degenerates and carriers of disease.
Many were forced to work under terrible conditions. Some were severely beaten and systematically starved, while others were sexually abused. Some died as a result of their treatment, and others took their own lives.
Most survived and made lives for themselves in Canada. About 118,000 came here between 1833 and 1939, and it is now estimated that 12% of our population has a home child in their ancestry.
Like the abuse of aboriginal children in residential schools, the story of the home children is a shameful element of Canadian history that needs to be understood by future generations. Perkins said efforts are being made to include it in the Canadian History curriculum. To learn more go to www.britishhomechildren.org or www.canadianbritishhomechildren.weebly.com.
Famed psychiatrist Dr. C.K. Clarke (after whom Toronto's Clark Institute was named) campaigned relentlessly from the late 1800s until his death in 1924 against allowing "defective and insane" immigrants into Canada. Like many others, he believed home children were part of Great Britain's plan to ship sub-normal people out to the colonies.
The belief that "feeble-mindedness" was a hereditary problem was the basis of the eugenics movement that swept the world, and took particular hold in Alberta, where thousands of people were unjustly confined, stigmatized and sterilized between 1929 and 1972.
Is our modern society now morally superior to those earlier times when terrible injustices took place, or are we simply so affluent that we are not tempted into desperate measures?
If Canada were plunged into real poverty and chaos, would we have learned anything from our history? Or would we be as cruel and lacking in human decency as our ancestors?
December 26, 2012
Change is inevitable, but resistance is not futile
As published in The Erin Advocate
To simply say that change is unacceptable will not be a useful argument in the upcoming debate about population growth and sewers in Erin. Changes to our environment are clearly inevitable, so people have to decide if they have the energy and interest to have some influence on what happens.
It can start with a nostalgic feeling that this is a good place to live, with many things worth preserving. But it needs to step up to some practical strategies about what can be done to make the changes as acceptable as possible.
"Let's do nothing and see what happens" will only slow things down for so long, and if we remain passive, we may be very unhappy with the results. It's relatively easy to say what should not be done, but much harder to decide what should actually be done.
If there is to be an effective resistance, it has to be a constructive one.
Like it or not, we live in a high-growth region. With towns all around us taking their share of new population, have we somehow earned the right to stay the same?
Population growth appears to be Plan A for the federal, provincial and county governments, all democratically elected, and Erin's Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) report in February will conform to those policies.
If we disagree with Plan A, we need to come up with Plan B, C or D. Sensing political danger perhaps, town councillors have said virtually nothing in public about where they stand on these issues. Soon they will have to vote on the SSMP report, and I hope they will each offer some words of explanation for their positions.
We should first decide what we really want, among the realistic options, and not allow other governments to dictate everything and take the blame. Once we have a long-term plan, we can pursue the funding to make it happen.
In the 20 years from 1961 to 1981, Erin village more than doubled its population, going from 1,000 residents to 2,300 residents. It wasn't done particularly well, but was the charm of the village destroyed? Some might say yes, but I think most would say no.
Many people didn't like the development of large-lot subdivisions in recent decades, but this is still a great place to live. I think the Town is a better place to live now, than when I moved here in 1985.
Now we have the prospect of doubling again over 20-30 years through the Solmar proposal, not to mention other serious developers. I don't think such growth is bad in and of itself, but it makes a big difference how it is done.
This could be a chance to do it much better than we have in the past. Erin could still be a jewel, but with some additional carats. The proposed growth is still moderate by Southern Ontario standards.
There is no chance that we will ever look like Brampton, or even experience growth like that of Georgetown.
I went to a recent meeting of the SSMP Liaison Committee for an educational session called Wastewater Treatment 101. It seemed strange to be discussing the pros and cons of various sewage treatment methods, when we haven't even decided whether to go this route. We still have no idea how many millions of dollars a system would cost, and how much the relatively small portion of Town residents on the system would have to pay for hook-up and ongoing sewage bills.
"Wastewater has to be paid for by the people who use it," said Mayor Lou Maieron.
Regarding the effluent from a sewage plant that would have to flow into the West Credit River, the SSMP will include an Assimilative Capacity Study. This determines the level of treatment needed to meet the water quality standards set by the Ministry of the Environment (MoE). Advanced levels of treatment would be more expensive and allow more homes to be built, but there will be a maximum.
"The extent to which we have to treat the sewage ultimately is established by the MoE," B.M. Ross Engineer Dale Erb. "The West Credit has a quality that is better than the objectives established by the province. The current criteria that we're working with is fairly stringent. It's going to require a well thought out treatment process, but it is attainable. Of course, in the end, it just means dollars."
Project Manager Matt Pearson said that the SSMP will recommend a tried and true processing system, instead of a relatively unproven alternative method.
"It's nice to be cutting edge, but you have to be right," he said. "This is too big of an investment to make a mistake."
To simply say that change is unacceptable will not be a useful argument in the upcoming debate about population growth and sewers in Erin. Changes to our environment are clearly inevitable, so people have to decide if they have the energy and interest to have some influence on what happens.
It can start with a nostalgic feeling that this is a good place to live, with many things worth preserving. But it needs to step up to some practical strategies about what can be done to make the changes as acceptable as possible.
"Let's do nothing and see what happens" will only slow things down for so long, and if we remain passive, we may be very unhappy with the results. It's relatively easy to say what should not be done, but much harder to decide what should actually be done.
If there is to be an effective resistance, it has to be a constructive one.
Like it or not, we live in a high-growth region. With towns all around us taking their share of new population, have we somehow earned the right to stay the same?
Population growth appears to be Plan A for the federal, provincial and county governments, all democratically elected, and Erin's Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) report in February will conform to those policies.
If we disagree with Plan A, we need to come up with Plan B, C or D. Sensing political danger perhaps, town councillors have said virtually nothing in public about where they stand on these issues. Soon they will have to vote on the SSMP report, and I hope they will each offer some words of explanation for their positions.
We should first decide what we really want, among the realistic options, and not allow other governments to dictate everything and take the blame. Once we have a long-term plan, we can pursue the funding to make it happen.
In the 20 years from 1961 to 1981, Erin village more than doubled its population, going from 1,000 residents to 2,300 residents. It wasn't done particularly well, but was the charm of the village destroyed? Some might say yes, but I think most would say no.
Many people didn't like the development of large-lot subdivisions in recent decades, but this is still a great place to live. I think the Town is a better place to live now, than when I moved here in 1985.
Now we have the prospect of doubling again over 20-30 years through the Solmar proposal, not to mention other serious developers. I don't think such growth is bad in and of itself, but it makes a big difference how it is done.
This could be a chance to do it much better than we have in the past. Erin could still be a jewel, but with some additional carats. The proposed growth is still moderate by Southern Ontario standards.
There is no chance that we will ever look like Brampton, or even experience growth like that of Georgetown.
I went to a recent meeting of the SSMP Liaison Committee for an educational session called Wastewater Treatment 101. It seemed strange to be discussing the pros and cons of various sewage treatment methods, when we haven't even decided whether to go this route. We still have no idea how many millions of dollars a system would cost, and how much the relatively small portion of Town residents on the system would have to pay for hook-up and ongoing sewage bills.
"Wastewater has to be paid for by the people who use it," said Mayor Lou Maieron.
Regarding the effluent from a sewage plant that would have to flow into the West Credit River, the SSMP will include an Assimilative Capacity Study. This determines the level of treatment needed to meet the water quality standards set by the Ministry of the Environment (MoE). Advanced levels of treatment would be more expensive and allow more homes to be built, but there will be a maximum.
"The extent to which we have to treat the sewage ultimately is established by the MoE," B.M. Ross Engineer Dale Erb. "The West Credit has a quality that is better than the objectives established by the province. The current criteria that we're working with is fairly stringent. It's going to require a well thought out treatment process, but it is attainable. Of course, in the end, it just means dollars."
Project Manager Matt Pearson said that the SSMP will recommend a tried and true processing system, instead of a relatively unproven alternative method.
"It's nice to be cutting edge, but you have to be right," he said. "This is too big of an investment to make a mistake."
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