As published in The Erin Advocate
The best learning seems to happen when students not only have access to the facts, but a chance to see and hear and touch and smell the objects of their lesson.
That's how things work at Everdale Organic Farm near Hillsburgh, which has a range of farm trip programs designed for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
The Ontario school curriculum requires that students learn about sustainable ecosystems and the impact of human activities on the environment.
"Teachers are scrambling, looking for how to teach about it," said Karen Campbell, one of the founders of Everdale's Environmental Learning Centre. "They are trying to find out how to make activities cross-curricular, involving things like literacy and math."
The programs are designed to support the curriculum, providing a fun experience and showing students how they can take action related to what they have learned. Everdale also alerts young people to a possible career choice – you do not have to grow up on a farm to become a farmer yourself.
Thousands of students have visited in the last ten years, from a radius that includes Guelph and Brampton. The program has a mandate to stay small-scale, hosting only one school at a time and serving about 50 schools per year from early May through late October.
Students up to Grade 6 can interact with livestock, do some farm chores, explore ecosystems, learn about 19th-century farming, study soil ecology and find out where food comes from.
"The livestock gets the most comments," said Campbell. "Sometimes, kids are a bit frightened at first of physically touching the animals. They are out of their comfort zone."
Older students can work alongside the farm's regular workers in the field, study animal rearing and nutrition, or learn about the process of getting products from the field to the marketplace.
Fancy attire is discouraged in their dress code: "You are visiting a farm; you and your group will hopefully get dirty."
During the chillier months of November through April, Everdale goes on the road with its Farmers in the Schools program, with elementary-level workshops that include visiting chickens, a rotten apple party (about composting), a local food lesson that traces all the ingredients of pizza from their sources, and a bread and butter party that features flour grinding, dough kneading and butter making.
There is a popular Grade 3 Intensive Program that has three visits to the classroom by a farmer to interactively discover soils, plants and animals, followed by a final unit at the farm. A comparison of pictures drawn by students at the beginning and end of the program shows substantial increases in understanding, said Campbell.
The cost for farm trips is $7 per student for half days, and $13.50 for full days. In-school workshops are $3 per student. In addition, parents can register children for a farm day camp in July ($190 per week). Co-op placements are possible for high school students, and non-school groups can arrange visits.
There are lots of other things going on at Everdale, including events like Seedy Saturday (April 30), education for adults and the sale of produce to the public through "harvest shares". The farm is at 5812 on the Sixth Line, north of Wellington Road 22, west of Hillsburgh.
For more information, go to www.everdale.org or call 519-855-4859.
March 30, 2011
March 23, 2011
Reel environmental action on a Sunday afternoon
As published in The Erin Advocate
A triple bill of environmental films will be featured at the Centre 2000 theatre on Sunday, April 3, a collaboration between erincinema and the Climate Change Action Group of Erin.
The line-up was to have concluded with Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Story, but that was changed after organizers learned it was to be broadcast on CBC television on March 13 and April 3.
Instead they will show The Clean Bin Project, a documentary film about a couple who compete with each other to see who can swear off consumerism and produce the least landfill garbage in an entire year.
In their quest to live waste-free, they tackle some major pollution issues, interview some experts, and try to make sense of their seemingly small influence in a "throw-away society".
It may seem like a lot to watch three documentaries in a row (total time 165 minutes, plus a 30-minute intermission) but given the high level of local interest in environmental affairs, I would not be surprised to see a good-sized audience. It will certainly be more stimulating than three hours of "Reality TV".
"We're hoping to inspire people to think about taking action," said Viviana Keir, a member of the Town's erincinema committee. They want to make Reel Action an annual event.
The doors open at 12:30 pm and the films start at 1 pm. Admission is free, but donations to help the East Wellington Community Services food bank will be appreciated. As at the Fast Forward film nights, there will be organic popcorn, and information tables on local food, tree planting et cetera.
The free admission is thanks to sponsorship by Powersmiths, a Brampton company that designs and manufactures power distribution systems that help reduce electricity waste.
The first film of the afternoon will be The Green Legacy Documentary, a short film on the largest municipal tree planting program in North America, which is here in Wellington County.
Next up will be Fresh – New thinking about what we're eating, which celebrates passionate people who are re-inventing the food system. It is a movie that has become part of the grassroots movement to make local, organic food a high priority for more people.
"We believe that Fresh can truly help get us to a tipping point, when sustainable food will no longer be just a niche market," said filmmaker Ana Joanes.
It deals with the consequences of industrial-style farming: problems with contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and obesity. It features people who are forging healthier, sustainable alternatives for the future of food. It is also a call to engage in ten suggested "fresh" actions:
1. Buy local products when possible; otherwise, buy organic and fair-trade products.
2. Shop at a local farmers market.
3. Support restaurants and food vendors that buy locally produced food.
4. Avoid genetically modified organisms, which are prevalent in the soy, corn, and canola of processed foods.
5. Cook, can, dry and freeze – at home.
6. Drink plenty of water, but avoid bottled water when you can. Buy a reusable water bottle and invest in a good water filter.
7. Grow a garden, visit a farm, volunteer in your community garden, teach a child how to garden.
8. Volunteer and/or financially support an organization dedicated to promoting a sustainable food system. Stay informed by joining the mailing list of the advocacy groups you trust.
9. Get involved in your community. Influence issues surrounding food choices by communicating with elected officials at various levels: School Board, Town, County, Provincial and Federal.
10. Share your passion – talk to friends and family about why food choice matters.
More information is available at: www.erincinema.ca; www.cleanbinproject.com/the-film; www.freshthemovie.com; and www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/CampaignNews/wellington.asp.
A triple bill of environmental films will be featured at the Centre 2000 theatre on Sunday, April 3, a collaboration between erincinema and the Climate Change Action Group of Erin.
The line-up was to have concluded with Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Story, but that was changed after organizers learned it was to be broadcast on CBC television on March 13 and April 3.
Instead they will show The Clean Bin Project, a documentary film about a couple who compete with each other to see who can swear off consumerism and produce the least landfill garbage in an entire year.
In their quest to live waste-free, they tackle some major pollution issues, interview some experts, and try to make sense of their seemingly small influence in a "throw-away society".
It may seem like a lot to watch three documentaries in a row (total time 165 minutes, plus a 30-minute intermission) but given the high level of local interest in environmental affairs, I would not be surprised to see a good-sized audience. It will certainly be more stimulating than three hours of "Reality TV".
"We're hoping to inspire people to think about taking action," said Viviana Keir, a member of the Town's erincinema committee. They want to make Reel Action an annual event.
The doors open at 12:30 pm and the films start at 1 pm. Admission is free, but donations to help the East Wellington Community Services food bank will be appreciated. As at the Fast Forward film nights, there will be organic popcorn, and information tables on local food, tree planting et cetera.
The free admission is thanks to sponsorship by Powersmiths, a Brampton company that designs and manufactures power distribution systems that help reduce electricity waste.
The first film of the afternoon will be The Green Legacy Documentary, a short film on the largest municipal tree planting program in North America, which is here in Wellington County.
Next up will be Fresh – New thinking about what we're eating, which celebrates passionate people who are re-inventing the food system. It is a movie that has become part of the grassroots movement to make local, organic food a high priority for more people.
"We believe that Fresh can truly help get us to a tipping point, when sustainable food will no longer be just a niche market," said filmmaker Ana Joanes.
It deals with the consequences of industrial-style farming: problems with contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and obesity. It features people who are forging healthier, sustainable alternatives for the future of food. It is also a call to engage in ten suggested "fresh" actions:
1. Buy local products when possible; otherwise, buy organic and fair-trade products.
2. Shop at a local farmers market.
3. Support restaurants and food vendors that buy locally produced food.
4. Avoid genetically modified organisms, which are prevalent in the soy, corn, and canola of processed foods.
5. Cook, can, dry and freeze – at home.
6. Drink plenty of water, but avoid bottled water when you can. Buy a reusable water bottle and invest in a good water filter.
7. Grow a garden, visit a farm, volunteer in your community garden, teach a child how to garden.
8. Volunteer and/or financially support an organization dedicated to promoting a sustainable food system. Stay informed by joining the mailing list of the advocacy groups you trust.
9. Get involved in your community. Influence issues surrounding food choices by communicating with elected officials at various levels: School Board, Town, County, Provincial and Federal.
10. Share your passion – talk to friends and family about why food choice matters.
More information is available at: www.erincinema.ca; www.cleanbinproject.com/the-film; www.freshthemovie.com; and www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/CampaignNews/wellington.asp.
March 16, 2011
Service mall would have high profile benefits
As published in The Erin Advocate
In a recent letter to the editor, John Sutherland pitched the idea of a Visitor Information Centre next to the new Tim Horton's. There has not been much enthusiasm for the concept so far, but I think it could be expanded into a facility that meets a wide range of needs.
Communities often require a building that houses a variety of publicly oriented services, for groups that would never be able to build a structure of their own, but could afford to lease some space. It would be quite different from Centre 2000, a multi-use facility with an arena, high school, rental hall, library and theatre.
For now, let's call it the Multi-Use Facility #2. If it ever becomes a reality, a more interesting name could be found – "Mini Mall 2013" has a nice ring to it.
The building should be in a highly visible location for it achieve its purpose. Being next to Tim Horton's would guarantee a high profile, but other locations are possible. It all depends on developing a business plan to ensure the venture is profitable for whoever builds it.
I picture it as a relatively small indoor office mall, with a central foyer surrounded by various services, and hallways leading to others.
Tenants could include government functions, public agencies, non-profit groups and private businesses. Organizations might see an advantage to being located in the same building as others with something in common. For example, a real estate business might like to be close to an Information Centre that promoted Erin as a great place to live.
I do not know if developer Shane Baghai is interested in such a project, or who might ultimately lease space, but I will suggest some possibilities. I urge people to keep an open mind and consider the long-term benefits.
There could be a municipal component, like a satellite to the main Town of Erin offices. It would welcome and inform people about Erin (the whole Town), and aggressively market the Town, with a business development officer. There is always lots of talk about attracting light industry and boosting local employment, but not much action. Investment in such an effort could produce a financial advantage for the Town.
The Hills of Headwaters, or whatever tourism group we end up with, could find a natural home at the facility. The tourism shack at McMillan Park is pretty lame, with low traffic and a less than professional appearance.
There are various non-profit groups (business associations, service clubs, charities) that might have a need to rent or share space for offices, storage or meetings. Perhaps a certain percentage of the building could be reserved for the non-profit sector, instead of automatically filling it up with commercial customers.
The non-profit function that first comes to my mind does not exist yet, and that is a Senior Citizens' Centre. The room at Centre 2000, now being used by East Wellington Community Services for the Seniors Day Program and other activities for older adults, is not adequate for the range of services that should be available in this community.
If Erin seniors want such a facility, they are going to have to work hard to make it happen. It just seems to be more feasible as part of larger project.
I have a sneaking suspicion that a mini-mall facility for public services may be too complicated a project for short term development. It could take a while to get all the players together.
And let's face it, if the Town really cared about aggressively promoting itself, it would already be doing so. It is not a legal requirement.
It would be much simpler to build a store next to Tim Horton's. But it would be better to build something more innovative and valuable to the community. The Town may not be able to lead such a project, but it could certainly participate in a private sector initiative.
In a recent letter to the editor, John Sutherland pitched the idea of a Visitor Information Centre next to the new Tim Horton's. There has not been much enthusiasm for the concept so far, but I think it could be expanded into a facility that meets a wide range of needs.
Communities often require a building that houses a variety of publicly oriented services, for groups that would never be able to build a structure of their own, but could afford to lease some space. It would be quite different from Centre 2000, a multi-use facility with an arena, high school, rental hall, library and theatre.
For now, let's call it the Multi-Use Facility #2. If it ever becomes a reality, a more interesting name could be found – "Mini Mall 2013" has a nice ring to it.
The building should be in a highly visible location for it achieve its purpose. Being next to Tim Horton's would guarantee a high profile, but other locations are possible. It all depends on developing a business plan to ensure the venture is profitable for whoever builds it.
I picture it as a relatively small indoor office mall, with a central foyer surrounded by various services, and hallways leading to others.
Tenants could include government functions, public agencies, non-profit groups and private businesses. Organizations might see an advantage to being located in the same building as others with something in common. For example, a real estate business might like to be close to an Information Centre that promoted Erin as a great place to live.
I do not know if developer Shane Baghai is interested in such a project, or who might ultimately lease space, but I will suggest some possibilities. I urge people to keep an open mind and consider the long-term benefits.
There could be a municipal component, like a satellite to the main Town of Erin offices. It would welcome and inform people about Erin (the whole Town), and aggressively market the Town, with a business development officer. There is always lots of talk about attracting light industry and boosting local employment, but not much action. Investment in such an effort could produce a financial advantage for the Town.
The Hills of Headwaters, or whatever tourism group we end up with, could find a natural home at the facility. The tourism shack at McMillan Park is pretty lame, with low traffic and a less than professional appearance.
There are various non-profit groups (business associations, service clubs, charities) that might have a need to rent or share space for offices, storage or meetings. Perhaps a certain percentage of the building could be reserved for the non-profit sector, instead of automatically filling it up with commercial customers.
The non-profit function that first comes to my mind does not exist yet, and that is a Senior Citizens' Centre. The room at Centre 2000, now being used by East Wellington Community Services for the Seniors Day Program and other activities for older adults, is not adequate for the range of services that should be available in this community.
If Erin seniors want such a facility, they are going to have to work hard to make it happen. It just seems to be more feasible as part of larger project.
I have a sneaking suspicion that a mini-mall facility for public services may be too complicated a project for short term development. It could take a while to get all the players together.
And let's face it, if the Town really cared about aggressively promoting itself, it would already be doing so. It is not a legal requirement.
It would be much simpler to build a store next to Tim Horton's. But it would be better to build something more innovative and valuable to the community. The Town may not be able to lead such a project, but it could certainly participate in a private sector initiative.
March 09, 2011
Recycled vegetable oil powers biodiesel revolution
As published in The Erin Advocate
Could the availability of a fuel made with used vegetable oil from restaurants persuade you to buy a used diesel vehicle? I'm not quite ready to take that plunge myself, the idea being too new to have penetrated the automotive lobe of my brain, but the possibility is intriguing.
The question arose while watching Fuel, a documentary about our addiction to fossil fuels. It was the second in the Fast Forward Film Festival series, presented monthly at the Legion by the Climate Change Action Group of Erin (CCAGE) and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC).
The film follows the quest of Josh Tickell to promote sustainable energy alternatives, including a transcontinental trek in a "Veggie Van", powered by frying oil from fast food restaurants. Drop in to www.thefuelfilm.com.
The presentation was sponsored by Erin's own Everpure Biodiesel Cooperative, which produces a sustainable fuel for diesel cars, trucks, generators, farm equipment and home heating furnaces.
Biodiesel can be made from crops like soy and corn, but environmentalists have turned thumbs down on this method, since it diverts food into fuel, driving up the price of food. There is also research into biodiesel from algae, which can be grown using waste water.
Everpure's model is a food-fuel recycling loop, selling canola oil to some 40 local restaurants like Saucy Soup, Bistro Rivière, David's, Churrasco 77, Busholme Inn and Duke of Hillsburgh. Everpure gets the waste fryer oil back for free and puts it through a chemical-catalytic process to produce 100 per cent biodiesel.
It can power diesel engines just as well or better than the fossil diesel sold by petroleum companies, with no engine modifications. Everpure sells it to their 70 co-op members for five cents per litre less than the going price at the gas station.
The restaurants get to call themselves "green", while users get a fuel that produces no additional greenhouse gases, emits 95 per cent less particulate matter and 75 per cent less carbon monoxide than fossil diesel, has no sulfur and is non-toxic / non-flammable.
"If there's ever a spill of biodiesel, the biggest danger is slipping," said organic farmer Jay Mowat, a founder of Everpure, answering questions after the film. The project began at Everdale Farm five years ago when they could not find a biodiesel supplier. Now the co-op collects about 500 L / week, and is ready to expand to more than 2,000 L / week. Find out more at www.everpurebiod.ca.
Production is done in Acton at Zuraw Technologies, in partnership with chemical engineer and entrepreneur Michael Zuraw. In July, they hosted an Open House event, supported by Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong.
It is a simple, radical project that is making a difference. In a society that depends so heavily on oil, however, the annual sale of 25,000 litres is just a drip in a very large bucket. All the arable farmland in North America could only produce enough biofuel to replace 20 per cent of fossil fuel use.
"Biofuels are not a silver bullet, they are not an answer," said Mowat. "In certain instances, like Everpure, it can be one of the solutions, one of the alternatives. I personally believe the only way to get off the fossil fuel train is reducing our use – starting to learn how to conserve. We are a very wasteful society in terms of fossil fuel production.
"We have no desire to become the Imperial Oil of biodiesel. We want to take local waste oil, produce biodiesel locally, then sell it to local farmers and drivers.
"Very few people know about it. Most of the work the co-op does is education. If we brought the message out a bit better, people would start to use it, if it was available."
Before you rush out and buy a diesel vehicle, be aware that there are limitations. Diesel passenger vehicles made in 2007 and later have emission systems that only accept a blend of up to five per cent biodiesel. New farm tractors and big rigs can take Everpure's 100 per cent biodiesel, said Mowat. Check the warranty as well, to see if it limits the proportion of biodiesel.
Also, biodiesel turns to a non-flowing gel at about -5° C, effectively shutting down sales for the winter – though they do sell containers to mixing enthusiasts. A non-gelling additive would cost an extra 20 cents per litre.
"We are barely financially sustainable now," said Mowat. "If we had to add 20 cents a litre, I don't think we would find very many customers."
The Everpure pumps in Erin, Orangeville, Acton and Guelph are the only places in Ontario where you can get 100 per cent (B100) biodiesel. Naturally, their pumps run off batteries charged by solar panels. Members pre-buy $500 worth of fuel, or get bulk delivery to their farms.
Everpure has been doing research, in partnership with the University of Guelph, into biodiesel home heating, with the help of a $5,000 grant that Mowat won in a competition at the Ontario Co-Operative Association conference last October.
"We should be able to supply, with some luck, biodiesel for home heating fuel, with slight modifications to your furnace (nothing that would void a warranty) next winter, on a limited basis," he said.
Could the availability of a fuel made with used vegetable oil from restaurants persuade you to buy a used diesel vehicle? I'm not quite ready to take that plunge myself, the idea being too new to have penetrated the automotive lobe of my brain, but the possibility is intriguing.
The question arose while watching Fuel, a documentary about our addiction to fossil fuels. It was the second in the Fast Forward Film Festival series, presented monthly at the Legion by the Climate Change Action Group of Erin (CCAGE) and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC).
The film follows the quest of Josh Tickell to promote sustainable energy alternatives, including a transcontinental trek in a "Veggie Van", powered by frying oil from fast food restaurants. Drop in to www.thefuelfilm.com.
The presentation was sponsored by Erin's own Everpure Biodiesel Cooperative, which produces a sustainable fuel for diesel cars, trucks, generators, farm equipment and home heating furnaces.
Biodiesel can be made from crops like soy and corn, but environmentalists have turned thumbs down on this method, since it diverts food into fuel, driving up the price of food. There is also research into biodiesel from algae, which can be grown using waste water.
Everpure's model is a food-fuel recycling loop, selling canola oil to some 40 local restaurants like Saucy Soup, Bistro Rivière, David's, Churrasco 77, Busholme Inn and Duke of Hillsburgh. Everpure gets the waste fryer oil back for free and puts it through a chemical-catalytic process to produce 100 per cent biodiesel.
It can power diesel engines just as well or better than the fossil diesel sold by petroleum companies, with no engine modifications. Everpure sells it to their 70 co-op members for five cents per litre less than the going price at the gas station.
The restaurants get to call themselves "green", while users get a fuel that produces no additional greenhouse gases, emits 95 per cent less particulate matter and 75 per cent less carbon monoxide than fossil diesel, has no sulfur and is non-toxic / non-flammable.
"If there's ever a spill of biodiesel, the biggest danger is slipping," said organic farmer Jay Mowat, a founder of Everpure, answering questions after the film. The project began at Everdale Farm five years ago when they could not find a biodiesel supplier. Now the co-op collects about 500 L / week, and is ready to expand to more than 2,000 L / week. Find out more at www.everpurebiod.ca.
Production is done in Acton at Zuraw Technologies, in partnership with chemical engineer and entrepreneur Michael Zuraw. In July, they hosted an Open House event, supported by Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong.
It is a simple, radical project that is making a difference. In a society that depends so heavily on oil, however, the annual sale of 25,000 litres is just a drip in a very large bucket. All the arable farmland in North America could only produce enough biofuel to replace 20 per cent of fossil fuel use.
"Biofuels are not a silver bullet, they are not an answer," said Mowat. "In certain instances, like Everpure, it can be one of the solutions, one of the alternatives. I personally believe the only way to get off the fossil fuel train is reducing our use – starting to learn how to conserve. We are a very wasteful society in terms of fossil fuel production.
"We have no desire to become the Imperial Oil of biodiesel. We want to take local waste oil, produce biodiesel locally, then sell it to local farmers and drivers.
"Very few people know about it. Most of the work the co-op does is education. If we brought the message out a bit better, people would start to use it, if it was available."
Before you rush out and buy a diesel vehicle, be aware that there are limitations. Diesel passenger vehicles made in 2007 and later have emission systems that only accept a blend of up to five per cent biodiesel. New farm tractors and big rigs can take Everpure's 100 per cent biodiesel, said Mowat. Check the warranty as well, to see if it limits the proportion of biodiesel.
Also, biodiesel turns to a non-flowing gel at about -5° C, effectively shutting down sales for the winter – though they do sell containers to mixing enthusiasts. A non-gelling additive would cost an extra 20 cents per litre.
"We are barely financially sustainable now," said Mowat. "If we had to add 20 cents a litre, I don't think we would find very many customers."
The Everpure pumps in Erin, Orangeville, Acton and Guelph are the only places in Ontario where you can get 100 per cent (B100) biodiesel. Naturally, their pumps run off batteries charged by solar panels. Members pre-buy $500 worth of fuel, or get bulk delivery to their farms.
Everpure has been doing research, in partnership with the University of Guelph, into biodiesel home heating, with the help of a $5,000 grant that Mowat won in a competition at the Ontario Co-Operative Association conference last October.
"We should be able to supply, with some luck, biodiesel for home heating fuel, with slight modifications to your furnace (nothing that would void a warranty) next winter, on a limited basis," he said.
March 02, 2011
Palliative care extends to bereavement support
As published in The Erin Advocate
In a health system that attempts to meet both the physical and social health needs of its clients, palliative care naturally progresses to bereavement support.
With our aging population, it is an ambitious goal, trying to give seniors the support they need to live, and die, with as much independence as possible.
The Hospice Palliative Care Teams are part of a growing effort to enhance the work of palliative care physicians by meeting the changing needs of people outside of hospitals.
"We've been taking baby steps in introducing the service," said Andrea Martin, Director of the Waterloo Wellington Hospice Palliative Care Network. Funding from the Aging at Home Strategy has been extended to next year. The Wellington-Southgate Team is in the process of hiring an additional nurse practitioner – they cover a huge territory from Mount Forest to Erin.
"The team has had wonderful success in improving hospice palliative care to its clients and families," said Martin. "The specialists are aware of it, the case managers for CCAC, the community nursing services, our family health teams are quite aware, but from a public perspective, it is probably not well-known."
She said that having a spiritual care worker on the team has been "extremely beneficial", because many families have become disconnected from the faith communities they grew up with, and need a neutral person to offer support.
"It actually helps them link back to their faith community," she said.
The team also has a social worker, who can provide "help with emotional issues, and relationship-building among family members." The social worker can also assist with the sometimes overwhelming details of dealing with costs, government forms, various agencies and funeral arrangements.
To find out more about the Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), and their mission of a "seamless experience through the health system", go to www.ww.ccac-ont.ca.
The Hospice Wellington organization, with volunteer visitors and residential care for patients, also assists family members, helping them deal with grief both before and after the death of their loved one. Anyone who has experienced the death of someone important to them, whether sudden or expected, can call Hospice Wellington, at 519-836-3921. The programs provide support and compassion, and are not seen as therapy.
Staff or volunteers are available for one-to-one support on an as-needed basis, or a more regular schedule. Three to six months after the death, individuals may be ready to join a Grief Support Group of up to 10 people – a structured, safe place to explore emotions with others. Specific programs are available for adults, teens, children and those bereaved by suicide.
Each Spring and Fall, Hospice Wellington offers a 13 week volunteer training course, which is open to the public, entitled Insights into Terminal Illness, Grief and Bereavement.
Counselling is also available to families with doctors at the East Wellington Family Health Team. Issues of grief and loss can be disabling, so it is appropriate to seek out help in developing new coping skills.
Other services include Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington, a not-for-profit, community-based agency, that helps more than 5,000 people annually with a wide range of issues. No one is turned away due to income or inability to make payment. Check them out at www.familyserviceguelph.on.ca.
In a health system that attempts to meet both the physical and social health needs of its clients, palliative care naturally progresses to bereavement support.
With our aging population, it is an ambitious goal, trying to give seniors the support they need to live, and die, with as much independence as possible.
The Hospice Palliative Care Teams are part of a growing effort to enhance the work of palliative care physicians by meeting the changing needs of people outside of hospitals.
"We've been taking baby steps in introducing the service," said Andrea Martin, Director of the Waterloo Wellington Hospice Palliative Care Network. Funding from the Aging at Home Strategy has been extended to next year. The Wellington-Southgate Team is in the process of hiring an additional nurse practitioner – they cover a huge territory from Mount Forest to Erin.
"The team has had wonderful success in improving hospice palliative care to its clients and families," said Martin. "The specialists are aware of it, the case managers for CCAC, the community nursing services, our family health teams are quite aware, but from a public perspective, it is probably not well-known."
She said that having a spiritual care worker on the team has been "extremely beneficial", because many families have become disconnected from the faith communities they grew up with, and need a neutral person to offer support.
"It actually helps them link back to their faith community," she said.
The team also has a social worker, who can provide "help with emotional issues, and relationship-building among family members." The social worker can also assist with the sometimes overwhelming details of dealing with costs, government forms, various agencies and funeral arrangements.
To find out more about the Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), and their mission of a "seamless experience through the health system", go to www.ww.ccac-ont.ca.
The Hospice Wellington organization, with volunteer visitors and residential care for patients, also assists family members, helping them deal with grief both before and after the death of their loved one. Anyone who has experienced the death of someone important to them, whether sudden or expected, can call Hospice Wellington, at 519-836-3921. The programs provide support and compassion, and are not seen as therapy.
Staff or volunteers are available for one-to-one support on an as-needed basis, or a more regular schedule. Three to six months after the death, individuals may be ready to join a Grief Support Group of up to 10 people – a structured, safe place to explore emotions with others. Specific programs are available for adults, teens, children and those bereaved by suicide.
Each Spring and Fall, Hospice Wellington offers a 13 week volunteer training course, which is open to the public, entitled Insights into Terminal Illness, Grief and Bereavement.
Counselling is also available to families with doctors at the East Wellington Family Health Team. Issues of grief and loss can be disabling, so it is appropriate to seek out help in developing new coping skills.
Other services include Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington, a not-for-profit, community-based agency, that helps more than 5,000 people annually with a wide range of issues. No one is turned away due to income or inability to make payment. Check them out at www.familyserviceguelph.on.ca.
February 16, 2011
Home health care can include spiritual care
As published in The Erin Advocate
I was surprised to learn recently that spiritual care is among the many publicly funded health care services that can be provided to people in their homes.
It does seem like a logical extension of the effort to allow people to return home as soon as possible after being in a hospital, where they would have access to a chaplain.
Spiritual Care Providers are included on local teams being set up by the Waterloo Wellington Hospice Palliative Care Network, to benefit terminally ill patients. They can pray with clients, read to them or just chat.
The service is entirely optional, not linked to any particular religion, and available in addition to any visits from ministers or other church volunteers. It is a recognition that people, whether they care to express them or not, do have spiritual needs that can affect their physical and mental health.
It is one of many home services, including Personal Support Workers, coordinated by Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), which also controls access to Long Term Care (nursing) Homes. Funding from the Ontario government for hospitals and home care is allocated through the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), which currently has an Aging at Home initiative.
Hospice Palliative Care Teams are similar in concept to a Family Health Team, with a core group of doctors working with other professionals. Normally there would be a nurse practitioner, clinical nurses and a spiritual care provider.
The teams enable many patients with palliative diagnoses to return home from hospital (if they wish) instead of long-term care placement. There is no team for the Erin area as yet, but it is something we could have – perhaps something for which a seniors' group could lobby.
The Palliative Care Network offers education for health care professionals to improve their knowledge and skills in this field of medicine. They have also taken the initiative to place symptom response kits in the homes of patients and in long term care homes. These provide specialized medications and equipment so nurses can provide treatment quickly if a patient's condition changes, often without transferring them to hospital.
Palliative care, which focuses on comfort and other needs of dying patients and their families, is available from various sources: hospitals, long term care homes, family doctors and their teams, community agencies and residential hospices.
Since 1980 Hospice Wellington has been providing care for palliative patients and families, including bereavement support. It is a volunteer-centered organization, delivering more than 16,000 hours of volunteer support for almost 700 individuals each year.
Last year they opened a 10-bed residential hospice in Guelph, providing medical care and support in an attractive home-like setting, as an alternative to hospital, when patients are close to death and can no longer stay at home.
Some people resist the idea of going to a hospice, because they are not familiar with the concept. It is worthwhile to get information, or go on a tour, so that if you need their services, you will know what to expect. Information is available at www.hospicewellington.org. For Caledon, there is Bethell House Hospice in Inglewood, with information at www.hospicecaledon.ca.
I was surprised to learn recently that spiritual care is among the many publicly funded health care services that can be provided to people in their homes.
It does seem like a logical extension of the effort to allow people to return home as soon as possible after being in a hospital, where they would have access to a chaplain.
Spiritual Care Providers are included on local teams being set up by the Waterloo Wellington Hospice Palliative Care Network, to benefit terminally ill patients. They can pray with clients, read to them or just chat.
The service is entirely optional, not linked to any particular religion, and available in addition to any visits from ministers or other church volunteers. It is a recognition that people, whether they care to express them or not, do have spiritual needs that can affect their physical and mental health.
It is one of many home services, including Personal Support Workers, coordinated by Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), which also controls access to Long Term Care (nursing) Homes. Funding from the Ontario government for hospitals and home care is allocated through the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), which currently has an Aging at Home initiative.
Hospice Palliative Care Teams are similar in concept to a Family Health Team, with a core group of doctors working with other professionals. Normally there would be a nurse practitioner, clinical nurses and a spiritual care provider.
The teams enable many patients with palliative diagnoses to return home from hospital (if they wish) instead of long-term care placement. There is no team for the Erin area as yet, but it is something we could have – perhaps something for which a seniors' group could lobby.
The Palliative Care Network offers education for health care professionals to improve their knowledge and skills in this field of medicine. They have also taken the initiative to place symptom response kits in the homes of patients and in long term care homes. These provide specialized medications and equipment so nurses can provide treatment quickly if a patient's condition changes, often without transferring them to hospital.
Palliative care, which focuses on comfort and other needs of dying patients and their families, is available from various sources: hospitals, long term care homes, family doctors and their teams, community agencies and residential hospices.
Since 1980 Hospice Wellington has been providing care for palliative patients and families, including bereavement support. It is a volunteer-centered organization, delivering more than 16,000 hours of volunteer support for almost 700 individuals each year.
Last year they opened a 10-bed residential hospice in Guelph, providing medical care and support in an attractive home-like setting, as an alternative to hospital, when patients are close to death and can no longer stay at home.
Some people resist the idea of going to a hospice, because they are not familiar with the concept. It is worthwhile to get information, or go on a tour, so that if you need their services, you will know what to expect. Information is available at www.hospicewellington.org. For Caledon, there is Bethell House Hospice in Inglewood, with information at www.hospicecaledon.ca.
February 09, 2011
Cared for by angels - what more could we want?
As published in The Erin Advocate
Sitting here in the sunroom at Lisaard House, the Cambridge cancer hospice, I've had a chance to reflect on my mom Gerry's long journey through our healthcare system. Through multiple surgeries, radiation and drug therapies, she has kept a positive outlook. It is her third round with cancer and now, for her body, time is very short.
The hospice is a calm oasis where time seems to slow down and death is treated as a natural process. It is opposite of the hospital, where the battle rages on. Mom's hospital stay last fall was a difficult ordeal, because of her frailty and the risks inherent in a huge system trying to serve so many people.
Mom broke her collarbone, just reaching across the bed. She got an infection that required a quarantine. She developed a pressure sore. A round trip to Kitchener for radiation took eight hours. Often in serious pain, she was distressed by noise from roommates and the busy ward.
The nurses, doctors and other staff at Cambridge Memorial continued to provide good care, even when they were clearly not having a good day, and for that I am grateful.
The long illness has given us opportunities to express our appreciation, say our goodbyes and build up bonds of family support. It has revealed a broader network, with many cards, emails and visits, especially from their extended family at St. Gregory's. My father Earl has been a source of inspiration, accepting the challenges of each day. My parents continue to teach by example, and for that I am grateful.
When Mom returned home, another division of the healthcare army jumped into action. It was encouraging to see how far we've come in developing a system to help people grow old at home.
The palliative team coordinated by Community Care included nurses, a nurse practitioner and an occupational therapist. Thanks go out to Jennifer, Abby, Laura, Maureen and Susan, and to the staff at Lisaard and Meals on Wheels.
There is one group of healthcare professionals that deserve special thanks. The team of Personal Support Workers (PSWs) from Bayshore Home Health – Jackie, Jamie, Robin, Lisa and Angela – provided outstanding service.
"It was their remarkable gentleness, true kindness and genuine caring for perfect strangers which impressed me most," said my sister.
PSWs don't use high-tech equipment or fancy drugs, and don't make a lot of money. They have the confidence to walk into a home, provide intimate personal care and feeding, then switch to sweeping, cooking or laundry. One day, an unexpected pot of soup arrived.
They taught us what she needed, told jokes to make her smile, whispered little bits of conversation and became her friend and advocate, knowing she might not be there the next day.
Mom was surrounded by angels before her death, and for that I am very grateful.
Here is a song refrain, written by Garnet Rogers. It has been on my mind lately and needs to be released:
We are brief as summer lightning
We are swift as swallow’s flight
We are sparks that spiral upward
in the darkness in the night
We are frost upon a window
We won’t pass this way again
In the end, only love remains
Sitting here in the sunroom at Lisaard House, the Cambridge cancer hospice, I've had a chance to reflect on my mom Gerry's long journey through our healthcare system. Through multiple surgeries, radiation and drug therapies, she has kept a positive outlook. It is her third round with cancer and now, for her body, time is very short.
The hospice is a calm oasis where time seems to slow down and death is treated as a natural process. It is opposite of the hospital, where the battle rages on. Mom's hospital stay last fall was a difficult ordeal, because of her frailty and the risks inherent in a huge system trying to serve so many people.
Mom broke her collarbone, just reaching across the bed. She got an infection that required a quarantine. She developed a pressure sore. A round trip to Kitchener for radiation took eight hours. Often in serious pain, she was distressed by noise from roommates and the busy ward.
The nurses, doctors and other staff at Cambridge Memorial continued to provide good care, even when they were clearly not having a good day, and for that I am grateful.
The long illness has given us opportunities to express our appreciation, say our goodbyes and build up bonds of family support. It has revealed a broader network, with many cards, emails and visits, especially from their extended family at St. Gregory's. My father Earl has been a source of inspiration, accepting the challenges of each day. My parents continue to teach by example, and for that I am grateful.
When Mom returned home, another division of the healthcare army jumped into action. It was encouraging to see how far we've come in developing a system to help people grow old at home.
The palliative team coordinated by Community Care included nurses, a nurse practitioner and an occupational therapist. Thanks go out to Jennifer, Abby, Laura, Maureen and Susan, and to the staff at Lisaard and Meals on Wheels.
There is one group of healthcare professionals that deserve special thanks. The team of Personal Support Workers (PSWs) from Bayshore Home Health – Jackie, Jamie, Robin, Lisa and Angela – provided outstanding service.
"It was their remarkable gentleness, true kindness and genuine caring for perfect strangers which impressed me most," said my sister.
PSWs don't use high-tech equipment or fancy drugs, and don't make a lot of money. They have the confidence to walk into a home, provide intimate personal care and feeding, then switch to sweeping, cooking or laundry. One day, an unexpected pot of soup arrived.
They taught us what she needed, told jokes to make her smile, whispered little bits of conversation and became her friend and advocate, knowing she might not be there the next day.
Mom was surrounded by angels before her death, and for that I am very grateful.
Here is a song refrain, written by Garnet Rogers. It has been on my mind lately and needs to be released:
We are brief as summer lightning
We are swift as swallow’s flight
We are sparks that spiral upward
in the darkness in the night
We are frost upon a window
We won’t pass this way again
In the end, only love remains
February 02, 2011
Staying in touch with the soil from which we came
As published in The Erin Advocate
I did not realize just how passionate some farmers are about the value of soil until I attended the Fast Forward Film Festival, featuring Dirt! The Movie.
The film is well-crafted, as an education about nutrients and the multitude of organisms in soil. About how farmland has been damaged by development, over-use of chemicals and the planting of single crops over large areas. It is a call for political action in defence of the land.
More fascinating was that 125 people came out to watch a movie about dirt on a frigid January evening, listen to local farmers and share ideas in an open forum.
The festival is a joint project of the Climate Change Action Group of Erin (CCAGE) and Credit Valley Conservation, with the opening night sponsored by Treehaven Natural Foods.
"We're all dirt," said Cathy Hansen of Bernway Farm in Ospringe, who helped organize the event. She is an organic farmer and local food educator. "Every last one of us relies on dirt for the sustenance of all of our cells, and for the future of our families and our children to come. Dirt is an essential living part of our planet – the only planet in the solar system with a living, breathing skin.
"You might think, how do soil and climate change go together? Soil can sequester carbon, take carbon out of our atmosphere if it's managed in the right way, but it can also give up a lot of carbon if we're not careful in how we manage our soils and our forests."
There was a panel of organic farmers, including teacher Amy Ouchterlony of Whole Village, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program in Caledon, dedicated to sustainable living (www.wholevillage.org). She said it is important not only to talk about sustainable agriculture, but to actually do it.
"We've had students come out and get community service hours on the farm, weeding, harvesting potatoes – you really need to feel that, " she said. "We need students to realize that farming is a career. It's a career path that we don't tell kids about...We're so lucky in this area, within half an hour of this spot there are more of the kind of farms this movie was talking about than any other places I can think of."
There were calls for reform of the provincial curriculum to include more about agriculture. Several elementary school students came to the microphone to participate the discussion. Holly Lauryssen and Paige Bromby of St. John Brebeuf told proudly about their school garden and the composting of lunch scraps.
"The basic knowledge is not taught in schools," said Erin farmer John Slack, President of Agricultural Mineral Prospectors Inc. "It is really up to us as a community to put these things in action. I don't have much faith in our political system, regardless of how hard we yell."
Slack had a lot to say about the unique features of the Erin landscape and the importance of preserving them. There's not room in this column, but I will share more of his comments in the near future.
Abhi Wahi is the manager of Whole Circle Farm on County Road 50 in Erin, near Rockwood (www.wholecirclefarm.ca). He spoke about building the next generation of farmers:
"Whole Circle has been taking on interns and apprentices for quite a while now. Age is not a limit, anyone can join. We train people to become farmers, to work with the soil, to build the soil using biodynamic practices, to encourage life in the soil, to grow food that is nutrient rich, food that's full of life. Not everyone who goes through our program ends up becoming a farmer, but in some way or another it does really affect their lives. They do go forward, encourage others or work within the field. We love visitors and volunteers to come by."
Cathy Hansen had an interesting idea for expanding the concept of community gardens.
"In a town like Erin where everybody is on a septic tank, not everybody can grow a garden in their backyard because of the issues around growing food in proximity to your septic field. We do have acreages in the community that would be walkable for people that would allow people to grow garden plots, like they do in the city.
"I am going to advocate that the Town of Erin start to look into the opportunity that we might have to develop, rather than a new industrial park, an agricultural park. A place that runs on a similar concept to an industrial park, except it's set up to grow food – small plot farming with infrastructures to support those farms.
"Farming is changing. Farms are no longer passing through families. We have new people coming into farming – the young, ambitious landless farmer. I would love to see Erin be put on the map for creating such a thing as an agricultural park, with infrastructure, with a small abattoir, with a functioning feed mill, with small plots available, with communal equipment."
I did not realize just how passionate some farmers are about the value of soil until I attended the Fast Forward Film Festival, featuring Dirt! The Movie.
The film is well-crafted, as an education about nutrients and the multitude of organisms in soil. About how farmland has been damaged by development, over-use of chemicals and the planting of single crops over large areas. It is a call for political action in defence of the land.
More fascinating was that 125 people came out to watch a movie about dirt on a frigid January evening, listen to local farmers and share ideas in an open forum.
The festival is a joint project of the Climate Change Action Group of Erin (CCAGE) and Credit Valley Conservation, with the opening night sponsored by Treehaven Natural Foods.
"We're all dirt," said Cathy Hansen of Bernway Farm in Ospringe, who helped organize the event. She is an organic farmer and local food educator. "Every last one of us relies on dirt for the sustenance of all of our cells, and for the future of our families and our children to come. Dirt is an essential living part of our planet – the only planet in the solar system with a living, breathing skin.
"You might think, how do soil and climate change go together? Soil can sequester carbon, take carbon out of our atmosphere if it's managed in the right way, but it can also give up a lot of carbon if we're not careful in how we manage our soils and our forests."
There was a panel of organic farmers, including teacher Amy Ouchterlony of Whole Village, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program in Caledon, dedicated to sustainable living (www.wholevillage.org). She said it is important not only to talk about sustainable agriculture, but to actually do it.
"We've had students come out and get community service hours on the farm, weeding, harvesting potatoes – you really need to feel that, " she said. "We need students to realize that farming is a career. It's a career path that we don't tell kids about...We're so lucky in this area, within half an hour of this spot there are more of the kind of farms this movie was talking about than any other places I can think of."
There were calls for reform of the provincial curriculum to include more about agriculture. Several elementary school students came to the microphone to participate the discussion. Holly Lauryssen and Paige Bromby of St. John Brebeuf told proudly about their school garden and the composting of lunch scraps.
"The basic knowledge is not taught in schools," said Erin farmer John Slack, President of Agricultural Mineral Prospectors Inc. "It is really up to us as a community to put these things in action. I don't have much faith in our political system, regardless of how hard we yell."
Slack had a lot to say about the unique features of the Erin landscape and the importance of preserving them. There's not room in this column, but I will share more of his comments in the near future.
Abhi Wahi is the manager of Whole Circle Farm on County Road 50 in Erin, near Rockwood (www.wholecirclefarm.ca). He spoke about building the next generation of farmers:
"Whole Circle has been taking on interns and apprentices for quite a while now. Age is not a limit, anyone can join. We train people to become farmers, to work with the soil, to build the soil using biodynamic practices, to encourage life in the soil, to grow food that is nutrient rich, food that's full of life. Not everyone who goes through our program ends up becoming a farmer, but in some way or another it does really affect their lives. They do go forward, encourage others or work within the field. We love visitors and volunteers to come by."
Cathy Hansen had an interesting idea for expanding the concept of community gardens.
"In a town like Erin where everybody is on a septic tank, not everybody can grow a garden in their backyard because of the issues around growing food in proximity to your septic field. We do have acreages in the community that would be walkable for people that would allow people to grow garden plots, like they do in the city.
"I am going to advocate that the Town of Erin start to look into the opportunity that we might have to develop, rather than a new industrial park, an agricultural park. A place that runs on a similar concept to an industrial park, except it's set up to grow food – small plot farming with infrastructures to support those farms.
"Farming is changing. Farms are no longer passing through families. We have new people coming into farming – the young, ambitious landless farmer. I would love to see Erin be put on the map for creating such a thing as an agricultural park, with infrastructure, with a small abattoir, with a functioning feed mill, with small plots available, with communal equipment."
January 26, 2011
Let's plant trees faster than we chop them down
As published in The Erin Advocate
Some of my best friends are of the leafy, green persuasion. You know the type: perennial sun worshippers, on the tall side, firmly attached to the earth. I've never hugged one, but they do make for excellent company.
Until recently in our history, trees were seen mainly as obstacles to agriculture and as raw material for paper and lumber. Now, we sense more of a common cause among carbon based entities. When God told the first humans to "subdue" the earth (Genesis 1:28), that did not mean we should obliterate the very life forms She created to provide us with oxygen.
Greenery, unlike oil, is relatively easy to replenish. Do you see the newsprint you are holding as a product of dead trees, or as a renewable resource? We are lucky, too, to live in an area that has not been generally paved over.
"Erin is an emerald jewel in the heart of Ontario," said Bill Dinwoody, of the Recreation and Culture Committee, at a presentation to Town Council last month on trails and trees.
There is an effort to have the Town of Erin get more involved in tree planting. For the Town, the volume of trees is not the main issue. It is a matter of strategic planting on public land, and encouragement of planting on private land, to make the Town more attractive.
Of course there are other long-term benefits, like more shade, less erosion, better wildlife habitat, natural snow fencing and a place to hang your rope swing. Tree planting brings people together and erects living monuments to our shared values.
"The Town needs to take a leadership role," said trails enthusiast Steve Revell, who urged Council to consider a town-wide tree plan.
Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) has a broader mandate, since the sheer volume of trees is an important factor in the global effort to slow the rate of climate change.
"CVC is concerned that the potential impacts of climate change may adversely affect the watershed and has a number of initiatives in its strategic plan to both learn more about the potential impacts of climate change and to develop approaches to mitigate them," said a CVC report, done by Woodrising Consulting and ArborVitae Environmental Services.
Using scientific models, they estimated that the 16,844 hectares of forest in the Credit Valley watershed holds about 6.52 million tonnes of carbon, 48 percent in living biomass, 13 percent in dead wood and forest litter and 39 percent in the soil. CVC owns about eight percent of the forest lands.
"CVC recognizes that it can also play a role in efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and to enhance the sequestration, or long-term removal, of GHG from the atmosphere. Forests and wetlands have the ability to act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, the most widely known and ubiquitous GHG."
Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are generally not causing forests to grow faster and increase their rates of carbon sequestration. All the more reason to reduce GHG emissions and plant as many trees as possible.
Since 1960, CVC, the Ministry of Natural Resources and partners such as the Boy Scouts, have planted 2,534 hectares of trees in our watershed, which are moving into a rapid growth phase. CVC plans to plant 57 hectares of trees annually until 2014, and 91 hectares annually from 2015 to 2030.
The portion of the sequestration caused by future plantings may be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in the carbon market, an international mechanism intended to drive down industrial emissions through financial incentives.
New tree planting in the watershed is expected to sequester 5,459 tonnes of carbon per year. Unfortunately, about 7,500 tonnes is lost every year as 25-50 hectares of forest is chopped down to make way for new homes, businesses and roads. It is not happening in Erin, but it is not all that far away.
A recent CVC Fact Sheet describes the process: "Development removes all of the live biomass (organisms) and dead wood, causing the stored carbon to be emitted. Much of the carbon in the soil is emitted as well. Clearly, reducing forest loss is just as important as planting new trees."
Some of my best friends are of the leafy, green persuasion. You know the type: perennial sun worshippers, on the tall side, firmly attached to the earth. I've never hugged one, but they do make for excellent company.
Until recently in our history, trees were seen mainly as obstacles to agriculture and as raw material for paper and lumber. Now, we sense more of a common cause among carbon based entities. When God told the first humans to "subdue" the earth (Genesis 1:28), that did not mean we should obliterate the very life forms She created to provide us with oxygen.
Greenery, unlike oil, is relatively easy to replenish. Do you see the newsprint you are holding as a product of dead trees, or as a renewable resource? We are lucky, too, to live in an area that has not been generally paved over.
"Erin is an emerald jewel in the heart of Ontario," said Bill Dinwoody, of the Recreation and Culture Committee, at a presentation to Town Council last month on trails and trees.
There is an effort to have the Town of Erin get more involved in tree planting. For the Town, the volume of trees is not the main issue. It is a matter of strategic planting on public land, and encouragement of planting on private land, to make the Town more attractive.
Of course there are other long-term benefits, like more shade, less erosion, better wildlife habitat, natural snow fencing and a place to hang your rope swing. Tree planting brings people together and erects living monuments to our shared values.
"The Town needs to take a leadership role," said trails enthusiast Steve Revell, who urged Council to consider a town-wide tree plan.
Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) has a broader mandate, since the sheer volume of trees is an important factor in the global effort to slow the rate of climate change.
"CVC is concerned that the potential impacts of climate change may adversely affect the watershed and has a number of initiatives in its strategic plan to both learn more about the potential impacts of climate change and to develop approaches to mitigate them," said a CVC report, done by Woodrising Consulting and ArborVitae Environmental Services.
Using scientific models, they estimated that the 16,844 hectares of forest in the Credit Valley watershed holds about 6.52 million tonnes of carbon, 48 percent in living biomass, 13 percent in dead wood and forest litter and 39 percent in the soil. CVC owns about eight percent of the forest lands.
"CVC recognizes that it can also play a role in efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and to enhance the sequestration, or long-term removal, of GHG from the atmosphere. Forests and wetlands have the ability to act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, the most widely known and ubiquitous GHG."
Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are generally not causing forests to grow faster and increase their rates of carbon sequestration. All the more reason to reduce GHG emissions and plant as many trees as possible.
Since 1960, CVC, the Ministry of Natural Resources and partners such as the Boy Scouts, have planted 2,534 hectares of trees in our watershed, which are moving into a rapid growth phase. CVC plans to plant 57 hectares of trees annually until 2014, and 91 hectares annually from 2015 to 2030.
The portion of the sequestration caused by future plantings may be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in the carbon market, an international mechanism intended to drive down industrial emissions through financial incentives.
New tree planting in the watershed is expected to sequester 5,459 tonnes of carbon per year. Unfortunately, about 7,500 tonnes is lost every year as 25-50 hectares of forest is chopped down to make way for new homes, businesses and roads. It is not happening in Erin, but it is not all that far away.
A recent CVC Fact Sheet describes the process: "Development removes all of the live biomass (organisms) and dead wood, causing the stored carbon to be emitted. Much of the carbon in the soil is emitted as well. Clearly, reducing forest loss is just as important as planting new trees."
January 19, 2011
Something special needed beside the Tim Horton's
As published in The Erin Advocate
With construction of the Tim Horton's progressing quickly at the north end of Erin village, I hope it is not too late to put in some suggestions for the lot next door, owned by developer Shane Baghai.
He invited suggestions from the public last month and ideas ranged from a pool to a grocery store. I thought back to the start of the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) in 2009, when people were asked what they thought was needed in Erin.
A Tim Horton's was one of the most common suggestions, along with more stores, affordable housing for seniors, better health services, more parks and trails, a pool and many other things – even a paintball arena. The SSMP study is not just about sewers. It is a formal Environmental Assessment of how Erin will evolve, and there will be more opportunities this year for public input.
With construction of the medical centre and the donut shop, Baghai has in short order fulfilled two items on Erin's wish list, while the SSMP chugs along at a snail's pace.
If the Town ever decides to build a sewer system, perhaps Baghai could be engaged to get the job done quickly. Actually, I take that suggestion back; public works should be publicly owned and operated, much as we may be tempted to privatize.
The Town needs to work with developers in a business-like fashion, seeking benefits for taxpayers, just as developers seek a good return on their investment. We cannot expect an entrepreneur to build a pool, with no chance of recouping their money. The Town couldn't afford to maintain a pool, even if were given to us.
So what are the realistic possibilities for this "third lot"? It should probably be a project that will not generate a large amount of traffic. There will already be vehicle issues with Tim Horton's, such as truckers wanting to stop on the shoulders on both sides of the road, no access via the stop light intersection and traffic on Thompson Crescent. That zone could not handle a fast food restaurant, for example, and many people would not want one in the village.
What I would really like to see is a development with some retail on the ground floor and apartments for seniors above – or even a retirement home. The need is great, but I am not hopeful, since the land is not designated for residential growth. There may be better sites, and the Town has frozen residential development while the SSMP is in progress. I don't know if Council could make an exception for a highly desirable project.
I have not spoken with the developer, but I think he would like something that could be built soon, produce a solid revenue stream and look classy. We are a small market, and any growth is projected to be moderate. And while competition is a good thing, I would rather see a new development draw revenue away from other towns, instead of drawing it away from existing Erin businesses. We would appreciate services that we currently have to drive elsewhere to obtain.
If it is to be a store, or group of stores, the SSMP participants suggested a need for clothing and sporting goods. How about electronics equipment? In the entertainment realm, perhaps a bowling alley or a laser-quest style facility. How about an artists' co-op, flea market or farmers' market?
Exactly what goes there depends on an assessment of the market by those putting their money at risk. The main question for the public is whether it will enhance the Town as a place to live and a place to visit.
I am hoping for something practical and distinctive, both in concept and physical appearance. Something that will build on Erin's charm, not dilute it. I do not want to see the town develop into a miniature version of the urban areas I moved here to get away from.
From what I have seen so far, Mr. Baghai has the imagination and drive to make something special happen.
With construction of the Tim Horton's progressing quickly at the north end of Erin village, I hope it is not too late to put in some suggestions for the lot next door, owned by developer Shane Baghai.
He invited suggestions from the public last month and ideas ranged from a pool to a grocery store. I thought back to the start of the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) in 2009, when people were asked what they thought was needed in Erin.
A Tim Horton's was one of the most common suggestions, along with more stores, affordable housing for seniors, better health services, more parks and trails, a pool and many other things – even a paintball arena. The SSMP study is not just about sewers. It is a formal Environmental Assessment of how Erin will evolve, and there will be more opportunities this year for public input.
With construction of the medical centre and the donut shop, Baghai has in short order fulfilled two items on Erin's wish list, while the SSMP chugs along at a snail's pace.
If the Town ever decides to build a sewer system, perhaps Baghai could be engaged to get the job done quickly. Actually, I take that suggestion back; public works should be publicly owned and operated, much as we may be tempted to privatize.
The Town needs to work with developers in a business-like fashion, seeking benefits for taxpayers, just as developers seek a good return on their investment. We cannot expect an entrepreneur to build a pool, with no chance of recouping their money. The Town couldn't afford to maintain a pool, even if were given to us.
So what are the realistic possibilities for this "third lot"? It should probably be a project that will not generate a large amount of traffic. There will already be vehicle issues with Tim Horton's, such as truckers wanting to stop on the shoulders on both sides of the road, no access via the stop light intersection and traffic on Thompson Crescent. That zone could not handle a fast food restaurant, for example, and many people would not want one in the village.
What I would really like to see is a development with some retail on the ground floor and apartments for seniors above – or even a retirement home. The need is great, but I am not hopeful, since the land is not designated for residential growth. There may be better sites, and the Town has frozen residential development while the SSMP is in progress. I don't know if Council could make an exception for a highly desirable project.
I have not spoken with the developer, but I think he would like something that could be built soon, produce a solid revenue stream and look classy. We are a small market, and any growth is projected to be moderate. And while competition is a good thing, I would rather see a new development draw revenue away from other towns, instead of drawing it away from existing Erin businesses. We would appreciate services that we currently have to drive elsewhere to obtain.
If it is to be a store, or group of stores, the SSMP participants suggested a need for clothing and sporting goods. How about electronics equipment? In the entertainment realm, perhaps a bowling alley or a laser-quest style facility. How about an artists' co-op, flea market or farmers' market?
Exactly what goes there depends on an assessment of the market by those putting their money at risk. The main question for the public is whether it will enhance the Town as a place to live and a place to visit.
I am hoping for something practical and distinctive, both in concept and physical appearance. Something that will build on Erin's charm, not dilute it. I do not want to see the town develop into a miniature version of the urban areas I moved here to get away from.
From what I have seen so far, Mr. Baghai has the imagination and drive to make something special happen.
January 12, 2011
Try not to worry about things that might happen
As published in The Erin Advocate
I had a good time at the Mayor's Levee on New Year's Day, skating at Centre 2000. It was a nice family event, with little kids learning to skate, budding hockey tykes showing off their skills, parents chatting while keeping an eye on their broods and old folks proving that they can still get around on the ice.
A "levee" can mean any sort of reception, but it was originally an assembly of men hosted by the British monarch. Mayor Lou Maieron was on duty to greet the masses, and showed a good example by wearing a helmet, instead of a crown.
I've been skating on Monday mornings at the arena this winter, and I've taken to wearing a helmet as well, after a friend of mine fell and suffered a serious head injury. After a year, she is still struggling to make a full recovery.
My caution was reinforced at the levee when I saw a gentleman stumble and crash head-first into the boards. He ended up with a cut over his eye that took four stitches to close.
I'm not old yet (at least I don't think I am), and if I keep my body and brain active, I may be able to put off that stage for a good long while. The aches and pains are increasing, but they seem to rotate to different areas, instead of striking all at once. As my mother is fond of saying, "Getting old is not for sissies."
I went to visit her in Cambridge after the levee. Last spring, at the age of 80, she was golfing and swimming, after recovering from her second major cancer surgery. It was a short reprieve, however. Now it is in her bones and she can barely stand up.
We are at the stage where survival is estimated in months and relief measured in doses of morphine. It is a stark reminder that the advances of medicine may improve our quality of life for a certain time, but cannot save us from the inevitable.
She has made a transition, from strong and independent to frail and vulnerable, while maintaining a positive attitude, which is quite an accomplishment. Her faith in God is strong, and I think she wants to teach by example that suffering is to be expected, and accepted without a big fuss.
She will not be impressed if she reads this, only because these things are so apparent that to write them down shows an excess of sentimentality. The need to write things down can be a curse. Or perhaps it is a form of therapy, an attempt to impose some order on a confusing array of thoughts.
Anyhow, we had a good Christmas. She was able to come to the table and enjoy dinner in the company of her children, grandchildren and of course my father, who has devoted himself to her care without a big fuss.
A few days later, my sister and I were sitting at their kitchen table, working on things like the medication schedule and the power of attorney document, and my father seemed concerned about us.
"Try not to worry about things that might happen," he said.
That sounds like a good New Year's resolution, one that might make the other resolutions easier to achieve.
I had a good time at the Mayor's Levee on New Year's Day, skating at Centre 2000. It was a nice family event, with little kids learning to skate, budding hockey tykes showing off their skills, parents chatting while keeping an eye on their broods and old folks proving that they can still get around on the ice.
A "levee" can mean any sort of reception, but it was originally an assembly of men hosted by the British monarch. Mayor Lou Maieron was on duty to greet the masses, and showed a good example by wearing a helmet, instead of a crown.
I've been skating on Monday mornings at the arena this winter, and I've taken to wearing a helmet as well, after a friend of mine fell and suffered a serious head injury. After a year, she is still struggling to make a full recovery.
My caution was reinforced at the levee when I saw a gentleman stumble and crash head-first into the boards. He ended up with a cut over his eye that took four stitches to close.
I'm not old yet (at least I don't think I am), and if I keep my body and brain active, I may be able to put off that stage for a good long while. The aches and pains are increasing, but they seem to rotate to different areas, instead of striking all at once. As my mother is fond of saying, "Getting old is not for sissies."
I went to visit her in Cambridge after the levee. Last spring, at the age of 80, she was golfing and swimming, after recovering from her second major cancer surgery. It was a short reprieve, however. Now it is in her bones and she can barely stand up.
We are at the stage where survival is estimated in months and relief measured in doses of morphine. It is a stark reminder that the advances of medicine may improve our quality of life for a certain time, but cannot save us from the inevitable.
She has made a transition, from strong and independent to frail and vulnerable, while maintaining a positive attitude, which is quite an accomplishment. Her faith in God is strong, and I think she wants to teach by example that suffering is to be expected, and accepted without a big fuss.
She will not be impressed if she reads this, only because these things are so apparent that to write them down shows an excess of sentimentality. The need to write things down can be a curse. Or perhaps it is a form of therapy, an attempt to impose some order on a confusing array of thoughts.
Anyhow, we had a good Christmas. She was able to come to the table and enjoy dinner in the company of her children, grandchildren and of course my father, who has devoted himself to her care without a big fuss.
A few days later, my sister and I were sitting at their kitchen table, working on things like the medication schedule and the power of attorney document, and my father seemed concerned about us.
"Try not to worry about things that might happen," he said.
That sounds like a good New Year's resolution, one that might make the other resolutions easier to achieve.
December 29, 2010
Dams should be part of Erin's business plan
As published in The Erin Advocate
If the dams in Erin village are going to stay in place for many decades to come, as it appears they will, they should become part of a plan to attract more visitors to the area. The West Credit River is a treasure that could be made more scenic, and more accessible to the public.
The Church Street Dam has ugly slabs of concrete at odd angles (some of them crumbling), broken safety railings, a heavy-duty guard rail and a steel girder sticking out of the water. The Town eventually needs to fix it up or tear it down.
With more frequent and severe weather events anticipated as a result of climate change, there will be extra strain on dams, so they cannot simply be ignored. I asked Bob Morris of Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) how important the village dams are for stormwater management.
"Not likely any significant role, especially if floods threaten structural integrity," he said. The goal is to control stormwater before it reaches the river. "Dams that trap sediment actually create sediment problems upstream and more erosion problems downstream."
The public land between the Church Street Dam and the Valu-Mart parking lot has potential as a park – an idea that has been around for years. It is an inexpensive project that the Town could undertake at any time, requiring some benches, waste containers and a sign. The trees could be thinned out to create a fantastic view of the river.
If the dam were eventually taken down, it could be replaced with stepped rocky ledges, which would still hold the water back somewhat, but create a series of pools that would also be quite attractive.
Whether the dam is there or not, the park could be an important hub in a network of trails that would bring more visitors to the village. There could be a route from that park upstream to Dundas Street, to the park on Carberry Street, across the south dam of Stanley Park and on up to the Trans-Canada Trail (Elora-Cataract).
Another trail could go from the Church Street Dam, possibly using part of the roadway to the old village landfill site, taking hikers up to the Height-of-Land Trail, south to the water tower and back down to William Street.
Obviously there are privately-owned lands involved. But if the Bruce Trail Association has built 1,000 kilometres of trails between Tobermory and Niagara-on-the-Lake by making deals with landowners, and acquiring land when it could, surely Erin can develop a few kilometres of trails.
CVC may be interested in acquiring more riverfront land, as it has done extensively in Caledon. There is possible funding for this sort of effort, but only if there is a plan. A committee of citizens will be working on that in the coming year.
Perhaps the most significant parcel of riverfront land for the long-term future of downtown Erin is the Mundell lumber yard. Owner Dana Mundell would like to move his lumber operation to the north end of the village and develop the vacated strip, anchored by the Planing Mill at the south, and the Grist Mill at Daniel Street. The Town, however, will not allow development there until a sewer system is built.
It is a long-term project, but the possibilities are exciting. There could be a boardwalk along the river leading to McMillan Park and a bridge over the river to the Woollen Mills Trail. There could be a cycling route, bypassing the Main Street traffic. There could be a pedestrian area, with a series of shops and restaurants facing the river.
Other towns have restored historic mills, making them successful as educational sites and commercial ventures. The belt-driven Planing Mill, with its ornate 19th century woodworking machines, is particularly important, since it dates back to 1838.
It is the last such mill in the Credit Valley watershed which can still be operated. People would line up and pay good money to see it in action. Perhaps it is pre-mature to put too many public expectations on the site, which is still part of a private business, but it has the potential to become a more prominent part of Erin's identity.
The mill is powered by water from the Charles Street Dam, through a flume that passes under Main Street. The same water could also generate electricity on a small scale. There are various arguments in favour of preserving this dam, which gave the village its start, but the existence of a functional mill is certainly the strongest.
If the dams in Erin village are going to stay in place for many decades to come, as it appears they will, they should become part of a plan to attract more visitors to the area. The West Credit River is a treasure that could be made more scenic, and more accessible to the public.
The Church Street Dam has ugly slabs of concrete at odd angles (some of them crumbling), broken safety railings, a heavy-duty guard rail and a steel girder sticking out of the water. The Town eventually needs to fix it up or tear it down.
With more frequent and severe weather events anticipated as a result of climate change, there will be extra strain on dams, so they cannot simply be ignored. I asked Bob Morris of Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) how important the village dams are for stormwater management.
"Not likely any significant role, especially if floods threaten structural integrity," he said. The goal is to control stormwater before it reaches the river. "Dams that trap sediment actually create sediment problems upstream and more erosion problems downstream."
The public land between the Church Street Dam and the Valu-Mart parking lot has potential as a park – an idea that has been around for years. It is an inexpensive project that the Town could undertake at any time, requiring some benches, waste containers and a sign. The trees could be thinned out to create a fantastic view of the river.
If the dam were eventually taken down, it could be replaced with stepped rocky ledges, which would still hold the water back somewhat, but create a series of pools that would also be quite attractive.
Whether the dam is there or not, the park could be an important hub in a network of trails that would bring more visitors to the village. There could be a route from that park upstream to Dundas Street, to the park on Carberry Street, across the south dam of Stanley Park and on up to the Trans-Canada Trail (Elora-Cataract).
Another trail could go from the Church Street Dam, possibly using part of the roadway to the old village landfill site, taking hikers up to the Height-of-Land Trail, south to the water tower and back down to William Street.
Obviously there are privately-owned lands involved. But if the Bruce Trail Association has built 1,000 kilometres of trails between Tobermory and Niagara-on-the-Lake by making deals with landowners, and acquiring land when it could, surely Erin can develop a few kilometres of trails.
CVC may be interested in acquiring more riverfront land, as it has done extensively in Caledon. There is possible funding for this sort of effort, but only if there is a plan. A committee of citizens will be working on that in the coming year.
Perhaps the most significant parcel of riverfront land for the long-term future of downtown Erin is the Mundell lumber yard. Owner Dana Mundell would like to move his lumber operation to the north end of the village and develop the vacated strip, anchored by the Planing Mill at the south, and the Grist Mill at Daniel Street. The Town, however, will not allow development there until a sewer system is built.
It is a long-term project, but the possibilities are exciting. There could be a boardwalk along the river leading to McMillan Park and a bridge over the river to the Woollen Mills Trail. There could be a cycling route, bypassing the Main Street traffic. There could be a pedestrian area, with a series of shops and restaurants facing the river.
Other towns have restored historic mills, making them successful as educational sites and commercial ventures. The belt-driven Planing Mill, with its ornate 19th century woodworking machines, is particularly important, since it dates back to 1838.
It is the last such mill in the Credit Valley watershed which can still be operated. People would line up and pay good money to see it in action. Perhaps it is pre-mature to put too many public expectations on the site, which is still part of a private business, but it has the potential to become a more prominent part of Erin's identity.
The mill is powered by water from the Charles Street Dam, through a flume that passes under Main Street. The same water could also generate electricity on a small scale. There are various arguments in favour of preserving this dam, which gave the village its start, but the existence of a functional mill is certainly the strongest.
December 22, 2010
Expensive upgrades could reduce impact of dams
As published in The Erin Advocate
When I think of dams, I think of farms. They do not look much alike, but they are both drastic human interventions in the environment, redirecting the power of nature to serve our needs. Dams and their mill ponds are often quite scenic, but unlike farms, they have become industrial relics.
There are more than 500 dams in the Credit River watershed, including several in the Erin-Hillsburgh area. Most were built in the mid-1800s as European settlers made a furious effort to tame the Ontario wilderness, building mills to saw up trees as they cleared the land and grinding grain from the new farms.
Many dams are still worth preserving, for historical, cultural and environmental reasons. But are we willing to pay millions of dollars in the long term to maintain and rebuild structures that have lost their original economic purpose? Will our descendants see the value in them 100 or 200 years from now?
The best options for Erin dams will have to be determined by dam owners, the local community and technical studies. What follows is simply a look at what changes may be possible to improve safety and water quality.
With the provincial government considering expensive new regulations for maintaining dams, I called Bob Morris, an aquatic biologist and Manager of Natural Heritage at Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), to get some background.
CVC has no direct authority over normal dam operations. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is responsible for dams, but does not currently keep track of their maintenance. The CVC and MNR get involved when permits are needed for repairs or alterations. Dam owners are liable when a dam fails and causes damage to other landowners downstream or to the river environment.
"It is assumed that dam owners would take necessary precautions to prevent such an event but regulations are not likely to be applied until such a failure," said Morris.
"Dam owners must apply for a permit to repair or alter a dam and only then does MNR become aware of any safety issues. It would be unlawful to flush sediments downstream. Owners are responsible for maintenance, operations and surveillance of their dams."
The Charles Street and Church Street dams in Erin village were identified in 1997 as "structurally inadequate" by modern standards, but the CVC would not offer an opinion on their current safety or need for repair. The Church Street structure has some areas of crumbling concrete, but to an amateur observer it appears to be solid.
CVC can provide maintenance advice to dam owners to reduce damage to the environment and improve safety. Possible changes include fish ladders or rocky ramps, designed to enable migration of local fish species.
Ponds typically have higher water temperatures, which can be detrimental to the environment downstream. This can be offset by a "bottom draw", a separate pipe which in the summer would discharge some of the cooler water at the bottom of a deep pond.
Other pond problems include sediment build-up, high levels of nutrients and low levels of dissolved oxygen, leading to algae growth. Dredging and disposing of sediment is very expensive, and does not provide a long-term solution.
"CVC promotes the development of wetland communities in impoundments to improve some water quality parameters and habitat values," said Morris. "Dredging is generally discouraged."
Other possible changes include lowering a dam, which would leave the sediment in place and result in more wetland vegetation. Bypass channels can be used to divert a portion of the river flow around a dam, or even around a whole pond. Rocks can be used to build up the stream bed near a dam, or create a stepped series of riffles and pools.
If it is determined that a dam should be removed, the largest environmental concern is to avoid releasing sediment downstream during the project.
"Full removal of the dam and sediment would achieve full stream and valley restoration, that is best in many situations, but not always feasible in terms of economics and landowner objectives," said Morris. "The main issue seems to be public acceptance of losing a cultural feature and open water body that is different from a stream. Cost is also a big issue – but so are repairs or liability costs after a failure."
Could our dams be part of a plan to bring more tourists to the area? Are they essential for stormwater management? More on these issues next week.
When I think of dams, I think of farms. They do not look much alike, but they are both drastic human interventions in the environment, redirecting the power of nature to serve our needs. Dams and their mill ponds are often quite scenic, but unlike farms, they have become industrial relics.
There are more than 500 dams in the Credit River watershed, including several in the Erin-Hillsburgh area. Most were built in the mid-1800s as European settlers made a furious effort to tame the Ontario wilderness, building mills to saw up trees as they cleared the land and grinding grain from the new farms.
Many dams are still worth preserving, for historical, cultural and environmental reasons. But are we willing to pay millions of dollars in the long term to maintain and rebuild structures that have lost their original economic purpose? Will our descendants see the value in them 100 or 200 years from now?
The best options for Erin dams will have to be determined by dam owners, the local community and technical studies. What follows is simply a look at what changes may be possible to improve safety and water quality.
With the provincial government considering expensive new regulations for maintaining dams, I called Bob Morris, an aquatic biologist and Manager of Natural Heritage at Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), to get some background.
CVC has no direct authority over normal dam operations. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is responsible for dams, but does not currently keep track of their maintenance. The CVC and MNR get involved when permits are needed for repairs or alterations. Dam owners are liable when a dam fails and causes damage to other landowners downstream or to the river environment.
"It is assumed that dam owners would take necessary precautions to prevent such an event but regulations are not likely to be applied until such a failure," said Morris.
"Dam owners must apply for a permit to repair or alter a dam and only then does MNR become aware of any safety issues. It would be unlawful to flush sediments downstream. Owners are responsible for maintenance, operations and surveillance of their dams."
The Charles Street and Church Street dams in Erin village were identified in 1997 as "structurally inadequate" by modern standards, but the CVC would not offer an opinion on their current safety or need for repair. The Church Street structure has some areas of crumbling concrete, but to an amateur observer it appears to be solid.
CVC can provide maintenance advice to dam owners to reduce damage to the environment and improve safety. Possible changes include fish ladders or rocky ramps, designed to enable migration of local fish species.
Ponds typically have higher water temperatures, which can be detrimental to the environment downstream. This can be offset by a "bottom draw", a separate pipe which in the summer would discharge some of the cooler water at the bottom of a deep pond.
Other pond problems include sediment build-up, high levels of nutrients and low levels of dissolved oxygen, leading to algae growth. Dredging and disposing of sediment is very expensive, and does not provide a long-term solution.
"CVC promotes the development of wetland communities in impoundments to improve some water quality parameters and habitat values," said Morris. "Dredging is generally discouraged."
Other possible changes include lowering a dam, which would leave the sediment in place and result in more wetland vegetation. Bypass channels can be used to divert a portion of the river flow around a dam, or even around a whole pond. Rocks can be used to build up the stream bed near a dam, or create a stepped series of riffles and pools.
If it is determined that a dam should be removed, the largest environmental concern is to avoid releasing sediment downstream during the project.
"Full removal of the dam and sediment would achieve full stream and valley restoration, that is best in many situations, but not always feasible in terms of economics and landowner objectives," said Morris. "The main issue seems to be public acceptance of losing a cultural feature and open water body that is different from a stream. Cost is also a big issue – but so are repairs or liability costs after a failure."
Could our dams be part of a plan to bring more tourists to the area? Are they essential for stormwater management? More on these issues next week.
December 15, 2010
New dam regulations too expensive for Erin
As published in The Erin Advocate
The Town of Erin could be forced to remove the Church Street Dam on the West Credit River if it cannot afford the cost of maintaining it under new regulations now being proposed.
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is responsible for Ontario dams, but no requirements now exist to ensure safe management of the structures, which can deteriorate and become prone to failure.
If the proposed changes to the Lakes and River Improvement Act become law, dam owners could bear the cost of inspections, a long-term safety review and various plans for operation, maintenance and upgrades. Costs could range from $105,000 to $240,00 per dam – not including the capital costs of actual upgrades.
"These requirements will require significant staff resources that we do not have," said Water Superintendent Frank Smedley, who alerted Council to the proposed changes in a recent report.
"The initial, capital and ongoing cost will also be significant and may impact the tax rate. It is likely the Hulls Dam will need rebuilding due to being in poor condition. The cost is likely to be substantial. Decommissioning this structure may be the best option."
The Town owns the dam, near the end of Church Street West (also known as Hulls Dam), and has partial ownership of the Station Road Dam near the Hillsburgh Fire Hall, according to Smedley's report. There are also several privately-owned dams in the Hillsburgh area, in Stanley Park and at Charles Street in Erin village.
Smedley said it may be also be difficult to get approval to decommission a dam through the Environmental Assessment process, since it would change the existing ecosystem, create flooding risks and result in "significant negative implications to the surrounding properties".
Henry Trout built the Charles Street Dam in 1826 and operated a sawmill there, which was purchased by Daniel McMillan in 1829. McMillan built a series of mills, including the 1838 Oat Mill (now the Planing Mill) that helped drive the early growth of the village. In 1845, McMillan built a second sawmill, at the Church Street Dam he had constructed, then in 1849 used water diverted from that pond to power his Grist Mill on the other side of Main Street.
These two dams are significant artifacts of Erin history, and the ponds have become a key part of our environment and heritage. The loss of either would be a major disappointment to many residents.
Dana Mundell owns the Charles Street Dam mechanism, while the Town owns the bridge, and the road bed which helps hold back the water. He also owns the Grist Mill and the Planing Mill, which is still in operable condition, as well as water rights, granted by the Crown to mill owners for power generation.
While he wants to preserve the Charles Street Dam, Mundell is not prepared to spend huge sums on plans and maintenance programs. He has seen provincial dam initiatives come and go over the years, and he doubts that this one will have much impact.
"The dam is safe," he said. "I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. It held in Hurricane Hazel."
In 1954, Hazel blasted the Toronto area, killing 81 people. It destroyed a dam on the Humber River, washed out some 50 bridges in the region and swept dwellings into Lake Ontario. It spurred a major effort to improve storm water control.
Some minor concrete work was done on the Charles Street Dam a few years ago. The dam is lowered occasionally to flush out algae and improve water quality in the pond. If a major storm is expected, the pond level is lowered in advance to help absorb the flow.
In comments submitted to the MNR, Smedley said the proposed system "will create extreme financial hardships", and urged the government to set up initial and ongoing funding for small municipalities and private dam owners.
"These dams were typically installed many years ago and contributed to the growth and prosperity of our province as a whole. Now that these structures do not generate taxable revenue, the province which benefited from them in the past should pay for a significant percentage of their remediation."
He said communities downstream should support upgrades in Erin, since they benefit from the storm water control the dams provide, and urged the ministry to consult with the local stake holders before any new dam requirements become law.
So what should be done with Erin's dams? I will have more information in the coming weeks on their environmental impact and their role in the local economy.
The Town of Erin could be forced to remove the Church Street Dam on the West Credit River if it cannot afford the cost of maintaining it under new regulations now being proposed.
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is responsible for Ontario dams, but no requirements now exist to ensure safe management of the structures, which can deteriorate and become prone to failure.
If the proposed changes to the Lakes and River Improvement Act become law, dam owners could bear the cost of inspections, a long-term safety review and various plans for operation, maintenance and upgrades. Costs could range from $105,000 to $240,00 per dam – not including the capital costs of actual upgrades.
"These requirements will require significant staff resources that we do not have," said Water Superintendent Frank Smedley, who alerted Council to the proposed changes in a recent report.
"The initial, capital and ongoing cost will also be significant and may impact the tax rate. It is likely the Hulls Dam will need rebuilding due to being in poor condition. The cost is likely to be substantial. Decommissioning this structure may be the best option."
The Town owns the dam, near the end of Church Street West (also known as Hulls Dam), and has partial ownership of the Station Road Dam near the Hillsburgh Fire Hall, according to Smedley's report. There are also several privately-owned dams in the Hillsburgh area, in Stanley Park and at Charles Street in Erin village.
Smedley said it may be also be difficult to get approval to decommission a dam through the Environmental Assessment process, since it would change the existing ecosystem, create flooding risks and result in "significant negative implications to the surrounding properties".
Henry Trout built the Charles Street Dam in 1826 and operated a sawmill there, which was purchased by Daniel McMillan in 1829. McMillan built a series of mills, including the 1838 Oat Mill (now the Planing Mill) that helped drive the early growth of the village. In 1845, McMillan built a second sawmill, at the Church Street Dam he had constructed, then in 1849 used water diverted from that pond to power his Grist Mill on the other side of Main Street.
These two dams are significant artifacts of Erin history, and the ponds have become a key part of our environment and heritage. The loss of either would be a major disappointment to many residents.
Dana Mundell owns the Charles Street Dam mechanism, while the Town owns the bridge, and the road bed which helps hold back the water. He also owns the Grist Mill and the Planing Mill, which is still in operable condition, as well as water rights, granted by the Crown to mill owners for power generation.
While he wants to preserve the Charles Street Dam, Mundell is not prepared to spend huge sums on plans and maintenance programs. He has seen provincial dam initiatives come and go over the years, and he doubts that this one will have much impact.
"The dam is safe," he said. "I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. It held in Hurricane Hazel."
In 1954, Hazel blasted the Toronto area, killing 81 people. It destroyed a dam on the Humber River, washed out some 50 bridges in the region and swept dwellings into Lake Ontario. It spurred a major effort to improve storm water control.
Some minor concrete work was done on the Charles Street Dam a few years ago. The dam is lowered occasionally to flush out algae and improve water quality in the pond. If a major storm is expected, the pond level is lowered in advance to help absorb the flow.
In comments submitted to the MNR, Smedley said the proposed system "will create extreme financial hardships", and urged the government to set up initial and ongoing funding for small municipalities and private dam owners.
"These dams were typically installed many years ago and contributed to the growth and prosperity of our province as a whole. Now that these structures do not generate taxable revenue, the province which benefited from them in the past should pay for a significant percentage of their remediation."
He said communities downstream should support upgrades in Erin, since they benefit from the storm water control the dams provide, and urged the ministry to consult with the local stake holders before any new dam requirements become law.
So what should be done with Erin's dams? I will have more information in the coming weeks on their environmental impact and their role in the local economy.
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