Quarry plan cuts close to Crewson’s Corners

As published in The Erin Advocate

The project may be called Hidden Quarry, because of the trees that would surround it, but opponents say the impact of the pit operations will be anything but hidden in the coming decades.

The site owned by James Dick Construction Limited (JDCL) is on Highway 7, at the Sixth Line of Guelph-Eramosa Township. It is 1 km east of Rockwood and 2 km from the hamlet of Crewson’s Corners, at the western tip of the Town of Erin.

Stephanie De Grandis, whose farm is next to the proposed quarry,
believes the project can be defeated on scientific grounds.

JDCL has applied for a licence to excavate 30 metres below the water table. Instead of keeping water out of the pit, which was one of the challenges in their unsuccessful proposal for the Rockfort Quarry on Winston Churchill Boulevard, they would allow water to fill to its natural level. They would conduct underwater blasting and remove up to 700,000 tonnes of limestone per year from the 100 acre property.

The Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) has been formed to fight the application, and they had about 250 people out to their second public meeting, held in Acton last week.

Linda Sword, who helped launch CRC, said possible impacts on Crewson’s Corners residents include noise, dust, vibration from the blasting (expected 15-30 times per year) and additional truck traffic on Hwy. 7, which could bring 26 additional trucks per hour through downtown Acton.

Crewson’s Corners includes Erin Township’s first stone house (1833) and stone barn (1847), designated as having cultural and architectural significance. Originally built by stonemason Morgan Crewson, at a time when most Erin residents lived in unhewn log shanties, they have been restored as part of an estate housing development.

Halton Region has a long-term plan to build a truck bypass to the north of Acton. Near Crewson’s Corners, eastbound trucks on Hwy. 7 could be directed onto the Erin-Halton Hills Townline, then back down the Fourth Line to rejoin Hwy. 7 on the other side of Acton, where they could proceed to Trafalgar Road.

CRC has a campaign to raise funds and provide lawn signs, and plans to continue canvassing door-to-door in September. CRC and others have raised numerous concerns with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Township. Dozens of letters were sent to MNR by the April 15 deadline, including objections from the municipalities of Milton, Halton Hills and Halton Region.

JDCL Vice-President Greg Sweetnam says that the site is ideal for a quarry, that it has long been identified for aggregate extraction in the county’s Official Plan and that they have kept neighbours informed of their plans. He noted that anyone who did not get comments in to the MNR can still have input during the rezoning process.

CRC hopes to persuade Guelph-Eramosa councilors to reject JDCL’s request to rezone the land from Agricultural to Extractive Industrial, a move that could trigger an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) fight.

“You need at least one strong OMB-defendable reason to say No,” said guest speaker  Tony Dowling, Vice-President of Gravel Watch, an Ontario group that monitors the industry. “You are going to need money. It’s like David versus Goliath – do you have enough stones to slay the giant?”

Dowling pointed out that NIMBY not only stands for “Not In My Back Yard”, but also “Next It Might Be You”. He said things have changed in recent years, with several pit proposals being turned down.

CRC expects to need $350,000 in the coming years, since they may need to hire experts for further studies and lawyers.

JDCL has submitted several studies in support of its application, covering issues ranging from hydrogeology to dust and noise. They will respond to objection letters, and may do further studies or make changes to improve its application. CRC is scrutinizing the Township’s Peer Reviews of JDCL studies and is pushing for additional studies on the cultural heritage and visual impacts.

They say blasting will be felt by 315 homes within a 2.7 km radius, with risk of foundation and window damage. They have a study that shows homes within 1 km of a quarry are at risk of losing 20-30% of their market value.

Stephanie De Grandis, a microbiologist and business person who has a farm near the site, is leading CRC’s scientific attack. She is skeptical of JDCL’s assurances that her ponds will not be affected.

“How can it not affect the water?” she said. The site is near Blue Springs Creek, and there are Provincially Significant Wetlands adjacent. She said JDCL’s plan to protect them is not appropriate.
De Grandis said underwater blasting is not common in the industry, and that it will increase the vibrations by 30%.

“It will be like feeling an earthquake,” she said. “We think we’ll defeat it on the science.”

Like the Rockfort Quarry, this site is on the Paris Moraine. CRC is concerned not only about contamination of water near the surface, but that blasting may damage the rock barrier that protects the deeper aquifers, putting springs and household wells at risk. They want well water monitoring to start now, to set a baseline for its quality.

 “The earth we walk on is the epidermis, and what’s underneath is the life blood of the earth,” said meeting co-host Harry Wilson. “If we mess with that, we are in trouble.”

More information on the JDCL studies and a link to an on-line petition opposing the quarry, are available at www.hiddenquarry.ca. They are also on Twitter with the #crcrockwood hashtag, and on Facebook: STOP the Hidden Quarry.

Nursery school gets rent relief from Town

As published in The Erin Advocate

Station Road Nursery School (SRNS) has persuaded Town Council to waive its monthly rental fee for July and August, as the non-profit group struggles to cut costs and stay afloat.

“All-Day Kindergarten has had a significant impact on our numbers,” said Board Volunteer Heather Baker, appearing before council with a group of parents and children.

“If we cannot significantly reduce our rent costs, we may be left with no option but to leave Centre 2000 and there is a real possibility the school may cease to operate.”

She thanked council for their August 2011 decision to freeze the rent for two years, but said they need more help with their current “financial bump in the road”. In a letter, they requested the monthly rent be reduced from $1,500 to $800 for six months while they take steps to increase enrolment. Verbally, they suggested the alternative of waiving the summer rent.

SRNS has been in operation 42 years, starting in Hillsburgh, but renting space from the Town at the Erin Community Centre for the last 30 years. They currently care for 17 children, but could handle up to 31.

Facility Manager Graham Smith said SRNS has “always been a good tenant and partner”, and recommended another two-year rent freeze, plus a 50% cut to rent in July and August.

The school does not operate in the summer, and their attempts to run a summer day camp have not been successful. The space is not easily adaptable to other uses, and Smith said major renovations would be needed if SNRS moves out.

After discussion, council decided not to approve Smith’s plan, but to waive the summer rent entirely, as well as the $1,200 theatre fee for their drama camp. SRNS will provide council with a business plan by December.

The school, which had its graduation ceremony last week, has been increasing its fees by 2-3% per year, rather than the 10-12% required to cover increasing costs.

Their long-term viability hinges on provincial approval to revise their license to operate as a daycare, with longer hours. A new fence is being installed as part of that process, but progress has been slow due to a backlog of applications.

Being open from 7:30 am to after 5 pm would allow them to “reach out to the many families in our area that have two working parents,” said Baker.

Unlike three other co-op nursery schools in Wellington County, SRNS has to pay property taxes, and appeals of the assessment have been turned down. As a non-profit group, they get a 40% rebate on their $4,000 tax bill. Wellington County has the authority to give a 100% rebate, but has not been willing to do so.

Mayor Lou Maieron said he would help lobby for the rebate and accompany the group if it appears as a delegation at a county meeting. “I would bring props, the little children, with you,” he said.

Other current efforts to boost enrolment include a five-day flex program that allows families to customize their schedule, lowering the minimum age from two years to 18 months, and marketing in Caledon where a nursery school had to shut down last year due to All-Day Kindergarten.

SRNS students interact with seniors at the East Wellington Community Services (EWCS) programs at Centre 2000, as well as high school students, and the school is involved in events such as the Santa Claus Parade and Fall Fair.

They host community events like Trike-a-Rama, the Bunny Brunch and Jack’o’Lantern Walk, as well as food drives and the Christmas Toy Drive for EWCS. They also have a Community Partner Program, encouraging their families to shop locally.

“We love the location and the facilities, and the proximity to the high school students and the seniors give our children a real sense of community,” said Baker. “This school is a wonderful vibrant part of our town’s history and we are not willing to stand by and watch it disappear. We are actively working to try to ensure that the school adapts to meet the changing needs of our community.”

Tenth Annual Review for Air Cadets

As published in The Erin Advocate

The founder and former Commanding Officer of Erin’s 242 Ross Ferguson Air Cadet Squadron returned on Saturday for their Tenth Annual Ceremonial Review.

Captain (Retired) Keith Smith, former Commanding Officer
of Erin’s 242 Ross Ferguson Squadron, has a word with cadets
as he does his inspection.

Captain (Retired) Keith Smith CD was the reviewing officer for the event at Centre 2000, which included a march past and inspection, a flag party demonstration, a remote control flying demonstration and a series of awards.

The squadron is named in memory of Erin’s Flight Lieutenant Ross Ferguson, who earned the Distinguished Flying Cross in World War Two.

Flight Sergeant Nathan Omardeen, the Flag Party Commander
 for Erin’s Ross Ferguson Air Cadet Squadron, watches the movement of
fellow marchers during their Tenth Annual Ceremonial Review

His grandson Scott Wilson presented the Ross Ferguson Memorial Trophy to FCpl. Ian Crocker. The award recognizes a cadet’s respect, loyalty, leadership, citizenship, dedication, and integrity.
Lac. Aiden Wigfield received the Keith Smith Trophy for the Best All-Round First Year Cadet, from Captain Smith.

Sgt. Daniel Peppler received the Citizenship Award, from Town Councillor John Brennan. FCpl. Katie Dowling received the Ontario Provincial Committee Director’s Award, recognizing her level of enthusiasm.

The Canada Fitness Award went to Cpl. Nathan Kovach, the Best Dressed Cadet was Cpl. Riley Dowling and the Most Improved Cadet was Sgt. Stephen Graydon.

The Best Junior NCM (non-commissioned member) was Sgt. Victoria Bennett and the Best Senior NCM was FSgt. Nathan Omardeen.

The Royal Canadian Legion Medal of Excellence, for exemplary performance over their career, was presented to WO2 Mark Keir by Erin Branch 442 President Rose Ostrander.

Native plants essential for a truly green yard

As published in The Erin Advocate

Choosing native plants for your landscaping will help protect woodlands from invasive species and reduce the time and effort needed for garden maintenance, according to Credit Valley Conservation (CVC).

“We want to protect and restore natural areas,” said Melanie Kramer, Program Coordinator, Residential Outreach at CVC. “Particularly here in the Headwaters, there are so many we can go and visit – how can we can support those natural areas with what we plant in our yards?"

She presented a Your Green Yard workshop last week at Glen Echo Nurseries in Caledon, which participates in the Ontario Invasive Plant Council’s “Grow Me Instead” program, which promotes native plants over invasive ones.

Conservation authorities are fighting the spread of invasives, which displace diverse native species and impact the animals that rely on native plants for food and habitat. They often escape from planted gardens and cause problems in natural areas.

“Many homeowners find manicured and high maintenance landscaping costly and disappointing,” said Holly Nadalin, Program Coordinator, Headwaters Outreach.

CVC promotes plants that flourished in the local climate and soils before Europeans settled here. They are generally drought-resistant perennials, requiring less water and effort to maintain in your garden. CVC encourages people to avoid cultivars – plants that have been bred for special features (such as colour variety) that would not grow here naturally.

Native plants are resistant to a wider range of local pests, making chemical treatment unnecessary, and they can withstand competition from other plants, which means less weeding.
Non-native favourites can still be part of a responsible garden plan, as long as they are not aggressive threats to the local ecology.

“We're not asking people to replace their tulips, but what goes well with tulips?” said Kramer. “There are quite a number of natives that, as the tulips die back, some of them are just coming into flower through early summer. There will be some after that, flowering in the fall.”

A thriving garden can also reconnect natural areas by providing a stop-over point for wildlife – though hopefully not of the type that will cause major damage.

“Even if you are not living directly adjacent to a forested area or a creek, having stopover points can make a big difference. Providing some food or nesting habitat can help to connect our natural areas which, as areas continue to get built up, tend to get more and more fragmented."

Ecological methods can achieve all the traditional landscaping goals, such as adding privacy, shade, colour and habitat for birds and butterflies, while stabilizing soils to reduce erosion.

“When you look at a forest, you see that there are the different layers – the canopy layer, the shrub layer and then a ground cover layer. How can you build on that in your yard?” said Kramer. “Ideally you are creating a beautiful space for yourself and your visitors.”

The planning process includes getting to know your soil conditions – clay or sandy, damp or dry, amount of sun – and choosing plants that are likely to do well.

For trees, CVC urges people to avoid Norway Maple, which produces very dense shade, and choose Freeman’s Maple, or Red, Sugar or Silver Maple. Avoid non-native Honeysuckles and Japanese Knotwood in favour of Red Osier Dogwood, Saskatoon Serviceberry and Joe-Pye Weed.

Among groundcovers, avoid Goutweed, Periwinkle and English Ivy, which aggressively choke out other plants. Go instead for Wild Ginger, Barren Strawberry, Bearberry and Bunchberry.

CVC also has a program called Greening Corporate Grounds to help companies incorporate ecological landscaping, including measures to reduce water runoff, such as rain gardens and permeable paving.

For more information, go to www.creditvalleyca.ca. Under the Your Land and Water tab, the Green Cities section has extensive resources for homeowners.

Environmental Club promotes green values

As published in The Erin Advocate

The Environmental Club at Erin District High School had another successful year, despite the interruption in teacher assistance with extracurricular activities, and the rabbits.

An herb garden was dug on the far side of the parking lot, to supply some fresh greens to the cafeteria. While the chives and oregano are doing fine, the parsley was pre-consumed by the local rabbit population. Chicken wire or marigolds might be used to deter them next season.

The club is supervised by teacher Ross Watson. He was unable to help for a few months this year due to the Ontario teachers' ban on extra-curricular activities, but that didn't stop the students.

"They've done a fantastic job this year," said Principal Kelly Shaw. "They ran it on their own, showed leadership and made things happen."

The school has for the second year earned an EcoSchool certification at the silver level – just one point short of gold status in the rating system.

EDHS Environmental Club members and their EcoSchool
plaque: (left to right) Jade Choquette, Danielle Merrithew
and Bridget MacGillivray, with teacher Ross Watson.

The EcoSchools Program is part of a provincial initiative to save energy in the operation of schools, develop ecological literacy and encourage students to take leadership roles.

The club has about eight members for meetings, and a few more for activities. They've achieved several of their goals, including installation of two water bottle filling stations. The equipment is mounted to the wall, providing a button to conveniently fill reusable water bottles with tap water, instead of drinking purchased water in plastic bottles.

"People really like using them," student Bridget MacGillivray. The club sells some stainless steel bottles, and is looking for ways to promote them.

They have set up double-walled digester-style compost bins behind the school. Students who work in the cafeteria use them to dispose of kitchen food scraps. They were also used for sod from the garden, which should benefit from the compost next year.

With a variety of reminders and messages to the student (and teacher) population, including live video announcements, the club is hoping to change energy-wasting habits.

"Some people are trying, and some are thinking that others can do it," said MacGillivray.

The club did an audit to see if lights and monitors were being turned off when not needed. They also sorted through a day's worth of school garbage.

"It was interesting to see what the kids are throwing out," said Watson. Along with the usual trash, there were binders of course material and lots of full lunches and unopened food.

The club does a Green Christmas promotion, urging people not to be wasteful and to consider wrapping gifts in newsprint.

"We're excited about what may lie in the future – we're interested in community links, including Transition Erin," said Shaw.

There are no detailed plans yet, but there is discussion about "greening" the school grounds with a small orchard, and construction of an outdoor classroom on the sloped lawn near the front door.

Seating in this area could be used by various classes, and would be useful during lunch since there are not many places for students to sit outdoors.

"We'd like to make it a beautiful place where kids want to be," said Shaw.

Community Services helps seniors stay in homes

As published in The Erin Advocate

East Wellington Community Services is helping seniors age at home. That's a good thing, not only because that's where people want to live as long as possible, but because getting into a long term care facility can be a lengthy process.

June is Seniors Month, a good time to survey the services offered locally. Most Erin seniors are fairly independent, and those with ongoing health needs can often stay in their homes with the help provided by the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC).

EWCS provides a variety of other services, including assistance with referrals. For example, a new streamlined referral process has recently been started in this area for Specialized Geriatric Services provided by St. Joseph Health Centre in Guelph.

A single form can now provide access to the intake service for Geriatricians and Geriatric Psychiatrists (with family doctor referral). EWCS can help families with this process, and make direct referrals to the Community Responsive Behaviour Team.

That's a group of health professionals that provides assessment of seniors with cognitive impairment for specific "responsive" behaviours such as agitation, repetition, and wandering. This can be due to dementia, mental health issues or addictions. They collaborate with caregivers to identify strategies to manage the behaviour and reduce risks.

EWCS has rarely had a waiting list for its Adult Day Program, which provides stimulating activities, outings and a hot lunch for frail seniors and those with dementia. It's one of the supports that can enable seniors to continue living at home.

"It keeps them connected to their community," said Sherri Plourde, Manager of Seniors Services. EWCS also provides support for family members who care for seniors.

There are currently two spaces available in the Centre 2000 program, which is held Mondays and Thursdays, and can handle up to 18 people. Space is also available in the Tuesday program in Rockwood.

Participants and staff are enjoying the reliable new bus that EWCS obtained early this year. The agency is selling advertising spaces on the bus, as a way to help pay for maintenance.

"It's a sustainable sources of funding," said Erika Westcott, Manager of Community Services and Volunteers.

EWCS is hoping to expand its recreational programs for able-bodied active seniors. Current activities include Pilates classes, Scottish Dancing, Line Dancing, Yoga, In Stitches (knitting etc.) and Bridge. Call 519-833-9696 or go to www.eastwellingtoncommunityservices.com for more details.

An outing is planned for July 24 to the Dunfield Theatre in Cambridge to the show Sorry...I'm Canadian, a mix of music, comedy and political satire. Contact Rick Eller at 519-856-2113.

There are four local volunteers helping provide friendly visiting and phone calls for seniors in their homes, coordinated by the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) with the support of EWCS.

More volunteers are needed, including drivers to supplement the core van service. Medical appointments get top priority, but driving can also be arranged for things like grocery shopping or banking.

EWCS knows there is a need for other transportation for seniors. In 2011 they started a bus service to bring people from Erin, Hillsburgh, Rockwood and rural areas to Stone Road Mall and other shopping locations in Guelph, for a fee of $10. The service had to be cancelled due to low ridership, but they are looking for an opportunity to revive it in some form.

Another project that has been put on hold is the Seniors Wellness Expo, which ran annually for several years. Considerable effort was expended by EWCS and various vendors and agencies, but attendance was quite low.

A couple of interesting sessions for seniors are coming up at EWCS. On June 12 from 2pm to 4pm, East Wellington Family Health Team Dietician Pat White will discuss different reactions diabetics can face throughout the day and provide a food demonstration. On June 19 from 2pm to 3pm, the Medical Care Store will speak about mobility items such as wheelchairs, custom orthotics, compression stockings and walkers, and how to apply for funding to help offset the costs.

Town holds back payment as SSMP draft questioned

As published in The Erin Advocate

Erin Town Council has voted to hold back payment of the most recent invoice from consultant BM Ross, after questions were raised about possible deficiencies in their Draft Final Report on the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP).

"Although 'holdbacks' are not a common practice with respect to consulting fees, I suggest that Council may want to be satisfied that 95% of the SSMP Report has been completed before releasing payment up to 95% of the contract," said Finance Director Sharon Marshall.

"I recommend that Council review the Terms of Reference with BM Ross representatives before any further payments are released."

Marshall has reviewed the Terms with Water Superintendent Frank Smedley, who commented on the situation at the May 15 SSMP Liaison Committee Meeting.

"There are more things that need to be done to get to the point where there's enough information to give council options, with financial numbers to back them up, where we can truthfully say yes, we feel this is definitely the best way to go for the Town of Erin," he said.

"There's a lot of work still to be done – to get to the end of Phase 2. That's the point where you can make some decisions; you either continue the process or you don't."

Council agreed to defer payment of the $30,923 (plus tax) bill for meetings with staff, council and the public, preparation of the final report and ongoing public consultation. The 2008 BM Ross contract was for $350,000 plus tax, and the Town has already paid their previous invoices totaling $303,094.

The total cost to the Town of the SSMP since 2006 has been $419,067, including payments to other engineering and hydrogeological consultants, including Triton Engineering. In addition, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) has spent about $380,000, bringing the overall total to $799,000.

In a letter to the town, published in the May 21 council agenda, Project Manager Dale Murray of Triton Engineering Services says the BM Ross study results are "more planning oriented, and lacking technical support."

Murray has been a long-time advisor to the Town, and previously to Erin village when it studied a sewage plan in 1995. He is a member of the current Core Management Team (CMT), which he says "should have been more involved in such things as development of evaluation criteria on environmental impacts."

He recommends that after the CMT reviews all agency comments, BM Ross should do a second draft of the final report for council and public review.

He noted that the report may need to be changed to reflect comments that are still to come, from approval agencies such as the Ministry of the Environment. CVC has already demanded extra river monitoring work for the Assimilative Capacity Study within the SSMP, which will take at least until October.

"We feel that the Report needs to be more specific about what the Preferred Solutions include, as well as their impacts on the economic, social and natural environments," said Murray.

"The Terms of Reference required that the consultant work closely with the Town's Hydrogeologist (Blackport) and Watson Associates on matters related to ground/surface water impacts and development of financial plans for recommended solutions. There is no indication that that happened. These two firms have a wealth of knowledge specific to Erin and should, in our opinion, play a lead role in the Study.

"The Draft focuses on Erin [village] and Hillsburgh and is not specific about servicing of the Study area as a whole."

Matt Pearson, Project Manager for BM Ross, was given an opportunity to comment on the current developments, but he did not respond.

Sewage debate comes full circle after 18 years

As published in The Erin Advocate

At the recent public meeting on Erin's quest for a sewage system, while residents took turns denouncing the idea, Matt Pearson of BM Ross turned to me and said, "These meetings are all the same."

He meant no disrespect to the speakers – it's not an easy thing to stand up and address a large crowd. But as an infrastructure consultant, he has seen how communities respond when they fear a major upheaval.

I was looking back at The Advocate's coverage of a public meeting in September 1995, during Erin village's unsuccessful attempt to plan and get funding for a sewage plant. The similarities to today's SSMP process are striking. Here are excerpts from the 1995 story by reporter Robert Burr:

There was standing room only last week as Reeve Terry Mundell opened the meeting on the proposed $25 million sewage treatment plant for the village of Erin. The reeve began the meeting by assuring the fifty people present that council is still some way away from making a decision on whether or not the village will have a sewage treatment plant.

He pointed out that there are some severe cost implications associated with the plant, and assured the audience that no final site for the plant has yet been selected. "Council still has a lot of work to do on this project," he said.

A member of the audience expressed his concern that the community had not been well enough informed about the sewage treatment plant and a request was made that the project be put on hold until a consensus is arrived at. There was also a request that all engineering documents be made available for public review.

Reeve Mundell answered by stating that the documents were not ready for public view, as they are still waiting for input from various government agencies. Mundell pointed out that this was the third public meeting on sewage since 1994. The Reeve added that a consultant would help the village plan a financial strategy to deal with the cost of the project.

"We have to have some serious financial reviews to see what we look like over the next 20 years," Mundell said.

Dale Murray of Triton Engineering told the group that the long term impact of the existing system on the West Credit River and the village ground water had been studied. The village is taking drinking water from the same area we discharge our waste, Murray said. He pointed out that one of the village wells has already been shut down because of high nitrate levels.

"If things are allowed to continue in this way for the next twenty years, collectively, what is going to be the impact?" the engineer asked. He also stated that the repair of existing septic beds can be difficult and very expensive.

The whole project hinges on the amount of funding that will be available from the province. It is hoped that the province will pick up about 73 per cent of the cost, leaving the village with about $4 million to finance.

Several people brought up the problems of odours and noise, but Murray felt that these are not problems in modern state of the art facilities. As the meeting drew to a close, a number of the people present became increasingly concerned about the lack of public input. Reeve Mundell agreed that the council might set up a citizen's committee on the project.

At another public meeting three months later (with no citizen's committee organized), resident Ron Goddard questioned the whole process.

"The public has to have it proved that a sewage treatment plant is even needed," he said. "With better public information and facts at the first meeting, you might have found out that the public doesn't want it."

According to Goddard, many people feel that the whole process should be taken back to the beginning and begun again.

Reeve Mundell said that council has concluded there is contamination of ground water, but has not concluded that a sewage plant is the only option. He said council is looking for the most reasonable, affordable solution.

Baroque concert lights up historic Melville church

As published in The Erin Advocate

One of the oldest churches in the area was the setting for a concert of even older music recently, as fans of the Baroque era came to hear works by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) and Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) performed on period instruments.

Located on Mississauga Road between Belfountain and Olde Baseline Road, Melville White Church is architecturally unique and one of the last remaining Ontario timber frame churches predating the Victorian era. It is named for Andrew Melville (1545-1622), an early leader of the Presbyterian Church during the Renaissance in Scotland.

The white painted church was built in 1837 by Erin founder Daniel McMillan and his brothers, who built the various mills that powered Erin's pioneer economy. Just two years earlier, McMillan had become the son-in-law of Daniel McLaughlin, who had donated the land for the Melville church.

It was a focal point for for Scottish immigrants who had come to the uneven land near Shaw's Creek Road and Olde Baseline, naming the settlement Rockside. The first minister was Rev. Duncan McMillan, who also served the early congregation of Burns Presbyterian Church in Erin, preaching in both Gaelic and English.

In 1902 a rubble stone wall with iron gates was erected across the front of the church and cemetery property. The Melville worshippers decided to join the United Church in 1925, but declining membership led to its closure in 1964. The building became the property of Credit Valley Conservation, and while there were occasional services, it fell into disrepair.

In 1997 the Town of Caledon acquired the site from CVC. In 1998, the Town signed an agreement with the Belfountain Heritage Society (BHS) to raise funds for its restoration. With the help of various donations and grants, about $300,000 has gone into the project, preserving a very attractive monument to the Rockside pioneers.

BHS rents it out for weddings, recitals, heritage displays, readings, art exhibits and other community functions to keep it self-sustaining. Go to www.belfountainheritage.com for more information.

The ensemble concert was organized by Ron Greidanus, director of the Georgetown Bach Chorale, which performs at churches in Halton Hills and Brampton. Having a small group in an intimate space allows the subtleties of the fine instruments to be well heard.

Greidanus provided delightful harpsichord for a series of works from the Baroque period, known for distinct lines of counterpoint and elaborate ornamentation. Each instrument maintains a clear voice, ready to switch between gentle accompaniment and complex melodic lead, which was especially dramatic in an excerpt from Bach's Mass in B Minor.

The mezzo soprano voice of Pamela Gibson flowed strongly and confidently, delivering good emotional intensity, while soprano Jane Potovszky brought a playful, joyful air to her performances.

Justin Haynes played an ornate instrument he built himself, a viola da gamba, which is about the size of a cello. It is played with a bow, but unlike most orchestral string instruments it has frets and is tuned more like a lute or guitar. Haynes added both rich harmony and subtle embellishment to the works.

Flautist Emma Elkinson, on tour from Holland, played two solo Fantasias by Telemann, with delicate phrasing and fine dynamic control. Particularly enchanting was the conversation of trills between her wooden flute, Haynes' viola da gamba and the baroque violin of Puslinch native Edwin Huizinga.

Telemann's Paris Quartet No. 6 in E Minor was the final gem of the evening, and while it allowed all the instrumentalists to shine, it was a special showcase for the virtuosity of Huizinga. With cascading flourishes, bold enrichments and sweet pure notes, he drove the work with both precision and passion.

To hear historic music in a historic building was indeed a pleasure, and perhaps an inducement to attend some concerts of the Georgetown Bach Chorale when they launch their 2013-2014 season in October.

Extra river monitoring delays SSMP process

As published in The Erin Advocate

Completion of Erin's Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) is being delayed until at least late this year, as Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) says it needs more data on the flow of the West Credit River near the Tenth Line during the dry summer months.

In a recent letter, CVC said it wants to install a new streamflow gauge, to gather data for a minimum of one year. But after a meeting of the SSMP Core Management Committee last week, it was announced that CVC has agreed that monitoring the gauge until October should be sufficient for it to complete its review of the Assimilative Capacity Study (ACS).

New housing developments cannot proceed until the SSMP is complete. Solmar Development Corp is running its application for a subdivision north of Dundas Street at the same time as the SSMP, in hopes of getting approval more quickly after it wraps up.

A final draft version of the SSMP report, recommending a full sewer system for Erin village and Hillsburgh, has been made public, but more changes are possible. The crucial ACS, which will form part of the SSMP report, is also not done yet. Consultants BM Ross did an initial version, but CVC is demanding changes and the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) has yet to provide feedback.

Based on the ACS, the MoE will set a legal limit for the urban population (Hillsburgh and Erin village combined), based on the West Credit River's ability to safely absorb treated sewage effluent. The population number could range from 6,500 to 13,500, but CVC has said it is likely to be in the lower part of that range.

"The Town/CVC will be installing an additional streamflow gauge this summer to gather data to enhance the robustness of the calculations," said SSMP Project Manager Matt Pearson of BM Ross. The SSMP process represents the first two phases of an Environmental Assessment (EA). It was supposed to identify data gaps, but this requirement was not expected.

"It's not costing the town anything to make sure we have the best data, other than a little time," said Pearson. CVC is expected to pick up the relatively low cost of the gauge.

"This data will form part of the final ACS. The SSMP will not be completed until we have completed the ACS. The third phase of the Class EA would not be started until Council has accepted the SSMP."

CVC wants direct data on low-flow river conditions at Tenth Line, instead of estimates based on gauges at other locations. Conditions can vary based not only on tributaries, but on the movement of water back and forth between the river and underground aquifers.

The ideal point for discharging the effluent from a sewage treatment plant has not been determined, but the CVC has indicated that it is likely to be towards Winston Churchill Boulevard, rather than at Tenth Line (where Solmar has tentatively bought land for a sewage plant). Sewage could be treated at one location, with the effluent piped to another location for river discharge.

CVC wants the ACS to account for the impact of climate change, since drier summers could mean lower river flow and less ability to absorb effluent. At the final meeting of the SSMP Liaison Committee last week, Pearson said that will require an arbitrary reduction of the population limit.

"There are no rules about that," said Pearson. "What they want to do is have a look at it to see "what if", and they want a scenario. Climate could do this and this – what if we knock back the normally calculated AC number by ten per cent?"

Pearson reminded Erin that provincial policy requires communities to ensure necessary infrastructure for projected needs. The province promotes growth and higher density housing, with municipal water and sanitary sewers as the preferred form of servicing.

"You're supposed to go that route," said Pearson. "To have no sewers, you'd push away everything you've worked on. The SSMP is a tool to get money from senior governments. This type of project always gets funding eventually, but you have to have a plan."

CVC questions river study, predicts lower population

As published in The Erin Advocate

Credit Valley Conservation has raised serious questions about Erin's SSMP study of the West Credit River and lowered expectations of how much the urban population may grow in the future, partly due to the impact of climate change.

The Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) will include an Assimilative Capacity Study (ACS) that sets a limit for the number of urban residents, based on the West Credit River's ability to safely absorb treated sewage effluent. CVC has reviewed the draft ACS, and comments are expected from the Ministry of the Environment.

"CVC is of the opinion that the ACS has over estimated the ability of the watercourse to receive effluent," said CVC Water Resources Specialist Luke Reed, in an April 17 letter to Matt Pearson of BM Ross, which completed the ACS.

"As such the environmental impacts of the three population scenarios presented in the report have been understated. Using the information presented in the draft ACS for further design decisions may have unexpected negative impacts on the water quality and aquatic ecosystem."

Reed said the ACS and future Environmental Assessment studies also need to take into account the impact of extra stormwater that would drain from new developments, which would use up some of the river's assimilative capacity.

He also proposed different methods for assessing water quality, and installation of another stream flow gauge somewhere between Tenth Line and Winston Churchill to collect data over a one-year period. It is not known if this would delay completion of the SSMP.

"We believe that some of the assumptions that have gone into the draft Assimilative Capacity Study (ACS) report need to be firmed up," said CVC Deputy CAO John Kinkead, speaking at last Monday's special council meeting on the SSMP.

"The available assimilative capacity of the West Credit River will never be any greater than it is today – it will probably decline as a result of climate change and other factors," said Kinkead, who also spoke as a delegation at last Tuesday's council meeting.

"There are analyses out now that say that we will see higher flows in the spring, because there is likely to be more rain and less snow. But on the other hand, the flow in July, August and September are likely to be lower in the future."

The ACS looks at maximum future population scenarios ranging from 6,500 to 13,500, for the combined urban centres of Hillsburgh and Erin village.

"We believe it's more in the lower half of that range that the West Credit can tolerate," said Kinkead.

The current combined population is estimated at 4,280. The Solmar development plan alone could boost that to more than 7,000 in over 20 years, the Tavares development in Hillsburgh could add over 2,000 people, and there are other small housing developments possible.

Kinkead said CVC is not opposed to a sewer system for Erin, or to the possibility of a partnership (or co-proponency) between the Town and developers to share the costs of further environmental studies.

"The province does not generally support partial servicing. [Town water with septic systems.] I don't think any of us went into the SSMP exercise not fully expecting that communal wastewater collection and treatment wouldn't somehow come out as a preferred recommendation," he said.

In an April 25 letter to former Erin CAO Frank Miele, Kinkead said he wanted to ensure that CVC's concerns "are addressed in the ACS prior to its finalization and further that those recommendations be carried forward in drafting the Terms of Reference (ToR) for subsequent phases of the wastewater servicing EA process.

"In light of these concerns, and in view of the fact that the MOE comments on the draft ACS are still outstanding, we recommend that the report to Council recommending moving forward on the EA be deferred until the ACS is finalized."

At last week's council meeting, Miele recommended for the second time that council authorize him to start discussions with developers about cost sharing and the terms of reference for the next phases of the EA, but council decided to defer any such discussions until the SSMP is complete.

CVC says 10th Line not ideal for sewage discharge

As published in The Erin Advocate

Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) is suggesting that an Erin sewage treatment plant should discharge into the river well downstream of Tenth Line.

Solmar Development Corp. has tentatively purchased land at Tenth Line and Wellington Road 52 (Bush Street) for possible construction of a sewage treatment plant, based on previous studies that showed it as a good location.

No decision has been made about a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), but residents in the area are very concerned about potential odours and devaluation of their properties.

The Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) suggests a location with maximum water flow between Tenth Line and Winston Churchill Boulevard. An Assimilative Capacity Study (ACS) is measuring the existing chemistry of the West Credit and its ability to accept sewage effluent without harming the environment.

The public does not have the ACS, which when finalized will form part of the SSMP, but the CVC comments on the draft ACS are public.

"CVC agrees with the recommendation presented in the ACS of locating the WWTP discharge point closer to Winston Churchill Boulevard as the Assimilative Capacity of the water course is higher here than further upstream by Tenth Line," said CVC Water Resources Specialist Luke Reed, in an April 17 letter to Matt Pearson of BM Ross. The full letter is available at www.erin.ca as part of the May 7 agenda.

"Background water quality chemistry varies between Tenth Line and Winston Churchill Boulevard. These differences should be acknowledged as it will have implications when choosing an exact location for the WWTP (Waste Water Treatment Plant) discharge point," said Reed.

"Water quality records indicate higher contaminant concentrations at Tenth Line compared to those found at Winston Churchill. Tenth Line water quality measures should be incorporated into the ACS if the WWTP discharge point is to be proposed further upstream, as effluent targets and environmental impacts may be affected."

CVC Deputy CAO John Kinkead confirmed this while speaking to council last week about the possible location.

"The further down the West Credit you go, the additional flows that you pick up, that allows you that much additional assimilative capacity. At the end of the day, we're saying, nowhere upstream of the Tenth Line, but the possibility of somewhere downstream of Tenth Line."

Town urged to reserve future sewage capacity

As published in The Erin Advocate

Concerns have been raised that if Erin decides not to build a sewage system for existing residents, developers could use up all of the sewage capacity, making it impossible to service existing homes in the future.

At last week's special council meeting on the SSMP, Mayor Lou Maieron outlined an approximate possible scenario in which the urban areas had 5,000 existing people, and the Town was told that the West Credit River could handle sewage from 10,000 people.

"Do you want to service the existing population, or does council say no, we're going to leave everybody in Erin and Hillsburgh currently on septics, on septics?" he said, meaning that the sewage capacity for those homes would be unused.

"The question could become, is the assimilative capacity of the river then 10,000 new people? The developers could say, we want to build a plan for 10,000 more people."

At the council meeting the next evening, Credit Valley Conservation Deputy CAO John Kinkead, said the Town of Erin should hold some capacity in reserve, in case it is needed in the future.

"In moving forward with a wastewater EA (Environmental Assessment) it's important, whether a decision is made today, 5 years from now, 10 years, 15 years from now, that there needs to be a set-aside in that available assimilative capacity in the West Credit for the possibility that the populations of Hillsburgh and Erin, or some portion of those populations, may need to be serviced by a communal system.

"I know there's a strong feeling within the existing community that current [i.e. septic] systems have served this community well for who knows how many years, and perhaps may for a similar number of years in the future. But there's no guarantee that that will be the case.

"I strongly urge council that if the decision is to move forward with completing the EA, that there be a thoughtful consideration for a reserve capacity, for the decision at some future time to incorporate some portion of the existing development to be part of a communal system."

Frank Miele no longer Erin CAO

Late this afternoon, a special emergency town council meeting was called, and Advocate Editor Joan Murray was present. 

After a closed session, it was announced that Chief Administrative Officer Frank Miele is no longer employed by the Town of Erin. There was no resolution passed, and no further information is expected to be released.