From the Advocate – 100 years ago (1914)
A Concert under the auspices of the Anglican Church, Erin, will be given in the Town Hall, Erin, at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13th. The program will consist of an illustrated lecture by Rev. G.W. Tebbs, of Orangeville, accompanied by over 100 lantern slide views of the present war. Patriotic songs by Erin Male Quartette. Admission 25 and 10c. Proceeds devoted to Patriotic Fund.
From the Advocate – 45 years ago (1969)
Thieves jimmied the window and got inside the Royal Bank in Erin Friday night, and attempted to force open the night depository from inside. The burglar alarm when off and the intruders fled empty-handed.
Erin is one of 44 Ontario communities qualifying for special help in getting adequate doctors’ services. The Ontario Health Resources Development Plan will ensure that doctors willing to work in Erin will earn at least $26,000 annually.
A fashion show was held at Hilltop Lodge on Friday by the Isabella MacDonald Boutique, with seven local models presenting fashions in a setting of multi-coloured flowers, silver and gold spangles and coloured spotlights. Boutique proprietor Mrs. E.G. Manning was presented with flowers by Mrs. Karl Kuhlhoff and Mrs. Pat Mueller. Proceeds from the event went to the Erin Youth Centre.
Rev. G.W. Howse of Erin United Church welcomed a large assembly to the annual Remembrance Service on Sunday. Lessons were read by Rev. D. Herbison of Burns Presbyterian and Rev. H. McPherson of the Church of the Living Word, and prayers for the Queen, Country, peace and the fallen were offered by Rev. F.C. Elliott of St. John Brebeuf.
From the Advocate – 35 years ago (1979)
Members of All Saints Anglican Church have launched a $100,000 fundraising campaign, two thirds of the amount needed to renovate and expand their building. The parish hall, a converted drive shed, will be replaced by a two-storey structure designed by local architect Ed Lanik. There will be new space for Sunday school classes, meetings, a rector’s study and a large kitchen.
George Ware reports that the Erin Legion had one of its best Remembrance turnouts in recent years, with the Kitchener Kavalier Drum and Bugle Corps leading the parade. The dinner and dance included entertainment by the Johnny Tocher Orchestra. Poppy Chairman Jack Horton said poppy sales and the church collection brought in $1,200.
From the Advocate – 25 years ago (1989)
A report by the Health Unit has found 8 of the 18 wells on George Street in Hillsburgh to have unsafe levels of bacteria, and recommends that the municipal water supply be extended to the street “at the earliest opportunity”. No problems were observed with area septic systems, but Councillor Barb Tocher is concerned that the aquifer may be contaminated. Township council will ask the Ministry of the Environment for help in fixing the problem.
As a “Thank-You” to Hillsburgh firefighters and the arena manager for their efforts during last month’s storm and the recent tanker truck accident, Erin Township Council voted to buy each of them a 15-pound turkey.
Erin Village Council has approved spending $623,479 for a new water tower. Construction of the 375,000 imperial gallon elevated storage facility will be carried out by Landmark Structures Ontario Ltd., to replace the old storage tank at the top of Hill Street.
November 12, 2014
November 09, 2014
Trout adventures reveal mill history
When William Trout was 33, he decided to sell his farm in Erin Township and set out to make a name for himself as a mill builder. His wife Catherine was reluctant, but they travelled together in 1835 with their one-year-old son, determined to tame a patch of wilderness north of Georgetown.
More than 80 years later that son, William Henry, would describe the move in his Trout Family History. It includes his mother’s recollection that it was “the beginning of a series of misfortunes”.
The senior William was born in 1801 in Fort Erie and moved north with his family in 1821. He helped his father and brothers build a dam and sawmill, which made a starting point for the village of Erin in 1826.
The junior William was born in 1834, the first of ten children. He published the family history in 1916, after retiring as a mechanical engineer and respected mill builder himself. Available free at archive.org, the book provides a fascinating glimpse into the pioneering spirit of the era.
The exact location of William and Catherine’s first business venture is not known. The History says, “They bought a site about ten miles south of grandfather's and built a dam on a nice large creek, at one side of which was built a small sawmill, at the other side a small grist mill. Our house was built up on the bank and directly overlooked the mill pond. A magnificently timbered forest covered the country. Game of all kinds was abundant.”
The grandfather was Henry Trout, who had established his homestead about three miles north of Erin village, giving farmland to his sons. William never cared much for farming, however, and with plenty of mill experience, decided build his own.
Life had already dealt him some harsh blows. His first wife Margaret Frank died in 1831. He married Catherine MacKinnon in 1833 and their first son William Henry was born in 1834. Just a few months later, however, six-year-old George from his first marriage died of alcohol poisoning after mischievously drinking from a whiskey jug.
It was a tumultuous time when he built his new mills, working with a trusted business partner. Catherine had two more sons there, and Willam Henry recounts an incident where they were rocking in a cradle next to a large wood stove, imported from Glasgow. A quarrel broke out with a neighbour boy and the cradle fell against the stove, causing some serious burns.
About this time, when William Sr. was repairing a waterwheel, he cut his knee badly with an adz tool. Like any hardy pioneer, he dressed the wound himself and was eager to resume work.
“Mother stood in the doorway and tried to prevent his going, but failed. He got into the water and remained there for over two hours. A sharp pain began in the wound before leaving the water, that was the beginning of three months constantly in bed with great suffering.”
He was unable to work for six months and with debts mounting, his business partner fled the country. Creditors took most of the family’s assets.
“That was trouble, real and deep; but we children knew almost nothing of it. Our real needs seemed always to be supplied, yet we knew no luxury in food, or dress, or amusement,” said William Henry.
His father moved the family about ten miles south to the bustling centre of Norval, and they lived in a home owned by miller and village founder James McNab. William Trout leased, repaired and operated a large flour mill for General Sir Peter Adamson, who was instrumental in the growth of the village.
The grandfather was Henry Trout, who had established his homestead about three miles north of Erin village, giving farmland to his sons. William never cared much for farming, however, and with plenty of mill experience, decided build his own.
Life had already dealt him some harsh blows. His first wife Margaret Frank died in 1831. He married Catherine MacKinnon in 1833 and their first son William Henry was born in 1834. Just a few months later, however, six-year-old George from his first marriage died of alcohol poisoning after mischievously drinking from a whiskey jug.
It was a tumultuous time when he built his new mills, working with a trusted business partner. Catherine had two more sons there, and Willam Henry recounts an incident where they were rocking in a cradle next to a large wood stove, imported from Glasgow. A quarrel broke out with a neighbour boy and the cradle fell against the stove, causing some serious burns.
About this time, when William Sr. was repairing a waterwheel, he cut his knee badly with an adz tool. Like any hardy pioneer, he dressed the wound himself and was eager to resume work.
“Mother stood in the doorway and tried to prevent his going, but failed. He got into the water and remained there for over two hours. A sharp pain began in the wound before leaving the water, that was the beginning of three months constantly in bed with great suffering.”
He was unable to work for six months and with debts mounting, his business partner fled the country. Creditors took most of the family’s assets.
“That was trouble, real and deep; but we children knew almost nothing of it. Our real needs seemed always to be supplied, yet we knew no luxury in food, or dress, or amusement,” said William Henry.
His father moved the family about ten miles south to the bustling centre of Norval, and they lived in a home owned by miller and village founder James McNab. William Trout leased, repaired and operated a large flour mill for General Sir Peter Adamson, who was instrumental in the growth of the village.
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| The Trouts' Norval home |
He later built a distillery for Adamson, as he attempted to pay off his debts. But after a scare in which the young William got sick sampling some whiskey, the father declared it a “curse” and said he “would never do anything to aid or abet this essentially bad business”.
William Trout had been a devout Christian, being baptized into a congregation of Scotch Baptists and serving as a preacher with them in Erin, even though his family was from England and adhered to the Wesleyan Methodists. It was a time of religious upheaval, as the Restoration Movement sought to unify Christians, inspired by the early church of the New Testament.
In Norval he joined the Disciples of Christ, part of a US based movement that stressed bible study rather than strict creeds and rules. Baptism of adults by immersion was important for them and the congregation walked down the river for ceremonies, even in mid-winter.
“The river Credit, a rarely beautiful stream, was a great interest to me,” wrote William Henry. “I early learned to swim, and to fish, and supplied our table with many a meal with the prince of fishes, my speckled namesakes.”
When he was eight years old, William Henry witnessed a big summer meeting of Ontario Disciples, which continued at the river. As an old man, he wrote this:
“The big hills and immense tall pine trees that in the valley tried to equal their companions on the hillside, and that completely shut out the sunlight, the clear flowing wide river showing dark in the restricted light, and the people on the bank who seemed like bright pigmies in the greatness of the place.
“It impressed my childish mind with awe, and enabled me to since understand the feelings of our great American poet [William C. Bryant] who wrote, ‘The groves were God's first temples’. In this sublimely beautiful place seven or eight were baptized.”
The congregation had been founded by John Menzies, who initially held services in members’ homes in the 1830s. William Trout arrived about 1838 and became an elder and preacher.
About 1840, they built a small round-log meeting house on the Tenth Line of Esquesing Township on a parcel of Menzies’ land. The congregation was prosperous and influential, sending William Trout to Ohio for a major conference and as a missionary to Prince Edward County near Belleville to help promote the “simplicity of apostolic times”.
Eventually the congregation declined. The church building was dismantled in 1880 and reassembled on the property of Robert Noble, at its current location on Winston Churchill Blvd. just south of Norval. It became a residence with the addition of a dirt floor kitchen and a sleeping loft.
The building was slated for demolition in 1914 to make way for the Toronto Suburban/Radial Railway, but the route was changed to save the building. In 1920, the roof was extended to create a Craftsman-style front porch.
In 2013, the Norval landmark was again saved from possible demolition when the Town of Halton Hills designated it under the Ontario Heritage Act, as a valuable remnant of local history, and they plan to install a plaque there.
William Trout had been a devout Christian, being baptized into a congregation of Scotch Baptists and serving as a preacher with them in Erin, even though his family was from England and adhered to the Wesleyan Methodists. It was a time of religious upheaval, as the Restoration Movement sought to unify Christians, inspired by the early church of the New Testament.
In Norval he joined the Disciples of Christ, part of a US based movement that stressed bible study rather than strict creeds and rules. Baptism of adults by immersion was important for them and the congregation walked down the river for ceremonies, even in mid-winter.
“The river Credit, a rarely beautiful stream, was a great interest to me,” wrote William Henry. “I early learned to swim, and to fish, and supplied our table with many a meal with the prince of fishes, my speckled namesakes.”
When he was eight years old, William Henry witnessed a big summer meeting of Ontario Disciples, which continued at the river. As an old man, he wrote this:
“The big hills and immense tall pine trees that in the valley tried to equal their companions on the hillside, and that completely shut out the sunlight, the clear flowing wide river showing dark in the restricted light, and the people on the bank who seemed like bright pigmies in the greatness of the place.
“It impressed my childish mind with awe, and enabled me to since understand the feelings of our great American poet [William C. Bryant] who wrote, ‘The groves were God's first temples’. In this sublimely beautiful place seven or eight were baptized.”
The congregation had been founded by John Menzies, who initially held services in members’ homes in the 1830s. William Trout arrived about 1838 and became an elder and preacher.
About 1840, they built a small round-log meeting house on the Tenth Line of Esquesing Township on a parcel of Menzies’ land. The congregation was prosperous and influential, sending William Trout to Ohio for a major conference and as a missionary to Prince Edward County near Belleville to help promote the “simplicity of apostolic times”.
Eventually the congregation declined. The church building was dismantled in 1880 and reassembled on the property of Robert Noble, at its current location on Winston Churchill Blvd. just south of Norval. It became a residence with the addition of a dirt floor kitchen and a sleeping loft.
The building was slated for demolition in 1914 to make way for the Toronto Suburban/Radial Railway, but the route was changed to save the building. In 1920, the roof was extended to create a Craftsman-style front porch.
In 2013, the Norval landmark was again saved from possible demolition when the Town of Halton Hills designated it under the Ontario Heritage Act, as a valuable remnant of local history, and they plan to install a plaque there.
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| The Norval church building where Henry Trout preached. |
“The building is of cultural heritage value as one of the few remaining log structures in the province,” said Patricia Farley, author of the Designation Report. The logs are covered with stucco on the exterior, and pine in the interior of the building, which is now used as an art studio.
As for the Trout family, they continued to have their troubles in the early 1840s. William rented a small workshop where he built sleighs and took on home-building contracts. But just when he had almost paid his debts from his first mill bankruptcy, a fire destroyed his workshop, tools and supplies, plunging him into debt again.
His congregation took up a special collection and provided him with $50 towards new tools. He made a trip to Toronto to purchase them, and while there made a crucial connection with a Mr. Connell, who wanted to invest in mills on Georgian Bay.
Trout left his family in Norval, travelled with crews through 60 miles of virtually unbroken forest and worked on mills at Hurontario (Collingwood), Meaford, Owen Sound and Sydenham Falls. He was also a founder of the Meaford Disciples of Christ congregation.
There was no regular mail route or rail road to Georgian Bay, so letters had to be carried by incidental travellers. Catherine could not write, so William Henry was her scribe for messages to her husband.
Within two years, William Trout was able to move his family up to the Meaford area. They became prominent and prosperous in that pioneer community, but they always cherished the memories of their adventures in Norval.
As for the Trout family, they continued to have their troubles in the early 1840s. William rented a small workshop where he built sleighs and took on home-building contracts. But just when he had almost paid his debts from his first mill bankruptcy, a fire destroyed his workshop, tools and supplies, plunging him into debt again.
His congregation took up a special collection and provided him with $50 towards new tools. He made a trip to Toronto to purchase them, and while there made a crucial connection with a Mr. Connell, who wanted to invest in mills on Georgian Bay.
Trout left his family in Norval, travelled with crews through 60 miles of virtually unbroken forest and worked on mills at Hurontario (Collingwood), Meaford, Owen Sound and Sydenham Falls. He was also a founder of the Meaford Disciples of Christ congregation.
There was no regular mail route or rail road to Georgian Bay, so letters had to be carried by incidental travellers. Catherine could not write, so William Henry was her scribe for messages to her husband.
Within two years, William Trout was able to move his family up to the Meaford area. They became prominent and prosperous in that pioneer community, but they always cherished the memories of their adventures in Norval.
November 05, 2014
Economic development presentation
As published in The Erin Advocate
By Joan Murray and Phil Gravelle
By Joan Murray and Phil Gravelle
10-year study planned for Erin water rates
As published in The Erin Advocate
Erin is requesting bids from consultants to conduct a 10-year Water Rates Study and Financial Plan that will ensure “sustainable funding” for the drinking water systems in Hillsburgh and Erin village.
Proposals are due next week, and the newly elected Town council is scheduled to award the contract at its first meeting on December 2. The process, which is required now that the term of the previous study is complete, will include a public meeting in March and council approval in April. Water rate increases would take effect in 2016.
Erin water rates had been going up by 20% per year since 2011 to pay for upgrades to the system, but the planned increase for 2015 is 5%. Users are now paying $4.08 per cubic metre of water, which is high compared to many other municipalities, partly due to the low number of customers.
The study consultant will be expected to recommend water rates that will ensure financial stability for the long term – including revenue to cover the full life-cycle cost of infrastructure – but also a plan to manage rate increases “in a manner that will minimize or avoid ‘rate shock’ to our consumers”.
The consultant will also provide a summary of rate structures currently in place within Wellington County and neighboring municipalities. The full Request for Proposal is available at www.erin.ca.
The Servicing and Settlement Master Plan has recommended that private wells be shut down in urban areas – 110 in Erin village and 230 in Hillsburgh. Even with no new housing growth, the SSMP recommends improvements to wells, and with 500 new homes, the cost to bring the water system up to ideal standards could be $6.7 million.
The new study will satisfy the licensing requirements of Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act. Erin operates 33,500 meters of watermains, with 1,300 connections supplying water to about 3,300 residents plus various businesses and industrial locations. The Town’s new Asset Management Plan (AMP) includes an asset replacement cost valuation of approximately $33.3 million for water infrastructure.
Ontario law now imposes personal liability on Town Councillors to take all proper steps to guard the safety of drinking water.
Erin is requesting bids from consultants to conduct a 10-year Water Rates Study and Financial Plan that will ensure “sustainable funding” for the drinking water systems in Hillsburgh and Erin village.
Proposals are due next week, and the newly elected Town council is scheduled to award the contract at its first meeting on December 2. The process, which is required now that the term of the previous study is complete, will include a public meeting in March and council approval in April. Water rate increases would take effect in 2016.
Erin water rates had been going up by 20% per year since 2011 to pay for upgrades to the system, but the planned increase for 2015 is 5%. Users are now paying $4.08 per cubic metre of water, which is high compared to many other municipalities, partly due to the low number of customers.
The study consultant will be expected to recommend water rates that will ensure financial stability for the long term – including revenue to cover the full life-cycle cost of infrastructure – but also a plan to manage rate increases “in a manner that will minimize or avoid ‘rate shock’ to our consumers”.
The consultant will also provide a summary of rate structures currently in place within Wellington County and neighboring municipalities. The full Request for Proposal is available at www.erin.ca.
The Servicing and Settlement Master Plan has recommended that private wells be shut down in urban areas – 110 in Erin village and 230 in Hillsburgh. Even with no new housing growth, the SSMP recommends improvements to wells, and with 500 new homes, the cost to bring the water system up to ideal standards could be $6.7 million.
The new study will satisfy the licensing requirements of Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act. Erin operates 33,500 meters of watermains, with 1,300 connections supplying water to about 3,300 residents plus various businesses and industrial locations. The Town’s new Asset Management Plan (AMP) includes an asset replacement cost valuation of approximately $33.3 million for water infrastructure.
Ontario law now imposes personal liability on Town Councillors to take all proper steps to guard the safety of drinking water.
Erin soldier writes home
From the Advocate – 100 years ago (1914)
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. McMillan received a letter from their son H. McMillan who was in the first contingent of Canadian soldiers going in England. He arrived safely in Plymouth after “a very enjoyable trip with many diversions, in the way of concerts, games and contests, one of the latter being climbing the rope up the mast which is sixty feet high, in which he and another young man were winners”. He was in a convoy of 40 ships, and was once riding right beside an 800-foot dreadnaught battleship, which he describes as a “fierce looking thing”.
A patent medicine advertorial: “Many people who have been reading the terrible war news from day to day, especially those who have relatives at the seat of war, have become so nervous that it is impossible for them to sleep. Milburn’s Heart and Nerve Pills will build up the unstrung nervous system and strengthen the weak heart – 50c per box, 3 boxes for $1.25.”
The Hillsburgh Beaver newspaper, defunct for several years, has been revived and expanded by the new publisher A.H. Steadman, formerly of Wiarton.
From the Advocate – 45 years ago (1969)
A sudden tightening of the mortgage money market has put a halt for now to a 160-lot subdivision that was expected to more than double the population of Hillsburgh. Only 15 homes have been built. All but four purchasers have been rejected by lending institutions even though the homes are selling for $21,495, thousands less than comparable homes in Metro Toronto. Because they are on septic tanks, they do no qualify for National Housing Act mortgages. Purchasers need a $9,000 annual income, a downpayment of $2,208 and must make monthly payments of $204 for principal, interest and taxes.
McClellan Motors in Erin, formerly known as Carney Bros. Ltd., has been sold to Mr. Ed Stewart of Ospringe. The business will continue to be operated as a garage, along with several dealerships.
A photo of Mrs. Bert Price of Cedar Valley appeared on the front page, with her holding a prize 12 lb., 32-inch pickerel that she caught last week in the Nottawasaga River near Stayner.
From the Advocate – 35 years ago (1979)
No one was hurt on Halloween in Erin, but at least three fires were set by vandals – two in derelict automobiles and one in a portable classroom at Erin District High School where a window was smashed. The Citizens’ Patrol and at least six OPP cruisers were busy in Erin, with a stop sign being pushed over, garbage cans dumped on the streets, eggs thrown and threats made against downtown businesses including The Advocate.
Ontario Lieutenant-Governor Pauline McGibbon will be the special guest of honour to kick off the Erin Village Centennial Village celebrations. Other participants at the event will be piper Dave Davidson, Rev. James Mackay, Reeve Larry MacKenzie, MP Perrin Beatty, MPP Jack Johnson, Township Reeve Bert Wheeler, Ruth Schatz of the Ontario Heritage Foundation, event chair Bill Higgins and Erin Senior Citizens’ President Mrs. S.S. Kiteley.
From the Advocate – 25 years ago (1989)
After months of interviews, Village Council has hired Jim Hunt as the new Works Superintendent. He was previously a construction supervisor and road repair worker for the City of Etobicoke.
The Erin District High School junior and seniors girls’ basketball teams both ended their season on a high note, advancing to the CWOSSA playoffs next week. The senior Raiders coached by Bill Hocken defeated the Norwell Redmen 47-31 with Diane Fisher scoring 18 points, Teriann Bratton 6 points and Janice Root 4 points.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. McMillan received a letter from their son H. McMillan who was in the first contingent of Canadian soldiers going in England. He arrived safely in Plymouth after “a very enjoyable trip with many diversions, in the way of concerts, games and contests, one of the latter being climbing the rope up the mast which is sixty feet high, in which he and another young man were winners”. He was in a convoy of 40 ships, and was once riding right beside an 800-foot dreadnaught battleship, which he describes as a “fierce looking thing”.
A patent medicine advertorial: “Many people who have been reading the terrible war news from day to day, especially those who have relatives at the seat of war, have become so nervous that it is impossible for them to sleep. Milburn’s Heart and Nerve Pills will build up the unstrung nervous system and strengthen the weak heart – 50c per box, 3 boxes for $1.25.”
The Hillsburgh Beaver newspaper, defunct for several years, has been revived and expanded by the new publisher A.H. Steadman, formerly of Wiarton.
From the Advocate – 45 years ago (1969)
A sudden tightening of the mortgage money market has put a halt for now to a 160-lot subdivision that was expected to more than double the population of Hillsburgh. Only 15 homes have been built. All but four purchasers have been rejected by lending institutions even though the homes are selling for $21,495, thousands less than comparable homes in Metro Toronto. Because they are on septic tanks, they do no qualify for National Housing Act mortgages. Purchasers need a $9,000 annual income, a downpayment of $2,208 and must make monthly payments of $204 for principal, interest and taxes.
McClellan Motors in Erin, formerly known as Carney Bros. Ltd., has been sold to Mr. Ed Stewart of Ospringe. The business will continue to be operated as a garage, along with several dealerships.
A photo of Mrs. Bert Price of Cedar Valley appeared on the front page, with her holding a prize 12 lb., 32-inch pickerel that she caught last week in the Nottawasaga River near Stayner.
From the Advocate – 35 years ago (1979)
No one was hurt on Halloween in Erin, but at least three fires were set by vandals – two in derelict automobiles and one in a portable classroom at Erin District High School where a window was smashed. The Citizens’ Patrol and at least six OPP cruisers were busy in Erin, with a stop sign being pushed over, garbage cans dumped on the streets, eggs thrown and threats made against downtown businesses including The Advocate.
Ontario Lieutenant-Governor Pauline McGibbon will be the special guest of honour to kick off the Erin Village Centennial Village celebrations. Other participants at the event will be piper Dave Davidson, Rev. James Mackay, Reeve Larry MacKenzie, MP Perrin Beatty, MPP Jack Johnson, Township Reeve Bert Wheeler, Ruth Schatz of the Ontario Heritage Foundation, event chair Bill Higgins and Erin Senior Citizens’ President Mrs. S.S. Kiteley.
From the Advocate – 25 years ago (1989)
After months of interviews, Village Council has hired Jim Hunt as the new Works Superintendent. He was previously a construction supervisor and road repair worker for the City of Etobicoke.
The Erin District High School junior and seniors girls’ basketball teams both ended their season on a high note, advancing to the CWOSSA playoffs next week. The senior Raiders coached by Bill Hocken defeated the Norwell Redmen 47-31 with Diane Fisher scoring 18 points, Teriann Bratton 6 points and Janice Root 4 points.
Erin Radio Orangeville transmitter rejected
As published in The Erin Advocate
Erin Radio’s plan to rebroadcast programming in Orangeville, in order to ensure its survival, has been rejected by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
The agency supported the validity of complaints from other radio companies that the station was “attempting a ‘back-door’ entry into the Orangeville radio market”, which it is not licensed to serve.
It also ruled that the new signal of 50 watts would be too weak to make optimal use of the frequency 89.1 – the last remaining frequency in the Orangeville area that could be used for the operation of a higher-powered radio station. The CRTC was also not convinced that the transmitter would improve Erin Radio’s financial viability.
Chair Larry Peters said the Board of Directors is likely to meet soon to discuss possible strategies. “Until we do, it’s business as usual,” he said.
Last December CHES-FM 88.1 applied to the CRTC to operate a second FM transmitter in Orangeville, which would repeat their programming at 89.1 MHz. Erin Radio has branded itself as the Headwaters New Mix, and despite some power upgrades, it is still only reaching part of Orangeville with a weak signal. Peters said previously “a better signal in Orangeville would allow the station to build the revenue base necessary for survival.”
The non-profit station, started in 2006, has been struggling with low revenue due to lack of advertising by Erin businesses. In May they closed the Erin studio, and while production has been temporarily moved to the facilities of Centre Wellington Community Radio in Fergus, the signal is still transmitted from the Erin Water Tower.
The CRTC received an intervention in support of Erin Radio from the National Campus and Community Radio Association. It also received interventions in opposition from Dufferin Communications Inc. (CIDC-FM Orangeville), My Broadcasting Corporation, which has approval to launch a new commercial FM radio station in Orangeville, and Bayshore Broadcasting Corporation (CFDC Shelburne).
CHES argued that Erin does not have a sufficient advertising base to support a radio station, and that its mandate includes providing service outside its core area. It said a non-commercial community radio service is needed in the Orangeville market.
In 2010 the CRTC approved an increase in effective radiated power (ERP) for Erin from 50 watts to a maximum of 250 watts and in 2013 allowed it to increase to a maximum of 1,250 watts. The CRTC noted that power increases for the Erin signal have been intended to improve its local coverage, not to increase its territory.
“Although Erin Radio stated that the current proposal aims to address reception issues within Orangeville, the Commission is of the view that it would increase the station’s coverage to encompass the town, which it was not licensed to serve,” the decision says.
“The licensee has not demonstrated a compelling technical need for the proposed transmitter. Whether the station is in a position to improve its financial situation as a result of having improved its signal remains to be seen.”
Erin Radio’s plan to rebroadcast programming in Orangeville, in order to ensure its survival, has been rejected by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
The agency supported the validity of complaints from other radio companies that the station was “attempting a ‘back-door’ entry into the Orangeville radio market”, which it is not licensed to serve.
It also ruled that the new signal of 50 watts would be too weak to make optimal use of the frequency 89.1 – the last remaining frequency in the Orangeville area that could be used for the operation of a higher-powered radio station. The CRTC was also not convinced that the transmitter would improve Erin Radio’s financial viability.
Chair Larry Peters said the Board of Directors is likely to meet soon to discuss possible strategies. “Until we do, it’s business as usual,” he said.
Last December CHES-FM 88.1 applied to the CRTC to operate a second FM transmitter in Orangeville, which would repeat their programming at 89.1 MHz. Erin Radio has branded itself as the Headwaters New Mix, and despite some power upgrades, it is still only reaching part of Orangeville with a weak signal. Peters said previously “a better signal in Orangeville would allow the station to build the revenue base necessary for survival.”
The non-profit station, started in 2006, has been struggling with low revenue due to lack of advertising by Erin businesses. In May they closed the Erin studio, and while production has been temporarily moved to the facilities of Centre Wellington Community Radio in Fergus, the signal is still transmitted from the Erin Water Tower.
The CRTC received an intervention in support of Erin Radio from the National Campus and Community Radio Association. It also received interventions in opposition from Dufferin Communications Inc. (CIDC-FM Orangeville), My Broadcasting Corporation, which has approval to launch a new commercial FM radio station in Orangeville, and Bayshore Broadcasting Corporation (CFDC Shelburne).
CHES argued that Erin does not have a sufficient advertising base to support a radio station, and that its mandate includes providing service outside its core area. It said a non-commercial community radio service is needed in the Orangeville market.
In 2010 the CRTC approved an increase in effective radiated power (ERP) for Erin from 50 watts to a maximum of 250 watts and in 2013 allowed it to increase to a maximum of 1,250 watts. The CRTC noted that power increases for the Erin signal have been intended to improve its local coverage, not to increase its territory.
“Although Erin Radio stated that the current proposal aims to address reception issues within Orangeville, the Commission is of the view that it would increase the station’s coverage to encompass the town, which it was not licensed to serve,” the decision says.
“The licensee has not demonstrated a compelling technical need for the proposed transmitter. Whether the station is in a position to improve its financial situation as a result of having improved its signal remains to be seen.”
October 29, 2014
Erin should promote its Greenbelt identity
As published in The Erin Advocate
Erin should aggressively promote itself as a destination within Ontario’s Greenbelt, and express support for the protection it provides when the legislation is reviewed next year.
Local politicians were distressed ten years ago when the province decided to include the east side of the Town, including Hillsburgh and Erin village, in the 1.8 million acre Greenbelt.
Erin should aggressively promote itself as a destination within Ontario’s Greenbelt, and express support for the protection it provides when the legislation is reviewed next year.
Local politicians were distressed ten years ago when the province decided to include the east side of the Town, including Hillsburgh and Erin village, in the 1.8 million acre Greenbelt.
Faced with loss of local control over development, they expanded the urban boundary by 300 acres in the north of Erin village, exempting it from the Greenbelt.
In other parts of the Greater Toronto Area, developers are trying to chip away at the Greenbelt to get more land for housing, while environmentalists are trying to expand the Greenbelt through river valleys to ensure long term protection for what has become known as our “natural heritage”.
Here in Erin, we still have plenty of green space, and more acres of urban land for housing development than we can actually use, given the small size of our river. Apart from development issues, the Greenbelt represents a marketing opportunity that we can use to target city dwellers to want to escape, even just for a day.
Part of that is the Greenbelt Route, a cycling route from the Niagara River to Rice Lake (south of Peterborough) that will be launched next year. It is mainly on existing roads, but a key section is the old rail line of the Caledon Trailway running 36 km from Terra Cotta through Inglewood and points north-east.
Every trail needs side loops to make excursions practical and interesting. Erin already has the Trans-Canada Trail (the Elora Cataract Trailway), so it is well positioned to take advantage of that need.
Erin’s rolling countryside is already popular with cyclists, but what if we were to advertise the “Erin Loop”? I’m sure we could pay a consultant to come up with a catchier name, but the idea would be to encourage groups of cyclists to use Erin as the home base for excursions.
They can show up on a weekend morning and have breakfast here. They can cycle down Winston Churchill, and possibly spend time at Terra Cotta Conservation Area. Just south of there, they pick up the Caledon Trailway, travel to Inglewood, then turn north on signed bike routes to get to the McLaren Road entrance of Forks of the Credit Provincial Park.
The Park has many bike trails and it also provides direct access to the Trans-Canada Trail, looping them back to Erin where they can shop and go out for dinner.
At a recent seminar, Shelley Petrie of the Friends of the Greenbelt charitable foundation said the Greenbelt protects a critical mass of farmland from urban sprawl and provides connected lands that allow wildlife to migrate.
“It’s about the rural economy and recreation plays into it,” she said. “It’s about sustainability for the entire region. It’s taken 30 years to get here, but over time, people’s values started to be reflected in these plans – to protect the beauty of nature, to protect local food production, to have a livable region. For the entire farming sector, this is a hotbed from a jobs and economy point of view.”
She said alliances between farmers and environmentalists are needed as the Greenbelt is reviewed. Key discussions will not only be about whether to expand Greenbelt boundaries, but the impact of highway development (which drives urban sprawl), protecting water resources, dealing with contaminated soils (perhaps with a Clean Soils Act) and possibly adding a protected “Foodbelt” zone of agricultural land just outside the Greenbelt.
These are all issues that could affect Erin’s future, so we should be paying attention. Here are a few websites for additional information: greenbeltalliance.ca, walkandrollpeel.ca, greenbelt.ca and greenbeltleaders.ca.
In other parts of the Greater Toronto Area, developers are trying to chip away at the Greenbelt to get more land for housing, while environmentalists are trying to expand the Greenbelt through river valleys to ensure long term protection for what has become known as our “natural heritage”.
Here in Erin, we still have plenty of green space, and more acres of urban land for housing development than we can actually use, given the small size of our river. Apart from development issues, the Greenbelt represents a marketing opportunity that we can use to target city dwellers to want to escape, even just for a day.
Part of that is the Greenbelt Route, a cycling route from the Niagara River to Rice Lake (south of Peterborough) that will be launched next year. It is mainly on existing roads, but a key section is the old rail line of the Caledon Trailway running 36 km from Terra Cotta through Inglewood and points north-east.
Every trail needs side loops to make excursions practical and interesting. Erin already has the Trans-Canada Trail (the Elora Cataract Trailway), so it is well positioned to take advantage of that need.
Erin’s rolling countryside is already popular with cyclists, but what if we were to advertise the “Erin Loop”? I’m sure we could pay a consultant to come up with a catchier name, but the idea would be to encourage groups of cyclists to use Erin as the home base for excursions.
They can show up on a weekend morning and have breakfast here. They can cycle down Winston Churchill, and possibly spend time at Terra Cotta Conservation Area. Just south of there, they pick up the Caledon Trailway, travel to Inglewood, then turn north on signed bike routes to get to the McLaren Road entrance of Forks of the Credit Provincial Park.
The Park has many bike trails and it also provides direct access to the Trans-Canada Trail, looping them back to Erin where they can shop and go out for dinner.
At a recent seminar, Shelley Petrie of the Friends of the Greenbelt charitable foundation said the Greenbelt protects a critical mass of farmland from urban sprawl and provides connected lands that allow wildlife to migrate.
“It’s about the rural economy and recreation plays into it,” she said. “It’s about sustainability for the entire region. It’s taken 30 years to get here, but over time, people’s values started to be reflected in these plans – to protect the beauty of nature, to protect local food production, to have a livable region. For the entire farming sector, this is a hotbed from a jobs and economy point of view.”
She said alliances between farmers and environmentalists are needed as the Greenbelt is reviewed. Key discussions will not only be about whether to expand Greenbelt boundaries, but the impact of highway development (which drives urban sprawl), protecting water resources, dealing with contaminated soils (perhaps with a Clean Soils Act) and possibly adding a protected “Foodbelt” zone of agricultural land just outside the Greenbelt.
These are all issues that could affect Erin’s future, so we should be paying attention. Here are a few websites for additional information: greenbeltalliance.ca, walkandrollpeel.ca, greenbelt.ca and greenbeltleaders.ca.
Erin Township starts Patriotic Fund
From the Advocate – 100 years ago (1914)
Erin Township Council has voted to start a Patriotic Fund to assist in the war effort. Council has divided the territory and assigned members to do a thorough canvas of residents: J. Binnie in the North, E. Beswick in the East, Jos. Benham in the South and W. Jessop in the West. Welland County Council has donated $5,000 for the purchase of apples and flour for the British Government. Hastings County will send four carloads of fruit, grain, vegetables and clothing to the Belgians.
From the Advocate – 45 years ago (1969)
The Advocate printed a speech on Page 1 by Energy Minister George Kerr, regarding a provincial plan to subsidize water and sewage works for small municipalities, with sufficient funding to ensure that the annual cost of sewers would not exceed $120 per household. “The Communities requiring such assistance are ones facing unusually high costs because of topography, type of soil or rock, which increases the charge for construction, or those with a small population and low assessment. It is not realistic today to permit a small community, already established for many years, to go without the necessities of pure water supply and treatment of wastes. Downstream users will benefit directly from such projects.” The Advocate noted that the funding “could be of extreme importance to Erin Village in getting underway the several proposed housing development projects.”
Mel Barden of Hillsburgh died suddenly at the age of 66, collapsing at the wheel of a truck after delivering a load of lumber with Ross McKinnon to the home of Joe Baldwin in Erin. He is mourned by his wife Lillian (Steen) and some 1,500 people paid their respects. He had served on Erin Township Council for many years, operated a garage, gas station and clothing store in Hillsburgh and was a well-known participant and judge at horse shows.
From the Advocate – 35 years ago (1979)
The Community Telephone Company is seeking increases that will mean rate hikes of up to 100 per cent for some customers in Erin and Hillsburgh. Jeanette Cox, president of the Committee for Better Service, said the announcement “is like pouring a can of gas on the fire” and promised vigourous opposition.
MP Perrin Beatty cut the ribbon to officially open the new Graham Fiberglass factory in Erin. The plant will provide about 100 jobs.
The signs have gone up at three locations, saying: “Erin Village protected by Block Parents”. On hand for the event were Cathy McGinnity, Erin Public School Principal Bruce Macpherson, Block Parents Chair Louise Lone, Barbara Crane and her son Robbie, Erin Councillor Evelyn O’Sullivan, Gillian Cantrell and Sharon Rolling.
From the Advocate – 25 years ago (1989)
In a letter to a local resident, Transportation Minister William Wrye has promised that a traffic light at Brisbane will now be on the ministry’s priority list, but Erin Township Clerk Murray Clark says the municipality had not been informed, and there’s no indication of when the work will be done. He said it would be the Township’s first traffic light. Councillor Doris Topolsek released the exchange of letters with a woman who wants to remain anonymous. The writer noted a fatal accident at the corner on September 1, and many others that have caused a public outcry. The minister said traffic and accident data show that “the requirements for traffic signals have been met”.
A proposal for a four-storey 120-unit seniors complex on Dundas Street drew strong opposition from some area residents. “I don’t want that building in my backyard,” said John Duckworth. Village planning consultant John Logan also said the location is not ideal, since any seniors facility should be closer to downtown Erin.
Erin Township Council has voted to start a Patriotic Fund to assist in the war effort. Council has divided the territory and assigned members to do a thorough canvas of residents: J. Binnie in the North, E. Beswick in the East, Jos. Benham in the South and W. Jessop in the West. Welland County Council has donated $5,000 for the purchase of apples and flour for the British Government. Hastings County will send four carloads of fruit, grain, vegetables and clothing to the Belgians.
From the Advocate – 45 years ago (1969)
The Advocate printed a speech on Page 1 by Energy Minister George Kerr, regarding a provincial plan to subsidize water and sewage works for small municipalities, with sufficient funding to ensure that the annual cost of sewers would not exceed $120 per household. “The Communities requiring such assistance are ones facing unusually high costs because of topography, type of soil or rock, which increases the charge for construction, or those with a small population and low assessment. It is not realistic today to permit a small community, already established for many years, to go without the necessities of pure water supply and treatment of wastes. Downstream users will benefit directly from such projects.” The Advocate noted that the funding “could be of extreme importance to Erin Village in getting underway the several proposed housing development projects.”
Mel Barden of Hillsburgh died suddenly at the age of 66, collapsing at the wheel of a truck after delivering a load of lumber with Ross McKinnon to the home of Joe Baldwin in Erin. He is mourned by his wife Lillian (Steen) and some 1,500 people paid their respects. He had served on Erin Township Council for many years, operated a garage, gas station and clothing store in Hillsburgh and was a well-known participant and judge at horse shows.
From the Advocate – 35 years ago (1979)
The Community Telephone Company is seeking increases that will mean rate hikes of up to 100 per cent for some customers in Erin and Hillsburgh. Jeanette Cox, president of the Committee for Better Service, said the announcement “is like pouring a can of gas on the fire” and promised vigourous opposition.
MP Perrin Beatty cut the ribbon to officially open the new Graham Fiberglass factory in Erin. The plant will provide about 100 jobs.
The signs have gone up at three locations, saying: “Erin Village protected by Block Parents”. On hand for the event were Cathy McGinnity, Erin Public School Principal Bruce Macpherson, Block Parents Chair Louise Lone, Barbara Crane and her son Robbie, Erin Councillor Evelyn O’Sullivan, Gillian Cantrell and Sharon Rolling.
From the Advocate – 25 years ago (1989)
In a letter to a local resident, Transportation Minister William Wrye has promised that a traffic light at Brisbane will now be on the ministry’s priority list, but Erin Township Clerk Murray Clark says the municipality had not been informed, and there’s no indication of when the work will be done. He said it would be the Township’s first traffic light. Councillor Doris Topolsek released the exchange of letters with a woman who wants to remain anonymous. The writer noted a fatal accident at the corner on September 1, and many others that have caused a public outcry. The minister said traffic and accident data show that “the requirements for traffic signals have been met”.
A proposal for a four-storey 120-unit seniors complex on Dundas Street drew strong opposition from some area residents. “I don’t want that building in my backyard,” said John Duckworth. Village planning consultant John Logan also said the location is not ideal, since any seniors facility should be closer to downtown Erin.
Conservation Conversation for rural residents
As published in Sideroads Magazine
A new social media website will allow rural landowners to share their expertise, building a network of people who care about preserving the countryside.
The Countryside Stewardship Connection is a project of Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), supported by a $30,000 grant from the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.
It provides residents with an interactive online tool to engage in dialogue, post events, read success stories and ask for advice. Businesses and community groups can become partners and display information on the site as well.
Shannon Lem, CVC Program Assistant for Landowner Outreach, said there is a need to provide better support for non-farm rural residents, who don’t have the strong organizations that benefit farmers.
“We saw the opportunity to create something on-line for rural landowners within the Credit River watershed where they could really talk to each other and share all the things that they’ve learned over their years of caring for their own properties,” she said. The forum will also make it easy for people to access CVC staff expertise.
“In this age of social media, there’s a growing expectation that we can access people and information in a much faster way. Primarily, it’s intended to be a spot to foster community engagement,” she said.
Burkhard Mausberg, CEO of the Greenbelt Foundation, says the site will “build strong connections across the Greenbelt”, with CVC making the platform available to other interested conservation authorities.
The address is www.csconnection.ca, accessible via cell phone, tablet or computer. Conversations are grouped into 17 general forums such as Gardens & Landscaping, Wells, Septic Systems, Grasslands, Local Food, Ponds and Wetlands. The first question under Pollinators was about the Rusty-patched bumble bee, an endangered species in Ontario.
The first topic under Grasslands was the Bird-Friendly Certified Hay Program, supporting the declining populations of bobolink and eastern meadowlark, which nest in grasslands and are threatened by habitat loss. Hay growers who agree to delay their first cutting until July 15 enable the young birds to mature and leave their nests.
CVC hosts a web page for hay producers and buyers, promoting certified hay as a niche product that can create an advantage in the marketplace among environment-conscious consumers.
The on-line Connection project is just one part of CVC’s Countryside Stewardship Program. In 2014, there has been a series of Twilight Tours, covering topics such as the benefits of stream restoration and the value of agricultural cover crops. One session at the Ken Whillans Resource Management Area in Caledon dealt with management of invasive plant species, one of many areas where CVC offers free consultation, with financial assistance for plant removal and site restoration.
Another event showed landowners how to create gardens that specifically benefit plant pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps and beetles.
“Many pollinators, particularly bees, are in decline due to human activity and habitat loss,” said Mike Puddister, Director of Restoration and Stewardship at CVC. “Native plants provide habitat and food for these important species, improving the overall health of the environment.”
CVC also has regulatory authority over land use that affects wetlands and streams, and landowners are sometimes upset when they are restricted in what they can build or change on their property.
“Overcoming distrust or negative impressions is often really about creating a dialogue, and through communication, misunderstandings are very frequently sorted out,” said Lem.
“Our stewardship staff strive to engage with landowners in a meaningful way so that we can build positive relationships. I know people don’t like to be told what they can and can’t do on their property. And it is theirs, but only to the point that we can own something that we all share. Our natural resources are shared, and we all have a shared responsibility to protect those resources. That is always our goal. We’re not trying to put obstacles in people’s way.”
Conservation Authorities are on the front lines when it comes to dealing with the effects of climate change and more frequent severe storms. In urban areas, CVC promotes Low Impact Development to cushion the impact of stormwater, while in rural areas the goals are similar – reducing erosion, stream contamination and surface water volume.
CVC’s stewardship efforts are part of a broader movement, including the Stewardship Network of Ontario and the Ontario Biodiversity Council, dedicated to preserving long-term sustainable use of lands and waters that are threatened by human development and climate change.
With 90% of land in the watershed privately owned, the cooperation of owners is critical to the success of conservation efforts. Farmers have traditionally considered themselves stewards of the land, while many non-farm rural residents have moved to the country with an interest in preserving the attractive natural environment.
CVC can be a partner, providing not only scientific advice, but also funding that can make conservation projects affordable. A new grant program called the Landowner Action Fund is expected this fall, supporting a wide range of improvements not directly related to farming.
There is an ongoing series of workshops where residents get a copy of “Your Guide to Caring for the Credit”, and assistance in creating personalized property plans to protect the integrity of their land and water.
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Brian Boyd, CVC Forestry Planting Project Coordinator, takes
members of the public on a forest tour during a Tree ID Workshop.
Photo courtesy of CVC.
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For rural non-farm residents of Erin and north Caledon, the CVC Stewardship contact is Holly Nadalin, while in south Caledon it is Alison Qua-Enno. Extensive information, including a Landowner Resource Centre, is available at the CVC website, www.creditvalleyca.ca, in the section called “Your Land and Water”.
Program Coordinator Mark Eastman is part of the CVC effort to build trusting relationships with farmers. In July, Ontario Nature awarded him the J.R. Dymond Public Service Award for his environmental achievements. He has led numerous private land stewardship initiatives, including pasture and manure management, invasive species control, wetland fencing and wildlife habitat protection. Under Healthy Lands for Healthy Horses, landowners are connected to funding and service providers for the implementation of best management practices.
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| Mark Eastman |
These include up to $10,000 for barnyard runoff control, irrigation management, milkhouse washwater disposal, erosion control and tree planting, $20,000 for fencing livestock away from environmentally sensitive features, or enhancing natural areas, and $25,000 for manure storage systems. Well capping is available directly through the Region of Peel for all landowners.
The Greenbelt Foundation has also funded the placement of signs along trails in Caledon and Erin in an effort to educate people about the efforts farmers have made to reduce their impact on the environment. These include Nutrient Management Plans, keeping animals out of streams and development of buffer strip vegetation to reduce runoff of soil, manure, fertilizers and pesticides. Learn more at www.caringfortheland.com.
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| Upper Credit Conservation Area near Alton, showing the streambank buffer zones of vegetation that reduce erosion. |
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A horse farm next to Erin village, with the
Elora-Cataract Trailway running beside it. |
Fighting to preserve Belfountain's character
As published in Country Routes
For residents who want to keep Belfountain more or less the way it is, the never-ending battle is heating up once again.
It has been 27 years since they united to successfully oppose construction of a subdivision just south of the hamlet, which is in west Caledon near the Forks of the Credit.
They have been through Ontario Municipal Board hearings, Niagara Escarpment Commission rulings, negotiations with developers, appeals to politicians and a couple of name changes along the way.
With the housing plan recently revived, and Peel Region determined to rebuild roads and add sidewalks in the hamlet, the Belfountain Community Organization (BCO) has elected a new executive, ready to fight tooth and nail to preserve the unique nature of the community.
“We want to keep Belfountain intact so that people can enjoy it,” said President Jenni Le Forestier. During the municipal election campaign, they distributed signs with the message, “STOP SPRAWL”.
Many existing residents have problems with water quantity and quality in their private wells, and fear that a new subdivision could make things worse. BCO has hired a hydrogeologist to review the results of a water study by the developer.
On the roads front, Peel Region has conducted an environmental assessment, with considerable community input. It is pressing ahead with a plan to spend $31.5 million on area roads, including $12 million in the hamlet.
BCO has filed a detailed appeal against the plan with the Ministry of the Environment, including a petition of 338 signatures that can be seen on their website, www.belfountain.ca.
The petition says, “The Region of Peel plans to completely change the rural charm of the village by installing unnecessary sidewalks, culverts, streetlights and parking. Despite community feedback to ‘leave the roads as they are’, the Region plans to go ahead with these expensive and unwanted ‘improvements’.
“This project will further endanger species already at risk and ruin the beauty of the hamlet. This plan was defeated in 2003, so why is this being raised again, against the wishes of the tax paying residents of our hamlet?”
Lynn Wood asks, in a comment published with the petition, “Why is it so impossible for the powers that be in our local government to accept that not every village needs to look like a miniature version of a city streetscape?”
Wade Domet appears to capture the feeling of many residents in his petition comment when he says, “Peel Region, HANDS OFF BELFOUNTAIN”.
At a September 29 community meeting, people were asked, “As a resident of Belfountain, do you want a new paved and urban street scape or a natural rural street scape?” The result was a 98% vote for Rural, said Le Forestier.
The Region’s plan is intended to improve road safety and drainage, but she says, “There have been no pedestrian accidents in five years, and drainage is not a problem.”
Sidewalks were intended for students going to Belfountain School and the Belfountain Conservation Area, but she says but students are bused to the school, and the proposed sidewalks don’t go to the Conservation Area, the prime local tourist attraction.
BCO is also unhappy with a plan to increase parking there to 75 spots from the current 35. Many residents can accept the current number of visitors to the hamlet, but are alarmed at efforts to encourage more.
“All of these things will have a cumulative effect, with a huge impact on residents and even visitors,” said Le Forestier. “Little places are being pressured to be more than they are supposed to be.”
Built on the “Small is Beautiful” motto, BCO is not just about development and politics. Their website provides useful information on community events, local attractions and accommodations, government services and other community groups such as the Belfountain Heritage Society and ecoCaledon.
The big event of the year is the annual Salamander Festival, co-sponsored by BCO and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). It happens this year on Saturday, September 27 at the Conservation Area, where the West Credit River winds through dramatic Niagara Escarpment terrain. It was once home to three saw mills and a brownstone quarry.
In addition to celebrating the Jefferson Salamander (one of six endangered species that BCO says are threatened by development), the festival is an opportunity to try local food, enjoy family entertainment and learn about river ecology.
The site was once a private park owned by in the early 1900s by philanthropist Charles Mack, inventor of the cushion-back rubber stamp. He built a dam, a suspension bridge, stone walls, scenic lookouts and a fountain topped with a bell to honour the village.
CVC bought it in 1959, and it has become a popular destination for GTA day-trippers – who also frequent the small collection of shops and restaurants near the intersection of Old Main Street (Mississauga Road) and Bush Street.
The hamlet itself has only 106 households and stores, and some who call the place home feel invaded on weekends. They especially resent visitors who drive dangerously, park inappropriately and discard garbage indiscriminately.
In 1994 the Region said area roads needed “immediate” improvements, due to structural deficiencies, missing shoulders, unsafe driving conditions and inadequate stopping sight distances – but the environmental assessment (EA) was never completed.
When it was revived in recent years, studying an area to the south bounded by Mississauga Road, Olde Base Line Road and Winston Churchill Blvd., many residents said sidewalks are not needed in the hamlet for pedestrian safety.
The EA study identified “a need to reduce collisions and improve safety, particularly where there are steep grades, sharp curves, vertical crests, and driveways.” Some residents wouldn’t mind a better road surface, but want the hills and curves to remain as part of the local charm.
They blame bad behaviour by drivers of cars, motorcycles and bicycles for safety issues – not the road design. They fear “improvements” will increase traffic speeds and destroy the atmosphere that made the hamlet attractive in the first place.
One of BCO’s flyers says, “The countryside is under siege by developers, road and highway builders, and the Province’s apparent intention to build on some of our best farmland.” They note that legislation covering the Niagara Escarpment, the Green Belt and the Oak Ridges Moraine will be reviewed in 2015, and feel that natural and historic heritage, animal habitat, water and the beauty of the land are at risk.
The residents’ group was known for many years as the Belfountain Task Force, formed to oppose an application by Enterac Properties Ltd. to build a subdivision of large lots on the old Willis farm lands at the south end of the hamlet. They raised $150,000 and had success when the OMB and the NEC rejected various development proposals, mainly because of water supply issues.
From 1993 to 2007 the group was called the Belfountain Community and Planning Organization (BCPO), with a mandate to address broader local issues. Since 2007 the name has been the Belfountain Community Organization. In June, the new executive held a Lobsterfest fundraiser, expecting to need funds for a renewed fight, but hoping it won’t have to go to the OMB.
The developer, now under the name Orb Developments Inc., continues to look for an acceptable way to develop their lands between Shaws Creek Road and Mississauga Road, with an expectation that the Town of Caledon could allow some population growth in hamlets.
There had been some earlier discussion of obtaining water from the Town of Erin, which has municipal wells, or from another area of Peel. BCO says these options are not feasible, and that a municipal well in Belfountain would not be able to generate sufficient volume for a water system.
BCO did a water survey of existing households last year, with about half responding. Hydrologist Hailey Ashworth reported that 13 households, including seven on Old Main Street, had water shortages, and another six required cisterns. Water quality issues including high sulfur, iron content and coliform contamination were listed by 16 of the 48 respondents.
For residents who want to keep Belfountain more or less the way it is, the never-ending battle is heating up once again.
It has been 27 years since they united to successfully oppose construction of a subdivision just south of the hamlet, which is in west Caledon near the Forks of the Credit.
They have been through Ontario Municipal Board hearings, Niagara Escarpment Commission rulings, negotiations with developers, appeals to politicians and a couple of name changes along the way.
With the housing plan recently revived, and Peel Region determined to rebuild roads and add sidewalks in the hamlet, the Belfountain Community Organization (BCO) has elected a new executive, ready to fight tooth and nail to preserve the unique nature of the community.“We want to keep Belfountain intact so that people can enjoy it,” said President Jenni Le Forestier. During the municipal election campaign, they distributed signs with the message, “STOP SPRAWL”.
Many existing residents have problems with water quantity and quality in their private wells, and fear that a new subdivision could make things worse. BCO has hired a hydrogeologist to review the results of a water study by the developer.
On the roads front, Peel Region has conducted an environmental assessment, with considerable community input. It is pressing ahead with a plan to spend $31.5 million on area roads, including $12 million in the hamlet.
BCO has filed a detailed appeal against the plan with the Ministry of the Environment, including a petition of 338 signatures that can be seen on their website, www.belfountain.ca.
The petition says, “The Region of Peel plans to completely change the rural charm of the village by installing unnecessary sidewalks, culverts, streetlights and parking. Despite community feedback to ‘leave the roads as they are’, the Region plans to go ahead with these expensive and unwanted ‘improvements’.
 |
| Jenni Le Forestier |
“This project will further endanger species already at risk and ruin the beauty of the hamlet. This plan was defeated in 2003, so why is this being raised again, against the wishes of the tax paying residents of our hamlet?”
Lynn Wood asks, in a comment published with the petition, “Why is it so impossible for the powers that be in our local government to accept that not every village needs to look like a miniature version of a city streetscape?”
Wade Domet appears to capture the feeling of many residents in his petition comment when he says, “Peel Region, HANDS OFF BELFOUNTAIN”.
At a September 29 community meeting, people were asked, “As a resident of Belfountain, do you want a new paved and urban street scape or a natural rural street scape?” The result was a 98% vote for Rural, said Le Forestier.
The Region’s plan is intended to improve road safety and drainage, but she says, “There have been no pedestrian accidents in five years, and drainage is not a problem.”
Sidewalks were intended for students going to Belfountain School and the Belfountain Conservation Area, but she says but students are bused to the school, and the proposed sidewalks don’t go to the Conservation Area, the prime local tourist attraction.
BCO is also unhappy with a plan to increase parking there to 75 spots from the current 35. Many residents can accept the current number of visitors to the hamlet, but are alarmed at efforts to encourage more.
“All of these things will have a cumulative effect, with a huge impact on residents and even visitors,” said Le Forestier. “Little places are being pressured to be more than they are supposed to be.”
Built on the “Small is Beautiful” motto, BCO is not just about development and politics. Their website provides useful information on community events, local attractions and accommodations, government services and other community groups such as the Belfountain Heritage Society and ecoCaledon.
The big event of the year is the annual Salamander Festival, co-sponsored by BCO and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). It happens this year on Saturday, September 27 at the Conservation Area, where the West Credit River winds through dramatic Niagara Escarpment terrain. It was once home to three saw mills and a brownstone quarry.
In addition to celebrating the Jefferson Salamander (one of six endangered species that BCO says are threatened by development), the festival is an opportunity to try local food, enjoy family entertainment and learn about river ecology.
The site was once a private park owned by in the early 1900s by philanthropist Charles Mack, inventor of the cushion-back rubber stamp. He built a dam, a suspension bridge, stone walls, scenic lookouts and a fountain topped with a bell to honour the village.
CVC bought it in 1959, and it has become a popular destination for GTA day-trippers – who also frequent the small collection of shops and restaurants near the intersection of Old Main Street (Mississauga Road) and Bush Street.
The hamlet itself has only 106 households and stores, and some who call the place home feel invaded on weekends. They especially resent visitors who drive dangerously, park inappropriately and discard garbage indiscriminately.
In 1994 the Region said area roads needed “immediate” improvements, due to structural deficiencies, missing shoulders, unsafe driving conditions and inadequate stopping sight distances – but the environmental assessment (EA) was never completed.
When it was revived in recent years, studying an area to the south bounded by Mississauga Road, Olde Base Line Road and Winston Churchill Blvd., many residents said sidewalks are not needed in the hamlet for pedestrian safety.
The EA study identified “a need to reduce collisions and improve safety, particularly where there are steep grades, sharp curves, vertical crests, and driveways.” Some residents wouldn’t mind a better road surface, but want the hills and curves to remain as part of the local charm.
They blame bad behaviour by drivers of cars, motorcycles and bicycles for safety issues – not the road design. They fear “improvements” will increase traffic speeds and destroy the atmosphere that made the hamlet attractive in the first place.
One of BCO’s flyers says, “The countryside is under siege by developers, road and highway builders, and the Province’s apparent intention to build on some of our best farmland.” They note that legislation covering the Niagara Escarpment, the Green Belt and the Oak Ridges Moraine will be reviewed in 2015, and feel that natural and historic heritage, animal habitat, water and the beauty of the land are at risk.
The residents’ group was known for many years as the Belfountain Task Force, formed to oppose an application by Enterac Properties Ltd. to build a subdivision of large lots on the old Willis farm lands at the south end of the hamlet. They raised $150,000 and had success when the OMB and the NEC rejected various development proposals, mainly because of water supply issues.
From 1993 to 2007 the group was called the Belfountain Community and Planning Organization (BCPO), with a mandate to address broader local issues. Since 2007 the name has been the Belfountain Community Organization. In June, the new executive held a Lobsterfest fundraiser, expecting to need funds for a renewed fight, but hoping it won’t have to go to the OMB.
The developer, now under the name Orb Developments Inc., continues to look for an acceptable way to develop their lands between Shaws Creek Road and Mississauga Road, with an expectation that the Town of Caledon could allow some population growth in hamlets.
There had been some earlier discussion of obtaining water from the Town of Erin, which has municipal wells, or from another area of Peel. BCO says these options are not feasible, and that a municipal well in Belfountain would not be able to generate sufficient volume for a water system.
BCO did a water survey of existing households last year, with about half responding. Hydrologist Hailey Ashworth reported that 13 households, including seven on Old Main Street, had water shortages, and another six required cisterns. Water quality issues including high sulfur, iron content and coliform contamination were listed by 16 of the 48 respondents.
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| Belfountain Conservation Area |
October 27, 2014
Allan Alls will be Erin's new mayor
As published in The Erin Advocate
Here are the official election results for the Town of Erin, as released by Clerk Dina Lundy. A total of 4,025 ballots were cast. With 8,703 registered voters, the turnout was 46.25%.
Mayor
2,403 - Allan Alls
1,120 - Rod Finnie
464 - David Lyver
County Councillor (1)
2,025 - Pierre Brianceau
1,376 - Barb Tocher
503 - Lou Maieron
Town Councillors (top 4)
1,990 - John Brennan
1,936 - Jeff Duncan
1,735 - Matt Sammut
1,429 - Rob Smith
1,396 - Jamie Cheyne
1,369 - Chris Naraysingh
1,198 - Evelyn McLean
1,009 - Josie Wintersinger
742 - Shawn Wilson
679 - Craig Porterfield
549 - George Silva
Trustee results from the Guelph-Eramosa Township website
Public School Trustee for Erin, Guelph-Eramosa and East Garafraxa
4,437 - Kathryn Cooper
1,516 - Brandon Moyer
Catholic School Trustee for Erin, Guelph-Eramosa and Puslinch
704 - Cassandra Chornoboy
432 - Shaun Redmond
Here are the official election results for the Town of Erin, as released by Clerk Dina Lundy. A total of 4,025 ballots were cast. With 8,703 registered voters, the turnout was 46.25%.
Mayor
2,403 - Allan Alls
1,120 - Rod Finnie
464 - David Lyver
County Councillor (1)
2,025 - Pierre Brianceau
1,376 - Barb Tocher
503 - Lou Maieron
Town Councillors (top 4)
1,990 - John Brennan
1,936 - Jeff Duncan
1,735 - Matt Sammut
1,429 - Rob Smith
1,396 - Jamie Cheyne
1,369 - Chris Naraysingh
1,198 - Evelyn McLean
1,009 - Josie Wintersinger
742 - Shawn Wilson
679 - Craig Porterfield
549 - George Silva
Trustee results from the Guelph-Eramosa Township website
Public School Trustee for Erin, Guelph-Eramosa and East Garafraxa
4,437 - Kathryn Cooper
1,516 - Brandon Moyer
Catholic School Trustee for Erin, Guelph-Eramosa and Puslinch
704 - Cassandra Chornoboy
432 - Shaun Redmond
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