the bigger picture
Protecting the environment beyond the quarry
Once you learn enough about how fragile our farmland, waterways, and wetlands are in the face of large scale industrial development, it is not possible to stand by. Environmental Defence has yet again taken the initiative to take out a full-page ad in the Toronto Star on December 12, 2021, inviting other organizations, such as Ramara Legacy Alliance to endorse their letter to the federal government, pleading for them to step in where the provincial government has failed us, and the environment, the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413.
united we stand
Check out our logo in the Toronto Star!
As you know, Ramara Legacy Alliance has been building relationships with some extremely powerful environmental organizations. They have noticed that we are speaking out for what is right, and have invited us to lend our voice to their coalition of other esteemed groups to advocate for protecting our water, wetlands, and natural areas.
Environmental Defence Canada took out a full-page ad in the Toronto Star (to appear Saturday November 28, and Wednesday December 2, see below), protesting the devastating proposed amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act in Schedule 6 of the omnibus budget bill 229.
As the OLT hearing draws closer, let's hope the provincial government takes note that we have a seat at the table among some very influential friends.
Online Community meeting
December 1, 2020 - our first webinar!
We recently hosted a community webinar for the purpose of sharing updates to the status of our fight. On hand to speak to the policy side of thingss were our supportive local government officials, including MPP Jill Dunlop, Mayor Basil Clarke, and Councillor David Snutch.
David Donnelly, who is representing Ramara Legacy Alliance, spoke about our plan and our progress, and was able to answer any questions from a legal standpoint.
Below is the accompanying slide deck presented by members of RLA.
We are not the only ones
Do quarries only seek out tranquil lakeside communities??
The neighbouring Lake St. George community is in the early stages of challenging a quarry application. Two years in, our progress has led Ramara Legacy Alliance to preparing for the OLT hearing, as stated in The Villager.
We choose to live in this peaceful setting for the lakes, trees, wildlife, fresh air, and abundant clean water. Not for the blasting, drilling, crushing, grinding, truck traffic, flyrock, dust, and compromised wells.
Let's hope for both our communities that the Premier stands by his public statement regarding the Campbellville quarry:
“I am not in favour of that. I believe in governing for the people. And when the people don’t want something you don’t do it. It’s very simple. I know the Mayor he doesn’t want it, no one wants it. I don’t want it. We are going to make sure it doesn’t happen one way or another”.
Our cause receives County-Wide exposure
We are in the news again!
The status of our fight is documented in the October/November 2020 online edition of NorthSimcoe.Life
Our Brochure
During August and September of 2020, we delivered this brochure to area residents not already on our mailing list, and talked about the issues.
The goal is always to raise awareness of what is happening, and to show what our community is doing about it.
June 2019 newsletter
Last summer's newsletter nicely sums up all our concerns that justify our challenging the proposed new quarry. It was created to promote awareness and garner support among the community and Ramara Town Council alike before the Township Public Meeting on July 11th, to demonstrate that the zoning for the proposed new quarry should not be approved to change from Rural to Mineral Aggregate Extraction. As we know from our victory (Council voted against the rezoning), we clearly made our case.
However, for those not familiar with our concerns, this newsletter gives a brief but comprehensive overview of the issues.
Orillia Packet & Times articles
Please find below two articles from July of 1984, which demonstrate that our community has been against this quarry for decades. Back then, the quarry was applying to increase the annual extraction amount from 15,000 tonnes per year, to 100,000 tonnes per year. Over the years, this has crept up to 300,000 tonnes per year, accompanied by the increased issues that threaten our neighbourhood: water, health and safety, and the environment.
However, so much has changed for our community since that time: Now we have the solid support of Ramara Town Council, and our community has grown so much bigger. We are more aware of environmental and sustainability best practice. With the advent of the internet, it has become easier to keep ourselves informed, proactive, and connected.
This is our chance to finish what the previous generation got started!
