This week, the Echo received six letters (see below) in response to (and perhaps in addition to) a “Call for Action” email that was sent out to members of the Clearview Community Coalition after they saw no mention of their ongoing fight against the Duntroon quarry expansion in our 2011 Year in Review Issue.
The “Call to Action,” was forwarded to us by a member of the CCC’s distribution list, to the chagrin of the group’s president, Janet Gillham, who authored the email. It correctly pointed out that, despite the fact that members of the CCC have spent the last three years organizing, fundraising, hiring lawyers and planners and eventually spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and 139 days in front of a Consolidated Hearings Board, arguing alongside the Niagara Escarpment Commision that Walker Aggregates should not be allowed to expand its quarry at the top of County Road 91, the issue was not included in our “Newsmaker of the Year” story focusing on “The Protester,” nor was it included on page 4 of the year-end issue, which included reference to the many top stories of the year.
As soon as the letters started coming in, and especially after we saw the “Call to Action” email, we gave Gillham a call, hoping to explain our feelings on the issue. She picked up, and we had a long discussion Monday morning that ended amicably.
Here’s the thing. On one of the group’s points, that the CCC’s fight to stop the quarry did not show up on page 4 or in the Editorial about the year’s top stories, we confess a large oversight on our part. Perhaps because the hearing wrapped up in the summer, perhaps because, as Gillham mentioned in her email, the fight has been making news for three years (and, interestingly, was featured prominently in last year’s Echo roundup of top stories), perhaps because December was a busy scramble of a month at this paper… for whatever reason, the CCC’s fight flew under the radar when we were collecting the year’s big news. The Mega Quarry, the Duntroon School closure, elections, Industrial Wind Turbines, these are what made it on to the page.
This is not to say, of course, that we are not eagerly anticipating the decision of the Consolidated Hearings Board re. the Duntroon Quarry. We are a newspaper, and that decision will be big news.
As a peace offering, we offer, on this page, two of our trademark “cutouts,” both of which should probably have found their way into last week’s pile. Our apologies.
Now, onto the CCC’s next point. We talked a lot about this one with Gillham, and hopefully we came to an understanding that we’re using different definitions of the word “protest.” The editor and the writer of this piece had numerous discussions over several months about the article, and the Duntroon quarry fight came up often. But, to be totally frank, when it did, it was in terms of “as opposed to,” rather than “in addition to.”
Gillham was absolutely right during our conversation; by appealing the decision (and the settlement reached) by Clearview Council to the OMB, members of her group are “protesting” the expansion.
In the same way, neighbours of Creemore Springs Brewery are currently “protesting” that facility’s expansion plans, and the Creemore Area Residents Association “protested” the Alliance development several years ago.
But what we noticed differently this year from any of those previous situations (including the noble work of the Clearview Community Coalition) was that this year, opponents of Fairview Wind Farm and of the Highlands Quarry proposal actually “protested.” As in, they took up placards, they worked the social networks and they found creative ways of making noise – enough noise to be heard far and wide, beyond this little part of Ontario.
With Preserve Clearview (and its relationship to the provincial Wind Concerns Ontario), the noise was meant to be loud enough to bring down Premier Dalton McGuinty; with NDACT and the Stop the Mega Quarry folks, the noise was meant to rally environmentalists and food lovers all the way to Boston and back.
As we pointed out, this was all part of the global mood of 2011 – to go beyond process into active protest. The protest of the CCC, and of CARA before it, was one that existed within the process. What we saw in 2011 attempted to disrupt that process.
Whether they succeeded is yet to be seen. And if they didn’t, they will have to throw themselves into the “process” to win their particular fights (though the Green Energy Act barely even offers such a thing).
When their protest of “disruption” inevitably becomes mired in the protest of “process,” these groups will no doubt look to the exemplary work of the Clearview Community Coalition for inspiration. But in the meantime, they are two different things. And no matter how important the work of those who opposed the quarry expansion was, it was not what stood out for us as a defining trend of 2011. And that is why the CCC fight was not chosen to be the subject of, or included in, our Newsmaker of the Year article.
As for next year, the article is completely up for grabs. That’s the beauty of the first week of January, isn’t it?
THE LETTERS:
Dear Echo:
This will be a short note and I will try not to be angry or judgemental. Your failure to mention the local efforts of the community to address the expansion of the Duntroon Quarry is, I hope, a major oversight and not a conscious act by you when considering local issues for 2011.
Some responsible research would soon educate you about the monumental amounts of time, money and personal commitment that has been spent by community citizens protesting the proposed destruction of our local water and environmental resources by this Duntroon Quarry expansion.
Whether you agree or disagree with a community’s position should not be an issue. Your article addresses a Mega Quarry concern several miles away, when we have an identical situation right on our doorstep that is being protested with a likewise passion and effort.
I will look forward to your next issue explaining your case for excluding the Duntroon Quarry protest from your article or an inclusion in future editions that speak about the great efforts our citizens are making to preserve our immediate resources and environment.
Yours truly,
Neil and Pat Buie, Duntroon
To the Editor of the Echo:
In your December 31, 2011 article “Newsmaker of the Year: The Protester” by Sara Hershoff, it was extremely disappointing to discover that the Echo did not see the importance of the Joint Hearing Board of the OMB regarding the application for yet another Duntroon Quarry. These hearings were held in excess of two months in Creemore, plus an additional nine months in Collingwood. Relevant articles appeared in the Echo, which makes it particularly questionable as to why this was not reported as a “protested” issue. It would be a great shame if in the event that issues are politically and/or economically aligned, it would affect objective reporting by our Creemore Echo.
The Duntroon Quarry issue is at least as unique as the “Mega” Highland Quarry in that it is situated on the Niagara Escarpment – a UNESCO declared “World Biosphere.” The effect of digging a new site could have grave implications regarding the future of water in the villages, towns, cities and land, in the Nottawasaga Valley and Beaver Valley watersheds and in the Great Lakes that they feed. Why do we see it as acceptable to punch major holes in the Niagara Escarpment over one of Ontario’s major aquifers? Hydrogeologists do not.
Other implications of the new Duntroon Quarry which were related protested issues mentioned in previous editions of the Echo were:
• …on a road unfit to be a haul route, 1,000 truck passes per day (see Sept. 16, and 23, 2011).
• the proposed closure of part of County Road 91, resulting in threatened access (Bruce Trail etc.)
And what about dishonoured commitments to the stewardship of the land in “World Biospheres” in Ontario? Are our Government representatives saying to their constituents, “to heck with Greenbelts and the like?” What are schools and parents teaching children? Does any one of them really understand the meaning and importance of the responsibility to plan for sustainable existence?
Is there a reason why such protested issues – mentioned by the Echo at one time or another – are not “Newsmaker of the Year” worthy?
Ann Warren, Duntroon
Dear Editor:
I’m surprised that you didn’t mention Clearview Community Coalition’s “fight” against the quarry expansion on the Niagara escarpment.
Dan Watkin, Duntroon
Dear Editor:
I am very surprised that the Echo’s wrap-up of events in 2011 made no mention of the Clearview Community Coalition and its long fight to protect the Niagara Escarpment from quarrying.
Dozens of residents have raised thousands of dollars to sustain the Coalition’s position at the recently concluded hearing into a proposed new quarry west of Duntroon – eight weeks of the hearing were held in the Creemore Community Centre.
Creemore’s proximity to the Niagara Escarpment attracts not only residents but tourists, skiers, hikers and artists. The new quarry would take the top off the Escarpment at one of its highest and most scenic points, remove many acres of mature forest, threaten at least two endangered species of plants as well as the headwaters of the Beaver and Pretty Rivers, Batteaux Creek and several wetland areas.
Surely a proposal which is such a major intrusion into the World Biosphere Reserve that is the Niagara Escarpment merits mention as a significant event?
Ruth Grier, Glen Huron
Dear Editor:
I read the year-end Creemore Echo that praised the protesters and would like to pass on my comments.
Although I am pleased you brought up some of the large issues from 2011 like the unfortunate closing of the Duntroon school, the wind turbines and the mega quarry in Melancthon Township, I am surprised that you didn’t give any recognition to the Clearview Community Coalition for the work they have done and are still doing to save our piece of the Niagara Escarpment from the proposed Quarry in our own backyard. I would have thought that this issue would certainly qualify to have been mentioned at least once in your newspaper, especially since it directly affects the people and landscape only 15 kilometres from Creemore.
Evelyn Bellamy, Duntroon
Earth to Echo:
Yoo hoo, we’re still here!
In your homage to protesters last week you swept right past the multi-year effort of the Clearview Community Coalition, a group of volunteers who have been fighting the proposed new quarry at the peak of the Niagara Escarpment, one of Ontario’s most significant natural heritage sites. A group of residents who were barely acquainted with each other in the beginning, people from all walks of life who came together in common cause in the interests of the natural heritage of our community. Their dedication and knowledge was extraordinary. They raised funds (and continue to) to cover legal costs and to engage expert witnesses, they dedicated their time to attending public hearings – which lasted months longer than anyone expected, and spoke out in public venues whenever they could.
Since representatives of your newspaper were in attendance at a number of the hearings, I’m wondering if your notes fell down a great black hole, or were filed under “F” for Forget. Whatever. I hope you will give credit to this group, one of the most admirable volunteer groups I have ever encountered, and the worthwhile cause they embrace.
Anxiously awaiting,
Adam Zimmerman and Barbara McDougall, Duntroon