Escarpment Corridor Alliance (ECA) is not opposed to all development in the Niagara Escarpment, according to president Bruce Harbinson, but the group is committed to protecting against inappropriate development.
ECA was initially formed in 2022 to oppose plans for redevelopment of the Talisman lands and three linear kilometres of escarpment at Castle Glen. Last week, Harbinson told a Creemore audience they have since come up with a three-prong strategy to conserve strategic green spaces, create an ecological corridor system, and connect and unite like-minded people. The vision is to establish a network of forest corridors and trails uniting over 500 square kilometres of forest and wetlands, and five watershedsconnecting the Blue Mountains and Beaver Valley, Castle Glen and Kolapore to Beaver Valley.
Harbinson said, “We think it’s very exciting that we have growth and innovation in our communities and we support municipalities in their efforts to increase density in existing settlement areas. But we don’t believe we should be creating new settlement areas.”
The Niagara Escarpment is currently recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Harbinson said our proximity to the Greater Toronto Area makes this a uniquely important and complex resource, and cautions the UNESCO designation could be lost if growth is not carefully managed.
Existing protections through zoning legislation are fragile, according to Harbinson, and can change with the stroke of a pen. The only sure protection is through deeds and not acts i.e. ownership as opposed to legislation. ECA is not currently set up as a land trust, but works closely with other groups which are focused on acquisitions.
Bill Duran of the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) agrees that the best way to preserve land is to own it. In the last three years the BTC has embarked on an aggressive land acquisition strategy.
“We now own or steward more than 12,000 acres on the escarpment,” said Duran.
When he initially became involved with BTC, Duran said he thought of it as a trail organization. “It is actually a conservation group. The trail is just the medium.”
Harbinson said ECA will remain focussed on advocacy – on working with all levels of government and all interested parties to paint a compelling picture of what can be. He said it is essential that the organization remain proactive and said complacency is the Number 1 risk.
Carl Cosack, who was heavily involved in the successful fight to block a mega quarry north of Shelburne, said it is critical to paint that picture.
“You won’t win by yelling at people. You need to have a positive message,” said Cosack.
Cosack said it is important to provide would-be-developers with an exit strategy so when they reach the point that the development is more trouble than it’s worth, they can see a way out.
The ECA currently has two board members from Clearview, Ian Whitton of Nottawa and Martin Rydlo of Duntroon Highlands golf club. They are looking for more local champions who can alert them to relevant upcoming items at Clearview and Simcoe County councils. More information about the group is available at myescarpment.ca.