[All] Fw: RE: Eco Forum re: Site 41

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hi folks

This was sent to me by one of the organizers fighting the mega quarry in Dufferin County. 

Lulu

--- On Thu, 8/19/10, Karren Wallace <karrenwallace at sympatico.ca> wrote:

From: Karren Wallace <karrenwallace at sympatico.ca>
Subject: RE: Eco Forum
To: Undisclosed-Recipient at yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, August 19, 2010, 8:49 PM



 
 

Summary:
The Eco-Forum 
runs from 7-9pm on Thursday, August 26th in the basement of Trinity United 
Church, 200 Owen Sound Street. Admission is free, coffee and light refreshments 
will be served.  
Topic: Site 41 
Protesters to Speak 
 

 
MEDIA RELEASE
 
Site 41 Protesters to Speak at Eco 
Forum
 
Five kilometers north of Elmvale, in Simcoe County, bubbling 
just below the surface, there lies what world-renowned scientist Professor 
William Shotyk refers to as “one of the most pristine water sources ever 
discovered”; so free of contaminants that it is comparable to core samples of 
Arctic ice over 5000 years old. Clearly, this water’s purity should set the 
standard by which Canada’s fresh waters should be measured.  Instead, it 
was chosen by the local Council, and approved by the Province for an engineered 
landfill site…. “Site 41”.

Simcoe area resident, Stephen Ogden who led the fight to preserve the 
unique aquifer, will be one of two “Site 41” speakers at the August 26th 
Eco-Forum to be held at Trinity United Church in Shelburne. “I just thought it 
was the craziest thing we could ever want …to put garbage in our water,” said 
Mr. Ogden. The second speaker will be Rev. David Black.

The forum is one in a series that has been planned at the United Church to 
facilitate the need for discussion and exchange of ideas on current 
environmental and planning issues facing area residents, in a relaxed and calm 
atmosphere.
 Speaker Rev. Black and his congregation from Ebenezer 
United Church near Midland were also part of the resistance to Site 41. The 
Reverend initiated a resolution at the church calling on the county and province 
to institute a 10-year moratorium on the dump.  The congregation, Living 
Waters Presbytery, Toronto Conference and General Council all passed the 
resolution.                                                                          

 
The proposed site, located on several aquifers and class one and 
two farmland, had residents concerned that the waste would contaminate drinking 
water for thousands of people. The Ministry of Environment (MOE) had admitted to 
area farmers that if Site 41 went ahead there would be restrictions on water 
taking permits, leaving farmers unable to grow crops which required irrigation. 

 
Simcoe County’s engineering consultant, Genivar, responded that 
the groundwater would be protected within MOE guidelines. The County seemed to 
have confidence that the dump would not damage groundwater, but Ogden and area 
residents didn’t believe it.
 
The people of the Beausoleil First 
Nations, who live on Christian Island in the southern tip of Georgian Bay, felt 
contaminated water from Site 41 would threaten the health of the Bay and their 
way of life. During the summer of 2009, Vicki Monague, from the Beausoleil and 
four other Ojibwa women set up a protest camp at the entrances to the 
site.                            
   
In 
the United Church Observer, Monague said, the church members’ support sustained 
her spirits, “We worked with the local United Church and held amazing 
ceremonies”. Both David Black and Christian Island’s Rev. Bright Young and their 
congregations supported the protesters with prayer and visits to the 
camp.                                                                          

 
Events gained more media attention in September of 2009 when the 
Beausoleil spiritual leaders held an historic Midewiwin, or medicine dance, 
ceremony at the dump site. More than 100 people participated, most of them 
non-native, including several from Ebenezer United Church.
 
After a 
lengthy battle with County Council involving protests, rallies, and 18 arrests, 
the Provincial government finally revoked the certificate of approval for Site 
41 in May, 2010.
 
Both speakers have fascinating stories about their 
journey to save Site 41 and what they learned about politics and community in a 
conflict that spanned over 20 years. Their reflections echo the sentiments of 
Dufferin residents currently facing planning issues that threaten drinking 
water: “We care about water, we care about our kids”, says Ogden. “If we don’t 
stop it, how do we explain it to our kids?” 
 
The Eco-Forum runs 
from 7-9pm on Thursday, August 26th in the basement of Trinity United Church, 
200 Owen Sound Street. Admission is free, coffee and light refreshments will be 
served.  
 
Marni Walsh 
519-923-9998                         
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