THE GRAND STRATEGY NEWSLETTER Volume 11, Number 2 - March/April 2006

Grand River The Grand: Conservation A Canadian Authority Heritage River

Features Watershed Award winners 1

Milestones Workshop addresses value of heritage 4

What's Happening Program aims to conserve natural areas 5 Brantford-Brant water Watershed Award winners festival new this year 5 ach year the Grand River Conservation This article, adapted from the script for the EAuthority recognizes the efforts of individu- show, highlights four winners of Watershed Now available als and groups by presenting awards for out- Awards. The other winners were featured in the standing examples of conservation and environ- previous edition of Grand Actions. Shunpiking in mental work. Waterloo Region 6 For 2005, the winner of the Honour Roll Hillside Festival, Guelph Award is S.C. Johnson and Son Ltd. of Brantford. Look Who’s The winners of the Watershed Awards are Hillside Festival has grown over the past 21 Taking Action Waterloo Region District School Board and years from a small, 11-hour festival to a three day event attracting 5,000 people a day. County of Brant Waterloo Catholic District School Board; It’s on the island at Guelph Lake Conservation preserves bridge 7 Greentec International Inc., Cambridge; Wilfrid Laurier/Mohawk Environmental Group, Area when the island’s quiet tranquility is trans- formed into a hub of activity. Sold out for the Grand Strategy Brantford; Hillside Festival, Guelph; John first time in 2005, it featured 45 bands. Calendar 8 Jackson of Kitchener, founder of the Great Lakes United; Vlad Jelinek, Rosewood Farm, Grand Music brings in the crowd, but Hillside is Cover photo Valley; and Arnold VerVoort and Family farm, much more than music. Fergus. The festival is possible because of the vision Arnold VerVoort and his Winners are honoured at a special ceremony of the Hillside board of directors, the staff and a family operate a farm during the GRCA annual meeting in February. As thousand volunteers. near Fergus where a lot part of the event, a slide show detailing the While they love music, they are fully commit- has been done to protect accomplishments of each winner was presented. ted to environmental leadership the environment. Photo The show was written and photographed by Janet All the food at Hillside is served on plastic by Janet Baine. Baine. plates with reusable cutlery that is washed by Plastic plates and cups used at Hillside Festival cut down on the amount of garbage generated during the event. The "green roof" on top of the Hillside Festival stage at Guelph Lake Conservation teams of volunteers. Area gets a watering. Beer is sipped from reusable mugs that patrons stow away from one year to the next. John Jackson, Founder photo taken after the hard-won 15-year These changes and sorting means of Great Lakes United, victory against a toxic waste facility. there was less garbage in 2005, even Many people asked at the time why he though there were more people. Kitchener bothered to take on an impossible battle, Buses run throughout the festival to ohn Jackson is an environmental but the group won. bring people to Guelph Lake Island, so Jactivist who lives in Kitchener. A member of the group has published patrons don’t need to drive. And, there’s For the past 30 years John has trav- a book to tell the story, while Wilfrid a bike lock-up, a Native area and envi- eled around the Great Lakes to advise ronmental expo. numerous groups. The main stage was powered by wind His favourite spot in his neighbour- and the Sun stage is solar powered. As hood is the grounds of Woodside, the one performer, Robert Priest, wrote in childhood home of Mackenzie King Now Magazine: “How inspiring to hear where he goes to walk and think. the numerous mics, amps and instru- His vision is bigger than the Grand ments running directly on the local rays. River, which empties into Lake Erie and Who knew such a small patch of sun- connects with the Great Lakes, but his light could be so loud, so lyrical?” work for the Great Lakes also benefits In 2005 the festival added a green our watershed. roof above the main stage. It was paid The work he gets paid for – such as for by Hillside and donations were col- teaching university courses and writing lected by the “green team” of volunteers. government reports – is secondary for Hillside shows what is possible. It John. leads the way in showing us that thou- His real work is taking what he has sands of people can come together for learned from one citizens’ groups and three days but leave a small impact on sharing it with the next. the environment. Among his many awards is a prized John Jackson

2 Share the resources - Share the responsibility Laurier University has all Jackson’s doc- umentation from this battle in their spe- cial collection. Jackson is a founder of Great Lakes United and has been on the board for 24 years. This organization strives to change policies so environmental battles no longer need to be fought in community after community around the Great Lakes. Jackson is heartened by the successes he sees around him. He says he’s fortu- nate to have the chance to see changes and this helps him to inspire other groups. Vlad Jelinek, Rosewood Farm, Grand Valley lad Jelinek died in 2004, but before Vhe did, he spent many years return- ing portions of Rosewood Farm in Members of the Jelinek family dig in during a tree planting. Grand Valley back to forests and wet- lands. He lived a simple life. He had no environment. He bought the farm in 1969 and phone and typed all his correspondence He uses low-till farming techniques and crop rotation to ensure his land worked as a meteorological technician on a typewriter. remains healthy. for the Canadian In the spring of 2004 he got news that Two years ago he put in fencing to government until the Wetland Habitat Fund would share the cost of excavating and building a keep his cows out of the Irvine River, he retired. dike to return the land to the wetland it which runs through his property. Already He knew once was. vegetation is growing up on the banks some of the land Jelinek died that July, a month before and animal waste doesn’t get into the wanted to go the bulldozers created the wetland. Now river. back to the wet- the trees are growing up and there is But land it once was already a diverse array of wildlife on the VerVoort’s and instead of wetland, including a beaver dam. biggest undertak- fighting nature, Vlad Jelinek’s dream of returning his ing was building he worked with land to wetlands and forests is an exam- an immense it. Vlad Jelinek ple for others to follow. manure tank so A map he cre- the liquid ated showed his long-term goals for the Arnold VerVoort and manure would property—including the forests and wet- not wash right lands. family farm, Fergus into the Irvine Arnold Vervoort Jelinek began turning fields into rnold VerVoort was one of the first River. forests by having the GRCA plant trees Afarmers in his area to do an envi- A trench 20 feet wide used to wash each year until he died. ronmental plan for his dairy farm, north animal waste into the river, washing There is now a 20-acre plantation of of Fergus. He is now a member of the away nutrients that Arnold would have mature trees. His two granddaughters Environmental Farm Plan Review preferred to spread on his fields. helped with tree planting in the spring of Committee, and the Wellington His farm is used in GRCA displays 2004. Jelinek was also there on planting Stewardship Council. about manure management. day, but by that time his health was fail- He had a long time interest in The tank is 12 feet deep and manure ing. decreasing his farm’s impact on the from the barn flows by gravity into it.

GRAND ACTIONS • March-April 2006 3 All the manure and milkhouse wastes are totally contained and contaminated runoff no longer washes into the river. Not only is the river much cleaner now, but Arnold buys half as much fer- tilizer as he used to and organic fertilizer makes better crops, he says. His farm is used in GRCA displays about manure management. Efforts of farmers like Arnold VerVoort go a long way toward improv- ing the Grand River watershed.

MILESTONES Participants in the Heritage Day Workshop discuss the value of heritage structures in a lecture theatre in the University of Waterloo School of Architecture in Milestones are progress or products Cambridge. of The Grand Strategy Joint Work Plan. displays, tours of the school, and a itage designations. reception at the Design at Riverside ■ Municipalities must take a leader- Workshop addresses Gallery. Speakers included: Ken ship role in supporting heritage conser- value of heritage in Doherty, City of Peterborough; Laurie vation and development – others will defining communities Thatcher, Heritage Cambridge; Dr. follow. Examples where this has Robert Shipley, Chair, UW Heritage occurred are Quebec City, Peterborough, By Barbara Veale Resources Centre; Dr. Rick Haldenby, Owen Sound and St. Marys. On the GRCA Co-ordinator of Policy strength of its local heritage, Owen Planning and Partnerships Director, UW School of Architecture; Catherine Nasmith, Architect; David Sound has now become one of the top n an era where heritage is threatened Jackson, Toronto’s Distillery District; 50 places to retire in North America and Iby development pressures, many Jeremy Grant, Alton Mill; and Sean is promoting itself as the cultural capital Ontario municipalities and private sector Fraser, Ontario Heritage Trust. On the of Canada. St. Marys is focusing its companies are making special efforts to Mayors’ Panel were Mayor Tony Winter, tourism promotions on cultural festivals retain and restore heritage assets. Town of St. Marys and Craig Curtis, and heritage assets of the community Heritage is what gives our communi- City Manager for the City of Owen and has as its slogan “a town worth liv- ties a sense of place and a competitive Sound. ing in.” edge for attracting new economic devel- ■ In the words of Glen Murray, for- ■ Adaptive reuse and heritage preser- opment and business. mer Mayor of Winnipeg: “When every vation is a kind of development, not an A capacity crowd of over 200 eager place looks the same, there is no such impediment to development. participants attended the ninth annual thing as place anymore. Municipal cul- ■ Academic institutions can illustrate Heritage Day Workshop and celebration tural planning is about combating the by example, the sympathetic adaptive to find out more about how heritage can ‘geography of nowhere’.” reuse of industrial heritage and can bring strengthen local economy and sense of ■ We are all ‘weavers of place’ and new energy and economic vitality to place. The theme for the workshop was need to look at everything we do downtown cores. Heritage: The Competitive Edge. Aptly, through a ‘cultural lens’ – culture is ■ A strong municipal heritage com- the workshop was held at the University defined by community. mitment is necessary BEFORE pressures of Waterloo’s newly renovated School of ■ It is time to reintroduce beauty into to change are prevalent. Heritage poli- Architecture in the historic Riverside planning. cies should be developed in a collective Silk Mills on the banks of the Grand ■ Identity is the ‘wellspring’ of civic exercise which engages the public and River, a Canadian Heritage River. pride. builds community. Speakers shared first-hand experience ■ Public works is public art. ■ A good architect is key to ensuring about best practices and the proven ben- ■ Incentives such as tax relief for new development is sympathetic to efits of promoting local heritage. The owners of heritage sites leads to a dra- existing historic landscapes and struc- workshop also featured a mayors’ panel, matic increase in applications for her- tures.

4 Share the resources - Share the responsibility ■ Good regulation is a prerequisite to break and the Grade 12 baking students tional fact sheets, leading interpretive heritage conservation. at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School hikes, establishing a self-guided inter- ■ The Distillery District in Toronto who provided muffins and pastries dur- pretive trail and a variety of community and the Alton Mill near Orangeville are ing the morning refreshment break. based stewardship activities. examples of private developers who Ferndale Valley Inc. generously donated The purpose of this project is to edu- value heritage features and have a vision cate community members and engage sparkling juices for the reception, while to create a community nucleus around them to experience, and carry out stew- Sam’s Club in Cambridge provided bot- adaptive reuse and who are extremely ardship activities within urban natural tled water. persistent and creative about how to areas. The long term health of these realize their vision. The Heritage Day Workshop is hosted urban natural areas is an ultimate desired ■ Over 50 provincial plaques have every year by the Heritage Working outcome. been erected in the watershed by the Group of the Grand Strategy and is co- The program will be officially Ontario Heritage Trust. sponsored by the Grand River launched on April 29 at Homer Watson ■ New York City understands the Conservation Authority and watershed Park in Kitchener. After a brief ceremo- competitive edge of heritage. Heritage municipalities. The 10th annual Heritage ny at 9 a.m., there will be a variety of districts are broadly embraced by com- Day Workshop and Celebration is sched- free activities for all ages. At 9:30 and munity as an important conservation and uled for Heritage Day, Monday, Feb. 19, 11:00 people can participate in guided economic development tool. More than 2007 at a location to be determined. bird-watching walks, habitat restoration, 90 heritage districts are now established tree planting, or litter cleanup. At the in the city centre – more than in the same times family activity walks will Province of Ontario. include a wild bird clinic, a wetland The day concluded with a reception WHAT’S creature interpretive display, and a forest at Cambridge Galleries’ newest art exhi- HAPPENING? ecology station. bition venue, the Design at Riverside There will also be an information Gallery located in the School of Program aims to centre, where you can learn about future Architecture. Participants were encour- activity days, get details of upcoming aged to view the displays featuring tex- conserve Kitchener nature walks, pick up a fact filled tiles. natural areas Newsletter, or sign up to be involved in Many participants commented that it the development of a city wide Natural n innovative new program is provided an excellent venue for sharing Areas Watch Program. designed to conserve public natural information and ideas, celebrating suc- A The GRCA, represented by Water- areas in the City of Kitchener. cesses, and inspiring further community shed Forester Virginia Gauley, is a sup- The Natural Areas Stewardship and action to strengthen heritage apprecia- porting partner of the program. tion and protection within the Grand Education program has three primary River watershed. objectives: Brantford-Brant A special thank you is extended to the 1. To create opportunities for people City of Cambridge, the Waterloo to experience nature in the city; home to new Regional Heritage Foundation, and 2. To engage the community in urban children's Heritage Cambridge, the primary spon- natural area stewardship; and water festival sors of this year’s Heritage Day 3. To educate people living adjacent Workshop and the local arrangements to natural areas about appropriate, low Groundwater festivals have become committee comprised of representatives impact activities which will help to con- an important way of bringing knowledge from Heritage Cambridge, Cambridge serve nature. of the environment to elementary school Municipal Heritage Committee, City of Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists, students. Cambridge, University of Waterloo acting as the lead agency, in conjunction Over the past decade, more than School of Architecture, the Grand River with the City of Kitchener and the 50,000 students from Waterloo Region Conservation Authority, and The Grand Waterloo Stewardship Network, has and Wellington County elementary Strategy Heritage Working Group. recently received Ontario Trillium schools have heard about the importance Special thanks should also be extended Foundation funding for a two-year peri- of protecting our water at the Waterloo- to two Southwood Secondary School od. Wellington Children's Groundwater students, Les Portillo and Kyle Rose, The money will help support the ini- Festival, held annually at Doon Heritage who provided music during the lunch tiative which involves creating educa- Crossroads.

GRAND ACTIONS • March-April 2006 5 the Brant Community Foundation. The Ontario Trillium Foundation has approved a grant of $99,800 to support the festival over the next three years. The organizing committee is seeking additional contributions from the com- munity to cover the remainder of the $64,000 annual budget. The new Brantford-Brant festival is one of about 18 children's water festivals around the province. The Waterloo-Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival is scheduled for May 29 to June 2 for school groups. The festival will be open to the public for the Family Water Festival on June 3.

NOW AVAILABLE

Children learn about the components of a watershed at the Waterloo-Wellington Shunpiking in Children's Groundwater Festival, now in it's 11th year. A new children's water festi- Waterloo Region val will be held in Brantford-Brant this year. By Warren Stauch Now children from Brant, Brantford secretary of the foundation, which is one hunpiking was a favourite pastime of and Six Nations will be able to get the of the sponsors. Sthe wealthy at the turn of the 20th water message at the first Brantford- "This festival fits extremely well with century as they sought ways to enjoy Brant Water Festival to be held May 16 the Foundation's mandate to preserve, their new "toy" - the automobile - allow- to 18 at Mohawk Park in Brantford. protect, restore and improve waterways ing them to leave their communities and The goal is to educate future decision in this area. Such an event compliments tour, in one car or a parade of cars, the makers and to empower children to initi- extremely well the grade 4 and 5 cur- nearby areas on a day trip. ate change within their homes, schools riculum and addresses our generation's The term shunpiking comes from the and communities. responsibility to teach our young people word "shun", meaning to avoid, and The festival will give about 2,000 the importance of preserving a quality "pike", a term referring to well-travelled Grade 4 and 5 students the chance to supply of water for now and in the main roads dating back to colonial times participate in 35 fun, interactive stations future." in the United States. Also called turn- where they will learn about where water Children will attend the Brantford- pikes, these busy roads often required comes from, how it is used and how to Brant festival free of charge. Financial payment to travel on them. Payment was protect it. support and in-kind support will come made at a toll station where a pike, a The children will learn several key from the Ontario Trillium Foundation long wooden shaft, was placed across ideas: using water wisely, protecting the and community sponsors including the the road barring passage. After payment water supply, examining the relations City of Brantford, Brant Waterways was made, the pike would be turned, or between water and technology, and Foundation, Grand River Conservation raised, to allow vehicles to pass. There understanding the role of water in the Authority, Brant Resources Stewardship was often a toll collected in order to ecosystem. These activities are consis- Network, Grand Erie District School cross bridges. tent with Ontario elementary school cur- Board, Brant Haldimand Norfolk To avoid paying the tolls, travelers riculum guidelines. Catholic District School Board, Laurier shunpiked taking the longer and most "Brant Waterways Foundation is Brantford, Brant County Health Unit, often scenic back roads through river totally supportive of initiating an annual Long Point Region Conservation valleys and across the hills and moun- Children's Water Festival in Brantford Authority, West Brantford Home tains. Today's weekend shunpikers travel and Brant County," said Mary Welsh, Hardware, Six Nations Ecocentre and the back roads for pleasure especially in

6 Share the resources - Share the responsibility the fall of the year when they search out wood furniture and homemade quilts. charge, for the uptown area of the City the changing colourful foliage. The set of four maps can be pur- of Waterloo (Waterloo City Hall, 100 Shunpiking just became easier in chased at library branches throughout Regina Street South). Heritage Waterloo Region. The Regional the Region, from Cambridge and Cambridge (Box 22074 Galt Centre) has Municipality of Waterloo has recently Kitchener-Waterloo Tourism offices and produced a series of historical walking unveiled a series of historical driving at the Region of Waterloo headquarters tours for the Town of Preston, Old Galt, tours for each of its rural townships. building, 150 Frederick Street in the Village of Blair and the Town of Each tour is complete with a map and Kitchener. The cost is $2.00 for the set Hespeler in addition to its historical detailed reference notes. of four. driving and cycling tour. Each compre- Tour One, called the Southern Trail, Since their release late last fall, these hensive booklet costs $2.00. The City of takes the traveler on a 130-kilometre trip historical driving tours have become Cambridge Environmental Advisory through North Dumfries Township, one of the most picturesque rural landscapes popular and have allowed watershed cit- Committee (740-4650) has produced an in Ontario. North Dumfries was the izens and visitors to explore and shun- interesting and informative Natural Scottish area of William Dickson and pike the natural and cultural landscape Heritage Tour booklet. today is known for its glacial moraines, of the central area of the Grand River If you are aware of other driving and marshes and vistas. Ayr, on the banks of watershed. walking tours in the watershed, please the Nith River, is the main village. In addition to the driving tours, walk- contact Warren Stauch at The Township of Woolwich, with its ing tours are also available, free of [email protected]. Mennonite farms, creeks and bridges, is the focus of the 95-kilometre long Tour Two. Travellers will be impressed by the cultural, historical and architectural diversity of this township north of Waterloo. The Visitor Centre in St. Jacobs offers an accurate depiction of the Mennonite lifestyle and culture which can be observed on the rural roads en route to the West Montrose Covered Bridge (1881), the last remain- ing covered bridge in Ontario. Tour Three covers 75 kilometres through the historic German Block of Wilmot Township west of Kitchener- Waterloo and features the many small towns and villages such as Baden, St. Agatha, Petersburg, Mannheim and New The Starr Bridge on Brant County Road 2/53 will be rehabilitated, not replaced. Hamburg. Castle Kilbride, a Canadian national historic site in Baden, was the east of Cainsville and Brantford. home of James Livingston, the flax and LOOK WHO’S The 75-year-old structure, which was linseed oil king, and today is a wonder- TAKING ACTION built in 1931, needs repair and restora- ful museum. tion. A recommendation had been made Apple butter, corn and scenic views to remove it and replace it with a new are featured in 73 kilometre long Tour Brant preserves box-beam structure in order to allow for Four through the Township of Wellesley, wider lane widths and shoulders. where the annual apple butter and bowstring bridge However, the Brant roads committee cheese festival is held annually in late recognized that the bridge was the only September. Wellesley Township, the By Oliver Watts one of its type in the county and that the most rural of the townships, is also County of Brant Heritage Committee concrete bowstring arch structure had home to a large Mennonite community The County of Brant is refurbishing considerable heritage value. They also and it is possible to visit (but not on the concrete bowstring arch bridge over decided that by restoring the sidewalk on Sundays) many farms that make solid Fairchild Creek on Colborne Street just the north side it could be made safe for

GRAND ACTIONS • March-April 2006 7 the bicycle traffic that has become com- mon on county roads. The engineering consultants have stated that the arches are strong enough The Grand Strategy Calendar for the anticipated traffic loads and that with proper maintenance, the bridge Archaeology and the Mississaugas, remove garbage from the creek and sur- would last for another 50 years. An May 13, Ayr – Prof. Gary Warrick of rounding area, plant native trees and added bonus is that the cost of restora- Wilfrid Laurier University (Brantford install an interpretive sign.Refreshments tion is lower than the cost of replace- Campus) will address the Waterloo will be provided for all volunteers, and ment. Historical Society on the history of the participants will be entered in a raffle for The Roads Committee took the views Mississaugas who occupied southern a variety of prizes. of the County Heritage Committee into Ontario during the late 18th century, Grand River Conservation consideration during its deliberations on including a settlement along the Grand Foundation Golf Tournament, June the fate of the bridge. The Starr Bridge River near Brantford. Ayr Fire Hall, 27, Cambridge – This fundraising event decision is an example of how, since its Scott Street, Ayr, 1 p.m. Free. organized by the GRCF honours the late inception 1999, the restructured county Sunoco Earth Day, April 22, RIM Grant Erwin, a foundation director who has taken an active role in protecting Park, Waterloo - A family event where died in and preserving its heritage in the face of you can plant trees, build a bird box, see October, significant development pressure. some awesome critters and learn about 2004. Erwin’s the environment. The event runs from 10 passion for About this a.m. to 1 p.m. at RIM Park, at the outdoors University Avenue East and Park Road was reflected newsletter in Waterloo. Sponsors by Sunoco and in his many This newsletter is produced bi-month- the City of Waterloo, Earth Day Canada, efforts on ly as a communications tool by the the Region of Waterloo and the GRCA. behalf of the Grand River Conservation Authority on Free admission. For more information foundation, behalf of the partners in The Grand contact the GRCA at (519) 621-2761 or particularly as the driving force behind Strategy. This newsletter can be seen at the City of Waterloo at (519) 747-8643. The Living Classroom – Campaign for www.grandriver.ca Second Annual Earth Day Outdoor Education. The tournament will For information on Celebration, April 22, Royal City take place at the Galt Country Club. The Grand Strategy contact: Park, Guelph - Join the Jane Goodall Tickets are $225, which includes a bar- Barbara Veale, Institute’s Roots & Shoots members and beque lunch, gala dinner, prizes, a par- GRCA, 400 Clyde Road, volunteers, the City of Guelph, and tial charitable receipt, and a day of Box 729,Cambridge, On. N1R 5W6 Laughing Toad for an Earth Day cele- exceptional golf. A variety of promotion- Phone (519) 621-2763 Ext. 274 bration in Royal City-Silvercreek Park al opportunities are also available for Fax: (519) 621-4844 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Community sponsors of the event. To reserve a E-mail: [email protected] members of all ages are invited to par- place, sponsor, or for more information, Web site: www.grandriver.ca ticipate in tree planting, invasive species go to www.grandriver.ca/foundation, e- For newsletter submissions contact removal, litter clean-up, workshops, eco- mail tournament chair Anita Hillis at Dave Schultz, GRCA games and more! There will also be dis- [email protected] or call the founda- Phone: (519) 621-2761, Ext. 273 plays from local environmental groups, a tion at (877) 29-GRAND. Fax: (519) 621-4844 raffle and entertainment from the Funky Postcards of the Grand River, Sept. E-mail: [email protected] Mamas. 13, Kitchener – A presentation by Ralph Deadlines for submissions are the Fourth Annual Silver Creek Clean- Beaumont, Communications Manager of 15th of January, March, May, July, up, April 30, Howitt Park, Guelph - the GRCA who will use historical post- September and November. Submissions The Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & cards to explore the history of the Grand may be edited for length or style. Shoots office in Guelph is hosting an River and its communities. If you have Tax deductible donations and spon- event to clean up Silver Creek in Howitt postcards of the Grand, bring them sorships toward the cost of producing Park from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.. Youth from along. Doon Heritage Crossroads, Hall this newsletter are always welcome. Guelph and surrounding communities of Fame Building, 10 Huron Road at Publications Mail are invited to join Roots & Shoots mem- Homer Watson Boulevard, Kitchener. Agreement #144871 bers, volunteers and neighbours as they 7:30 p.m. Free.

8 Share the resources - Share the responsibility