THE GRAND STRATEGY NEWSLETTER VOLUME 6, NUMBER 8 - DECEMBER 2001

Grand River The Grand: Conservation A Canadian Authority Heritage River

Features People of the Grand 1 Milestones Fisheries Management Plan 2 Wetlands Forum 2 What’s Happening? Having Regard 4 Apps’ Mill Birthday 5 New Hamburg Wastewater Treatment 5 THE PEOPLE OF THE GRAND Grand Art Show 5 by Liz Leedham Now Available In Our Midst 5 The earliest people living in the Grand River Neutrals from the valley. Eventually, after a Words and Wonders 6 valley were descendents of ice age hunters who 100-year period of almost no permanent settle- Heritage Planning 6 followed game herds across the grassy plains of ment, the land became home to the Look Who’s Taking the land bridge between Asia and North Mississaugas. Action America. These later generations were known Over the years, French explorers, missionar- as “mound builders” and they left traces of their Home Depot Green ies, and fur traders arrived. They mapped and lives in prehistoric settlements that date back to Team 6 documented and, in some cases, settled the area. 9,000 years BC. Nine of their home sites have Habitat for Humanity 7 The settlers were joined in 1775 by British been found around Rockwood. People’s Car Co-op 7 Loyalists driven from their lands in the new Since then the Grand River watershed has American Republic. These included descendents Did You Know? 8 been shaped, not only by the relentless forces of 6,000 German refugees who had made their Calendar 8 of nature, but by the activities and settlement of home on land owned by the Six Nations in the many people drawn to this area by its fertile upper State. The Six Nations also Cover photo soil, good water, and other natural resources. fought with the British, and in 1784 were Members of the Kanata By the time European explorers reached the awarded land purchased by the British Crown Native Dance Theatre Grand in the mid-1600s, the Mound Builders from the Mississaugas. The Six Nations people, performed traditional were extinct, and the Eastern Woodland tribes led by Chief Joseph Brant, were given land dances at the River Run hunted and fished here. Southern was encompassing six miles on each side of the Centre during the 5th also home to the people of the Neutral Nation, Grand River as far as Fergus. Their first settle- anniversary celebration of who grew crops, hunted and fished, and moved ment was at Brant’s Ford (). the Grand River as a on when the soil around their villages was From the late 1790s, hardy Scots immi- Canadian Heritage River. depleted. In 1651, warring Senecas drove the grants, Mennonites from Pennsylvania, German Photo by David Briggs l See page 2 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ PEOPLE from page one to a point where the Grand and its major Fisheries Management tributaries were declared a Canadian Plan trades people and many others became Heritage River in 1994. The designation part of the foundation of the rich The Fisheries Management Plan is was based in part on the rich cultural cultural heritage of this area. Many ex- alive and well in our watershed. A heritage of the area. slaves also moved north into Canada, comprehensive new brochure outlines Today the 800,000 people of the settling mainly around the border the past, present and future of the Plan. Grand include many races, religions, towns in the Chatham and Windsor It explains how the Grand River colours and cultures, each bringing areas. Some black families settled in Fisheries Management Plan was important ingredients to the rich, the Grand River watershed where they developed in 1998, with many partners multicultural broth flourishing in Grand were recognized as industrious workers and public input, to provide direction River watershed cities, towns and but were often the victims of undis- on how the fishery, and the land base villages. At a time of world tensions and guised prejudice. Written records of that affects it, can be managed to troubles, it is good to reflect on the black history in the watershed are benefit future generations. Twenty- diversity of our watershed population and sparse, perhaps because for many years three accomplishments are noted for the special contributions of each to our in some areas black children were not the past two years. Future Fisheries heritage. It is a time to remember that allowed to attend school. Management includes 42 projects, the Grand River watershed is a good As blocks of land became available, which are gradually being undertaken place to live, work and play—together. farmers moved in to the fertile lands of by volunteers through an Implementa- the south and middle watershed. tion Committee. Lumber mills sprang up to deal with The colour brochure was produced wood from the forests that were being MILESTONES by the GRCA, the Ontario Ministry of cleared, and grist and sawmills were Natural Resources, and Fisheries and built to meet the needs of the settlers. Milestones are progress or products of Oceans Canada, and is available at the The Grand provided drinking water, The Grand Strategy Joint Work Plan. GRCA Headquarters in Cambridge. power, transportation, food, and also a For more information, call Warren waste disposal system for riverside Yerex. (519) 621-2763, ext. 249. communities. Because of the readily Email: [email protected] or check available waterpower, the middle of the the website at www.grandriver.ca watershed became the prime area for growth and industrial development. Wetlands Forum Since the 1850s, thousands more Wetlands are a precious resource. They European immigrants brought their reduce floods because they are natural skills, perseverance and culture to the storage reservoirs. They improve water area. Stores and factories were built, quality because they trap sediment and streets laid out, and old wooden soil-bound nutrients and contaminants. buildings were replaced by handsome They offer critical habitat for fish and stone structures. As roads and better wildlife—in fact, they offer the highest transportation developed, cities were biodiversity of any landscape unit. Yet built away from the river, and farm- the Grand River watershed has lost lands gave way to urban sprawl. over 65% of the wetlands it once had. The Grand story includes times of Wetlands continue to be degraded and lush forests, plentiful game and fertile lost through development, agriculture, soils. It also includes times of severe peat extraction, creation of ponds, and degradation of the river because of road construction. Even when develop- forest clearing, wetland draining and ment stays back from wetlands, the the enormous pressures of rapid human flow of surface water and groundwater settlement. It includes times of cata- that sustains wetlands may be disrupted strophic floods and times of no water. and wetlands are isolated from sup- It includes a time of pride when efforts ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ported vegetation units and larger by many organizations and far-seeing wildlife corridors.

people restored the health of the river ○○○○○

2 SHARE THE RESOURCES - SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY If current trends persist, we will continue to degrade and lose wetlands. This situation is clearly a public concern as a capacity crowd of over 130 people attended a Wetlands Forum hosted by the GRCA on October 25, 2001. The purpose of the forum was to highlight: • the importance, values and current status of wetlands within Ontario and the Grand River watershed; • the impacts of recent land use change on existing wetland features and functions and current wetland management issues; • the strengths and weaknesses in our current approach to managing wetlands; • new methodologies and approaches in wetland protection, enhancement Wetlands are prime feeding and breeding areas for ducks and geese. These Mallard and restoration; ducklings are just one of many waterfowl species that nest in watershed wetlands. • next steps needed to improve Photo by Peter Bisset. wetland protection and management in the Grand River watershed. situations in North America that could ○○○○○○○○○○ Invasive species of plants, animals Nancy Patterson, representing the possibly occur in the Grand River and microbes/viruses in wetlands may Canadian Wildlife Service, provided watershed. The Mississippi River, while also cause environmental and eco- an overview of the state of wetlands in much larger in scale and scope than the nomic harm, or create a public health the Great Lakes Basin. She indicated Grand, has similar characteristics. Both hazard and should be considered in that since 1800, an estimated 20 flow through agricultural lands and carry any management strategy for the

million hectares—one-seventh of high sedimentation and nutrient loads. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ future. Canada’s wetlands base—has been Research shows that the the excess Angus Norman and Hal Schraeder lost. In , two thirds of nutrients transported by the Mississippi from the Ontario Ministry of Natural our wetlands have been lost or de- River have resulted in low levels of Resources provided an update on the graded. In the southern part of the dissolved oxygen in the Gulf of Mexico. Ministry’s evaluation system for watershed, the percentage increases to This condition causes extreme stress to wetlands and an interpretation of the almost 100 percent. The Canadian most aquatic life. Will this situation provincial policy statements that Wildlife Service administers a variety happen in at the mouth of the relate to wetlands management. Grand? Barry also outlined a restoration Ontario’s Wetland Evaluation System of programs to research and conserve ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ wetlands. Nancy stressed the need to plan to revitalize the everglades ecosys- is held in high regard by other form partnerships since wetlands tem in Florida. A total of $7.8 billion jurisdictions and was developed management crosses many jurisdic- have been allocated over the next 20 primarily to serve the needs of tions that use differing classification years for re-creation of the landscape to Ontario’s planning process. However, systems, scales and techniques. Several its former state. He suggested that we it does not address the vulnerability of emerging issues, such as climate might want to consider restoring our wetlands to various sorts of develop- change and invasive species, have an landscape in the Grand River watershed ments and pressures. Hal clarified impact on the health of wetlands and to improve existing wetlands and create that if a wetland is found not to be will also have to taken into considera- new ones where possible. Other manage- provincially significant through the tion. ment issues we should consider relate to evaluation system, the conclusion that Dr. Barry Warner from the the ability of wetlands to store carbon it is insignificant is misdirected. Wetlands Research Centre, University thereby contributing to Canada’s com- Protection of all wetlands is encour- mitment to reduce CO emissions aged in the provincial policy state- of Waterloo explored examples of 2 through protection and restoration. ment. l See page 4 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

GRAND ACTIONS . December 2001 3

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○

WETLANDS FORUM ○ January 2002. For more information, or must recognize that there are limits to from page three ○ for copies of the Wetlands Forum presen- ○ the growth and development that can Wetlands need to be understood as tations, please contact Barbara Veale, ○ ○ be placed on Ontario’s landscape

elements of a natural heritage infra- GRCA. E-mail: [email protected] ○ beyond which there will be serious structure that supports and sustains ○ Phone: (519) 621-2761 ext. 274. ○ damage to the ecological processes—

growth and settlement rather than ○

○ those processes upon which we depend

hindering it. WHAT’S ○ for our quality of life. Peter Bryan-Pelham from Norfolk ○ HAPPENING? ○ The report’s five sections deal with: County and Dave Richards from the ○ 1. The Environmental Bill of Rights— Ministry of Natural Resources spoke ○ ○ monitoring and reporting on about an innovative and successful ○

Having Regard ○ government compliance with the

program initiated in the Norfolk ○ Environmental Bill of Rights County where 73 percent of the Gord Miller, the Environmental Com- ○ ○ (EBR) and educating the public

missioner of Ontario, released his annual ○ wetlands have been lost, mostly to regarding their rights. report, Having Regard, to the Speaker of ○ agricultural drainage. Portions of ○ 2. The Environmental Registry—The some municipal drains were not the Legislative Assembly on October 1, ○

○ Environmental Registry provides 2001. The report identified many short- needed or did not function well. ○ electronic access to the govern- Working with rural landowners and falls in the Province’s administration and ○ ○ ment’s environmentally significant

other partners, these drains were implementation of environmental ○

○ proposals. The Commissioner policies, programs and legislative tools altered to use the wetland’s natural ○ identifies notices that should have storage capacity to hold water. that have resulted in severe stresses on ○ ○ been posted but were not, and the environment. The Commissioner Shane Gabor from Ducks Unlimited ○ monitors the quality of the notices warned that provincial ministries and ○ spoke about the function and value of ○ (timeliness, information posted, wetlands from the water quality and agencies involved in land use planning ○

○ etc.).

supply perspectives. Research shows ○ 3. Significant Issues including hazard- that wetlands are effective as barriers ○ ○ ous waste, septage and sewage

that filter contaminants from water- ○ sludges, transportation and land use ○

ways. Specifically, they retain sedi- ○ planning for the Greater ment, absorb nutrients, degrade ○

○ Area, air quality, and compliance and pesticides and reduce pathogens. ○ enforcement at the Ministry of the Wetlands store surface water and ○ ○ Environment. reduce flooding. Wetlands, riparian ○

○ 4. Ministry Environmental Deci-

buffers and upland cover work to- ○ sions—reviewing and commenting gether to retain our freshwater re- ○ ○ on standards, guidelines, legisla-

sources. Shane urged us to conserve ○ tion, regulations, management ○

all existing natural landscape features ○ plans, etc. on a watershed basis to ensure good ○

○ 5. Reviews and Investigations— water quality and supply. ○ investigating ministries responses A lively question and answer period ○ ○ to applications made by Ontario followed the presentations. The ○

○ residents under the EBR.

Wetlands Forum concluded with an ○ Commissioner Miller stressed in his invitation for participants to take an ○ ○ report that many of the environmental

active part in helping the GRCA ○ problems we are currently facing in ○

develop an appropriate and reasonable ○ Ontario are essentially land use ○ policy to protect wetlands within the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○ concerns. The land disposal of Grand River watershed. Staff is ○ biosolids, transportation planning, currently meeting with municipal ○ ○ water restrictions, etc., are problems planners, provincial agencies, devel- Luther Marsh is one of the few Grand ○

○ that stem from “our inability to look at

opers, consultants, and others to River watershed nesting places left for ○ the whole landscape when making our develop a draft policy discussion paper the common loon. This loon turns her ○ ○ decisions and to incorporate an

eggs on her nest of reeds and decaying ○ for public review and comment. The ecosystem perspective into those vegetation. Photo by Peter Bisset. ○

draft is expected to be available in ○ ○

4 SHARE THE RESOURCES - SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ decisions”. Mr. Miller also states that “We must accept that there are limits to the growth and development we can place on the landscape beyond which there will be serious damage to the ecological processes that we depend on for our quality of life.” A copy of the full report is available on the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario’s website at www.eco.on.ca Apps’ Mill Birthday Bash Over 250 people attended a special birthday party on October 21st. Apps’ Mill Nature Centre in Brantford turned 20 years old. Dignitaries, staff, guests, and the public were invited to share their memories of this beautiful educational centre, and to take part in Peter Krause, GRCA Chairman; Dan Dignard, Chair Brant Catholic School Board; a full day of activities. A tree was Chuck Beach, V.P. Technical Support, SC Johnson & Son Limited; The Honourable planted in honour of the milestone Jane Stewart, MP Brant; and Alex Lang, Foundation President, all “dig in” to plant a tree at Apps’ Mill as part of the 20th Anniversary of the Nature Centre. anniversary, to be enjoyed by future generations of students as they learn not possible because of adverse water ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ be shown in the gallery and then juried. about the wonders of the outdoors. quality impacts on the Nith River. The After the jury selection, a gala opening Almost 10,000 children, in school solution is a single advanced wastewater will be held. Plans are also under way to classes or community groups, visit treatment plant designed to service both take the artwork on a tour of galleries Apps’ Mill each year. That means that communities. The old Baden plant has throughout southwestern Ontario in over 200,000 youngsters have learned been converted to pump sewage to the March. For more information, contact more about the environment through new plant, but will remain covered and Gloria Armstrong. Phone: (519) 886- this important facility. kept available to hold peak flows in wet 4577. Email: [email protected] Apps’ Mill Nature Centre was the weather for later treatment when flows second nature centre made possible by decrease. support from donors to The Grand The new plant now serves a popula- River Foundation. The first centre was tion of about 7,800, and can be expanded the Laurel Creek Nature Centre to meet the needs of both communities for NOW AVAILABLE (Waterloo) in 1976, while the third was the next 40 years. For information, or to the new facility at Shade’s Mills in arrange a tour, contact Mr. David Cambridge opened this past spring. Andrews. Phone: (519) 575-4720. Email: In Our Midst New Hamburg [email protected] A new book on the history of the Wastewater Treatment Waterloo County Jail promises a great Grand Art Show read for those who enjoy drama and A new milestone in Waterloo Region The Waterloo Community Arts Centre will intrigue. In Our Midst: Stories from the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ wastewater treatment was reached this celebrate the Grand River during Heritage Waterloo County Jail, by Melissa fall. The New Hamburg Wastewater Month, February 2002. A juried art show Maclean and Keith Wilson, depicts Treatment Plant was officially opened called The Grand View will be held at the some of the crimes and criminals that in October. Baden and New Hamburg Arts Centre in the old Button Factory in were associated with the first public were previously serviced by two older Uptown Waterloo. Interested artists in building in Waterloo County. These separate plants, and lack of available southwestern Ontario are asked to submit true stories of sadness, murder and treatment capacity was restricting up to two works pertaining to the Grand sexual intrigue span 125 years and development in both communities. River watershed. All submitted pieces will make history come alive. l See page 6 Expansion of the existing plants was

GRAND ACTIONS . December 2001 5 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ IN OUR MIDST from page five The paperback book is published by Lamplighter Press for $19.95 and is available from local bookstores. Words and Wonders A new publication showcases the works of area poets and artists. Words and Wonders: A Guelph Area Anthology was produced by the Canadian Poetry Association in collaboration with the Guelph Arts Council, with a generous donation from an anonymous benefactor. One hundred and thirty poems and images celebrate the creativity and talent of the people of Wellington County. This aerial photo of the newly opened New Hamburg Wastewater Treatment Plant The 150-page anthology, containing shows the state of the art plant and the emergency lagoon which has been retained poems about nature, history, political for temporary storage during unusually heavy rainfall. issues and many other topics, was

edited by Katherine Gordon and first-serve basis, with a maximum of 20 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ building with respect to various ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ designed by Peter Physick-Sheard. registrants. The seminar will be offered environmental projects and initiatives. Copies are on sale at the Guelph Arts for graduate and undergraduate credit. The program began in the fall of 1999 Council office at 147 Wyndham Street, Practicing planners and others interested when members of the Green Team Guelph. For more information call in heritage can work for the certificate in developed a mission statement and set (519) 836-3280. Email: Heritage Planning. Regular university down the basics of the program. The [email protected] fees apply for registered students. Fees program has three phases: are $240 to attend the seminar series and Phase One involves diverting as Heritage Planning $350 if the participant wishes to fulfill many recyclable products away from Workshop the requirements for a certificate. Appli- the waste stream as possible. The The School of Planning and the cants with limited resources can contact Green Team diverts scrap wood, Heritage Resources Centre will offer a the Heritage Resources Centre to see if a cardboard, aluminum, shrink wrap, Heritage Planning Workshop at the workable alternative can be reached. For fine paper, scrap metal, plastic bottles University of Waterloo on Monday more information, phone (519) 888-4567, and scrap pallets away from the evenings, from January 7 to April 1, ext. 3066. Email: [email protected] garbage containers. Shopping bags 2002. The goals are to create greater that are returned to the store at the awareness and understanding of returns desk are also reused. The scrap heritage among professionals and LOOK WHO’S wood generated within the store is sent citizens; provide information and TAKING ACTION to a local recycler that grinds it up for develop skills needed for community mulch and cattle bedding. action; and empower both profession- Phase two involves the promotion als and citizens by encouraging Home Depot Green Team of environmentally friendly products within Waterloo Home Depot. A engagement, co-operation and team- The Home Depot Waterloo Green Team’s partnership with the environmental work. The course will be of special mission is to increase environmental action group, Get Rid Of Urban interest to planning professionals, awareness through the development of citizens concerned about and involved Pesticides (GROUP), was developed

proper waste management procedures ○○○○○○○○ for this phase. Customers that pur- in heritage work, and members of within the retail store in Waterloo. The chased $50 dollars worth of pesticide- heritage organizations. Green Team promotes environmentally free lawn care products at Home Depot Enrollment will be on a first-come, friendly products and partnership

6 SHARE THE RESOURCES - SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ were eligible for a rebate through that is shipped with products sold in the contractors; GROUP. store. For more information, contact • picking up an estimated 150 truck Phase three includes the develop- George Dunseith, Green Team Captain, loads of goods from businesses; ment of partnerships with local Phone: (519) 883-0580. Email: • stripping out reusable materials environmental groups such as Water- [email protected] from 8 buildings, recycling about loo Communities in Bloom and the 80,000 lbs of items which were Waterloo Wellington Children’s Habitat for Humanity resold; Groundwater Festival. For Earth Day ReStore • collecting approximately 35,000 lbs 2000, Waterloo Home Depot worked in of material that would have other- Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region close collaboration with the Regional wise ended up in the landfill. Inc. (HFHWR) is the local affiliate of an Municipality of Waterloo. On April 15, In total, for the year 2000, the international non-profit, non-government 2000, 100 volunteers from various ReStore estimated that between organization that makes affordable home

groups planted 525 native trees around ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 600,000 and 750,000 lbs of material ownership a reality for low-income the Forwell Creek storm water man- were diverted from the landfill as a families. Habitat offers these families a agement pond. This highly successful result of their efforts. For more infor- “hand up, not a hand out”. Habitat uses project has seen the reforestation of a mation contact Brian Daynard, 519- donations of land, cash, building materi- forest that has been lost due to devel- 747-0664. Email: [email protected] or als, and volunteer hours to help families opment. visit the website build homes. www.habitatwaterlooregion.on.ca

As a result of the Home Depot ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The mission of the ReStore is to Waterloo Green Team, Waterloo Home acquire and sell used and surplus build- Depot spent less money in 2000 than it People’s Car Cooperative ing materials and appliances. The did in 1999 to handle its clean waste, mandate is to reduce dumping of these The People’s Car Co-operative of allowing its store to come $10,000 materials into landfill, to provide a Kitchener-Waterloo, is a registered non under budget for clean waste haulage source of inexpensive building materials, profit organization which provides for the year 2000. The program has and to generate funds to support the environmentally-friendly and well- caught the attention of various levels HFHWR’s home building program. By maintained vehicles in convenient of management within the company. maximizing its contribution, the ReStore locations at affordable prices for the There are signs that the company as a assists HFHWR in fulfilling its mission. shared use of its 45 members. whole will adopt these practices. The ReStore is stocked with donated A successful grassroots initiative Home Depot Waterloo donates materials only. These donations are since 1998, The People’s Car Co- returned or defective items, display accepted as drop offs at its retail location operative aspires to own and manage a materials and clearance items that at Northfield Drive, Waterloo. Businesses fleet of cars citywide and become an otherwise would be thrown out to also donate written off and discontinued integral part of the community’s transit Habitat for Humanity Restore. Habitat items which they would normally system. The Co-operative is committed for Humanity Restore then refurbishes destroy. These donations are picked up to educating the public about the these items and sells them to the five days per week year round. environmental, economic, health and public. The money raised is used to Since 1995, the ReStore works with a social benefits of car-sharing while fund affordable housing for low- salvage crew of about 25 to 30 volunteers encouraging the public to relinquish income families. This program is now to remove all reusable materials from individual car ownership. being implemented across in Home buildings slated for demolition. The To date the Co-operative owns four Depot stores across Canada. ReStore also has a collection area at the cars at different locations in Kitchener In 2001, the Home Depot Waterloo Erb Street landfill in Waterloo. Home- and Waterloo and hopes to eventually Green Team is processing scrap wood owners and contractors are encouraged to have cars in every neighbourhood in into products such as plywood and donate useable items and also save the area. Members schedule time to use shelving to be sold in the store, thereby themselves dumping fees. This project them by telephone and are billed reducing the number of trees needed to started in 1999, in partnership with the monthly for the time and distance produce these products. Aside from Regional Municipality of Waterloo. traveled. The co-op covers the cost of continuing to pursue its mission, Home In 2000, the ReStore carried out the insurance, gas, repairs, and other Depot Waterloo Green Team will put following activities: expenses. Co-op car sharing reduces increasing pressure on its vendors to • accepting 20 truck loads of dropped- pollution, traffic congestion, personal reduce the amount of waste packaging

off items from homeowners and l See page 8 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

GRAND ACTIONS . December 2001 7

○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ PEOPLE’S CAR horseback travelers, with a roadside from page seven DID YOU KNOW? tavern about every ten miles. expense, and does much to promote a • The Guelph census of 1881 shows a ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ more caring community and a more total black population of 107. The diverse, democratic economy. It is • Settlers in the early 1800s faced a British Methodist Episcopal Con- particularly suitable for people who constant threat to their livestock gregation (known as Colored travel under 12,000 km per year, or from wolves, foxes, weasels and Methodists) was made up initially of who occasionally need a second car. bears. Some farmers dug their escaped slaves who were joined by This year The People’s Car Co- pigpens six feet deep and sur- other immigrants after the American operative aims included: rounded them with high fencing. Civil War. • enhancing the capacity of The • In 1816, Christmas was warmer • During the 1914-1918 war, Guelph People’s Car Co-operative’s staff than many days in June and July. police, under War Department and Board to manage its business; Some small pools stayed frozen all orders, seized all amateur radio • maintaining a completely self- summer. broadcasting sets in the area. sustainable business employing one • John Galt, the founder of Guelph, Puslinch residents turned over their staff person at a reasonable wage; quarreled often with his employer, radios voluntarily, and one owner • expanding The People’s Car Co- the Canada Company. This resulted offered to accompany the set over- operative’s car sharing community in an ignominious return to Eng- seas as its operator. by twenty-five people by adding land in 1829, dismissal, and a spell in the debtors’ prison, in spite of two new vehicles in new neigh- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ABOUT THIS bourhoods of Kitchener-Waterloo; tremendous support from families NEWSLETTER • reducing CO emissions by more that settled in the prospering 2 than 32 tonnes; Township. This newsletter is produced as a • reducing by 12 the number of • In 1832, T. W. Magrath wrote “The communications tool by the Grand automobiles on K-W roads; Winterskin of the bear generally River Conservation Authority on behalf For more information contact Marc sells for six or seven dollars, and is of the partners in The Grand Strategy. Xuereb at (519) 578-1895. Email: very useful in sleighs and as bed- This newsletter can be seen on the [email protected] or visit the website ding”. Internet at www.grandriver.ca at www.peoplescar.org • In 1836, the road between Guelph and Waterloo was reasonable for For information on The Grand Strategy Contact Barbara Veale, GRCA, 400 Clyde Road, Box 729, Cambridge THE GRAND STRATEGY CALENDAR ON N1R 5W6. Phone: (519) 621-2761 or 621-2763, Grand River Watershed 5th. Annual Heritage Day Workshop, Monday, ext. 274. February 18th. 2002, 9:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Cayuga Kinsmen Hall. The Fax: (519) 621-4844 theme is Passport to the Grand South. The morning will include speakers Email: [email protected] highlighting the rich cultural and natural heritage of the southern Grand Website: www.grandriver.ca River area. Afternoon bus tours will visit significant heritage sites including Ruthven and Chiefswood. Registration is free, and includes a buffet breakfast For newsletter submissions and box lunch. To register, or for more information, contact Wendy Whitfield, Contact the Editor, Liz Leedham, at (905) 772-5800, or Email: [email protected] c/o Barbara Veale at the above address. Please register by February 8, 2002. Newsletter submissions must be made The workshop is is organized by the Heritage Working Group of The Grand by the 15th of the month prior to Strategy and sponsored by the Haldimand County, Ministry of Tourism, publication, and may be subject to Culture and Recreation, and the GRCA. editorial change. Tax deductible A bus will leave the parking lot of the GRCA headquarters, Clyde Road, donations and sponsorships toward the Cambridge at 7:45 a.m., to transport participants to the Cayuga venue. If you cost of producing this newsletter are are interested in travelling in comfort, contact Barbara Veale, (519) 621-2763, always welcome. ext. 274. Email: [email protected] Publications Mail Agreement # 40016692

8 SHARE THE RESOURCES - SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY