Site 41 a centre for education, sustainability?

May 24 2010 Letter To: Mr. Cal Patterson, Warden, Simcoe County
To: all County Councillors
To: Mr. Mark Aitken, Mr. Rob McCullough
To: Mr. Glen Knox
Re: suggested use for the land at Site 41
Rather than constructing a landfill, we suggest that the area be protected from development, and allow these pristine spring waters to serve as a platform on which to build a model of environmental education and sustainability. To build awareness and promote Simcoe County nationally and internationally, we suggest:
–    a world-class centre for environmental education be built via partnerships with Canada’s leading universities and colleges, with the artesian flows serving not only as the central theme for education, but also for heating and cooling the building, and of course for providing the drinking water; this Zero Energy building would be built of local and recycled materials, with electricity from solar and wind power
–   this educational facility would develop world-class heating and cooling solutions for Simcoe County residents and businesses and then water based solutions created at Site 41 would be sold globally (the RIM of Water)
–    an educational program be created to illustrate the structure and function of a representative artesian groundwater flow system showing how water systems work and how pure this water is. This program would be created and then further developed with partners such as the United Nations and taken global, putting Simcoe County on the international map
–    a simple groundwater quality monitoring station be built for research and teaching
–    a small footprint meeting place for all people, to acknowledge the selfless contributions to environmental protection by Native and non-native cultures working together in cooperation, and to promote continued interaction between these groups
–    an interpretative centre be built for Native culture, including geography, history, life and language, but also to promote the cultural, spiritual, and medicinal aspects of clean water; this too would be a small footprint “green” building
Background:
The lands at Site 41 have become increasingly significant for both Native and non-native cultures, over and above the cultural, historical, and natural significance of the artesian springs in this area for the Wye River Watershed. The community support to stop the use of this site for waste disposal is so broad and so deep, with so many groups and organizations having come together for a common purpose, it is arguably one of the best known cases of a growing environmental movement in recent Canadian history. A Google search of “Site 41 Tiny Township” for example, returns 225,000 hits, with media coverage having included several reports in the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, CBC Radio as well as CBC national television. While this case is a good example of collaborative energies coming together to “stop something,” we suggest that these same energies now be leveraged to “start something” that will guarantee a sustainable future in Simcoe County. All of this publicity represents a great opportunity for Simcoe County to reposition itself and help lead the world in the education and discussion about the next great wealth of nations – water.
The artesian springs that gush out of the ground in this area were a treasured resource for the aboriginal peoples. “Our people knew the significance of the underground rivers and they were referred to in the treaties” – Elizabeth Brass Elson of the Anishinabe Kweag. These springs represent the source water to the Wye River, the location of the first European settlement in Ontario (Ste. Marie Among the Hurons, 1639). This area, therefore, has enormous historical significance to two distinct cultures, and both are determined to work together to protect it.
In addition to the cultural significance to Native and non-native peoples, the area has great natural significance: the quality of the spring waters are remarkable.  With population increasing worldwide and the global water cycle expected to change in response to global warming in ways which we do not understand and are difficult to predict, there is increasing awareness of the importance of clean drinking water. Site 41 and everything it has entailed has galvanized public opinion, mobilized countless numbers of citizens from both Native and non-native cultures, groups and organizations, and motivated them to help protect these precious groundwater resources for future generations.
We know of no other region where the waters have such tremendous cultural significance, but at the same time have been subjected to rigorous scientific study which document their remarkable purity. Preserving and protecting this area and its artesian springs represents a unique opportunity for environmental education, for all students, Native and non-native, at all levels, including post-secondary, as well as for the general public. In fact, this area has the potential to become a landmark case in environmental history and to develop into a world-class centre for cultural and environmental understanding. Simcoe County is uniquely poised to take complete advantage of these circumstances, and help lead the way forward.
Financial implications:
We recommend that Simcoe County establish a task force to examine the financial viability of developing a world-class “water education centre” at Site 41. The County of Simcoe would begin the building process by tearing up the landfill certificate.
The Province of Ontario, through the nascent Water Opportunities Act could provide seed money first for the study to determine the best plan and partnerships for a sustainable Water Education Centre in Simcoe County at Site 41. This plan would also focus on gaining initial commitments from key universities and or colleges and organizations with water programs (United Nations, Royal Bank, One Drop) to proceed with the development of this program at Site 41. The clustering effect of this water education and development program in Simcoe County could spark global interest in making this area and these waters the equivalent of Silicon Valley (or Water Valley of the world). Successful developments already have taken root in Ontario (MaRS – biotechnology, Evergreen Brickworks – green education, etc).
Before any building is done, we believe that funding for the building and maintenance of the project must be secured from all three levels of government, NGO’s, not-for-profits, and corporation whose CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) goals are consistent with the project’s intent. The County of Simcoe should not in anyway bear any additional financial responsibility or liability from this program apart from a 99 year lease on the Site 41 lands. 
Recommendation:
We believe it is critical to create a world class water education centre built on an Alliance for the restoration of the Wye River Watershed which has been so important to the culture and history of Simcoe County. This, in turn, would lead logically to the creation of Canada’s first “Blue Belt” of groundwater protection for the entire region, with emphasis placed on the recharge areas of the aquifers.
Any and all of these activities would be coordinated, organized, and promoted by the Elmvale Foundation, and celebrated during the annual World Water Day speaker series and Elmvale Water Festival (www.elmvale.org), with the active participation and support of numerous citizens and partners, as well as all relevant agricultural, and environmental organizations, schools, colleges and universities, government agencies and related authorities at all levels, and businesses.
We fully realize that our vision makes Site 41 an economic, educational and environmental contributor within Simcoe County. Just as the water refreshes all of us, we recognize the urgent need for programs that contribute to the economic viability and environmental sustainability of the County of Simcoe.We would be most grateful if our proposal were given due consideration, and would welcome the opportunity to present it to Council for discussion.
On behalf of the Elmvale Foundation, my sincere thanks.
Very truly yours,
William Shotyk, Ph.D.
President and CEO, Elmvale Foundation
Professor of Environmental Geochemistry, University of Heidelberg, Germany
W.S. Fyfe Distinguished Scientist in Residence for Environment and Sustainability, University of Western Ontario, London.