Sun shines on mega-quarry crowd

AWARE Simcoe October 1 2011

About 300 people gathered on the front lawns of Queen’s Park and, just as the rally started, the sun started to shine and it shone throughout!

Broadcaster Dale Goldhawk did a great job MCing the event and the speeches from our eight guests were described as ‘thoughtful’ and ‘inspirational.’  

Farmer Brent Preston spoke about how the unique soil on his land just north of the proposed mega quarry site is ingrained in his skin and now part of his DNA. He also said the Honeywood Silt Loam is part of all our DNA as we eat the produce from that land.

He was followed by rancher Carl Cosack who led the crowd in a cheer of  “Heeeeee-Hawwww!” before describing the magnitude of the mega-quarry and how Highland would not only be pumping 600-million-litres of water a day from the pit forever, it would be in control of that water. 

Cosack recalled an old saying “The rancher who controls the water, controls the valley.”

Danny Beaton of the Mohawwk Turtle Clan spoke about the water being the lifeblood for Mother Earth and how she must be respected and protected. 

Chef Donna Dooher was eloquent in comparing the potential loss of thousands of acres of potato fields to the Irish potato famine — all man-made, destructive and reckless.  

Paul deCampo of Slow Food Toronto urged us to use our voices and rights to keep fighting this good fight and Mark Calzavara of the Council of Canadians told the crowd that it really is up to us to protect the water as the government or Highland may not.

Hobo Wally wrote a new song for the rally called ‘King of the Hole”.

 It was sung by the whole crowd to the melody of ‘King of the Road’ and was a funny take on Highland’s greed.  He wrapped up the rally with his ‘Come Walk With Me’ song from early on in this fight. 

CBC News