AWARE Simcoe celebrates the Niagara Escarpment

AWARE Simcoe news release April 17 2013

COLLINGWOOD – As spring arrives, AWARE SIMCOE celebrates the Niagara Escarpment with a public meeting to discuss the benefits conveyed by this world-recognized landform, and measures needed to ensure its preservation.

The meeting is timely as the Niagara Escarpment Commission is at the preliminary stages of a review of the Niagara Escarpment Plan for 2015, having identified 17 topics for consideration – including urban uses, aggregate resource policies and water policies.

The meeting will start with AWARE Simcoe’s Annual General Meeting, which includes election of officers and adoption of the AWARE Simcoe vision document.

            When:            Saturday April 27, 9:30 am to noon

            Where:          The Leisure Time Club of Collingwood, 100 Minnesota St., Collingwood.

            Panellists:

Bob Barnett is a practicing architect from Toronto and one of the founders of the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy which has protected almost 9,000 acres on 117 nature reserves from Acton to the west end of Manitoulin and the habitat of 64 rare and endangered species. The EBC helps communities and landowners decide how land should be used.

Bob Patrick is the Bruce Peninsula Environmental Group’s representative to, and the current president of the Coalition On the Niagara Escarpment (CONE) and a CONE volunteer since 2004. Robert retired from the Ontario public service in 1998 after serving 27 years. He was a Capital Projects Coordinator, Ministry of Community and Social Services and is a past member of the Oakville Property Standards Committee, and the Environmental Strategic Planning Task Force,

Kathryn Pounder recently retired to Muskoka after working as a municipal, regional and environmental planner in British Columbia, Ontario and Nova Scotia. She was a Senior Planner for the Niagara Escarpment Commission for over 10 years, which involved working on the preparation of the Niagara Escarpment Plan, and considering amendments to the Niagara Escarpment Plan. She provided evidence for the Niagara Escarpment Commission at the Consolidated Hearing held to consider the application by Walker’s to amend the Niagara Escarpment Plan to permit a quarry in Duntroon. She is active as a participant and organizer in her local community to keep the institutions serving the community’s needs as well as ensuring that our environment is protected for future generations.  

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