‘I felt compelled to tell the story’: Utopia’s Susan Antler pens book on former tree seedling plant in Angus

While the future of the former tree seedling plant property in Angus continues to hang in the balance, one local woman decided to put pen to paper to tell the tale of the historic property and its significance. She also decided to highlight the efforts of local residents and organizations trying to save it.

“I felt compelled to tell the story,” said author and Utopia resident Susan Antler. “And to do so now, when perhaps we can still stop the decision to sell the property. We are in the final stages of the Ontario election — we need the political leader who can champion this cause.”

The plant, which opened in 1923 and operated for nearly a century, used to produce billions of seeds each year, including 50 native to Ontario, making it a one-of-a-kind facility.

In 2019, a group of local stakeholders came up with a proposal to save the 22-acre property, after the province announced it would shutter the facility in 2018.

The proposal, which was called The Second Century Plan: A Place to Grow, envisioned the property being transformed into The Natural Climate Solutions, Community and Education Centre.

The goal of the centre was to offer “excellent opportunities for learning, program advancement and product development, delivering much-needed answers which need to be incorporated across Ontario’s society.”

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