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Articles / Comments******************************
The Local StoryFlames and bulldozers flatten Pickering homes Ottawa breaks laws, demolition moratorium in Pickering "The waste has gone on long enough." "Saving the last best farmland in Canada is not pie in the sky, it's bread on the table." Michael Robertson, People or Planes, Land Over Landings Pickering drops lawsuit against York over Big Pipe Pickering farmers move west to sell fresh produce It's food or floods say
Ajax, environmental
groups Rein in Durham Pickering residents take
Big Pipe fight to Queen's
Park Pickering airport analysis in hands of Transport Canada Plan to expand city on GTA farmland to go ahead Pickering voice needed on airport board: council Land Over Landings featured in major Chinese daily Markham's 'food belt' proposal on the line Dr. David Suzuki, David Suzuki Foundation - Stop Sprawl in Markham Council deletes Pickering airport question from election ballot Pickering Airport Plans Still Grounded October Referendum Making a Difference Durham Food Charter Developer denies ties to controversial Markham ad Markham's Bold Proposal is Suburbia's Salvation Food Association Grows out of Pickering Markham's Farmers Denounce Foodbelt Markham's Food Belt Taking a Stand Pickering Mayor Says Yes to Airport Empty House Revives Pickering Airport Fears Baird threatens to eject Opposition on Pickering Lands Transport Canada “Bulldozers by Stealth Pickering Council Hopes for Airport Referendum Case for and against an airport "Sprawl -- Smart Growth' Owners consider redeveloping Buttonville airport lands Response to the Pickering Airport Draft Plan Report Documents underline Transport Canada's mismanagement of Pickering Lands Tenant Turfed from Airport Site A fox minding the henhouse Revived Pickering airport plan: threat to Hamilton? A Train to Peterborough — the wrong priority for Durham Conservatives stack deck in favour of Pickering airport, giving review contract to GTAA Plane Stupid Time is now to reclaim Rouge Park ****************************** The Big PictureRural Canada Matters: Highlights of the Liberal Plan for Canada's first national food policy Dreamers and Doers: Trying to save the family farm Nature Count$: Valuing Southern Ontario's Natural Heritage Arable Land Remaining Air Travel Suffers Worst Post-war Demand Drop Canada's Disappearing Farmland, an article from the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, calls on government to become proactive in the face of all-consuming urban sprawl. A Tall Order for the Ontario Landscape Organic Empowerment 2010: Taking Action Locally If Nothing Else, Save Farming Urgent Threat to World Peace is ... Canada An Apple a Day Keeps the Bulldozers Away The City that Ended Hunger Why We Should Buy Local Food Pearson costlier way to fly, report shows Pearson disputes report finding airport inefficient Airline industry lost $5B in '08, IATA says Worrisome costs at Pearson airport ****************************** Your CommentsLindsey McKenna, Courtice We are not usually fond of going out on New Year's Eve. Usually by then, after the Christmas week's preparations, festivities and indulgences we're ready to wind down and return to regular routine. However, I have to admit that attending the L.O.L. NewYear's Dance this year was the highlight of our season! What a wonderful , warm and welcoming bunch of people, great D.J.!(I barely sat down) Everyone was up dancing all night, to tunes they had requested. The ongoing home-made soup and hor'doeurves were delicious and a spectacular feast was presented just before midnight (good job I danced so much!). What a great way to bring in the New Year. We will definitely make this an annual tradition from now on! Cheers!****************************** Beth Lebel, Grade 12 I think it’s really awful about what’s going on in Pickering, especially because of the fact that it’s affecting people in such a negative way. I feel that the people living in Pickering should have the right to decline the airport and that with such strong opinions towards not having the airport the government should start listening to them. It is really awesome that there are people who are inspired to stand up for what they believe. We need people to fight for our rights and it’s really good that they can come in and talk to the youth and help us be involved in learning about more than what is going on in our own lives and start being involved in caring more about other people in our communities. So I thought the presentation was very informational and helped me understand why these people are so dedicated to fighting the Pickering Airport. ****************************** O’Rayne Gayle, Grade 12 I got to understand how it is like to live in the area that the government wants to use for the airport. The history of the homes and the heritage are being demolished and now there are homes that are boarded up which are perfectly fine to live in—it makes no sense!!! The support and the people fighting for our land can’t quit now because they have come so far, all their efforts would go down the drain. ****************************** Kelly Hockley Hearing about the Bentley/Carruthers house brought back a lot of childhood memories. Brenda Davies, one of the women who made the “last stand” in that house, was my mother. I know the fight was only a few years but it seemed like most of my childhood. I knew what my mother was doing was important, but could not really appreciate it until I became an adult. I knew they only "shelved" the idea of an airport but always felt that the government just didn't want to admit they made a huge mistake. I thought they would just quietly sell off the land and the houses. I did not realize what was happening. Yesterday I took a drive to the North Pickering area. I was shocked. There are so many houses just gone, the yard overgrown and the fields wild. There are so many houses boarded up and in total disrepair. I cannot believe that our government, as a landlord, is allowed to let their properties fall into such disrepair. Is it not the law that a landlord is responsible for the upkeep of their property? Does this not apply to the government? I feel that Transport Canada is purposely, quietly destroying our heritage and homes so that when and if they decide to put an airport in there is no one left on the land to fight. But fear not, whether we live on the land or not, we will fight, as my mother before me fought. I challenge anyone to take a drive along the sideroads of North Pickering. I am sure you will feel the same outrage that I do. ****************************** Claudio Cipriani I just wanted to commend you for your work on this cause. I truly believe that an airport is not the best solution for this area. It makes me sad when I look at the historical farm homes on Reesor road that are boarded up by the MTO…. ****************************** Barbara Pleva As an historian, I am devastated by the destruction of our Canadian heritage in North Pickering. This area was a major centre in the early development of Upper Canada, and a hotbed during the Rebellion of 1837. Many of us have watched helplessly as historic homes have been demolished in the name of an unnecessary airport and for bogus reasons. I am struck by the fact that the property of Peter Matthews, a hero of the rebellion who was hanged for treason, is now obliterated. It took galvanized citizens many years to obtain permission to put up a plaque in Brougham stating that he even existed. By contrast, when his son fled to Michigan, he built a replica of the family home that is now on the National Register of Historic Places. How ironic: the Matthews family is more celebrated in the USA than in Canada. Meanwhile, families (some of them descendants of the original settlers) continue to fight to keep their homes and these communities strive to stay alive. Surely this is a true statement: those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. How much longer will we have before this cycle is stopped? ****************************** Margaret McFayden I knew they were going to revive this some day. Now more than ever we must protect this area for agriculture. It is insanity to pave over prime farmland when we are seeking to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Trucking (or worse flying) produce in is not only environmentally detrimental, it means less nutritious food for us. Climate change means gearing down on airports and flights - not expanding capacity!. ****************************** Keith Powell In a world that is growing increasingly smaller, a world where oil shortages will produce ominous results, in our country which has become totally reliant on imported food, and extremely vulnerable as a result, it only makes sense to preserve these 18,600 acres of federal land as green space. This land contains much of Canada's best farmland soil. This space, by being green, serves as lungs to a growing and increasingly congested GTA. What a blessing this green space could be to the current citizens of South Pickering whose health and quality of life will only be negatively impacted by urban sprawl and industrial development. ****************************** Sandy Manuel I have but started to scratch the surface of this website and I am totally impressed. It speaks of passion, commitment, education, creativity and most importantly, making a difference etc. Well done everyone involved. I am committing to pursuing every nook and corner of this awesome site so I can become more informed and do my part in protecting our land. ****************************** John Sabean A report on heritage buildings in the federal lands of Pickering, written as early as 1973 for the federal government, stated that: "The variation [of architecture] is extensive enough to be considered rich; combined with workmanlike handling of consistent quality, and a landscape setting of unusual beauty, the resulting impression of the architectural traditions in this area must be that they are both distinctive and distinguished—a physical resource, an architectural heritage, and a cultural legacy to be cherished and protected." As a cultural historian I believe this comment should have been enough to stop planning for an airport on the site dead in its tracks. I for one do not want to see historical plaques flooding the land reminding us what a great place we once were. I much prefer to see real houses standing where they were built, with beautiful farmland surrounding, proclaiming to the world that we are now and will continue to be a great place to live. I believe it is in the best interest of both the federal government and the local municipality to see that this prime farmland and historic area is left in good state for future generations. ****************************** Scott Sommers I am very sorry I could not make the protest. I would have loved to have been there to lend my support to the cause. It is my sincere hope that I will be there to assist where I can in the next months and years to ensure an airport will not be built on pristine farm land in and around Durham/York regions.Keep up the good work and let me know what I can do to help. ****************************** Gord McGregor As a North Pickering resident of 42 years I have always been concerned about land use, clean air and safe drinking water. My wife and I have lived in the hamlet of Brougham for all those years. We have always had a large vegetable garden and our four children learned the importance of raising our own food and being aware of treating nature with respect. When our property was expropriated to build the Pickering Airport we were in the forefront of protest against such a travesty. It made no sense to build an airport on such a rich, fertile and beautiful piece of Number One farmland (18,600 acres). People Or Planes fought the good fight and three years later the project was scrapped. As a teacher when I talk to students about the possibility of paving over and destroying this treasured jewel, they are appalled. Many schools have become ‘green schools’ whose purpose is reduce waste, improve energy conservation and ecological literacy. This is an important step towards making the adults of tomorrow realize the importance of saving this beleaguered planet. ****************************** Angela Steyn Having lived on the airport lands in North Pickering for over 37 years in two homes, we see ourselves as protectors of the land and buildings. Sadly we were expropriated and our first house, a fine old Victorian brick with accompanying barn and paddocks went to the wrecker’s ball in 1975, as did our neighbours’ farm and barn. The house with barn we hurriedly moved to is a charming old home. According to a descendant of the original settlers who occupied it until 1970, the central core of the house was built in 1835! If we had not been living here, this example of a typical farmhouse would be long gone. We have watched the once vibrant rural community slowly turn into a rural slum with over half the homes demolished. Recently we became Canadian Citizens and how exciting it was to vote. How ironic that two foreign-born people care so deeply for the heritage of North Pickering! One wonders why an airport is needed, particularly on some of the last fertile acreage in the golden horseshoe. When green space and care of the environment are becoming increasingly important, the looming prospect of an airport and its attendant development causes my heart to ache. The loss of fresh water creeks, stands of trees, rolling farmland, heritage buildings and local history is too big a price to pay for an unwanted and unnecessary airport. ****************************** Gabrielle Untermann Yesterday I had to go to Markham for the first time in several months. I was totally appalled to see how suburban sprawl is fast approaching the borders of Durham. Even though I had seen those dreaded white signs in the middle of fields some time ago, to see the bulldozers where crops were growing only this spring was like a punch in the gut. Acres of wonderful Class 1 agricultural land which should be growing food for the GTA are being gobbled up by the developers. Once they are built on, those acres will never grow food again. The expropriation by the federal government 36 years ago of these pristine lands in North Pickering has given us today a wonderful opportunity to offset the toxicity of urban sprawl that is happening all around. I believe that this is a national issue; that these fields should be growing food; that sprawl stops here. ******************************
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