Clearly, the development of our region drives our economy—we all benefit from the influx of real estate investment dollars.
That’s simply the result of the fact that people want to live here. Why? I’d say it’s access to nature. It’s lifestyle—mainly based on recreation and leisure activities. It’s the pure air. It’s the Bay. It’s the forests.
And it’s all at risk because so many people want it. What an irony. Everyone wants to live close to nature, which results in the plowing of forests and natural places.
It seems, to be honest, that the province and counties could do a better job of smart planning, of working together. The most vibrant communities I’ve ever visited, home to the most healthy and happy people, have prioritized the preservation of abundant swaths of natural areas—spawning extremely beneficial low-impact outdoor activities like mountain biking, skiing, rock climbing, hiking, wind sports, paddling and more. These activities are also vital to local economies. But here, trails and access are being shut down in the name of preserving nature; meanwhile hectares of natural areas are being bulldozed for houses. Parking is a serious issue, and natural areas we do have are overcrowded.
But you really can’t blame the land managers for recent access closures in Pretty River Valley and Devil’s Glen—their job is to protect the parks. Outside of their purview is the fact that a colossal development at Castle Glen has grandfathered approval on the Escarpment—a stone’s throw from Pretty River Valley Provincial Park—which will obviously destroy infinitely more nature than the use of a single-track trail.
It’s time for the huge patchwork of governing bodies to work together to develop comprehensive land-use plans that prioritize the preservation of nature and access to it for the general population. We have something special here. We’re at risk of losing it all if our leaders don’t prioritize it.
In other news, this issue marks the official launch of On The Bay’s brand new TV channel, Bay Watch, the brainchild of On The Bay’s executive producer Moses Znaimer. Moses envisioned a local TV channel for Southern Georgian Bay in the style of CP24 (which he founded), and he has invested considerably in its launch. Showcasing news and stories produced by On The Bay’s Roger Klein, Bay Watch is the perfect way to take Southern Georgian Bay with you wherever you go. Watch and subscribe at baywatch.ca.
David Loopstra
Publisher, On The Bay
