NEWS RELEASE
Kimberley, Ontario
The Niagara Escarpment Foundation heartily congratulates the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) on its acquisition of the pivotal 120-acre central portion of the former Talisman ski resort lands in the Beaver Valley. This stunningly important land purchase protects the Niagara Escarpment brow and slope in perpetuity – a real bonus for the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO Biosphere and for the Greenbelt. With BTC’s plans for ecological restoration, the Escarpment’s continuous natural corridor on the western slopes of the valley will be re-established – a 14-km-long swath of forest and other wildlife habitats from Epping in the north to the Beaver Valley Ski Club in the south.
“The BTC purchase comes after many years of community advocacy beating back development proposals for the Talisman lands,” said NEF President Rob Leverty. “It is fitting that this land acquisition comes not only during the 40th anniversary year since approval of the Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP) but also on the 40th anniversary of the defeat, through community advocacy, of another major development proposal for the valley’s western slopes – Epping Commons.” Axing that proposal in 1985 ultimately led to renaming those lands the Herman McConnell Memorial Forest after the valley farmer who led the charge against the development.
The Escarpment Corridor Alliance (ECA) played a key role in BTC’s land acquisition, for which the Niagara Escarpment Foundation is deeply grateful. The NEF, together with the ECA and several valley-based community groups, have pressed for rejection of development proposals for the Talisman lands and protection of the valley’s natural Escarpment corridor over the past five years. The NEF presented its position in a comprehensive letter to the Municipality of Grey Highlands on May 11, 2021 – that all the Talisman lands must be protected from development. The NEF also strenuously objected when Grey Highlands signaled its intent to sell the Talisman lands and again when it finalized the sales to two development companies on February 2, 2022.
“It is a great relief that the lands purchased by the BTC will not become a ‘world-class’ health spa with a hotel and 900 parking spaces, which was in the planning stages,” said Leverty. “The Escarpment’s continuous natural corridor, the Beaver Valley watershed and the Beaver River must be protected. The BTC purchase is the critical major step in securing all the Talisman lands for nature. Threats to the Beaver Valley continue because of the 370-unit subdivision proposal for the lowland parcel near the river. Let’s hope the BTC purchase triggers a domino effect on the other Talisman lands below and above it.”
The NEF takes the position that all the 120 acres acquired by the BTC should be re-designated from Escarpment Recreation Area (which allowed the ski resort under the Niagara Escarpment Plan) to Escarpment Natural Area and Escarpment Protection Area, as appropriate. Similar to the Herman McConnell Memorial Forest, the NEF believes that the BTC lands should be established as a new park in the Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space System under the NEP.
“The NEF would like to thank all the volunteers in the valley and beyond who have donated countless hours and great expertise, plus financial resources, to preserve the valley’s natural corridor and watershed,” added Leverty. “This is your victory to celebrate today. Tomorrow, the struggle to protect the valley will continue.”
The BTC has taken a huge and bold step in acquiring the former Talisman resort’s central property. The NEF offers to the BTC our support and our board members’ combined 200 years of expertise on NEP matters.
The NEF is an independent, non-government, not-for-profit corporation and registered charity founded in 2001 to encourage public awareness of the natural and cultural significance of the Niagara Escarpment and to conduct research related to protection of the Niagara Escarpment.
www.nefoundation.ca mailbox@nefoundation.ca
