We have not given up on preserving this unique site!

The Whitevale Marsh, West Duffins and the trails along the seasons


























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 Bundle 10, which includes the Whitevale Marsh, is now being offered for sale to developers by IO's realtor. Offers will be looked at in the new year. We are still determined to advocate for the preservation of the marshlands. On Tuesday, December 10, we met virtually our MPP, Finance Minister Bethlenfalvy and Minister of Infrastructure Surma, in the presence of Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe. Minister Bethlenfalvy and Mayor Ashe have long supported our cause. Mayor Ashe, as Mayor Ryan did in the past, had written a letter of support for our project to Minister Surma. Minister Surma listened to our arguments but insisted that the process of selling the land was in motion.  Her staff indicated that the marsh area that will be protected will be larger (see image below), following the results of an ecological assessment recently done for IO, which, we were told, recommend putting low density housing only in the flat areas. We are trying to get a copy of that ecological report. The ma...
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Some Background

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The Whitevale Nature and Marsh Committee is dedicated to preserving and restoring the former quarry located immediately North of Whitevale and West of North Road. This area is for now in public hands, owned but the Province of Ontario but Infrastructure Ontario has included in Package 10, which is presently offered for sale to developers. Infrastructure Ontario has even applied for rezoning with the City of Pickering, and has proposed a residential plan, which seems superimposed to the site, without consideration to its ecology nor topography. This site has not been recently studied for its environmental significance. This area is in the process of regenerating. Its flora and fauna are rich, including milkweed where monarch find the ideal habitat, numerous patches of thyme thriving in the sandy areas, woodlots and meadows with diverse habitats for birds and other wildlife. Its striking topography of valleys occupied and marshes, as well as dramatic cliffs overlooking these lower a...
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 It has been almost three years since our last post! In the meantime, COVID change our way of living. Going to an office, a cinema, a play, a conference or a workshop were not an option for a while, People communicated by phone or through the internet. However, what increased tremendously was our need for the outdoors, our need to walk or play outside, our connection to nature. The outdoors were relatively safe and we could walk, hike, explore, exercise or run freely outside. The parking lots of the trailheads and local parks were full. We realized even more clearly our need for green space and parks. The Seaton Trail was busy and people signed our petition to protect the Whitevale Marsh. Our group continued to meet on line, or at times face to face with masks, with politicians. We met with MPP Bethlenfalvy, former Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan and councillor Pickles. We were given some hope that there was something in the works to protect the marsh (see attached the letter from former...
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