Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013

Time: Doors open at 6:30 pm

Event: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Location: Danforth Mennonite Church
2174 Danforth Ave (1.5 blocks from Woodbine Station), Toronto

Join Matthew Kellway MPP Beaches-East York and special guests:

• Wayne Roberts -food policy analyst and writer
• Donna Tranquada - writer and broadcaster - active in Artists Against the MegaQuarry and with Food & Water First
• Carl Cosack - chair of NDACT and Food & Water First
• Malcolm Allen- MP Welland, NDP Agriculture Critic
• Patrick Tohill - WSPA Canada

for an interactive panel discussion. 

Click here for more details.

https://www.facebook.com/matthewkellway

http://matthewkellway.ndp.ca/events

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN

100 McCaul St., Toronto, Ontario

98th Annual Graduate Exhibition

The class of 2013, an eclectic mix of more than 550 graduating students working in twelve undergraduate programs, present their final thesis work to an audience of more than 26,000 guests.

Some of these students produced No Mega Quarry Posters

OPENING NIGHT: Thursday, May 2, 6:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 3, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 4, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 5, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: 100 McCaul St.,Toronto, Ontario,416-977-6000

For full details, please go to: http://apache.ocad.ca/events_calendar/eventdetail.php?id=4402

FOOD AND WATER FIRST

Join Aware - Simcoe  for a

Public Meeting

at Alliston’s Circle Theatre, 19 Victoria St. E., Tecumseth, ON

Saturday May 4^th 9:30 – 12:00

Refreshments and baked goodies provided – bring a friend!

We defeated the Mega Quarry…for the time being….but there’s nothing saying it can’t happen again 100 times over!

Now we need to change the Ontario Aggregates Act to protect our Clean Water and Prime Farmland.

Come learn, listen and find out what you can do!

Speakers:

• Carl Cosak, Chair, North Dufferin Agricultural Taskforce (NDACT)
• Shirley Boxem, Secretary, NDACT
• Bernard Pope, Ontario Farmland Preservation
• Dale Goldhawk, AM 740 Radio
• M/C: Donna Tranquada, writer and former CBC host

With special acknowledgements to the

Saugeen, Cape and Crocker First Nation

Date: May 11, 2013

Time: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location: Pantagonia, 500 King St. W., Toronto

On Saturday May 11th, join Patagonia Toronto and special friends to celebrate Toronto-based producers and organizations that are putting local food on the map in our city.

They will be sharing the talents, tastes and visions of an eclectic crew of movers and shakers in the local food scene.

Taste the freshness of the season with samples from Belmonte Raw, Chocosol, Maizal Quesadilla Cafe and Yorktown Pies, try natural, food-based skin care from Karmalicious and learn about the inventive programs being run in our city by Fresh City Farms, Not Far From the Tree and Food and Water First.

NDACT will have a Food & Water First table at this event.

Click here for more details.

NDACT Lawn Signs and Stickers Open House

Sunday April 14, 9:00 – 12:00

527507 5 Sideroad Mulmur, ON - west of 4^th Line E (2 Lines west of Stanton Store on Airport Rd.)

Phone: 519-925-0347

This Open House for anyone wishing to purchase, exchange, bring some to Toronto, etc.

Preferred Donation (this is an at-cost initiative):

• Exchange for old signs – free
• Lawn Signs - $5-$10
• Bumper Stickers - $5
• Round Decals - $2

Shirley Boxem

NDACT Secretary

NDACT will not have a booth at the show this year,

but

we are sharing free admission tickets to the Green Living Show with you!

Friday April 12 to Sunday April 14, 2013 at the Direct Energy Centre, Toronto

Click here to download tickets and show details. (1.2 MB)

Enjoy!

It's been nearly a year since public hearings were held into the Aggregate Resources Act. Excellent, thoughtful presentations were made by agricultural stakeholders and mega quarry opponents. The hearings were packed and change was in the air. But, we've learned the Standing Committee on General Government now wants to focus on traffic congestion and auto insurance. Any further delay in reviewing the ARA means a further delay in revising the legislation. Our prime farmland and source water regions remain at risk! 

Below is a template letter addressed to the Committee urging its members to finish the job. The e-mail addresses of the Committee MPPs and Chairman are also provided.

Please add your own thoughts/experience/expertise to the letter. Let us know what responses you receive, if any! 

 Write to:

 Bas Balkissoon, Chairman   bbalkissoon.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Donna Cansfield                dcansfield.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Rick Bartolucci                   rbartolucci.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Sarah Campbell                 scampbell-qp@ndp.on.ca

Mike Colle                          mcolle.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Rosario Marchese              rmarchese-qp@ndp.on.ca

Laurie Scott                        laurie.scott@pc.ola.org

Todd Smith                         todd.smith@pc.ola.org

Jeff Yurek                           jeff.yurek@pc.ola.org 

To the members of the Standing Committee on General Government: 

In a February 2013 Call to Action, we asked supporters to contact their MPP’s to press them for a Food and Water First Policy.   Supporters were also asked to request that the government to reconstitute the Standing Committee on General Government as soon as possible so the review of the ARA will proceed as well as asking the government to ensure the updated PPS reflects the concerns raised by agricultural stakeholders and the general public.

The Ministry of the Environment replied and included this comment:

"I understand that the Standing Committee on General Government has been re-established, although at this time it is not known whether the Standing Committee will resume its review of the Aggregate Resources Act." 

News that the Standing Committee has been reconstituted is a surprise, as is the statement that it's not known whether the Committee will resume the review of the ARA. It was because of the mega quarry fight that the ARA review was launched. We asked for an open and comprehensive study of the outdated legislation, and the government ordered the review in the fall of 2011. Hearings were held last spring and strong presentations were made by agricultural groups and farmers who argued that prime farmland and source water regions should be exempted from aggregate operations. It would be unacceptable if the review of the ARA were shelved.

We are contacting the Natural Resources Minister, David Orazietti, for clarification. Stay tuned!

Fitting with our Food and Water First Campaign.

Water Docs is a documentary film festival about all things water.

From March 21-24, 2013 at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, it’s your chance to see both feature and short films about water, and discuss the films with the director or others. Not only does the festival inform and educate about water and water issues, it provides a forum for discussions as well as a channel for action provided by our guest speakers and featured environmental organisations. So, for the love of water, come join us!

For full details, click here.

                                   (MC)² - Mono Mulmur Citizens' Coalition - TOWNHALL MEETING

Date: March 9, 2013

Time: 10 AM - Noon (Coffee at 9:30 AM)

Location: Meeting Hall, across from the Globe Restaurant on Highway 89, Rosemont (map of Rosemont)

 This session will provide members, and all other interested citizens, an update on three key issues impacting our community.

• Melancthon Quarry: Presented by Carl Cosack, President of NDACT.

With the Highland Company application to open a mega-quarry having been withdrawn, what are the next steps; and particularly, what needs to happen with the Aggregates Act to prevent future repeats of what happened in Melancthon?

• Airport Road Quarry Proposal: Presented by Cheryl Russel from CORE.

 Arbour Farms has submitted their proposal to open a quarry on Airport Road in Mulmur. This review will look at the many issues CORE, and others, have raised in its opposition to this proposal, and will address what citizens can do about it.

• New Dufferin County Waste Disposal System. Presented by Ed Kroeker, Environmental Engineer and member of the County Committee overseeing the new system. Ed has detailed information about the problems with a system which has resulted in higher costs and taxes for Mono and Mulmur, and lower costs/taxes for Orangeville and Shelburne. How have our Townships subsidized tax reductions for the large communities of Dufferin, and why did that happen?

The meeting will include plenty of time for questions and answers about each of these issues.

                     ALL ARE WELCOME. BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS!

If you need more information, email: info@monomulmur.com

FOOD AND WATER FIRST: CALL TO ACTION!

Date: Saturday March 23, 2013

Time: 9:30 AM - Noon

Location: St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2940 10th Sideroad, Bradford, ON.

Faisal Moola of the David Suzuki Foundation and Carl Cosack of NDACT, will to provide their perspectives on the need to control growth and protect water and farmland. Cosack will talk about NDACT's Food and Water First campaign, which dovetails perfectly with the vision AWARE Simcoe is working on, while Moola will tell us about the recent DSF study of the GTA whitebelt, and the need to protect 94,000 hectares of farmland, fields and forests.

For carpooling to Bradford, call the following numbers: From the north – 705-526-9883, from the east 705-329-3628, from the west – 705-466-2000

For full details, please go to AWARE Simcoe website at: http://www.aware-simcoe.ca/meetings/meetings/3523-vision.html

Taters not Craters

Join us in Honeywood as we recap the past year of our campaign to stop the Highland mega quarry and our vision going forward. Then, get ready to dance as we celebrate our recent success with a party and live music! 

Date: Saturday, February 16, 2013

Time: Doors open at 6:00 PM, local food showcase starts at 6:30 PM

Where: North Dufferin Community Centre (Honeywood Arena), 706114 County Rd. 21, Honeywood, ON L0N 1H0

What:

• 6:00 Doors Open

• 6:30 Local food showcase

  Philip Patrick - Executive chef at the Ridge at Manitou Golf Club

  Caesar Guinto & Samuel Holwell - Creemore Kitchen

  Shawn Adler - The Flying Chestnut & The Flying Spatula

  Gareth & Julie Carter - Men With Knives

• 7:00 Meeting / Message from NDACT Chair, Carl Cosack

Speakers:

• 7:45 Party starts - Square Dancing with Gary Heaslip & Band

• 8:30 main Stage Show until midnight

Questions? Contact:  info@ndact.com

Digging Deep for stories, songs, designs and dances.

Come and have your say about the proposed mega-quarry, pro & con & undecided.

All interested individuals & groups are welcome to get involved.

A free workshop series.

The first phase in co-creating a community play about the proposed Melancthon Mega Quarry.

Song Writing Workshop:

Sat. Oct. 27

1:30-3:30

Write a song about the proposed mega-quarry with professional songwriter James Gordon, at the Honeywood Schoolhouse. No experience necessary. No need to pre-register. More about James: http://www.jamesgordon.ca

For more about the community play, click here.

Osgoode Hall's Environmental Law Society Presents:

A Talk with Carl Cosack

Carl Speaks with the Environmental Law Students at Osgoode Hall

When: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012

Time: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Where: Room 1003, Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen St. W.,Toronto

Click here to see poster. (1.01 MB)

Photo Credit: http://www.osgoodehall.com/

Digging Deep for designs.

This workshop will proceed as planned.

Come and have your say about the proposed mega-quarry, pro & con & undecided.

All interested individuals & groups are welcome to get involved.

A free workshop series.

This is the last workshop, of the first phase in co-creating a community play, about the proposed Melancthon Mega Quarry.

Visual Arts Workshop:

Date: Sat. Nov. 24

Time: 1:30-3:30

Location: Honeywood United Church (basement) on 2nd Line West, just north or CR 21.

Create paintings and drawings about the proposed mega-quarry with local visual artists Sandi Wong and Nikki Cosack, at the Honeywood Church. All ages (kids & adults) welcome. No experience necessary. Pre-register, by emailing dale@hsfx.ca if possible, or just show up. For more about Sandi: www.sandiwongartist.com

 For more about the community play, click here.

Digging Deep for stories, songs, designs and dances.

Come and have your say about the proposed mega-quarry, pro & con & undecided.

All interested individuals & groups are welcome to get involved.

 PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE

A free workshop series.

The first phase in co-creating a community play about the proposed Melancthon Mega Quarry.

Dance/Movement Workshops:

Sat. Nov.10

Times: 10:00 to 11:30 children 4 to 11yrs

 1:00 to 3:00 youth 12yrs and up & adults

potluck lunch if you would like to stay 11:45 to 12:45

Create dance/movement pieces about the mega-quarry with local dancer/choreographers Ayrlie MacEachern & Sarah Felschow, at Clearview Canyon Studio (Singhampton). No experience necessary. Please pre-register by calling Ayrlie at 705-444-0550 or  mayrlie@hotmail.com  For more info: http://www.motuso.com and http://www.nianow.com/ayrlie-maceachern

For more about the community play, click here.

Digging Deep for stories, songs, designs and dances.

Come and have your say about the proposed mega-quarry, pro & con & undecided.

All interested individuals & groups are welcome to get involved.

A free workshop series.

The first phase in co-creating a community play about the proposed Melancthon Mega Quarry.

Story Gathering Drop-in:

Sat. Nov. 3

10am-5pm

Drop in any time between 10 and 5. Free refreshments. Bring your stories and photos about local history and your thoughts about the proposed mega-quarry (pro & con & undecided), with professional playwright Dale Hamilton, at the Honeywood Schoolhouse. More about Dale and community-engaged theatre: www.communityengagedtheatre.ca

For more about the community play, click here.

Also see the article from the "Orangeville Citizen".

A reminder about Soupstock:

When : This coming Sunday  - October 21

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.

Where:  Woodbine Park , Toronto (Queen St. E. & Coxwell area)

Presented by: The Canadian Chefs’ Council and the David Suzuki Foundation

WHAT DOES IT COST?

The event is free admission, so all are welcome.

Tickets will be sold for soup at a price of $10 for 3 servings.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?

Please bring your own bowls, spoons and napkins.

All proceeds from Soupstock will go to the Canadian Chefs’ Congress and David Suzuki Foundation. They will be used to continue building a community of support for stopping the controversial Mega-Quarry and for other environmental and food-related issues.

NDACT will have 2 booths in the "Friends of Soupstock" section. Drop in to see us! We will have brochures and merchandise including our new Bumper Stickers and Save Life hoodies.

 The "Friends of Soupstock" section, is the "Star" section of the map, at the corner of Eastern Avenue and Coxwell Avenue.

Click here for the site map.

Come and enjoy soup from over 200 chefs and live performances. George Stroumboulopoulos and Jeremy Taggart will be the Masters of Ceremonies.

Come and visit us! We hope to see you there.

Don’t forget your bowl, spoon and napkin!

For full details, please go to:http://www.soupstock.ca/?page_id=12

Celebrate the Land that Feeds Us

Art Show and Sale

In Celebration of Soupstock

When: Thursday, October 18 - Monday October 22, 2012

Opening Reception: Thursday, October 18 7:00PM - 9:00PM

Where: Essentia, 2180 Queen St. E., Toronto, ON (in the Beach)

Artists and Chefs unite to stop the proposed Melancthon Mega Quarry north of Toronto!

On Sunday, October 21st, the Canadian Chefs Congress and David Suzuki Foundation will host
Soupstock at Woodbine Park, Toronto - a culinary celebration of the land that feeds us.

Artists against the MegaQuarry will showcase the beauty of the fields, rivers and forests at risk, with proceeds going to the campaign to stop the proposed Mega Quarry.


Time: Store hours T/F 10am- 9pm S/S 10-5pm
Reception speakers:

• Carl Cosack, Chair of NDACT
• Faisal Moola of the David Suzuki Foundation
•  NDP MP Matthew Kellway

For poster and full details click here.

OCADU (Ontario College of Art & Design University) Mega Quarry Posters

On Display Beginning October 9 & 11, 2012

At : MP Matthew Kellway's constituency office in the Beach, Toronto

On display Tuesday October 9, 2012, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

At: Mildred's Temple Kitchen in Liberty Village, Toronto

Opening Reception Thursday, October 11, 2012, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The posters will remain on display, leading up to Soupstock on October 21, 2012

For more details about the posters go to:http://www.ndact.com/index.php/media-stories/media-stories-blogs/414-ocadu-winning-posters

and http://www.ndact.com/index.php/events/368-design-students-mega-quarry-posters-march-26-april-2-2012-2012

Presented by: the Canadian Chefs' Council and the David Suzuki Foundation

Date: Sunday, October 21, 2012

Time: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Location: Woodbine Park, Toronto

Funds raised will go to the David Suzuki Foundation, to be used to build a community of support for stopping the proposed Melancthon Mega Quarry and for other environmental and food-related issues.

For full details, please go to: http://www.soupstock.ca/

Please bring your own bowl, spoon and napkin.

Bowls and spoons will be available for purchase, if you forget to bring your own.

Stop the Mega Quarry Walk

Show Your Support by Your Presence

Hosted by the Simcoe-Grey NDP Riding Association

Date: Saturday September 29, 2012

Where: Collingwood, Ontario

Time: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

11:30 AM Gather at Hurontario St. and Hume St., Collingwood

12:00 PM

• Meet at MPP Jim Wilson's office for Opening ceremony, located at 50 Hume St.
• Start walk to Hume St and Highway 26, MP Kellie Leitch's office

1:00 - 3:00 PM Guest speakers and music

Master of Ceremonies - Ernie Hilts, Provincial delegate for Simcoe-Grey

Confirmed Speakers:

• thahoketoteh - Mohawk First Nation from Kanekota
• Carl Cosack - NDACT Chair
• David Matthews - Past NDP Provincial Candidate for Simcoe-Grey
• Katy Austin - Past NDP Federal Candidate for Simcoe-Grey
• Mike Schreiner - past Green Party Provincial Candidate for Simcoe-Grey and leader of the Green party of Ontario

For full details click here.

NDACT will have a table there with Information, Signs, Hoodies and Bumper Stickers.

Mark the date! Please plan to attend.

Date: Saturday September 8, 2012

Time: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Location: Mono Community Centre, Mono Centre (directions)

Bring your friends and neighbours to celebrate all the best things about life in Mono!

NDACT will have a booth at this event where we will have information, signs and merchandise available.

Featuring:

SPECIAL GUEST: Dan Needles telling tales of growing up in Mono at 11 a.m.

• Local food by local chefs
• Music by Mono musicians
• Mono heritage and farm exhibits
• Mono arts and crafts
• Mono children's art show and activities
• Silent auction

For more information, please go to: http://www.townofmono.com/event_detail.php?et_id=6&e_id=281&body=bodyvisitor&cat_id=1

Paddle the Grand River along Kaufman’s Flats
to Freeport in Kitchener, Ontario, a 20 km 4 hour scenic route suitable for all skill levels.

Join us as we highlight the value of Ontario’s fresh water and support the
campaign to Stop the Mega Quarry! A portion of the proceeds will go to NDACT.

Date: Sunday, August 12, 2012

Optional Launch Times: 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM & 12 Noon

Length & Difficulty: 4 hours, 20 Km, fit for all skill levels

Meeting Spot: Canoeing the Grand Headquarters, (at the Freeport Bridge) 3734 King St. East, Kitchener, ON N2P 2G5

 From the meeting point a shuttle will take you to the launch site, where you will canoe with the current back to headquarters.

Register here to participate: www.canoeingthegrand.com/groupexpeditionStopTheQuarry.htm

You must register to participate in this event. Register by or before event day; participants will not be accepted on date of event if they have not registered online. Please only register if you fully intend to participate in this event. There is a limit of 50 canoes and 20 kayaks, so register soon!

Expedition Costs:

$60.00 per Canoe (maximum 2 people)

$50.00 per Kayak (maximum 1 person)

Expedition Costs include:

• the boat
• paddles
• PFDs (personal flotation devices)
• shuttle service to the launch site

Payment is due at check-in on trip day.

Other Details:

• pets & snacks allowed
• absolutely no alcohol
• expedition will proceed rain or shine
• bring your cameras or video recorders and make sure to catch your family & friends on film!

Send a selection of your best pictures to paddletostopthequarry@gmail.com and your photos/videos will be in the event promotion video which will be put together at the end of the summer!

Questions?

Please direct any of your questions or concerns regarding this event to Sophia Sanniti at srsanniti@gmail.com

In Solidarity With Our Friends From CORE

we would like to announce Core's Concert at Lyric Pond

Date: Saturday July 21, 2012

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: 597425 - 2nd Line West, Honeywood (Mulmur Township)

Featuring:

• a buffet
• entertainmemt  lineup includes, Jim Cuddy, Bazil Donavan, Joel Anderson, Anne Lindsay, Colin Cripps, Barney Bentall, Andy Maize & Tim Magwood

Reserve tickets by email: Norm MacEachern norm@informationpackaging.ca

For full details and ticket prices, click here or CORE's website link below:

http://www.corecares.ca/index.htm_/HOME.html 

This event will celebrate Ontario's Prime Farmland and Fresh Water.
Raising awareness and funds to directly support the non profit NDACT in its efforts to preserve these most precious resources.

All levels of walkers, runners and cyclists will experience a scenic, fun and challenging course that features rolling hills and beautiful fertile countryside threatened by the proposed massive Mega Quarry.

Click on poster for full details.

Golf, Dinner & Silent Auction Featuring Bateman Lithograph

Date: Thursday, July 5, 2012

Time: 9:30 AM Registration, 11:00 AM tee off time, 6:00 PM Dinner begins followed by Silent Auction, Awards, Prizes & Draws

Location: Shelburne Golf Club

$155 per Golfer includes 18 holes, power cart, dinner & silent auction

$55 per person includes dinner & silent auction (You don't need to golf to enjoy this event.)

Click on posters for full details.

• Hole in One Sponsored by Gimme Shelter - a $25,000 value!

Fantastic Silent Auction Items Featuring:

"Peregrine and Young"

Robert Bateman Original Lithograph

• Artist Proof 11/23
• Professionally framed 24" x 27"
• Suggested retail value of $1,850.00

Click here for Registration and Sponsorship forms.

Registration form is page 1, Sponsorship form is page 2.

Contacts:

• RON & DONNA WILSON 519-925-3645
• RICK WALLACE 519-925-0661
• ARCH MCLEAN 416-449-3455
• ROGER ST. GERMAIN 519-217-2293
• DICK BYFORD 519-925-5251
• COLLEEN VANDER ZAAG 519-925-9491

Council of Canadians - Simcoe Region Chapter - Meeting

When: Wednesday June 13, 2012

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Barrie Public Library

For more information about the Council of Canadians, please go to:

http://www.canadians.org/index.html

Barrie's 3rd Annual Ecofest

Times: Sat. June 9, 2012, 10 AM - 10 PM

                                   Sun. June 10, 2012, 10 AM - 5 PM

                                   Location: Heritage Park, Barrie, Ontario

Ecofest Barrie is a community collaboration that brings together individuals and organizations from many walks of life under the common theme of building a sustainable future. People come together to celebrate nature and share ideas on protecting our planet while creating a healthy, prosperous, inclusive community.

Visit NDACT in the non-profit tent.

  The View from Here City Show and Sale

Artists Against The Mega Quarry 

Viewing: June 1- July 1 (call 416 924-9654 during the week)

Reception - Sunday June 10 from 12:30-2:00pm

Location:The First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto,

175 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto (at Avenue Rd). 

Click here for directions.

Since, summer is almost here, and bird presence is increasing, we need your help in spotting the bird species that are found in the proposed quarry area.

Please travel around the quarry application site, between now and July 15, 2012 and take inventory of what you see...written down, dated and witnessed.

We have had some good response from supporters so far but any more sitings would be welcome. We will start posting the sitings soon.

 Please contact info@ndact.com, with your findings.

Thank you for engaging and helping to spread the word.

Carl Cosack, NDACT Chair

(Please note that by clicking on quarry application site, here and above,  a map of the site area indicating road names is shown.)

Letters to House Leaders encouraging them to allow the ARA hearings to extend across the province.

Because of privacy issues, we have not posted letters submitted by private individuals.

From Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party, submitted May 16, 2012

I strongly urge you to grant the SCGG’s request to travel and to seek further public consultation in regard to the ARA review.
I also encourage you to expand the scope of the ARA review to include policies, legislation and regulations that affect aggregates. Infrastructure investments, land use planning, waste diversion policies, and environmental protections are just a few of the ways in which government policies affect demand for and use of aggregates.

Read full letter.

Please send this quick e-mail asking for an Aggregate Resources Act Review Roadshow!

ACTION ITEM: Please contact the following MPPs/staff members and give them a bit of a push. Cut & paste the following:

The House Leaders have not yet agreed to the Standing Committee on General Government's (SCGG) request to travel in regard to the Aggregate Resource Act (ARA) Review. I am a Resident and Taxpayer of Ontario. I would like to see the SCGG visit communities that are or will be impacted by aggregate operations. I would also like to see the SCGG accept and consider further public input beyond the last scheduled ARA Review hearing tomorrow. Please answer "Yes" to the SCGG's travel request.

Thank you.

Send To: gbisson@ndp.on.ca; jmilloy.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; john.yakabuski@pc.ola.org
CC: tamara_pomanski@ontla.ola.org; meghan_stenson@ontla.ola.org; dorazietti.mpp@liberal.ola.org; sylvia.jones@pc.ola.org

Sponsored by Rotary International and Tim Horton's

Date: May 5, 2012

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon

Location: Rotary Park, Orangeville

NDACT will have a booth at this event.

For more details, please go to: 

http://www.orangeville-rotary.easyfocus.com/shine.html

Aggregate Resources Act Review Begins Monday May 7, 2012

They don’t mine too much aggregate in Toronto, but that’s where the provincial government’s review of the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) will be exclusively held.

As a result, Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones has expressed her outrage that the Liberal and NDP members of the Standing Committee on General Government reviewing the ARA have opted to set up shop in The Big Smoke, and set aside four days for public participation.

“I’m concerned that municipalities, industry representatives and residents most familiar with aggregates, residing in communities where aggregate extraction occurs, will be left out of the process,” Jones said in a news release. “We have an obligation to hear from the experts and they don’t live in Toronto.”

Read the entire article.

Posted in the "Orangeville Banner", May 4, 2012

Hearing dates: May 7, 2012, May 9, 2012, May 14, 2012 & May 16, 2012.

Agendas for hearing dates.

Why the rush? Not much warning and little time allowed for public participation.

In Solidarity with Wellington Water Watchers, We Need Your Help

Wellington Water Watchers is a volunteer organization which has been working steadily for 5 years now on protecting source water.

Nestlé & Hillsburgh water – What’s Up?

Nestlé Waters Canada is currently asking the province of Ontario for a 10-year extension to its existing 5-year permit to take up to 1.1 million litres of water per day from its rural Hillsburgh farm property.

• This water is trucked 24/7 in 38,000-litre tankers along our sideroads and highways to Nestlé’s Aberfoyle bottling plant, 50 kilometres away.
• It’s subsequently ozonated and injected into hundreds of millions of plastic bottles made from oil and trucked long distances to distribution centres and final markets.
• At least half the empty bottles – tens of millions each year from the Hillsburgh permit alone - end up in our landfills and incinerators, or as litter.
• Bottled water is several hundred times more expensive than tap water.
• Nestlé pays the Ministry of Environment (MOE) $3.71 per million litres.

Nestlé gets Hillsburgh water at an absurdly low price from the province. The Town of Erin receives an annual grant from Nestlé - but it’s pocket change from the world’s largest food and beverage corporation. They get 24/7 truck noise, road wear-and-tear, toxic diesel fumes, and lower property values along the route. All Ontarians get too many tonnes of plastic garbage, and the world gets a lot more of what it least needs – climate-changing carbon emissions.

Ontario's water-taking permit process is deeply flawed

Wellington Water Watchers and the Council of Canadians have submitted a Request for Review to the Ministry of Environment challenging them to honour their own Statement of Environmental Values as they relate to bottled water permits.

Short Points

Wellington Water Watchers opposes this application because:

• The amount of groundwater in our Grand River watershed is not known. Allowing large-volume water taking is like writing blank cheques on a bank account with an unknown balance.
• Water is too valuable a resource to be given away – and that’s virtually what our province does by charging Nestlé and others a mere $3.71 for every million litres taken.
• In 2010, Nestlé paid just $2,238 for over 600 million litres of water taken from Mill Creek in Aberfoyle. This works out to about .0000004 cents per litre, a far cry from the true value of such a priceless resource.
• Environmental harm being done. The millions of litres taken weekly are put into single-use, disposable plastic bottles. The industry claims 60% of these bottles are recycled but that still means hundreds of millions every year become litter, or trash in our landfills. WWW (Wellington Water Watchers) call this a permit to pollute.
• There are no water conservation measures built into this renewal permit. The volume of water taken should be decreased annually to encourage water conservation. This is one of the principles of Ontario’s new Water Opportunities Act.
• The applicant has asked for an unprecedented 10-year water-taking permit. Yet WWW have no idea how drought or climate change will affect Guelph’s water supply in years to come. At most, any new permit should be issued for three years or less.
• Much of the water when bottled leaves the Grand River watershed. Justice Dennis O’Connor’s report on the Walkerton tragedy recommended that water be managed on a watershed basis. Nestlé and others should be required to use glass, deposit-bearing bottles that are sold only within the Grand River watershed.

See full details.

How Can You Help Protect Source Water?

Submit your objections within 30 days (up until May 20, 2012) to the Ontario Minister of the Environment. See Nestle EBR submission.

Copy and past form and points of objection and instructions for online and offline submissions can be found at: http://www.wellingtonwaterwatchers.ca/home/the-issues/hillsburgh/

Deadline for comments is May 20, 2012

FOOD & WATER      

The Georgian Bay Food Alliance (GBFA)*
Invites you to a community

PASTA POTLUCK DINNER

When: Tuesday April 24th at 5:30 p.m.
Location: All Saints Anglican Church, Church Hall, 32 Elgin Street, Collingwood

Dinner speaker will be:

 Carl Cosack, Local Honeywood farmer and NDACT Chair

Inform YOURSELF about Quarry impacts on the local water supply and consequently your Local Food

For more information and to reserve a seat at the Pasta Pot Luck, please call
Eva Meriorg – 705-888-5862

*The Georgian Bay Food Alliance (GBFA) The Georgian Bay Food Alliance is a group of like-minded individuals, professionals and organizations promoting healthy sustainable local food. The GBFA vision is to support a community that values and has access to fresh local food through a vibrant commercial and domestic food system.

"Re-imagining Our Cities: Toward a Comprehensive Strategy for the Urban Economies of Southern Ontario"

Date: Friday April 13, 2012

Location: York University, Toronto, Ontario

NDACT will be present at this summit

Danny Beaton: Honour and Protect Mother Earth

Celebrate life, justice, earth, air, fire, water

Date: Sunday, April 29, 2012

Time: 1:30 PM

Where: First Unitarian Congregation of Ontario, 175 St Clair Ave West (at Avenue Road). For directions, please go to: http://firstunitariantoronto.org/thinking-of-visiting-us/getting-here

TICKETS $15 (sliding scale available) EVERYONE WELCOME

Limited seating - Get your tickets early

Learn about environmental protection through a North American Native Perspective. Get your "Stop the Mega-Quarry” signs & buttons, and NDACT membership.

Sponsored by First Unitarian Green Team & Toronto Chapter Council of Canadians

For more information, please go to: http://firstunitariantoronto.org/social-justice/green-team/328-danny-beaton-talk-20120429

by Jason van Bruggen

April 5, 2012 at 7 PM 

Jason & NDACT Chair, Carl Cosack, will be present to discuss the film.

Location: Ralph Thornton Community Centre, 2nd floor, 765 Queen St. E. at Saulter St. (2 blocks east of Broadview Ave., Toronto)

A Unified Network for Positive Change -

The Inner Garden Presents, Julia Butterfly Hill

Date: Tuesday April 17, 2012

Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Location: OISE at University of Toronto, 252 Bloor St. W., Toronto

Click here for full details.

Click here for "The Inner Garden" events.

When: Sunday, April 22, 2012

Time: 11AM - 5 PM

Location: Honeywood Arena, 706114 County Rd. 21, Honeywood

Featuring the work of more than 40 artists. All proceeds go to the campaign to stop the Mega Quarry.

For full details, please go to their website.

Click on the poster for an enlarged view of the poster with event details.

In our call to action, we asked people to submit their comments about the proposal for Melancthon's Official Plan, to the Township. Thank you to all that took the time to do so. It is greatly appreciated.

Our position is stated in the letter by Planscape, NDACT's Planner. Click here to view letter.

To view the original "call to action" with details and a link to Melancthon's proposal, click here.

Habitat Protection and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

Harper Government to Eliminate Habitat Protection Provisions in the Canada Fisheries Act.

To date the Harper government has shown little regard for the protection of the environment and over the past few years has supervised the almost total elimination of enforcement of the habitat protection and the pollution provisions of the Canada Fisheries Act (Sections 35 and 36 respectively).

During the Cohen Inquiry in 2011 data was presented to show that pollution and habitat violation investigations have been greatly reduced and convictions of violations in BC and indeed throughout Canada is now almost non-existent.

The Fisheries Act of Canada was put in place in 1868 and is one of the oldest and most tested pieces of environmental legislation in the world. In 1975 many people worked hard to get a proper section added to the Act to protect fish habitat in Canada.

Section 35 (habitat protection) was passed by Parliament in 1976 and has been extensively used across Canada over the past 36 years. In B.C., the Federal and BC governments largely quit enforcing the pollution and habitat sections of the Act in favor of allowing industry to self govern their own environmental project’s ‘needs’ and monitor their own self compliance. This has proven to be a disaster wherever it has been attempted elsewhere in the World.

Click here to view the Important Form Letter Against Dismantling of The CEAA.

Township of Melancthon, Official Plan Review

NDACT  - Call to Action 

Melancthon taxpayers

Call to Action  - We need your help and participation with the Review of the Melancthon Official Plan.  Please support us and consider your future

The proposed new Township of Melancthon Official Plan has been prepared and you have until March 29th to submit written comments to affect change.  Even if you cannot make a submission by this date please let the Township know what you think as soon as you can.

“Mega Quarry Posters” by 1st Year OCADU Graphic Design Students

Opening Reception Wednesday March 28, 2012

Opening Reception Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Series of Posters on display from March 26 - April 2

Location: The Learning Zone - OCAD University, 122 St. Patrick St., Level 1, Toronto

Wed. Mar. 28: "Artists Against the MegaQuarry" awarded prizes for the top three poster designs, as well as for honourable mentions.

Weekly Call to Action – March 19, 2012

Welcome to our Weekly Call to Action. 

Our goals for this focused action campaign are:

1. To attract attention through quantity as well as content
2. To keep the proposed mega quarry on the “front burner”
3. To keep the quarry licence application process open and transparent by interacting with various levels of government on an ongoing basis.

If you have any suggestions or questions regarding the strategy of this campaign, contact NoMegaQuarry@xplornet.ca.

ACTION:  Contact the Prime Minister, the Minister of Natural Resources, the Minister of the Environment and your MP and demand that Canada  strengthen environmental law rather than weaken it.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) is one of the most important pieces of environmental legislation in Canada

.  Today it is under attack by corporate lobbyists and the federal government who want to "streamline" regulations to better facilitate business opportunities.   

“The Conservative government is systematically dismantling environmental protection and regulation,” said NDP fisheries critic Fin Donnelly. “By eliminating provisions to protect fish habitat, they can push through their agenda of pipelines, oil super tankers, mega mines and other projects that harm the environment.”

Template e-mail

Responses received to date:

Elizabeth May, NDP

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When Will the Review of the Provincial Aggregate Resources Act Begin?

It has been six months since the Ontario Government committed to undertake a serious review of the Provincial Aggregate Resources Act.  This promise was greeted enthusiastically by Ontarians who recognized some time ago that the Act was severely dated and required a comprehensive overhaul.  For many Ontarians, the Highland Companies application for a 2,300 acre below-the-water table mega quarry on prime agricultural land in the Hills of the Headwaters in Dufferin County readily exposed a variety of very serious flaws in that old legislation.

We call on the Minister to make his intentions known and announce the start of this very important review.

You can reach Ontario Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle at: mgravelle.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org or http://www.michaelgravelle.onmpp.ca/Contact.aspx or fax at: 416-325-5316

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_detail.do?locale=en&ID=40 full list of contact information

 sample letter in PDF form

sample letter in word format

It is best to write a letter and sign your name, and include your address. Emails to government agencies are not always as effective.

You may also call his constituency office at 1-888-516-5555.

Water Docs. An Ecologos film festival focusing on water issues.

Dates: March 22 - April 22, 2012

Location: Ralph Thornton Centre, 2nd Floor, 765 Queen St. E., Toronto  (2 blocks east of Broadview Avenue at Saulter Street) http://www.ralphthornton.org/

April 5, 2012  “Save Our Water” by Jason van Bruggen. Jason & NDACT Chair, Carl Cosack, were present to discuss the film.

Click on picture for printable poster with details.

Admission to all films is free.

Date: Saturday & Sunday, February 3 - 4, 2012

Time: Friday Feb. 3, 6:00-9:00 PM evening reception

:Saturday, Feb. 4, 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Location:

Studio 5 - 1362 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON (south of St. Clair)

Proceeds from the sales of these works will be donated, in half or full to the campaign.

For more details, please go to: http://www.artistsagainstthemegaquarry.com/

When: April 13, 14 & 15, 2012

Where: Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto

Booth 1815 near the main stage. 

Click here to download 2 free admission tickets!

Friday, April 13 from 4 - 5 PM, there will be a Mega Quarry Discussion including NDACT in the Panel discussion.

For more details about the show, (exhibitors, admission, hours, directions, main stage lineup etc.) Please go to the following link: http://www.greenlivingonline.com/torontoshow/index.html

2012 Farmland Preservation Forum

Join them in Guelph on Feb 17th for their 2012 Forum on “Balancing Agriculture and Resource Demands in Rural Ontario.”

Farming. Urban growth. Aggregates. Green energy. Natural heritage.

How do we effectively balance the use of our land resources while also ensuring the long-term sustainability of farming?

NDACT's Chair, Carl Cosack will be one of the speakers at this forum.

For more information and registration, Please go to: http://ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/resources/2012-forum

Weekly Call to Action:

Weekly Call to Action November 27, 2011

ACTION:  Send a Letter or e-Mail to Ontario’s Minister of the Environment

Congratulate Mr. Jim Bradley on his new position and introduce him to the mega-quarry proposal.  Ask for clear and concise guidelines from the MOE in how the public can be engaged in the pending Environmental Assessment.

Sample letter – print or copy and paste this letter, and adapt to taste

email: minister.moe@ontario.ca

Ministry of Environment (ON) Info

Mega Quarry is on their agenda

When: Sunday, November 20, 2011

Time: 8:30 AM - 12:00 Noon

Location: Puslinch Community Center

Mega-quarry proposal in Melancthon.

a) Huge amount of publicity; much activity

b) Environmental assessment (EA).

Click here for more details and directions.

An Insignificant Harvey

Date: Tuesday November 8, 2011

Time: 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM

Location: Gayety Theatre, 116 Collingwood St., Suite 201, Collingwood, ON

There will also be a short film about the proposed Melancthon Mega Quarry, before the main attraction film.

 When Harvey crosses paths with a stray husky his life begins to change.

Premier Screening: Toronto, Friday, November 14, 2011

For full list of screening venues, click here.

NDACT will have an information booth at the Gayety Theatre, Collingwood.

Foodstock draws thousands against mega quarry

Posted in "BlogTO", Monday, October 17, 2011

By Emily Burke

http://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2011/10/foodstock_draws_thousands_against_mega_quarry/

Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon

Location: Mulmur Township Hall, 758070-2nd Line East, Terra Nova

Catch up and be informed about several issues:

• Airport Road Proposed Gravel Pit - presented by CORE
• Wind Turbines, Mulmur Update - presented by CORE
• Proposed Melancthon Mega Quarry - presented by NDACT
• Mulmur Official Plan Update, provincial position & zoning implications - presented by Ron Mills, Mulmur Township Planner

Presentations will include time for questions and answers.All are welcome.

Time: 12:00 noon - 4:00 PM

Location: Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave., Toronto

Join Brick Works in celebrating the season’s bounty! For the fifth year in a row, they are putting the spotlight on local growers, ranchers, fishers and artisans so gather your friends and family and prepare for the tastiest day of the year.

NDACT will have a booth set up at this picnic.

For more information about the event and directions go to: http://ebw.evergreen.ca/picnic/

A Blessfest day is a day of fun for animals, animal lovers and pet owners. It is the combination of a fall fair with entertainment, demonstrations and shopping. 

Free admission!

Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Location: Fairy Lake Park, Water Street, Newmarket

NDACT will have a booth at this event

For directions and more information about Blessfest, go to http://www.blessfest2011.com

 FOODSTOCK 2011 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROPOSED QUARRY LANDS

Time: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Where: Lennox Farms, Black Farms & VanderZaag Farms, 518024 Dufferin County Road 124, Melancthon Township north of Shelburne

:located on Dufferin County Road 124, north of Shelburne, at the north west corner of Dufferin County Road 124 and Melancthon 20 Sideroad

: entrance off Melancthon 20 Sideroad - to public parking lot - follow Melancthon 20 Sideroad west and turn at the first right  (going north) onto Melancthon 3rd Line - watch for signs

: Due to the number of people expected we have 2 parking lots. The south lot is for volunteers and overflow parking (off Melancthon 20 Sideroad) and the north lot (off Melancthon 3rd Line) is for general public parking which is closer to the event area.

(For location on map, copy and paste "518024 County Road 124, Shelburne, Dufferin County, Ontario" onto Google Map search box)

Main Stage Performances By: Sarah Harmer, Jim Cuddy, Tom Barlow, Cuff the Duke, Hayden, The Loon Choir, Lily Frost, Jose Contreras, Ron Sexsmith; Master of Ceremonies, Dale Goldhawk and more. New addition to musical line up....Tyler, Kevin and Jim from "The Barenaked Ladies"!

• Over 100 top chefs including Michael Stadtlander, Jamie Kennedy, Anthony Walsh and more.
  

Join Chef Michael Stadtlander and 100 of the best chefs from across Canada for an outdoor,
pay-what-you can, public food event in support of the movement to Stop The Mega
Quarry. All funds raised will go to fighting the mega quarry. Each chef will prepare
one item, celebrating the local bounty and will be encouraging Ontarian's to stand up
and have their voice heard by the government. Everyone is welcome.

For Foodstock site map & entertainment line up, click on  SITE MAP.

Pre-registration is not necessary. Just show up. Please come and enjoy!

See also the YouTube presentation by The Canadian Chefs' Congress: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpHxCG5owWk

• Bring your own chair, cutlery, plates and cups

• Please do not bring any animals, pets, other than service animals, as insurance for this event does not permit pets.

• Alcohol free

• Smoking in designated area only please

• Rain or shine, dress appropriately as everything is outside

• WEAR COUNTRY APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR

____________________________

BUSES To Foodstock and Return

Collingwood

A bus has been rented to bring people from Collingwood, Ontario to Foodstock and Return

Please contact Joslyn Biggins at 705-445-2950

Flesherton

Time: Departs 10:30 AM

Departs from:  Flesherton Legion Parking Lot, Elizabeth St.

Bus Leaves Foodstock at: 4:00 PM

Contact: Call 519-924-0316, 519-377-7965 or 519-924-0858

Guelph

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=167799386628287

Time: 10:00 AM - 4 PM

For more information click on the link above.

Hamilton

Toronto

..............................

 Click here to volunteer for Foodstock

Click here to be a sponsor for Foodstock 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FOODSTOCK-

Jobs may include parking control,
traffic control, runners between chefs, messengers, staffing information booths, chefs
assistants, trouble shooting, selling signs, etc. etc.

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

Wednesday October 12, Thursday October 13, Friday October 14 at Lennox Farms
between 4 and 7 pm to do setup for Foodstock

Saturday October 15, at Lennox Farms anytime through the day to do setup for
Foodstock

SUNDAY OCTOBER 16 at Lennox Farms 7:30 am to 10 p.m. SHOW TIME so please
show up to volunteer.
PLEASE RSVP to davidwaters@remax.net OR dbaylis@xplornet.ca with your firm
commitment on dates and times.

Time: 3:00 PM

Location: Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey's campaign office:2250 Bovaird Drive East, units #109/110, Brampton (beside the Hearing Aid Clinic)

Purpose: To express our opposition to the proposed quarry which would destroy 2300 acres of prime farm land and threaten the water relied upon by ONE MILLION CANADIANS.

Peaceful Anti Mega Quarry Demonstration

Organized by the: Brampton Greens

For further information click here.

Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

  Location: Studio on Dragon's Back, 597494 - 2nd Line West, Mulmur Township (Honeywood area)

Contact: 519-925-1323

In a follow -up to the "Paint In" this past July, where area artists gathered in Mulmur to Paint the Beauty of the Hills at Risk, Honeywood.

Studio on Dragon's Back is part of the North of 89 Open Studio Tour -
Works from many local artists including: Bryan Davies, Glen Conley, Inese Bite, Peter Adams, Laurie Foote, Brenda Dekker,  Arnold deGraff, Donna Tranquada, Sandi Wong, Martha Bull, Mary Lazier and many more...

Proceeds from the sale of works will go to support the Opposition to the Mega Quarry through NDACT."

For more information and a map, of North of 89 Tour, click here.

When: Thursday, October. 27, 2011

Time: 7:30 - 10:00 AM

Location: Cassie Campbell Community Centre, 1050 Sandalwood Parkway W., Brampton, ON

http://www.davidtilson.ca/media/press-release/tilson-tables-petition-calling-for-environmental-assessment-on-melancthon-quarry-project

Click on the above link for petition and more information

http://www.simcoe.com/news/article/1136224--quarry-protest-friday

Posted in "The Barrie Advance" and "Simcoe.com"

September 29, 2011 by Staff Reporter

Time: 6:30 PM on CBC television and CBC Radio One

The debate, held at the Canadian Broadcast Centre in downtown Toronto, will be broadcast live on CBC Television and CBC Radio One starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The debate will feature leaders of the three major political parties: Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty, Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: University of Guelph, Guelph ON, Thornborough Room, Room 1200

The topic is The Highland Companies quarry proposal.

Location: GNE Fairgrounds

NDACT will have a booth set up at this Collingwood Fall Fair

For more information about the exhibition and location, please go to http://www.greatnorthernex.com

Provincial Green Party Leaders have been included in debates in British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, but not Ontario.

If you wish to sign the petition to let Mike Schreiner speak at the televised leaders’debate, go to http://letmikespeak.ca/en/sign and get more details.

NDACT does not endorse any political party.

Lennox Farms is cooking for 50, all are welcome.

Time: 6:30 PM 

Location: Peace Valley Ranch, 638135 Prince of Wales Road, Mulmur Township

Contact: Carl Cosack

Ranch: 519-925-0152

Home: 519-925-6628

cosack@zing-net.ca

Unity Ride to Stop the Largest Quarry in Canada

When: Depart Saturday Sept 17th at 10:30 a.m

Where: Peace Valley Ranch

638135 Prince of Wales Rd.

Mulmur Township

Posted in "Indian Country Today Media Network"

September 7, 2011 by ICTMN Staff

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/09/environment-ontario-to-assess-melancthon-quarry-proposal/

When: Friday September 30, 2011

Time: 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM    PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE

Place: Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario

Stop the Mega Quarry Rally, Making History-Protecting our Future

We are celebrating how far the Stop the Mega Quarry movement has come over the past six months.

Broadcaster Dale Goldhawk will act as Master of Ceremonies for the event, welcoming a diverse line-up of speakers: Rancher Carl Cosack, Bernard Pope of the Ontario Farmland Preservation Organization, Brent Preston of the New Farm, Danny Beaton of the Mohawk Turtle Clan, Mark Calzavara of the Council of Canadians, Toronto Councillor Josh Matlow, Toronto chef Donna Dooher and Paul deCampo of Slow Food Toronto. Hobo Wally will also be performing.

NDACT will have an information booth at the fair

the following link give details about the fair:  http://www.orangevillefairgrounds.ca

"The Council of Canadians" have posted this story on Brent Patterson's Blog

August 29, 2011  by Melissa Dick

http://canadians.org/blog/?p=10166#

August 26, 2011: For immediate release

 Citizens, Environmental Groups and First Nations call for Federal/Provincial Review of Melancthon mega-quarry

Petitions calling for environmental assessments to be presented to Governments of Ontario and Canada

Festival in Creemore

Time: 12:00 noon - 5 PM

NDACT will have an information booth at this event

History Professor, John Varty wants to draw attention to how food is produced and the struggles faced by farmers. Welcome him to Dufferin County, as he travels from P.E.I. through the Maritimes, Quebec and Ontario.

“My goal is to put farmers on camera and give them a sustainable voice,” said Varty, who adds that there are a number of documentaries being released right now about food, but they don’t go into much detail about the role of farmers and farming.

Join the convoy to "Stop the Mega Quarry."

NDACT will have an information booth at the fair

This link will give more details about the fair: http://www.shelburnefair.com/Home.html

This is a fun and family friendly event in which the community will gather and be engaged in interactive and creative activities and mini workshops.

Chris Cosack will have an NDACT information booth at this event to help inform the public about the Mega Quarry proposal.