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Greenbelt Saves Boyd Park Friends Congratulate Premier McGuinty’s Vision Kleinburg, ON -- The Friends of Boyd Park are elated at the announcement that Boyd Park has been put in the Greenbelt. The Friends congratulated the Premier for listening to an overwhelming consensus that supported protecting the park. The forest of Boyd Park is listed by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as, "the finest forest south of the Oak Ridges Moraine in the Greater Toronto Area". "All of us, the Friends of Boyd Park, have spent countless hours in the cool, quiet world of this magnificent oasis and wanted it protected for the benefit of all", said Deb Schulte, Co-Chair of the Friends and a member of the provincial government's Greenbelt Task Force. Premier McGuinty promised that the decision to include Boyd Park would be made according to the best science and planning advice available - he delivered. "With a little help from the Friends of Boyd Park and the incredible labour of dedicated government scientists, we have all managed to protect this southern-most vestige of wilderness in York Region against long odds", she added. One short year ago, the Park seemed slated for destruction by a four-lane highway. The Friends were also thrilled to be represented at the announcement by Mrs. Janet Berton, widow of the Canadian literary giant Mr. Pierre Berton. The Berton Family has lived in Kleinberg for over fifty years and has a special fondness for Boyd Park. Because of this connection with Boyd Park, a trail through its lush forest is nominated for commemoration in the Berton name. In acknowledgment of this triumph, Mrs. Berton presented a Walking Stick to the Premier to use on his favourite Greenbelt trail. The hand-crafted Walking Stick was made by the Order of Canada recipient Dave Eadie, also a long time Kleinburg resident. Pierre Berton took great care and pleasure in recording the stories of how Canada was made. At one of his last public appearances, Berton encouraged the audience to “Get Mad as Hell” and do all they could to save Boyd Park. "This Greenbelt is an exercise in community building. It is an accomplishment worthy enough that someday, someone will write about its making", commented Mrs. Berton, who attended the ceremony. "Pierre would approve", she added. The Friends were helped greatly in their efforts by Environmental Defence and the law firm Gilbert's LLP, which provided critical legal assistance over the past year. The Friends of Boyd Park is a coalition of groups, including the West Humber Naturalists, Boyd/East Humber Sub-Watershed Committee, Humber Valley Heritage Trail Association, Pinewood Estates Ratepayers Association, Kleinburg and Area Ratepayers Association, Purpleville Ratepayers Association, Friends of the Village - Woodbridge. The goal of the Friends is to see Boyd Park permanently protected within the Boyd Complex, the last large undeveloped tract of land in Vaughan. For information contact: |
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