2019 Vermilion River Clean-up – Wabagishik Lake

On July 1, 2019   /   Events, Life on the River, Vermilion River Clean-up  

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came out on Saturday, the 29th of June, to help clean-up the Vermilion River and Wabagishik Lake.   A special thanks to the Basso Family, the Whitefish Lion’s Club, and Chris’s Your Independent Grocers, for providing our volunteers with a hot and tasty lunch.  As you can see we collected a lot of garbage again this year – a very productive and fun day!!   The poison ivy was abundant, so please remind us next year to hold the event earlier when plants are not sprouting. :-/

Also thank you to Hiamedia for donating our beautiful new Vermilion River Clean-up signage!  You can reach Hiamedia through their website at: www.hiamedia.com
  Description: hia logo

Check out the photos:

 

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Official Plan Review – Phase 2

On June 17, 2019   /   Blue Green Algae, Climate Change, Drinking Water, Natural Heritage, Septic Systems, Stormwater, VRS Comments, Waste Water, Water Quality  

The extremes of climate change will affect the operation of critical infrastructure such as water and wastewater treatment plants, sewers, the electrical grid, public transport and roads that are sensitive to temperature and weather thresholds.  Beyond these thresholds, infrastructure may have reduced capacity or may not function at all.

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Junction Creek Subwatershed Study and Stormwater Master Plan – VRS Comments

On May 15, 2019   /   Climate Change, Concerns, Junction Creek, Studies, VRS Water Quality Study  

Climate Change is projected to have long-term and ever-increasing effects on communities and the environment.  It is encouraging to hear that data gaps in the vulnerability assessment for the City of Greater Sudbury’s (CGS) drainage related infrastructure are being addressed to prepare for the predicted increases in the severity and frequency of extreme weather events associated with climate change.

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VRS supports the City of Greater Sudbury Declaring a Climate Emergency

On May 15, 2019   /   Climate Change, Concerns  

Climate change is already impacting our daily lives here in Northeastern Ontario with high costs socially, environmentally and financially.  The scientific consensus is that there is a small window of time to act to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.  It is both expected of our community, and in our community’s best interests to take the necessary action now.

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Parking Issues at Ella Road and Wabagishik Road – Vermilion River Access

On April 17, 2019   /   Access, Concerns  

This has led to a very congested parking situation where safety has become a serious issue when emergency vehicles can’t get through to local residents because of vehicles blocking the roadway. Consequently, the City was enforcing the 4-hour parking limit and ticketing vehicles. A 4-hour parking limit is not workable for camp and property owners who frequent their camps for days and weeks at a time, and we are very grateful that you arranged for a temporary moratorium on ticketing. Unfortunately, the problem with congestion and safety issues persists.

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Speak out against Bill 66

On January 13, 2019   /   Concerns, Mining, VRS Comments, Water Quality  

Update:  Victory!! Provincial Government announced that Schedule 10 will be withdrawn from Bill 66 because of the huge public outcry.  People power works!  

A big thanks to all those who signed petitions and contacted their MPPs!!

The Government of Ontario is proposing Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018. It is unacceptable that Schedule 10 of this Bill would enable municipalities to simply pass an “open-for-business planning by-law” under the Planning Act, to exempt local development from the application of key components of several important provincial laws, plans and policies, including the:
• Clean Water Act, 2006, Section 39
• Great Lakes Protection Act, 2015, Section 20
• Greenbelt Act, 2005, Section 7
• Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008, Section 6, and
• Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2003, Section 7

It’s also extremely troubling that a municipal open-for-business planning by-law would not be subject to public notice, comment or appeal provisions which are currently mandatory under the Planning Act. Read more →

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Bill 66 – Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018 – Request to Mayor & Council

On January 12, 2019   /   Concerns, Heavy Metals, Life on the River, Mining, Natural Heritage, VRS Comments, Water Quality  

It is crucial that we reject Bill 66, as risky development decisions made in this jurisdiction or adjacent municipalities could have negative impacts on Sudbury’s air, land and/or water, as well as the Great Lakes and many other highly valued ecosystems. Being “Open for Business” is a good thing, unless it is at the expense of public health and safety or the environment. 

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Wabagishik Generating Station Spillway Replacement

On November 29, 2018   /   Dams, Wabagishik GS Spillway  

As a result of our site visit of the Wabagishik facility on the 26thof February of this year, and your reassurance that the facility will continue to operate in accordance with the current Spanish and Vermilion Rivers Water Management Plan, with no anticipated changes to water levels, flows, sediment mobility or fish habitat, we have no concerns with the Project.  In fact, the increased capacity of the new spillway to not fail under the 1:1000 year return event will ensure resilience in the face of the predicted increasing extremes of Climate Change.

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