WWLLGGWWAAGG West Lincoln Glanbrook Wind Action Group

MEDIA RELEASE

Ancient Trail Threatens Turbines

SMITHVILLE, ON – April 27, 2014

A local amateur historian may have stopped the imminent start-up of a Niagara wind farm by simply

highlighting the importance of a thousand year old trail on the very doorstep of the turbines. And while largely

forgotten by locals and historians alike, Neil Switzer contends that this 35 km trail that stretches from the

Grand River to the Forty (Grimsby) is a major legacy trail to both native and Canadian cultures alike which

upon further study should qualify as a cultural heritage landscape of major Provincial significance under the

Ontario Heritage Act.

Unfortunately for the wind power developer Vineland Power Inc., their heritage assessment consultant missed

this historically significant feature and making matters worse the Ministry of the Environment failed to forward

Mr. Switzer’s comments back to the heritage consultant or the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport for

appropriate review. The trail comments were formally submitted to the MOE’s Environmental Registry as part

of the Green Energy Act’s public consultation process but that Act does not supersede the Ontario Heritage

Act and all projects must have clearance from the MTCS before approvals are granted.

This convenient oversight previously allowed the MOE to expeditiously grant approval to the wind project but

now, owing to property line setback violations of 4 of the 5 turbines, an amendment must be approved prior

to final project start-up. This time however Mr. Switzer is making sure the MOE cannot cover-up such an

important heritage asset. And in order to ensure that the MOE follows due process this time he has submitted

a complaint to the Ombudsman’s office detailing how the MOE will effectively be in contravention of the of

Ontario Heritage Act if it proceeds with the amendment prior to the completion of a full trail heritage

assessment.

Mr. Switzer stated “the depth, richness and importance of Niagara’s native and pre-confederation history is

unparalleled in Ontario and MOE’s disregard for this significant historic trail is a major insult to all Canadian

and First Nation’s people alike”.

Examples given of the cultural significance of this trail as submitted to the MOE included:

• One of only three major north/south Iroquoian/ Neutral Indian trails connecting the Grand River to

Lake Ontario with major archaeological resources along it’s 35 km route (I.e. Grimsby Neutral ossuary

of 373 burials)

• Gateway trail influencing earliest settlement pattern of the United Empire Loyalist after the American

Revolution including many officers and soldiers of the famous Butler’s Rangers and Indian Department

(i.e. Captain Robert Nelles, friend of the British and Chief Joseph Brant, homesteading land grants at

both ends of the trail and frequented the trail so often that it became known as the Nelles Trail).

• Trail played major role in war of 1812 which not only transported local members of the 4th Lincoln

Militia to battle but significantly it was the influx of Grand River native warriors arriving along this trail

to attack the retreating Americans after the Battle of Stoney Creek together with

Sir James Yeo’s naval bombardment that sent the Yanks running back to Fort George. Without this

native attack the Americans outnumbering the British 5 to 1 and with further reinforcements on

their way could easily have regrouped and overwhelmed the British at Burlington Heights and today

we’d be under an American flag.

• Captain John Norton the famed native leader of the Grand River warriors lived at the southern

terminus of this trail and regularly frequented this route on his way to battle or rendezvous with the

British at the Forty.

• Chief Mesquacosy, an Ojibwa warrior who fought beside General Brock and Tecumseh in several

battles had a son born in 1811 on the banks of the Forty Mile Creek named Maungwudaus who

become one of North America’s most famous Indian in the 1840s and 50’s. Capitalizing on his native

heritage he formed a troupe of native performers who toured the United States and Europe

performing and lecturing before huge cheering audiences as well as having private audiences with

the US President and French. Belgium and English royalty.

• Historically this trail symbolizes one of the best physical and literal representations of that formative

nation building era when the ties between two of Canada’s three founding nations were strongest as

having been forged “as brothers in arms” during the American Revolutionary War and when natives

and UEL settlers respected and depended on each other as equals

Basically Mr. Switzer admits this is a last ditch attempt to stall the turbine start-up until the upcoming

Provincial election where if the PC’s win, Hudak has said he’ll cancel the costly $20 billion subsidy to wind

and would hold wind developers accountable to comply with all setback requirements. Otherwise the future

for anti-wind protesters appears extremely bleak so long as the Liberals remain in power and continue to

approve hundreds more turbines every week in spite of electrical surpluses and spiraling energy costs.

While all Ontario homeowners, businessmen and industries are suffering from the highest electricity rates in

North America due to the Liberal/NDP Green Energy Act, the real victims are the immediate neighbours.

Experience elsewhere has shown they stand to lose 20 to 40% of their property value as well as sleepless

nights and the resultant health problems from turbine noise and low frequency infrasound. One of the

neighbours who’s property will be directly impacted by an MOE amendment to legitimize the setback

infractions stated in their comments to the MOE that she and her husband had fled their homeland in

Yugoslavia 40 years ago in an attempt to escape a communist government who always put their own

interests above the people and the community. Unfortunately, the way this issue has been handled by the

MOE has made them question whether life in Canada is really much different from our previous life under a

communist regime halfway around the world.

Not so says Neil, we may have strayed from our Canadian roots of “peace, fairness and good government”

but it’s not too late to set things right and a little history lesson might be a good place to start.

Neil Switzer Chair, WLGWAG

www.wlwag.com

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Media Contact: Deb Murphy -905-692-3023 or Neil Switzer – 905-691-3722

Attachments - Chief Maungwudaus photo

MOE EBR Submission

Ombudsman Complaint