RESTORE COOTES

"At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be infinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of Nature." H.D.T.

Russ Powers has confirmed that he does not support a Velodrome at the Dundas site suggested by the National Cycling Centre Hamilton (NCCH). In a brief phone interview today, Powers said unless directed otherwise by the new council (after October's municipal elections) he was against the Velodrome being built on the soccer field across from the Olympic Arena. He listed several concerns about that site, which included the proximity to an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), that it would have to built on the site of a former landfill, and the loss of a recreational soccer pitch. Powers, who was originally the city representative on the NCCH board of directors in the "early stages" of that organization, is no longer a director (though he was still listed as such on their web site as of today.) He said the Sierra Group did the site selection criteria for the Pan Am velodrome siting, and did not list potential locations. Sierra was hired by the city of Hamilton. So...

A constituent of ward 13, AKA Dundas, has shared info with me regarding councillor Russ Powers' position on Olympic Park as a site for the velodrome - it appears that Powers' does not think this is a good place for the Velodrome. This is a relief for those of us who are concerned with this area abutting Cootes Paradise; naturalizing and capitalizing on the beauty of the area would be a benefit to Dundas and the ecology of the marsh and surrounding lands. The east end of Dundas has been a dumping ground for years. It's time we reclaim it and bring it back to health . Steps are being made in that direction by the Hamilton Conservation Authority and the Royal Botanical Gardens. We need to make our support for this direction heard.

It seems the siting of the Velodrome in the east of Dundas, like a slasher film villain, keeps coming back to life. When the discussion is of building something new, the players never mention any concerns about environment, or alternative visions for the site. This is true of the Velodrome as much as the much debated Pan Am/Tiger-Cats stadium where there is a risk of displacing high-tech research employment lands. Councillor Russ Powers seems to be siding with the Velodrome /Dundas players. So while they are looking for a plan that would separate the Velodrome from the Stadium (the two have been linked from the start of planning up to now) they also are looking "to find ways to double the $11.4 million budgeted to build a facility substantial enough to host programs that keep the velodrome sustainable in the long term" Of course I am interested in ensuring they don't dip into our tax money to pay for a high end facility for a very select few athletes. "Th...

Some Cootes Paradise south shore trails mapped out for you! Ginger Valley/Ravine Road trail   - a commute route! Caleb's Walk/Sassafras trail   - down to the water! Chegwin Loop  - from McMaster University, down to the water on a boardwalk! The description says it touches Grindstone Creek, which it most certainly does not. You can find more trail maps for Cootes here

I had the good fortune to present a history of Cootes Drive to the Dundas Historical Society as part of their 2009 Lecture Series. I have (finally) uploaded a pdf version of my talk, and added some images from the slides I used in the presentation. You can read it as a pdf (updated link)  here .   I would love your feedback as well, so feel free to comment, or e-mail me with any thoughts regarding this document. Again, my appreciation to the Dundas Historical Society board for making the request for this history, which forced my hand, and brought me to an ongoing relationship with the microfiche wheel at the Dundas Public Library.

  The Yellow Fish program marks catch basins with the brightly coloured symbol to remind people not to pour contaminants down the drain, since the drain is part of a water collection system that will find it's way into our taps, and in some cases, into nearby bodies of water. This scene is from McMaster University, in front of the Life Sciences building. You can see the oily water in the puddle. McMaster University abuts Cootes Paradise, so of course any developments there have a potential (often negative) impact on the natural lands to the North and West of the campus.  A look at paved surfaces at the campus, and any further development that encroaches on Cootes, needs  attention. Replacing paved with permeable surfaces would help filter contaminants, and take the burden off the water collection/treatment systems which can be overwhelmed as water collects on paved surfaces before being channeled into these catch basins. Do you have any concerns relating to Mac an...