Occupation to stop destruction of Guelph Old Growth Forest

The damage at the Guelph Old Growth Forest so far. Via http://hcbpoccupation.wordpress.com/

Residents of Guelph, ON, have been occupying the proposed site of the Hanlon Creek Busines Park. The site is also home to Guelph’s Old Growth Forest, and endangers local wetlands and the Jefferson Salamander, on Ontario’s official threatened species list.

The occupation began on Monday, July 27th. They were notified that they would be evicted as of July 30th at 4pm, but the time came and went and protestors are still there.

The fight to protect this area isn’t a new one. In 2008, Guelph residents who had been working on this issue already founded LIMITS (Land Is More Important Than Sprawl) to raise awareness and fight the HCBP development.

I also had the chance to be in Guelph a few years ago at the same time as the launch of the Plant an Old Growth Forest initiative, to restore land and grow an new old growth forest on the lands of the Ignatius Jesuit Centre of Guelph. The stereotype of southern Ontario, one I admit I often hold, is that of highways and strip malls. Many of Guelph’s residents, though, have long been an example of that other models can work.

Sunrise grounding circle on the occupied land. Via http://hcbpoccupation.wordpress.com/

More information is available about the occupation is available on the HCBP Occupation blog at http://hcbpoccupation.wordpress.com, or contact them for interviews or more information at +15198206280, +15198206239 or hcbpoccupatio[at]gmail[dot]com.

They are also inviting supporters to the site to lend a hand – a map with directions can be found on their website.

[cross-posted from The Dominion]