Ceremony commemorates acquisition of Slokker property in Nobleton
By Bill Rea

Numerous dignitaries were pitching in to plant trees Monday in commemoration of the acquisition of some 170 Nobleton area acres from Slokker Canada. Those on hand included York Region Chair Bill Fisch, John Cary of the Trees Ontario Foundation, Mayor Margaret Black, Slokker president Bruce Kerr, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Chair Dick O'Brien, and Susan Walmer, Don Prince and Steve Gilchrist of the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust. ELECT

There were a lot of happy people in the Nobleton area Monday as they were commemorating the acquisition of 170 acres from Slokker Canada.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has assumed ownership of the site and, while protecting it from development, will rehabilitate the land by restoring it to a natural state.

The York Region will manage an approximately 94-acre portion of the land as part of the York Regional Forest tract. Beginning in the spring of 2007, the Trees Ontario Foundation will help fund tree planting efforts.

"This is a glorious day to be chairman of the conservation authority," declared TRCA Chair Dick O'Brien, and there were numerous local dignitaries on hand who agreed with him.

"It's a great day to be here," commented Regional Chair Bill Fisch, who pointed to York's commitment to preserve forest cover, stating that it's days like that when they believe they can attain what they are aiming for.

The acquisition of the land was the result of partnerships between a

number of agencies and levels of government, including King Township, the Region, City of Toronto, and Slokker, which made the land available.

"This is about partners," declared Mayor Margaret Black.

"In King, we are proud of our green community," she added, pointing to other properties that are being protected, including Cold Creek Conservation Area and the easements that were recently approved along with 7th concession.

"It's a great contribution to our community," she said.

Slokker president Bruce Kerr said he thought "3,000 trees here was better than 300 homes."

He stressed how pleased he was to see that the property will be preserved

"Today's designation of 69 hectares of land for green space represents a very important and lasting contribution to the environmental health of Ontario," commented Trees Ontario Foundation president John Cary.

The funding partnership for the property's acquisition included $1 million each from the Region and Toronto, $760,000 from Slokker in a price reduction on the property, $37,000 from the Foundation of Greater Toronto, $25,000 from the Township, $25,000 from the Oak Ridges Moraine land trust and $3,000 in private donations.