Easement is placed on 269-acre King-Caledon property
By Bill Rea

Jane Glassco and her grandchildren were checking out this sign marking the easement on their property. She is seen here with Sabastian Glassco, 6, Kyra Walton, 9, Mat Walton, 11, Zoe Walton, 9, Benjamin Glassco, nine months, and Tyler Glassco, 14.

The Glassco property is a tract of lands that straddles the boarder of King Township and the Town of Caledon that must be seen to be appreciated.

The property is going to be protected from development thanks to the placement of a conservation easement.

A host of dignitaries gathered on the 269-acre property last Tuesday to celebrate the easement on the environmentally sensitive land.

"Boy, this place is beautiful," declared Andre Flys, president of the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust.

"The Oak Ridges Moraine land Trust is extremely proud to be part of protecting such a legacy," he added. "The Glassco family's generosity in donating this conservation easement is a big step toward protecting our water resources in perpetuity."

"What a magnificent day to do this," declared King Mayor Margaret Black, who added her 18-acre property adjoins the Glassco lands.

She also expressed the appreciation of the Township and York Region for the contribution. "It's a victory for our community and it's a victory for our environment," she remarked.

As well, Black thanked ORMLT for the part they played in getting the easement placed. "Together, we have accomplished something wonderful in our community today."

The property consists of mature and second-growth forests. It houses the headwaters of the West Holland River, which drains into Lake Simcoe, and also has a 16-acre kettle lake called Hall Lake. It is home to rare plants, grasses, fish, snakes and reptiles.

A conservation easement was put on the property through the efforts of ORMLT, with financial assistance from York Region, and the families of the late Elizabeth and Walter Gordon and Jane, Dan, Briony and Rufus Glassco. The placement of a conservation easement on the property ensures that no development can take place there, in perpetuity.

"Our actions today help pave the way for environmental protection for one of our region's greatest environmental assets, and further preserve the rural life that we have come to appreciate in King Township," Black observed.

Simone Banz of the Peel Region planning department, said she was familiar with the generosity of the Glasscos, adding that's where steps like this get started.

Andrea Kettles of Environment Canada said her department's ecological gifts program is possible because of donations like the one from the Glasscos."

She added the programs helps other canadians make similar donations. There have been 573 such contributions made across the country, meaning some 126,000 acres have been protected.

"The program is a success, thanks to you folks," she said.

Speaking on behalf of her family, Jane Glassco observed that a lot of work went into this, especially on the part of her family. "It's been a long process getting it this far," she said.

"We don't think of this as generous," she remarked, commenting the idea is to protect their land from development. "We think of this as selfish."

"I don't think we need any more development," she added, "but I think we need green places."