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Enhancement
of the Valley
Thank
You Mac Serve
On
October 5, we had the pleasure of meeting and working alongside
an incredible energized group of students from McMaster
University.
Kris
McCurdy, of Experiential Education, a community service
and leadership co-ordinator, was instrumental in organizing
a group of students that have been appropriately named "Mac
Serve"
This
is the first year in this venture, which he hopes will inspire
students to get more involved and make a difference about
pressing needs in the community. At this point it is still
undecided whether this will be an annual event. On October
5th students volunteered with several different organizations.
There were some painting at the Seniors Day Centre under
the direction of the VON, some helping children with their
homework at the Hamilton East Kiwanis Boys' and Girls' Club,
some taking developmentally challenged adults on a scavenger
hunt at Christies Conservation Area, and about 20 in Red
Hill Valley.
Two
hours later they had gathered enough litter in one specific
area that a compactor was required to remove it. This area
is subject to being in a vunerable spot, blow ins, play
areas, walking paths. No job was too big and with their
enthusiasm and energy, it became a small task.
We
took the time to visit the channel under the Queenston overpass,
where the salmon will soon be running where several expressed
their interest to assist in this project.
As
a token of our appreiciation, both Kris and group leader
Jerrod were given Walter Peace's book, "From Mountain
to Lake: The Red Hill Creek Valley". We certainly hope
to see them again next year!!
Sir
Winston Churchill Volunteers
 Once
again this fall, Students of Sir Winston Churchill, under
the direction of teachers, Alex Komarniski and, are sure
to be seen at the Queenston Road channel. They will be assisting
the salmon make their journey up Red Hill creek, returning
home to spawn. Without help, the salmon are unable to complete
their journey due to problems with the channel design.
In
past years, these students have come equipped with nets,
hip waders, carrying baskets, and their determination to
rescue as many salmon as possible.
This
is an annual event, and as one class graduates, another
steps up to carry on this this very worthwhile project.
Once the students have seen their first salmon struggling
to get through this man-made death trap, their only agenda
is to help.
Parkside
Student Volunteers
Lauren
Skerlan, an OAC student at Parkside High, who is in the
process of doing a project on why the Red Hill Valley should
remain in its natural state, was instrumental in assembling
30 students, including her teacher, to visit and enjoy a
walk through the valley on November 5. They toured the area
between King Street and Queenston Road, but this was just
a side trip for them.
Their
main reason for coming was to help pick litter. A huge area,
all four inward slopes to the valley at the corner of Mt.
Albion and King, were cleared as bags and bags were filled,
and from their response, they even had fun and said were
pleased they could help and would be back.
Once
again, students from various high schools are showing their
interest in the valley, not just by hiking but by also assisting
in keeping it litter free. Its our students who are our
future, and the news is certainly positive from these groups.
Friends
Members Win Environmentalist of the Year Awards
Three
activists of Friends of Red Hill Valley — Corey Lewis,
Vicky Sutherland and Dorothy Grieg — have been selected
for prestigious environmental awards.
The
Dr. Victor Cecilioni Award for the Environmentalist of the
Year for 2001 is being awarded to Corey Lewis. Corey is
being recognized as a determined crusader against toxic
and illegal dumping and a defender of natural areas especially
in the upper Stoney Creek region and the east-end of the
new city of Hamilton. Corey has been the driving force behind
the protection of 87-Acre Park within the Vinemount Quarry
Environmentally Significant Area.
There
have been a number of issues at the park that have required
knowledge of natural history and environmental law, political
finesse, strength of character, and perseverance.
For
the past 15 years, Corey has worked diligently to raise
public and political awareness of the need to protect natural
areas and the environment. He truly represents the spirit
and tenacity of the first Environmentalist of the Year,
Dr. Victor Cecilioni.
Vicky
Sutherland and Dorothy Grieg are being given an Award of
Merit for conducting WEEKLY litter clean-ups in Red Hill
Valley. These two women have spent hundreds of hours in
all kinds of weather to ensure that the full beauty of the
valley greets all who visit it. They have also worked closely
with staff from the City's Parks Department to reduce illegal
dumping.
The
Environmentalists of the Year Awards and Dinner have been
held each year for the past twenty-two years. An independent
committee of judges determines the award recipients.
City
Ordered to Clean Up Red Hill Creek
The
Red Hill Creek stands to benefit significantly now that
the city of Hamilton has decided to implement rather than
to fight four orders issued against it by the Ministry of
the Environment.
The
four orders were issued by the MOE in December because the
city was allowing the discharge of pollutants from storm
and combined sewers directly to the creek. The city appealed
the orders to the MOE's local district office and, fortunately,
the MOE stood firm, and, aside from some extensions of time
frames for implementation, the original orders stand. The
city also had the option to take its appeal beyond the local
MOE district office to the provincial Environmental Appeals
Tribunal. The deadline to launch an appeal at this level
was January 11th, but no appeal was made.
In
a memo to the mayor and council, Mr. Peter Crockett, Manager
of Transportation, Operations and Environment for the City
of Hamilton explained:
"While
we believe the orders were unnecessary because of the
work currently underway or planned by the City of Hamilton,
we will not pursue any appeal. Through our discussions
with Ministry staff during this process, we believe we
have initiated some significant opportunities for open
communications between our respective organizations and
will be able to collectively advance our mutual concerns
for enhancing our environment."
The
MOE orders emerged in response to numerous citizen concerns
about discharges of pollutants from storm and combined sewer
overflow pipes directly into Red Hill Creek. The orders
require the city, among other things, to do a comprehensive
inventory of all pipes discharging into the creek. Any discharge
from these pipes must be sampled and, if problems are identified,
they must be fixed. The great benefit of having these requirements
written into MOE orders is that the city is now obligated
by law to address these impacts to Red Hill Creek within
the time frames set out by the Ministry. The full text of
the MOE's orders can be viewed at www.environmenthamilton.org.
If
you see suspicious looking discharges coming from any pipes
discharging into the Red Hill Creek, be sure to call a complaint
in to the Ministry of the Environment's 24-hour spills line
at 1-800-268-6060. You should also report any problems to
the City of Hamilton's 24-hour spills line at (905) 540-5188.
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Audio
Presentations: Red Hill Valley - No Place for a Road