Walk the walk from the Valley to Queen's Park
BUSES TO QUEEN'S PARK - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 - departing from Centre Mall (near Burger King); assemble at 9:00 a.m. - return to Hamilton by 4:00 p.m. (estimate)
Red Hill Valley Roadshow!
WALK THE WALK FROM THE VALLEY TO QUEEN'S PARK
A group of Hamilton residents will complete a five-day-trek from Red Hill Valley to Queen's Park, Monday, November 24.The group and their supporters are expected to arrive at the Provincial Legislature at 11:00 a.m. Monday
At Queen's Park they are hoping to give a cheque of $122 million to Ontario's new cash-strapped Premier, Dalton McGuinty. $120 million is the amount the provincial government has committed to an expressway that will go through Canada's largest urban park - the Red Hill Valley.
The walk began Thursday, November 20 at Hamilton's threatened Red Hill Valley where construction of the Red Hill Creek expressway is set to blast the largest hole ever contemplated (80-metres wide, 15-metres deep and nearly half a kilometre long) in the Niagara Escarpment, a designated World Biosphere reserve.
The Niagara to Tobermory Bruce Trail in Hamilton is currently blocked and guarded by private security at Mount Albion road and Mud Street where the clear-cutting of Carolinian forest has begun in preparation for winter blasting.
The group hopes that Mr. McGuinty and the Environment Minister will take back their $122 million funding for the expressway, and instead reinvest in measures for Hamilton that would curb further urban sprawl, support mass transit and reduce reliance on single occupancy vehicles. Alternatively, Mr. McGuinty might want to take half back and spend the remaining $60 million to cover an alternative highway design that preserves the valley, and expands the existing Highway 20.
Along the route, which took the walkers through Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga and Toronto, public events were held to show The Red Hill Road Show, a multi-media presentation on the ongoing struggle to save the Red Hill Valley featuring videos from the valley struggle, music and discussion.
At Queen's Park the walkers will request that Mr. McGuinty take back the money for the project and sign a pledge that would see the money applied wisely, in the interest of the health of future generations and the planet.
Contact Information for the Liberal government:
Hon. Leona Dombrowsky,Note: Mailed letters and faxes are more likely to obtain attention than emails. It is always helpful to ask for a response and to include specific questions, if possible. Contact information for all members of the Ontario legislature can be found at http://olaap.ontla.on.ca/mpp/contact.jsp so you can cc your message to your MPP, other Party leaders, etc.
Phone: 416-314-6790 Fax: 416-314-6748 E-Mail: leona.dombrowsky@ene.gov.on.ca
Hon. Leona Dombrowsky
Minister of the Environment
12th Floor, 135 St Clair Ave W
Toronto , ON M4V 1P5
Hon. David J. Ramsay,
Phone: 416-314-2301 Fax: 416-314-2216 E-Mail: david_ramsay-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Hon. David Ramsay
Minister of Natural Resources
Whitney Block, 6th Floor, Rm 6630
99 Wellesley St W.
Toronto, ON M7A 1W3
Hon. Dalton McGuinty
Phone: 416-325-1941 Fax: 416-325-7578 E-Mail: dalton_mcguinty-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Premier Dalton McGuinty
Legislative Bldg., Rm 281, Queen's Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1
** route & itinerary **
RED HILL to QUEEN'S PARK
(distances are approximate) We are walking to Queen's Park to meet with the Premier and return a cheque for $122 million in provincial money committed by the Harris/Eves government for the construction of the Red Hill Creek Expressway.You are invited to join in all or part of this walk, to attend the public meetings along the way, and to gather at Queen's Park at 11am on Monday, November 24.
For regular progress updates on the walk visit the Newswire at
To reach the walkers by phone, call 905-541-3544
Thursday, November 20
10am depart from Mud Street parking lot at Mount Albionwalk to Burlington Baptist Church, 2225 New St. 7:30pm Public Forum at Burlington Baptist Church with videos from struggle to save the valley. For more information, call IDEA at 905-637-3110
Friday, November 21
10am depart from Appleby United Church, 4407 Spruce0 km From Appleby United Church, go east on Spruce Ave
0.5 km South (right) at Appleby Line
1 km East (left) at Lakeshore Rd
12 km North (left) at Kerr St
Finish at 148 Kerr St. (corner of Kerr & Rebecca)
Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights
7:30pm
Public Forum at OCCPEHR featuring videos from the struggle to save the valley.
For more information, call OCCPEHR at 905-849-5501.
Saturday, November 22
10am depart OCCPEHR, 148 Kerr St.0 km From OCCPEHR, go south (right) on Kerr St
0.05km East (left) on Lakeshore Rd and into oncoming traffic of Oakville Santa Claus Parade
(If this route is inaccessible due to crowded sidewalks of Parade, go one block south and walk east along Robinson St, go north (left) at Allan St, and east (right) on Lakeshore Rd)
8.5km Follow Lakeshore Rd as it veers north (left) and becomes Southdown Rd.
10.5km East (right) on Lakeshore Rd
16.5km Arrive in Port Credit
21.5km Finish at Etobicoke Creek.
Long Branch GO Station is 0.5 km further east along Lakeshore Rd, north (left) on Brow Dr, east (right) on Exmoor Dr)
(stay at Mississauga Unitarian Church 84 South Service Road - SE corner of Hurontario and QEW)
Night off, no events
Sunday, November 23
10am depart from Trail on eastern shore of Etobicoke Creek, just north of Lakeshore Blvd (just west of Browns Line)0 km From Etobicoke Creek, go east on Lakeshore Blvd
8 km Immediately after string of motels, turn south (right) on Palace Pier Ct
8 km Follow recreational trail over foot bridge and onto Sunnyside Beach waterfront trail
9.5km Immediately after Sunnyside Outdoor Swimming Pool, turn north (left) on Parkside Dr
11.5km East (right) on Bloor St
16.5km North (left) on St. George St
16.7km East (right) on Lowther Ave
Finish at 60 Lowther Ave, (corner of Bedford & Lowther)
Toronto Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) Meeting House
7:30pm Public Forum at Quaker Meeting House featuring speaker Don McLean, Chairperson of Friends of Red Hill Valley, and videos from the struggle to save the Valley
For more information, call 905-529-0274.
Monday, November 24
10am depart Quaker Meeting House, 60 Lowther0 km From Quaker Meeting House, East along Lowther Ave 0.5km South (right) on Avenue Rd 1.5km Arrive at Queen's Park back lawn 2.0km Walk around to Queen's Park front lawn 11am arrive at Queen's Park front lawn, meet with Premier, ministers, and media
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