Dear Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
I would like to express my strong opposition to any plan of waterfront development that involves destroying the last remaining shorelines in Scarborough with armour rocks, revetments and roads. If the TRCA continues with the planned development, the last two remaining beaches will be permanently destroyed.
East Point Beach is a natural shore of about 4 km with a true coastal feel between Grey Abbey Ravine and Highland Creek, and Bluffer's Beach is a sandy beach with dune grass and diverse plants in a tranquil bay at the foot of the historic Cathedral Bluffs. Both of these beaches and their natural habitat will be lost forever if they are altered with your planned development. It is absolutely unacceptable in this day and age for this to be happening, especially when the trend is to be moving towards respect for nature.
We are living in a large metropolis that is becoming increasingly busy and if we pave over and alter these beautiful natural spaces then we are destroying the only sanctuary that we have left. As a city, we should be supporting low-impact access to the water which allows and encourages people to enjoy the benefits of being at the water's edge with minimal disruption to the natural environment. We all know from first-hand experience, the joy of being near water. It is rejuvenating to both the mind and the spirit to walk along a sandy shore, where all you hear are the sounds of waves rolling, water splashing and the call of songbirds and seagulls. It makes no sense to destroy this and replace it with concrete.
I understand and appreciate that the work of the TRCA is about development and about integrating people with nature, but perhaps now is the time to consider a different approach. Why can't the TRCA become the true 'conservation authority' that you were elected to be?
Is it possible that you might consider being a voice of the future and perhaps show the public new ways to connect with the natural world. This may involve going against the grain and 'paving' a new road for a deeper and more meaningful connection to the natural environment. Why can't we keep the natural world 'natural' and let us be the ones to develop! Let's stop altering, destroying, rearranging, and packaging up nature so that we can experience is in our limited and convenient ways.
If we allow these shorelines to remain natural, we are honouring our connection to our rich environmental heritage and we are demonstrating respect and commitment to the expansive body of freshwater that we are supposed to be guardians of.
These last remaining natural shorelines of Scarborough and all of their habitat, wildlife and birds are worth protecting. They are worth preserving. Let's envision a future that respects nature and makes conservation a priority for these ecologically sensitive areas.
These beaches are a treasure - lets take pride in protecting them!
Jen Falvy
Concerned Community Member, Visual Artist and Nature Enthusiast
I would like to express my strong opposition to any plan of waterfront development that involves destroying the last remaining shorelines in Scarborough with armour rocks, revetments and roads. If the TRCA continues with the planned development, the last two remaining beaches will be permanently destroyed.
East Point Beach is a natural shore of about 4 km with a true coastal feel between Grey Abbey Ravine and Highland Creek, and Bluffer's Beach is a sandy beach with dune grass and diverse plants in a tranquil bay at the foot of the historic Cathedral Bluffs. Both of these beaches and their natural habitat will be lost forever if they are altered with your planned development. It is absolutely unacceptable in this day and age for this to be happening, especially when the trend is to be moving towards respect for nature.
We are living in a large metropolis that is becoming increasingly busy and if we pave over and alter these beautiful natural spaces then we are destroying the only sanctuary that we have left. As a city, we should be supporting low-impact access to the water which allows and encourages people to enjoy the benefits of being at the water's edge with minimal disruption to the natural environment. We all know from first-hand experience, the joy of being near water. It is rejuvenating to both the mind and the spirit to walk along a sandy shore, where all you hear are the sounds of waves rolling, water splashing and the call of songbirds and seagulls. It makes no sense to destroy this and replace it with concrete.
I understand and appreciate that the work of the TRCA is about development and about integrating people with nature, but perhaps now is the time to consider a different approach. Why can't the TRCA become the true 'conservation authority' that you were elected to be?
Is it possible that you might consider being a voice of the future and perhaps show the public new ways to connect with the natural world. This may involve going against the grain and 'paving' a new road for a deeper and more meaningful connection to the natural environment. Why can't we keep the natural world 'natural' and let us be the ones to develop! Let's stop altering, destroying, rearranging, and packaging up nature so that we can experience is in our limited and convenient ways.
If we allow these shorelines to remain natural, we are honouring our connection to our rich environmental heritage and we are demonstrating respect and commitment to the expansive body of freshwater that we are supposed to be guardians of.
These last remaining natural shorelines of Scarborough and all of their habitat, wildlife and birds are worth protecting. They are worth preserving. Let's envision a future that respects nature and makes conservation a priority for these ecologically sensitive areas.
These last remaining natural shorelines of Scarborough and all of their habitat, wildlife and birds are worth protecting. They are worth preserving. Let's envision a future that respects nature and makes conservation a priority for these ecologically sensitive areas.
These beaches are a treasure - lets take pride in protecting them!
Jen Falvy
Concerned Community Member, Visual Artist and Nature Enthusiast
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