What's New

April 15, 2009.  TEA, Toronto Environmental Association, announces its program "Dig Conservation, not Holes".  TEA released a video that describes the Greater Toronto Area's gravel needs and how to meet them http://www.torontoenvironment.org as well as two stunning images http://www.torontoenvironment.org/sites/tea/files/Downtown%20Pit_06.jpg and http://www.torontoenvironment.org/sites/tea/files/Escarpment_Pit_03.jpg

 February 19, 2009.  Gravel Watch open meeting.  Beatrice Olivastri, Chief Executive Officer of Friends of the Earth Canada, dedicated to campaigning on the most urgent environmental and social issues of our times, discussing your environmental rights, and how to take a polluting cement plant to the Supreme Court and win. What does this Supreme Court case, involving St. Lawrence Cement, Quebec, mean to you and to controlling pits and quarries in Ontario?  At Puslinch Community Center.  See details: Gravel Watch Ontario public meeting. 

February 5, 2008.  Gravel Watch open meeting.  Elizabeth May, LL.B, Order of Canada, environmentalist, writer, activist, leader of the Green Party of Canada, former Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Canada, discussing how climate change translates to community action --- and what this means in Ontario’s balance between increasing development and environmental protection.  At Puslinch Community Center.  See details: Gravel Watch Ontario public meeting. 

Fall 2007. Battles Over Bedrock, in "On the Bay" Magazine.  Article with photos asking, Are gravel pits and quarries turning our beloved Escarpment into Swiss cheese?  See http://www.gravelwatch.org/orig-gw/news/otb_fall07_gravel.pdf

October 17, 2006. Gravel Watch open meeting. Nearly 200 people met for an evening with Ontario Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller and Juno Award Winner Sarah Harmer.  At Puslinch Community Center.  See details: Gravel Watch Ontario public meeting. 

December 6, 2005. Gravel Watch Ontario meeting.  Presentation by Ministry of Natural Resources staff on the Aggregate Resources Act and on input toward revising the Policy Manual for aggregates resources.  There were sessions on the Ontario Municipal Board, on noise, on proposed pits/quarries and on interaction with government.  Ongoing business included water and water tables, property de-valuation, rehabilitation, recycling, etc.

August 17, 2005.  Organizational meeting of Gravel Watch Ontario as a province-wide coalition of citizens' groups.  Board was established and officers were elected.

July 13, 2005.  Gravel Watch open meeting. Over 100 people met to hear Ontario Ministry of Natural Resource's official Stuart Thatcher discuss MNR's policy manual for aggregates and its plans for change.  Attendees voiced their concerns about the status and management of the aggregates business in Ontario.  A decision was taken to form an umbrella organization of groups concerned about aggregates.