Save the Bala Falls

University of Waterloo students, under the direction of Masters of Environmental Studies candidate Wendy de Gómez (daughter of Bala’s Wayne and Donna Stimson), have prepared a case study of the Bala Falls power station proposal, describing the required environmental assessment process.

A Citizens Guide to Environmental Assessment is a pertinent, well-written contribution to community efforts to preserve Bala’s natural heritage and economic viability. “CONCORDIA CUM VERITATE” – In Harmony with Truth.

What about THE MONEY?

It’s a given that building a hydroelectric generating station in the middle of a tourist town’s major tourist attraction is problematic. Why then would a private entrepreneur want to attempt it? Much more money of course! Bala is on “the grid” which means a lot less money would have to be spent on transmission infrastructure (lines, towers, right-of-ways etc.) and that means faster payback and bigger profits.

Unfortunately local residents, cottagers, businesses, visitors, charitable organizations, non-profit organizations and local governments would all have to pay for the private entrepreneur’s increased profits.

It’s money out of our pockets every time a vehicle, private or commercial, is made to wait because of construction activities like drilling, blasting, rock removal and trucking.

It’s money out of our pockets every time a customer avoids shopping in Bala because of construction activities like dump trucks, cement trucks, traffic gridlock, back hoes and cranes.

It’s money out of our pockets if people are no longer drawn to Bala by the natural beauty of Lake Muskoka’s waters falling into the Moon River.

It’s money out of our pockets if business, vacation and residential property values decline because Bala is the host of an ugly parasitic power plant in the middle of what was once upon a time our most valuable asset.

What about WATER LEVELS?

The proposed industrial power plant would receive a subsidized rate of $0.1108 per kilowatt hour of power generated and in addition would receive a 32% bonus of $0.035 per kilowatt hour if the power was generated during peak demand for electricity. This means that there would be a huge incentive to run the power plant during the daytime and shut it down during the nighttime in effect turning Lake Muskoka into a bladder at the beck and call of a private entrepreneur. Boating and docking would become problematic. This generating mode would cause water-level fluctuations, leading during freeze up to the formation of ice-push ridges and cracks along the shoreline, which would impede use of the waterway for winter activities especially snowmobiling. Variable water levels during winter freeze up would result in much more ice damage to shoreline structures and habitat.

Dear Mr. Gerretsen,

I would like to send you a copy of a letter that I have sent to Donna Cansfield, as well as the Honourable Dalton McGuinty, and my MPP, Mr. Ted McMeekin. I have been very troubled by the proposal to build a hydro electric facility in the small tourist town of Bala, ON. Bala relies solely on tourism for its economy, and the proposed hydro dam would be situated in the most picturesque spot in the town of Bala. Bala is a very old and historic town, and has been lovingly preserved. This hydro project does not belong in the middle of this beautiful town, where many people love to swim, fish, and have their photos taken.

In an ideal world, all of the politicians who think that this is a great location for a hydro-electric installation should go and have a look for themselves to see what they are destroying. This might prevent this type of irresponsible decision making. Thank you for taking the time to read my email. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
Anne Polewski
Ancaster, ON

Dear Ms. Cansfield,

I am writing to you, as I’m very concerned about the Swift River Power Project that has been “proposed” for the town of Bala at the Bala Falls on the Moon River.

My grandparents bought their cottage on the Moon River in 1939. My grandparents were immigrants from England who worked very hard to buy this cottage, and my grandfather was a veteran of the Great War for Civilization. He was very pleased to have this place of beauty and serenity to enjoy his retirement years with my grandmother.

My grandfather, a Vimy Ridge war veteran, was very proud of the fact that after working very hard all his life (after raising 7 children) that he and his wife had managed to save enough money to have a home in Toronto, and a lovely little cottage on the Moon River.

I have very fond memories of summers spent with my grandparents and parents at our cottage on the Moon River. My grandfather would take me fishing at the Bala Falls, and we would boat into town to buy ice cream at the marina at the town dock. We would go into Purk’s place to buy fishing bait for our fishing trips, and go into Don’s bakery to pick up some treats to bring home for dessert.

This has always been a place of special beauty, and we have entertained family and friends from Canada and abroad. They have all agreed that Bala is a very special place, and have mentioned that they hope to return again someday.

Bala has an active community that participates in a town beautification scheme with lots of flowers planted all over the town, including planters by the Bala Falls. The same volunteers also put on a great festival every fall, which attracts tourists from around the province. People come from great distances to enjoy the beautiful fall colours at the Cranberry Festival in Bala.

Bala has always been a tourist town that relies on its small town charm. As I mentioned earlier, I have spent every summer in Bala since I was born in the mid-1950’s, and it has changed very little. This is the secret of its charm.

The Bala Bay Inn was established in the early 1900’s, and still looks much the same as it did when it was built. There are three beautiful old churches very close to the Falls dating back to the turn of the century.

The Kee to Bala was formerly known as Dunn’s Pavilion and has got a fantastic musical history having seen the likes of Louis Armstrong, Guy Lombardo and many others over the years. The Balacade, an old-fashioned pinball arcade is the same as it was in the 1950’s, Don’s Bakery is still in business after over 50 years, and many more.

I would argue that Purk’s Place should be designated as a historic building because it was built by one of the town’s earliest settlers and is one of the few remaining buildings standing after the railway went in. The Swift River Hydro Project would see this great old historic building and business closed down.

I could not believe that the Ontario Government under the Liberal party would propose putting a hydroelectric installation at this site. For much of the year, there is very little water flow over the falls; certainly not a lot of power could be generated at this site except perhaps for a month or two during the snowmelt in the spring.

It seems incredibly short sighted to me to spend tens of millions of dollars to destroy a place of natural beauty to generate highly subsidized electricity. While I do support the move to the use of more “green” energy, I would argue that this facility is totally out of place with the rest of the town of Bala.

I would really encourage you, and each and every politician who believes that this is a good place to build a hydro dam, to go and have a look for yourselves.

I’m still having trouble believing that such a place of natural beauty in a town that relies on tourism could be destroyed by this hydro project. Unbelievable!

Joni Mitchell said it best in her song “Big Yellow Taxi” that she wrote in the 1970’s, “Don’t it always seem to go, you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. You pave paradise, and you put up a parking lot”.

I didn’t think that this kind of thing could happen under a Liberal government. Mike Harris, yes, but I am shocked and angered that the Liberals would put forward this project in a town that relies so heavily on tourism.

Sincerely,
Anne Polewski

Cc: Honourable Dalton McGuinty, MPP
Cc: Ted McMeekin, MPP

October 7, 2008

Re: Bala Falls small hydro project

We have been seasonal residents on Moon River for more than 50 years. All three generations of our family stand in opposition to this small hydro project. While most supportive of the provincial initiatives for renewable energy sources, we too feel that they should not be at the expense of the community of Bala. There is no question that this project will harm many of Bala’s businesses and present potential and long lasting harm to all its community members for what appears to be little net benefit to the provincial power grid. All without any lasting benefit to the Bala Community. Bala, as a tourist destination, depends not only on the many seasonal residents in the area but also on the great number of day trippers who are drawn to the Bala Falls to fish and to play. This project will have a negative effect on the Falls and the River, as well as presenting many safety issues on both the Muskoka and Moon River sides.

In addition, we have a personal connection to Purk’s Place and the heritage building that houses it and are dismayed that its continued existence is in such danger. Many members of the extended Purkis Family have been involved with this business as either customers of previous owners or as family employees since its purchase by Tom Purkis in the early 1970’s. Many of us have benefited as summer student employees of Bala’s other seasonal and year round businesses. Many of these opportunities will be lost or reduced by this proposed project as these businesses and their owners struggle to survive. This project will have year round detrimental effects on the town and its residents.

As Muskoka taxpayers and owners of one of Moon River’s original cottages we work hard and thoughtfully to preserve our little piece of Muskoka heritage. We, in turn, would hope that our political representatives are working just as hard and thoughtfully to preserve the heritage buildings, landscapes and environment of Bala and its surrounding area. The Moon River is a unique gem from the Bala Falls to Georgian Bay. We should be working to preserve it not to damage it. The Muskoka area is already under increased developmental pressure. We wonder what other questionable projects our growing green consciousness may impose on this beautiful area.

We ask our local and provincial political representatives and those involved in the reviewing and approving of this project to ensure that it does not proceed.

Regards,
Anne Purkis
John Trubic
Alanna Trubic
Laurel Trubic
Dorothy Purkis

Fogo Street, Bala, and Guelph, Ontario

Dear Chair and District Councillors,

Disappointed.  That is how I felt last night when I learned of District Council?s decision to support the Swift River project.  Shock, dismay and disbelief are words I would have liked to use, but after seeing the reaction of councillors at the visit to the falls yesterday, it soon became apparent where your loyalties lie.

District Chair Adams, you indicated yesterday that you?ve received between 30 and 50 e-mails per day for the last few weeks.  You then proceeded to ask us which site we would prefer for Swift River to use.  Had you thoroughly read the e-mails you?ve received I don?t think you would have had to ask that question.  We don?t want the project.  Period.  A smaller site with less disruption to the falls would be preferred if we are going to be forced to deal with this proposal.  As well, something that can be removed down the road, once the Provincial government stops providing subsidies, makes the most sense.  Building on a site where permanent damage is being done does not make sense.  Supporting a site where major blasting has to be done and our natural Precambrian shield removed does not make sense.  Why disturb what natural beauty we have.  We have lost so many natural areas throughout the province and this beautiful country due to progress and grand ideas.  Why add to that?  At the end of the day, we do not want either site.

As Councillors Klinck and Clairmont kindly stated for the residents of Bala, there is no benefit to us to have another power dam in Bala.  The citizens, businesses, and tourists will not gain from this endeavour.  Why not have District join us in the fight to stop this?  There are hundreds if not thousands of people who are willing to fight this.  Why not have District?s support?

I am a new Mom.  You have seen the pictures of my three month old daughter and had you looked and listened yesterday, you would have seen her there making a statement.  Save the Bala Falls for Me.  Despite the wind and cold we were there, yet you were too busy with Swift River to notice.  As a Mom, I now realise more than ever the importance of leaving a legacy.  I am a descendant of Thomas Burgess who founded this beautiful town.  His legacy was a quaint tourist town with lots to offer everyone.  I want to leave a legacy too. We need to preserve what natural beauty we have.  How many towns can you travel to and find what Bala has to offer?  You can find bits and pieces in most towns; I know that.  Exactly what Bala has to offer?  None.  We are at risk of losing that.  How do I explain to my daughter that the generations before her were willing to give that all up because they weren?t willing to fight hard enough?  I can?t tell her that.  I won?t!  I admit the province is a much bigger body to fight than District, but I firmly believe it is worth it.

Mayor Pryke and Councillor Grady, I?m sorry you don?t feel that you can make a difference to support Bala.  You have made that clear by supporting this proposal.  It?s not easy to fight, and it takes a tonne of energy.  I see that in the three men who have been leading this charge.  They are however willing to stand up and make a difference.  It?s very unfortunate that as elected officials you are not willing to do the same.  You were elected and are paid to make a difference.  It?s sad that you don?t recognize that.

It would have been easier to take on the Province with District?s support and unfortunately we don?t have that.  Don?t think for a second that we?ll stop fighting!  To the three councillors who did vote no, THANK YOU!  Thank you for standing up for a town that you weren?t directly elected to support.  Thank you for listening to our concerns and being willing to say no.  We count on your continued support going forward.

Sincerely,
Marcia Tupling
Apple Island, East Bay