The View from Belfountain

The View from Belfountain

 

Painting the Town

 Despite a long, brutal winter, and a short spring, three cottages in the hamlet sprung into colourful new looks by the time of the solstice.

Two stone dogs holding baskets welcome the visitor to Linda Bridge’s front door.

 Nicola Ross’s cottage

charms us with red shutters and window boxes.

Bonnie Gordon’s pillared porch looks over Main Street while fuchsia blossoms play against a neutral backdrop.

Message from the BCO Chairs

2011 marches on—and it's summer, finally. Please enjoy the sun, warmth, water and freedom it brings, safely.

On the tails of summer in a mere three months it'll be Salamander Festival time. We hope you have planted your squash!! New for this year is the photo contest. Have your camera ready—you never know where that winning shot will be. We are beginning planning meetings and if you are interested in helping, please let us know at www.belfountain.ca. It's always a fun time and our only annual fundraiser. We look forward to hearing from you.

No doubt you noticed the myriads of cyclists in and around the Hamlet in June. Belfountain hosted two National Time Trial events on successive Thursdays. Clara Hughes, one of Canada's Olympians, was here on June 23rd. What a thrill she was. Although not perfectly organized from many perspectives, huge improvements were made for the June 30th event with much less impact to our daily lives. The cycling organizers apologize to those residents whose lives were inconvenienced. Cycling is an environmentally friendly, healthy, clean and personal well-being focused activity. It is low impact; something this area could benefit from.

Speaking of community impact, there will be a free motorcycle sound emissions testing clinic and public education session at the parking lot of the Belfountain Public School Saturday, 23 July, starting at 11 AM. The new by-law regulating excessive motorcycle noise will be enacted this October.

We welcome your feedback. Please connect with us about your ideas at www.belfountain.ca. Thank you for making this a wonderful community in which to live. Best wishes for a great summer from your BCO. See you at the Salamander Festival.

Your BCO Chairs  

The View from Belfountain… is published by the Belfountain Community Organization and is released four times a year. To receive your e-issue, please send us an email, with your full name and street address included to: theview@belfountain.ca Editor: Amy Phelan Please send submissions to: BCO

Book Review: The Sentimentalist

At our June meeting of the Belfountain Library Book Club, the comments on The Sentimentalists by Johanna Skibsrud were pretty negative. The three other members who’d made it to the library that night thought the book had little or no storyline and were confused by the chronology of the scenes as well as by the relationship of some of the characters. When it came time to rate the book, my honorable co-members gave the book a low 1½ out of 5 rating in terms of whether they would recommend the book. Other Caledon library book clubs also lacked enthusiasm for it. This was surprising because the Skibsrud’s novel–––her first–––had won the 2010 Scotiabank Giller book award last November to much news media and a rush to find a publisher who could print the volume of copies needed to fill demand.

Skibsrud’s only other published work was a volume of poetry. Like Michael Ondaatje and Jane Urquhart before her, Skibsrud was a poet before she became a novelist, and her beginnings are evident in the prose of The Sentimentalist.

I admire Skibsrud. To take the smaller, more intense form of poetry and blow it up into a much larger format shows great workmanship, like an embroiderer who’s made a quilt. A quilt maker must be disciplined, her needlework controlled as she patches fabric together in a reflective interplay. The author has done this well, placing together isolated scenes and images to make a whole design in the telling of the story about a Vietnam vet and his daughter. But Sibsrud’s style is a little bland for such a story. Most quilts are a bit dull and they play a subdued role in our lives. They give us sleepy pleasure as our eyes follow patterns, our fingers stroke soft textures and we drift off to sleep. And such is the case in this book. It’s too bad we aren’t taken into the emotional under padding of the story until we’ve long given up hope of knowing much about the characters.

At the end we’re woken with a punch to the gut. And so, knowing the why of things, we go back through the book again. The subtext is always there in the writing, but perhaps we need the story to be more often on the surface.

The author uses a boat to symbolize a hope for happiness. Skibsrud’s craftsmanship never fails her as she uses the image of the boat, like a hidden heart, locked away. She glides us over the surface of the novel with its unreachable depths. In The Sentimentalist, the past is lost and sunken, the present as hollow as the human vessels that glide on its surface.

by Amy Phelan 

CVC 2010 Awards Dinner:

Belfountain and Area Over Represented?

David Jobe, a member of the BCO Board of Directors, proudly accepts the Certificate of Merit award on behalf of the entire BCO at the CVC Recognition Dinner in March. Allan Thompson, Regional Councillor for Ward 2, is the Town of Caledon Representative on the CVC Board of Directors; along with Joan Robson, Town of Halton Hills Ward 2 Councillor.

Photo Credit: Dave Beaton, CVC

How could it be? Well, of the 36 awards presented at the 2010 CVC Awards Dinner in March, Belfountain and area residents and organizations snapped up six of them. Not only that, our own Nicola Ross was the keynote speaker. She spoke heart-warmingly about her childhood growing up and adult life living here, within the Credit River Watershed, and the importance of community-based conservation. I think it's just wonderful; and reflective of the thoughtful, caring nature of the folks we have living around here. Congratulations to each recipient. I know it's just what you do, and you do it for the good of this place and the planet—and that's quite award enough. Complete text of the each presentation speech is available on www.belfountain.ca.

Award of Distinction

Steve Copeland—known as the ultimate river keeper, Steve has been dedicated to rehabilitating the Credit River for over 20 years and has increased awareness of the river and taught many people how to care for it.

Mark Heaton—Mark takes interest in and supports CVC activities that is beyond other MNR offices and truly values the concept of partnerships. As a resident of the Credit River Watershed Mark takes additional interest in local projects that improve water quality and wildlife habitat.

Watershed Legacy Donor

David Kendall and Grecia Mayers—David and Grecia's generous donation of five acres below the cliff face will secure approximately 200m of Bruce Trail and contribute to a natural buffer around the West Credit River. This donation has been made in perpetuity and the land is permanently secured for the Bruce Trail and for future generations to enjoy.

Robert Weeks and Lorraine Baddeley—Robert and Lorraine donated 2 acres of their land to the Bruce Trail Conservancy. Their donated parcel of property includes rare escarpment cliff face as well as land below the cliff. Lorraine and Robert have since moved to the Port Dover area; we appreciate their contribution in securing this land for the enjoyment of future generations.

Certificates of Merit

Belfountain Community Organization (BCO)—for partnering with the CVC and helping educate the public and raise awareness of environmental issues in our communities.

Coalition of Concerned Citizens—for fundraising, learning and retaining information about, and opposing the Rockfort Quarry application for 13 years. The OMB turned down the application and the CCC was successful.

by David Jobe

It's Riding Season;

that's Motorcycles I mean...

Mark Richardson is editor of the Wheels section of the Saturday Star. He wrote a great article about noisy motorcycle pipes for the 11 December 2010 edition. This is my response. I did not hear from Mr. Richardson, and do not believe my letter was ever printed.

This riding season, the Caledon OPP will be monitoring the situation, conducting workshops, and raising awareness with motorcycles owners about the new by-law regulating excessive motorcycle noise in advance of its activation this October.

We look forward to a civil season and orderly transition to the new by-law.

Mr Richardson;

I read with pleasure your article 'Enough of the loud motorcycles!' in the 11 December Wheels section. I thank you for helping to get the word out about the misperceptions of loud pipes, the responsibility riders have to be alert and aware of what's in their safety envelope, and then referring to loud pipes exactly what they are; an annoyance

to other riders and the public at large. In addition, I think owners of bikes with loud pipes are an image problem for the motorcycle community. Not only is the entire community painted with the same uncomplimentary brush, this small percentage of the community is the cause for new rules and regulations to be legislated on the entire motorcycle riding population.

Loud pipes are becoming such as annoyance, the movement to do something is moving across the continent like a bow wave. Starting in, of all places, California, the home of easy rider, and then in Canada, in Alberta, land of the wild west with a culture of 'don't infringe on my freedoms.' Caledon is the just the first jurisdiction in Ontario to enact a by-law; other municipalities are looking into it. Enough is enough; I look forward to its activation October 2011. It's suspected the by-law will progress the in a way of some other municipally-initiated by-laws such as anti-smoking and cosmetic use of pesticide by-laws, and be adopted as provincial legislation. As you know, the Caledon OPP, led by Staff Sgt. Sweeney, and Luc Fournier of the MMIC, the Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council, have been instrumental in bringing this by-law to fruition in Caledon. It's objective, simple to administer and test at roadside, as well as inexpensive to implement, and it's enforceable.

I like your closing paragraph, referring to those who ride motorcycles with loud pipes as having a small appendage of the male reproductive anatomy. Part of our public awareness campaign was to have some roadside signs created: 'Loud Pipes? Little Richard!' Too subtle perhaps, but about all we would be able to get away with. Thank you for being direct.

...and yes, being December and the roads covered with slush and snow; we can hear you...and we trust motorcycle riders can too. Next year is never far away; the motorcycles are barely parked when the shows begin.

Best Regards, David Jobe

The Green Thing Who Is / Was Really Green?

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. The Woman apologized to her and explained, "We didn’t have the green thing back in my day."

That’s right; they didn’t have the green thing in her day. Back then, they returned their milk bottles, Coke bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, using the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But they didn’t have the green thing in her day.

In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.

But she’s right. They didn’t have the green thing in her day.

Back then, they washed the baby’s diapers because they didn’t have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts, wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right; they didn’t have the green thing back in her day.

Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house, not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a pizza dish, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn’t have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used wadded up newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, they didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she’s right; they didn’t have the green thing back then.

They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty, instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled pens with ink, instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But they didn’t have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus, instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

It’s a crying shame that we didn’t have "the green thing" back then!

Author Unknown

Are We As Green As We Think?

Caledon is considered to be one of the greenest places around, but there are times I wonder if I could do a few things better. Because I live in a rural community, it means driving a great deal to get to work or to shop. Having moved from the centre of Toronto, I no longer live in a self-contained community where I can bike to work or walk a block to get the supplies I need for everyday life. Cities, in many ways, offer a “greener” way of life than rural or suburban living, despite a lack of fields and forests.

Cities are made up of villages, like the one I grew up in, each with a market and a hardware store, along with dress shops, restaurants and services. Bolton, fifty years ago, was a village of 1000 people. My mother would send me to the store one block away for lettuce or a loaf of bread. My brothers and I, in the early days, walked or biked to school and there was no need for a school bus because we thought nothing of walking a mile or two. Now, in a much larger Bolton, my mother must get in a car to get basic supplies.

Families are drawn to live in towns with historical centres like Bolton, but the town’s HWY 50 is lined with the kind of malls that are indistinguishable from the outer edges of almost every other town. Not only are modern big box malls in ugly contrast to the scale of small-town architecture, they function differently than the main street stores of the past where locals, young and old, could walk to the shop and stop to chat with each other.

Now, in small towns, every adult needs a car to drive a great distance for mere sustenance. This is time consuming, expensive, stressful and alienating. People without a vehicle, such as the aged, or other members in one-car families, are marooned. And in the end, a quart of milk costs more when you add in the fuel.

I drive for 40 minutes to my job in Mississauga, and I dream of a day when I could work closer to home, if not right at home. I try to balance things out by biking to Erin for groceries, and the side benefit is better fitness. But still…

Here’s my wish list for a greener life in Belfountain:

• Bike paths along Bush Street and Mississauga Road for local shopping and recreation.

• A weekly, all-season farmers market with local produce when possible.

• An organized car pool program to major centres, whether for a day of shopping, a medical appointment, or for regular commutes.

by Amy Phelan

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Trevor van Ingen receiving the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award from Governor General David Johnson.

At a reception held this spring at the Royal York, Trevor van Ingen of Belfountain was one of 86 participants to receive his Gold award from the Right Honourable David Johnson, Governor General of Canada. 

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a self-directed development program for youth age 14 to 25. The Program will equip you with life skills to make a difference to yourself, your community and your country.

There are four sections at the Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. Participants select and set objectives in each of the following areas:

• Volunteering: undertaking service to individuals or the community.

• Physical: improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities.

• Skills: developing practical and social skills and personal interests.

• Expedition: planning, training for and completion of an adventurous journey.

• Gold level, participants must do an additional fifth Residential section, which involves staying and working away from home. Trevor’s project took him to the Philippines where he helped in a local medical center.

In a personal conversation with the Governor General, Trevor was surprised that he knew all about Belfountain and skiing in the area.

Trevor was a graduate of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Turner Fenton Secondary High School, and graduate of the University of Western Ontario in Health Science. This fall Trevor will be attending the U of T for his Masters Degree in Epidemiology.

For anyone (or group) interested in participating in the Duke of Edinburgh program, go to their website at: www.dukeofed.org.

by TVI

From the Editor:

Since we opened our bed and breakfast business, less than a year ago, we’ve been privileged to meet a fascinating range of people visiting this area. Perhaps my guest list is a good profile of the kind of visitors who come to Belfountain. For example, as I write this on Canada Day, I waved goodbye to the Ontario Cycling Association team after their two-day stay for the national time trials. I was pleased to be able to offer them the use of the grounds and guest lounge for meetings, training and bike conditioning. The team made up of teenage athletes, coaches and mechanics, were always considerate and polite and were grateful for anything we did for them. They had positive comments to make about the area and the time trial course. I asked them to sign our guest book and told them I will be watching for them at the Olympics. Later, as we stripped down the bedrooms we were amused at how carefully these teenage boys had made their beds before they left.

Photo by Michael Durkin

Among our first visitors was a Dutch couple cycling from Fergus. After a cup of tea they then biked to Alton for dinner, using Mississauga Road, and found the hills here a hard go after the flatness of their home turf. When they got home, they emailed us some of their own poems.

Another guest has had an ashram in Nepal for over twenty years. She was the guest of a psychotherapist from Toronto who’d invited this lady to teach her patients meditation. They went for a long hike on one of our trails, and when it started to rain heavily, I drove around looking for them to no avail. When I got home, I was happy to see they were drying out in front of a fire in the guest lounge where they remained sipping tea, chatting and meditating all evening.

Winter brought us Caledon Ski Club members, and among them was Superior Court judge, the Honourable Justice Jane Kelly, with her family. We enjoyed chatting with her over a glass of wine while she gave us insight into the demands of her field. Later, she generously placed a testimonial on our website, and sent other ski club members to us. We are grateful.

97-year-old Dr. David Mackintosh was traveling with his son and daughter-in-law. Physically fit, and well dressed, this retired, pioneering orthopaedic surgeon was suffering memory loss. He would probably not recall that a building at U of T was named after him: The David L Mackintosh Sport Medicine Clinic.

The doctor was, nevertheless, interested in everything, and loved to eat good food: when they dined at the Belfountain Inn the night before, according to his daughter-in-law, he asked for something more ‘elaborate’ when the crème brûlée arrived. Much to Dr. Mackintosh’s satisfaction, the obliging staff added whipped cream and strawberries.

Amy Phelan, Editor

Remembering John Holden

A Community Builder

 

“A man of such good nature

and kindness, joy and fun.

Will be missed by friends and family,

but remembered by everyone!”

(segment of poem written and read by Judy Hendy)

A memorial service for John Holden was held at the Caledon Ski Club, Saturday 25 June. He cared deeply about Caledon, at one time was Ward 1 Councillor, and devoted time to the Caledon Heritage Society.

He will be missed by his wife, Bev, his children Waldo, Jeff and Jen, their spouses Renee, Lorie and Jim, and his grandsons, Dillon, Jake, Zack and Sean.

Belfountain Pulling for Biodiversity

Events Spring 2011 

1. Workshop for Landowners & Gardeners: Managing and Identifying Invasive and Native Plants.

Steve Smith (right), Urban Forest Associates workshop leader, speaks with David Jobe and Sarah Bohan on a plant identification hike.

Holly Nadalin from CVC leading part of the workshop in the Belfountain Community Hall.

2 - International Biodiversity Day Garlic Mustard Pull in the Belfountain Conservation Area.

Over 500 lbs. of Garlic Mustard was pulled!!

Volunteers David Jobe, Bob McRoberts, Mike Coupland, Grace Coupland and Maggie Pereira.

BBQ and garlic mustard pesto taste testing.

Volunteers pulled out garlic mustard plants before they seeded, then filled bags with these invasives. Their work has prevented next years’ seed crop. Freya Forsyth, Credit Valley Conservation Invasive Species Technician, and the CVC team, with the help of Belfountain Community Organization, organized and led the Garlic Mustard Pull.

Provided by Ann Seymour

Pulling for Biodiversity