We would like to thank the Belfountain Village Church, the vendors, volunteers, and members of the community who worked so hard to create and support another successful Salamander Festival in 2026.
Thank you to everyone who came out and had time to spend together enjoying the music and lovely sunny day. The BCO would like to make special mention and give special thanks to Grecia Mayers for leading this event for the community.
The BCO
Please take a moment and listen to BCO’s science advisor, Mark Heaton, Senior Ecologist, Ontario Streams, speaking to the CBC about our Jefferson Salamander.
Thank you Mark on behalf of the community and salamanders everywhere.
Hello,
We will be closing the bird cannon survey on Friday October 9th at noon.
If you haven’t completed it, please make sure to do so before it closes.
Thank you,
Link to survey https://us8.list-manage.com/survey?u=8727668ae6096cee1ed5d355f&id=78ee2fdc52&e=*|UNIQID|*
Hello
We have experienced a few weeks of the modified bird cannons by Belfountain Estates. We would appreciate your thoughts on the bird cannons now please.
If you did not complete the last survey, you are welcome to complete this one.
Link to survey https://us8.list-manage.com/survey?u=8727668ae6096cee1ed5d355f&id=78ee2fdc52&e=*|UNIQID|*
In partnership with the Belfountain Village Church, the Belfountain Community Organization, will once again host the Salamander Festival.
The confirmed date for this year’s Salamander Festival is Saturday, October 3rd, from 11 a.m. till 4 p.m.
With your help we can keep focus on the importance of protecting the Jefferson Salamander environs while enjoying a family-day of fun, food, music, and vendors. We invite you, your family and friends to come and participate in a joyous Salamander festival.
The BCO has been advised by Belfountain Estates, that the bird cannons will start tomorrow morning Sunday August 22.
The farm will use bird cannons only in the upper vineyard, pointed in the least impactful direction (Northeast away from the community) and set to operate from half an hour after sunrise until half an hour before sunset, with a mid-day break. Belfountain Estates have advised they will turn the cannons off for specific events, if you advise them ahead of time at belfountainestates@gmail.com. They will also continue monitoring the effectiveness of bird squawkers in the lower vineyard, which is closest to the community.
Belfountain Estates emphasized that the farm’s goal is to avoid using cannons altogether if alternative methods prove effective, but their priority is protecting the grapes from consumption by birds. The BCO re-emphasized that many community members, particularly those with horses, pets, work-from-home and PTSD, are very upset by the bird cannons, suggesting the farm business would benefit from the community if alternative solutions are found to replace the disruptive cannons.
The locations of the testing stations and results of the bird cannon testing are below. This shows the Northeast direction as the least impactful to community residents.
The The reason the bird cannons in previous years have a greater impact to residents in the West Credit River Valley than neighbours to the farm, is due to the topography as shown below.
The BCO will canvas the community with an on-line survey to determine whether these changes are helping reduce the disruption to our village.
Should you have any direct questions or statements to make about this issue, please send your email to belfountainestates@gmail.com and copy the BCO at secretary@belfountain.ca.
Thank you
We would like to make sure you are aware the Belfountain Estates will be testing their bird cannons on Friday July 31, 2026, after 10 a.m.
Further to our communication of June 18th, 2026, Belfountain Estates have advised they are continuing with their strategy to not use bird cannons in the lower vineyard which directly faces the community. They are intending to use the bird cannons in their upper vineyard as this contains grapes which need greater protection.
The BCO have asked for testing of the impact of this change and the bird cannons from the upper vineyard only. Town of Caledon Bylaw has been involved, as this testing is outside the usual season, and they have approved sound testing after 10 a.m. this Friday July 31st, 2026. The testing should take an hour. We will be asking Councillor Early and Councillor Kiernan to be available during the test in the hamlet; however, as we have just received notice of this day, we have not confirmed this.
Volunteers will be in different areas of the hamlet to evaluate the impact of the bird cannons.
The BCO received this invitation for the community from Barrie at C3:
An incredible opportunity for parents and grand parents. Perhaps the FIRST overnight camp for your son-daughter or grand child. Our world class staff have a ONE NIGHT (August 8-9th) stay over camp at the C3 quarry.
If you’re nervous of sending your kids 300km away to Muskoka for a week (or can’t afford it). Imagine the 24 hour incredible experience with our world class staff. The 24 hours includes:
* 2 meals (Sat Aug 8th supper, Sun 9th breakfast)
* 3 snacks (Sat afternoon, Sat evening, Sun mid morning)
* Camp fire and games
* HK Water Park
* Cooking outside
* Outdoor tent camping with our great staff & director
* Overnight camp experience close to home
* A perfect opportunity to test your child/ grand child
We only have room for 12 boys and 12 girls
The link to sign up is https://www.c3recreation.com/store/p/c3-one-night-overnight-camp-with-coach-crease
DAY CAMP AT C3
Week one was a huge success and week 2 starting Monday 13th is sold out. We have six more one week (Mon-Fri) day camps at the C3 quarry. There is nothing like it in the region. Daily swimming, water park, games, volleyball, soccer, biking and paddling with our elite coach. Sign up now as we are 90% occupancy in the last six weeks. https://www.c3recreation.com/camp-registration
For more information on any camps email barrie@personalbest.ca or text 647-400-3845
Dear Belfountain Residents
The Belfountain Salamander Festival has been a Fall tradition for over twenty years as a Village get-together before Winter called us into hibernation. The endangered Jefferson Salamander was the reason for the festival to bring awareness to its plight of extinction.
Without your help, Belfountain Salamander Festival is at risk of not occurring. This is an urgent and important request to ask you to volunteer to help plan and coordinate the 2026 Salamander Festival. Volunteers are needed to organize and arrange musicians, food/menu/food shopping, vendors, setting up and tear down tents, organizing volunteers, communication and advertising, clean up, etc.,
The Belfountain Community Organization in partnership with the Belfountain Village Church has celebrated this festival on the church grounds for many years.
The Salamander Festival has always been an opportunity for residents to mingle with their neighbours, enjoying meals served by students earning their volunteer-hours.
Local musicians providing entertainment throughout the day, browsing the various local vendors with their interesting wares, children enjoying games, and the highlight seeing the star of the show–the Jefferson Salamander!
Food, Fellowship, a Funtastic Day. Who could ask for anything more?
I CAN! As a BCO member who has worked on the Salamander Festival for over 15 years I can say it takes a village (!) to put on a village festival. And I need your help if it is to happen this year.
We do not have a confirmed date yet.
Please contact Grecia Mayers. greeshe@rogers.com. 519-927-3204