ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, HARVEST ONTARIO WALK COALITION
Toronto | Traditional territories of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chippewas and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation – In an effort to Stop Highway 413, grassroots activists have organized 7 walks and 2 cycle routes passing through different sections of farmland and green space threatened by the proposed Highway 413. The walks and rides will take place simultaneously on October 1, and culminate with a rally and farmer’s market at Brampton Fairgrounds.
With nearly 1000 walkers and cyclists already registered across the nine routes, this will be one of the largest environmental events in the 905 region in years.
This event is being led by grassroots activists in Mississauga Climate Action and Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet, with individual walks by organized by Concerned Citizens of Adjala-Tosorontio, Concerned Citizens of King Township, EcoCaledon, Halton Hills Climate Action, Seniors for Climate Action Now, The Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga and the Wilderness Committee.
“We are showing the federal and provincial governments that the public is not behind Highway 413,” said Susan Berry, Chair of the Harvest Ontario Walk coalition. “As we have seen time and time again, more highways do nothing to alleviate traffic congestion. Ironically, they increase it and contribute to climate change.”
“The Harvest Ontario Walk is an opportunity to experience the beauty of the farms, forests, rivers and streams threatened by Highway 413, a destructive and unnecessary highway that should never be built, especially through the Greenbelt,” said Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence.
“As a grandmother committed to leaving a livable healthy planet for our grandchildren I am most concerned about the impact that Highway 413 will have on the health of future generations. Highway 413 does not make sense,” said Carole Holmes, Co-Chair of Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet.
WHAT: Harvest Ontario Walk to Stop The 413 – a set of walks and cycling routes drawing attention to the farmland and green space threatened by Highway 413.
WHERE: Walks and rides are happening throughout Halton, Caledon and Vaughan, with a culminating rally at the Brampton Fairgrounds (12942 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon, ON).
A map of all events, with additional information about each event, is available here: https://environmentaldefence.ca/howtostop413/
WHEN: Saturday, October 1. Most walks and rides start at 10:00 AM.
At the Brampton Fairgrounds, music begins at 11:00 AM. Rally and speakers begin at 12:30 PM.
Clarkway Drive Walk
Starting Point: Countryside and Clarkway Blvd.
End Point: Healey Road and The Gore Road
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Group: EcoCaledon
Contact: info@ecoCaledon.org or Phone: 905-58G-REEN or 905 584-7336
Halton Hills Walk
Starting Point: Freestyle Farm (8768 Winston Churchill Blvd)
End Point: Freestyle Farm (8768 Winston Churchill Blvd)
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Group: Halton Hills Climate Action
Contact: Jane Fogal, jane.fogal@gmail.com
Healey Road Walk
Starting Point: Healey Road and The Gore Road
End Point: Healey Road and Airport Road
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Group: “North of Nine Group” is comprised of several Concerned Citizens groups from North of Highway Nine.
Contact: Harvey Kolodny, Harvey.Kolodny@rotman.utoronto.ca
Heart Lake Road Northern Walk
Starting Point: Meet at Brampton Fairgrounds to carpool to the starting point north on Heart Lake Rd.
End Point: Brampton Fairgrounds; 12942 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon, ON.
Start Time: 10:00 AM.
Group: Green Party of Ontario and ClimateFast
Contact: Bianca Bell, biancabell@gpo.ca
Heart Lake Road Southern Walk
Starting Point: Meet at Brampton Fairgrounds to carpool to the starting point north on Heart Lake Rd.
End Point: Brampton Fairgrounds; 12942 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon, ON.
Start Time: 10:00 AM.
Group: Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet, Seniors for Climate Action Now
Contact: Carol Holmes, cjholmes46@gmail.com; Lorraine Green, lorrainegreen@bell.net
King-Vaughan Road Walk
Starting Point: King Vaughan Road and Mill Road
End Point: King Vaughan Road and Highway 27
Start Time: 11:00 AM
Group: Climate Action King (CAK) and Concerned Citizens of King Township (CCKT)
Contact: Sherry Draisey sdraisey@gmail.com and Ann Raney ann.raney.king@gmail.com
Nashville Conservation Reserve Walk
Starting Point: Nashville Conservation Reserve
End Point: Same as start point.
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Group: Wilderness Committee
Contact: Katie Krelove, katie@wildernesscommittee.org
Old School Road Western Walk
Starting Point: Meet at Brampton Fairgrounds to carpool to the starting point on Old School Road.
End Point: Brampton Fairgrounds; 12942 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon, ON.
Start Time: 9:45 AM
Group: The Green Sanctuary of First Unitarian Congregation and The Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga
Contact: Susan Berry, Mississauga Climate Action, susanberry@hotmail.com, 905-484-0143
Cycle Route East
Organized by Stop 413 activists and volunteers from the Toronto Bicycling Network, this route travels from Kleinburg to the Brampton Fairgrounds.
Media Contact: Katie Babcock, katiebabcock@mac.com
Cycle Route West
Organized by Stop 413 activists and volunteers from the Toronto Bicycling Network, this route travels from Meadowvale GO to the Brampton Fairgrounds.
Media Contact: Katie Babcock, katiebabcock@mac.com
For more information about the Harvest Ontario Walk to Stop the 413, please visit: https://environmentaldefence.ca/howtostop413/
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Susan Berry, Mississauga Climate Action, susanberry@hotmail.com
Allen Braude, Environmental Defence, abraude@environmentaldefence.ca
