A lot has happened recently regarding our efforts to save the Canada 150 Garden, and we want to be sure you are up to date.

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• Check our Facebook group for updates (on the garden as well as other things of interest): Stouffville Horticultural Society & Garden Club | Facebook

• Joan Bostock has done a radio interview at Whistle Radio, and you can listen to that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juwt6O4uz8w

• Yorkregion.com (Metroland's local online news site now that they have shut down all their local print newspapers) published this article: https://www.yorkregion.com/news/nobody-can-believe-it-stouffville-residents-outraged-by-plan-to-replace-garden-with-tank-in/article_c8c441f5-4b9d-5a57-a749-0722273b7da3.html  

• Stouffville Bullet Point News has published several articles, the most recent being: Council Approves Public Consultation Over Controversial Memorial Park Tank Installation | Stouffville | Bullet Point News

• If you have not yet signed a petition to save the garden and nix the tank, you can do that here (note that monetary donations made at the site go to change.org, and not to our club) :  Petition · NIX THE TANK - SAVE THE CANADA 150 GARDEN, · Change.org

 

We are hoping to be able to address the council sometime in the coming weeks, and we will need as many people as possible to attend the council meeting with us to show support and let the council see how many people believe the Canada 150 Garden should remain intact and in its current location. Once we have a firm date, we will let you know; regular council meetings are now always held during the day.

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Background

In 2017 the Stouffville Horticultural Society created a beautiful garden to commemorate Canada’s 150th Birthday. With the cooperation and financial assistance of the Town of Whitchurch Stouffville, the site at Park and Booth Drives was raised to create the berm and garden there today.  Through years of work by Stouffville Horticultural Society volunteers, the garden has matured into a wonderful pollinator and bee friendly space filled with native flora. It is regularly enjoyed by the community.

 
In mid December we were dismayed to hear that the Town is planning to destroy the garden in order to relocate Stouffville’s memorial Cenotaph and install a huge de-commissioned 84,000-pound Leopard 1 tank.  The Town did not notify us in advance of their decision, nor did they consult the public over the proposal. 

We need your help! As climate change intensifies and puts pollinators at increasing risk, it is imperative that gardens such as ours are maintained. Ironically, Stouffville was named a “Bee City” this year, which SHOULD see the town fostering and maintaining such gardens and green spaces. In addition, not disturbing the garden would save taxpayers a lot of money! 

The Stouffville Horticultural Society is asking for your support. By signing this petition, you will contribute to our efforts to appeal to the Town Council to look for an alternate location for the Cenotaph and the tank. 

Should you also wish to contact Mayor Lovatt and the members of the Council you may email them to MayorAndCouncil @townofws.ca.

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Please click here to sign the petition.

Please note that while our main concern is saving the garden, we are mindful of the fact that a Weapon of War in the midst of our community may cause trauma to some of our citizens.