5 Days of Action for the Hanlon Creek

* Update:  Land Defenders from Site 41 and the Hoskanigetah of the Grand River (Six Nations Men’s Fire) will be attending Thursday and Friday’s events.  Hope you can make it!

We’re very excited to invite you to a full line-up of events next week.  See below for the basic details, and below that for more information.  There are lots of events, but they are all fairly short, so hopefully you can make it out to many of them.

For more information please see hcbpoccupation.wordpress.com, or email hcbpoccupation@gmail.com

Monday November 23 – Hanlon Creek defender files lawsuit against Guelph police

Tuesday November 24 – Letters of concern delivered to Xterra Construction

Wednesday November 25 – Information picket at site of new HCBP construction

Thursday November 26 – Demo at Xterra’s office in Kitchener-Waterloo

Friday November 27 – Noon hour concert and rally at Guelph city hall

also Friday night – Dance party and fundraiser for the Hanlon Creek

Update on the City

* Notice of new HCBP construction *

When the City said they’d cancel work until Spring, they were lying…  Infrastructure work is set to begin any day, work that is just as integral to the HCBP project as this summer’s thwarted culvert attempt.  The newest contract is awarded to XTerra Construction of Kitchener-Waterloo.  It is to connect the HCBP site to the City’s water, electrical, and telecommunications infrastructure, by tunneling pipes below the Hanlon expressway.  The contract is for $1.7 million, and includes $621,294 in funding from the federal government.

See the City’s news release for more info, 4th paragraph down: www.guelph.ca/newsroom_display.cfm?itemID=78149

* City applies for loophole in Endangered Species Act*
On October 26, Guelph city council unanimously voted to apply for an exemption to responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act, regarding the threatened Jefferson Salamander on the site.  There are many exemptions written into these acts that make them rather toothless.  In the spirit of environmental protection, the city asked to be able to do pretty much whatever they want on the HCBP site, regardless of next Spring’s salamander search.  The MNR approved work on 2 of 4 of the sites the City was pushing for.  It’s pretty dirty.  Well-established environmental groups have come out against these exemptions as indicative of the failure of the political system to protect the land.

You can read about it here: http://ward2guelph.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/hcbp-mnrs-go-ahead-for-interim-work/

and from the council’s minutes, on page 463: http://www.guelph.ca/uploads/Council_and_Committees/Council/2006/council_agenda_102609.pdf

 

This allows the City to do more infrastructure work sooner than we thought.  In the same press release cited above, they say:

“Construction in the north western part of the business park along Downey Road will begin in January 2010 and includes the extension of existing water and sanitary services, on-site grading, and the expansion of the existing stormwater management pond. This work will cost approximately $2.5 million and will allow the City to market two serviced employment blocks in the business park.

“The second project includes construction of a 300 metre section of road north of Laird Road and related site work to the blocks of land east of this road. These lands are owned by Belmont Equity Partners Inc. and this project is expected to begin later in 2010.

“The MNR approved these projects to proceed, prior to the salamander monitoring work that will begin on the site in March, as the potential for the Jefferson Salamander to be present in these areas is not likely.”

Land Defenders from Guelph’s Hanlon Creek seek hosts for a Speaking & Networking Tour…

The Hanlon Creek watershed flows through southern Guelph, and is a survivor of many decades of industrial growth.  It’s seven tributaries flow into the Speed River, which in turn flows into the Grand River, one of the most vital watershed regions in Southern Ontario.  One of these seven tributaries was the subject of intense attention this year, as the City of Guelph sought to begin construction of a business park with a long history of opposition.

At dawn on Monday July 26, the last coldwater creek of the Hanlon Creek watershed became a flashpoint of resistance.  When the City of Guelph tried beginning construction for the proposed Hanlon Creek Business Park (HCBP), 60 people converged to occupy the site for 19 days, attracting hundreds of supporters and creating a huge legal and political battle that continues today.

This fall and winter, land defenders from this important struggle are traveling to other cities and towns to meet, network, and share tales of protecting the earth with others who believe that without a healthy landbase, we can’t have healthy communities.  We hope to build support to prevent the HCBP in Guelph, and just as importantly, we are looking to expand upon a grassroots network of resistance to development.

Robin Hood and his Band of Merry Peoples in Guelph….

On Thursday October 29, two days before Halloween, Robin Hood made a surprise appearance in Guelph.  This mischievous character was accompanied by the Grim Reaper, a larger-than-life-size Jefferson Salamander, a representative from the Ministry of Natural Resources’ grave-digging office, a town crier, a money-burning wealthy capitalist, and several forest creatures.  This merry band met with dozens of people opposed to the Hanlon Creek Business Park, to perform a grave-digging ceremony to welcome the arrival of the region’s 8th business park.

It just so happened that city of Guelph officials held a ‘ground breaking ceremony’ of their own, at the same time, and at the same place, just off Downey Rd.  Lo and behold, they also invited a platoon of their comrades – real estate agents, wealthy developers (including Ken Nevar from Cooper Construction and Oakville’s Chamber of Commerce), police, bureaucrats, councillors, consultants, and the like.

CALL OUT – Peaceful Protest: This Thursday at 5 pm

Hey Folks!

So, we recently found out that the City is planning on having a ‘ground breaking ceremony’ for the Hanlon Creek Business Park at 5 pm Thursday October 29th at the Downey Rd entrance.

But we are here to say that:
NO MORE GROUND WILL BE BROKEN ON THIS BEAUTIFUL LAND.

Please join us for a
Peaceful Demonstration
Thursday October 29th 5 pm
–say NO to the proposed HCBP!

Where: Meet at the VIA station at 4:00, last ride leaves at 4:30. Gather at Downey Rd close to entrance at 5:00.

Instruments and Street Theater are welcome and encouraged!!

You will find a pdf of a flyer attached, please feel free to distribute it.

hope to see you there, please e mail us if you have any questions.

click here for the flyer

Oct. 23rd: 5th Annual Anti-Colonial Thanksgiving Dinner

Hey Folks: here is a great event to check out.

“anti-colonial struggle for land and survival, indigenous sovereignty”

Who are we?

Where are we from?

Where are we going?

You’re invited to The 5th Annual Anti-Colonial Thanksgiving Dinner in
Guelph. The ACT Dinner is an autumn celebration bringing together land
defenders from indigenous and settler communities to speak about land,
culture, colonialism and freedom.

In the past year, indigenous communities across Turtle Island have stood up
against illegal developments, government repression and for indigenous
sovereignty in their terroritories. There have been blockades in Akwesasne,
Tyendinaga, Barriere Lake, and Six Nations. New developments have been
reclaimed by Six Nations. There have been restorative justice programs set
up in Six Nations and Tyendinega, and on the west coast an indigenous
resistance network was created to oppose the 2010 Olympics.

Across Canada the tension is mounting as the aspirations of anti-colonial
peoples and colonial culture collide. In Akwesasne the government is
attempting to re-install the border crossing with armed guards. In
Tyendinaga the OPP is attempting to bring in a contentious police station to
police the native territory. The Olympic torch is coming through every large
native and non-native community from coast to coast. And the 2010 Winter
Olympics are set to start in February on stolen native land.

Before the Dinner, we will be hosting a workshop on contentious developments
planned in and around Guelph. The workshop will focus on a short history of
opposition to developments in Guelph, and how this ties into indigenous land
titles. Some information will be shared about current developments facing
opposition, including the Hanlon Creek Business Park, and there will be
opportunities to talk with other people in this city opposing developments
and to get involved.

This is going to be a potluck dinner, so please bring a dish to share. A lot
of the food served will be donated from local CSA Farms, Whole Circle, Whole
Village, Simple Thymes, Ignatious Farm and Heartwood Farm.

Who: Speakers from Six Nations, Tyendinaga and more

What: Anti-Colonial Thanksgiving Dinner

Where: Guelph Youth Music Center 75 Cardigan St.

When: Friday October 23rd 2009 @ 6PM

How Much: Free (donations accepted)

What: Development in Guelph Workshop

Where: Guelph Youth Music Center 75 Cardigan St.

When: Friday October 23rd 2009 @ 5PM Sharp

How Much: Free

The GYMC is a wheelchair-accessible space.  Please contact
ipsmguelph@gmail.com for childcare or any accessibility concerns.

Current Projects that people are working on

Hey Folks,

Here are some projects that people are working on:

We are making a zine!

If you are interested in helping out, please e mail hcbpoccupation@gmail.com

We are currently writing articles and collecting graphics – photos, artwork, etc.
Also, we will be interspersing personal stories and reflections about the occupation and the Old Growth Forest throughout the zine, in the form of prose, or poetry. So please feel welcome to contribute anything there!

The Creative Resistance Collaborative:
Creative resistance to the Hanlon Creek Business Park

So word has it some people are really into doing some fun actions to
help spread awareness about important issues! You might call it street
theatre, creative resistance, action oriented art, it has so many
forms.  All ages and abilities welcome. Sing, Dance, Clap,
Act, Chant, Play, Move, Inspire, Motivate, Create!

If you email hcbpoccupation@gmail.com we can put you in touch with the coordinator for this.

Tabling/publicity

You may have already seen us out and about, we are very interested in tabling and talking about the old growth forest and wetlands at events. If you have an event that you would like to see us at, please email us and we will try our best to make it. (hcbpoccupation@gmail.com)  As well, if you are interested in helping out with this, please get in touch with us. You may also see us at the farmers market, as we try and have a somewhat regular presense there. Also, feel free to print off our new flyer, and you can pass it out as you like! You can access it by clicking  here or by going to the “pamphlets/ zines” section.

Recent media from participants in the occupation – Editorial in the Guelph Mercury & article in the Ontarian

Business park lands must be saved from development

Guelph Mercury, September 30, 2009

The Hanlon Creek Business Park occupation came from a long campaign to protect this land. Many of us are long-term Guelphites who have worked for years toward social justice and environmental protection. We are dedicated to healing this land and our human community, but there comes a time when we also have to stop destructive acts.

What we’re up to and How to be involved

People keep asking us, how can I help?

There is a lot going on.  Here is a list of some things we are working on, but we know there is potential for so much more to be happening.  Please get in touch with us via phone or email, and let us know if you’d like to be involved in any way.  Please don’t let our list of projects turn you off if you don’t see something that especially inspires you, we are open to more than what is listed.

* Outreach and communication strategies, like creating our own media, being present at the farmers market and events around town, going door to door, and so on.

* Working on an informative booklet/zine about the issues around the HCBP that led to the occupation, and the many ensuing issues that resulted.

* Organizing a Great Sakes area speaking and networking tour, intended to introduce people in towns and cities small and large to what’s been going on in Guelph, to talk with others about why actions like this are necessary, and how we can work together regionally to collectively stop sprawl.

* Strategizing around the larger issues of the HCBP, like Places to Grow and other ‘growth strategies,’ the economics of the business park, the Guelph’s fall-2010 municipal election, and more.

* Networking and allying with as many people and organizations as possible,  in Guelph and beyond.  Since there are so many issues that converge in the HCBP – urban sprawl, Old Growth forest, wetlands, drinking water, the aggregate industry, threatened species, climate change, the Hanlon  Expressway ‘upgrades,’ biotechnology, Native land claims, and more – there is much fertile ground for alliances, and building a stronger movement around this.

A Breakdown of Some City Propaganda

Since our goals of occupying the HCBP site succeeded in stopping work for this year, the City has stepped up their public relations machine and have been working carefully to try alienating us from broader support.  Allegations of ‘intimidation,’ ’sabotage,’ ‘theft,’ and the like, have been tossed around, and even though they have all been debunked by us, we fear the sentiment may stick in people’s minds.

Here is our explanation addressing these points.  We hope you can take a few minutes to read it and understand that we’re not as scary or as stupid as the City would have you think.