When Peggy Peterson
pitched a tent at the picturesque Bala Falls, in the Lake Muskoka region of
Ontario, she thought that she’d camp out for a few days and that many would
join her cause against a proposed hydroelectric plant.
Her insurgency, however,
has become a long, solitary battle.
Residents of Bala have
provided her with food, an outhouse and a camper van, but no one has committed
to joining her demonstration. For more than 100 days, it’s mainly been just her
and her sheltie, Lucy, and they’re digging in for the winter – and likely longer.
“Until it’s stopped, I’m
not leaving,” Ms. Peterson vowed recently over the phone from the home of one
of her new neighbours.
“How
a downtown waterfall like this can be given away by the government to a
private, for-profit company without any benefit to Bala? It’s just
cash-for-life for a handful of private individuals.” ... More
Save the Bala Falls!
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| Save Bala Falls! Click on the photo to sign the petition. |
The Bala falls is the one and only iconic heritage of the charming, historic town of Bala, Ontario. It has been used as a portage by Native voyagers on their way to Lake Couchiching and back, as well as fur traders, and explorers. Its significance lies in its connection to both the past and present, and once gone it cannot be replicated or replaced.
However, now the province of Ontario, together with a 'for-profit' outfit, is pushing through a plan to destroy Bala Falls as we know it. Why? For the purpose of making more money.
So how much is heritage worth? To a cynical, uncaring, avaricious government, apparently not much. But to the people of Bala it is priceless.
Even if you are not from the Bala or Muskoka areas, but have a concern for history, heritage, and the environment, sign on those principles. This is a wider issue than just one.
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