Fund an OMB Appeal To Save Our Park

We are asking for your help to fund an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) appeal of last night's 6-3 decision to re-zone - for commercial use - a beautiful and historic waterfront parkland in Midland Ontario. 

[photo credits: John Todd - Depicts part of Edgehill park - of which the west section is to be re-zoned commercial]

We know this is a David versus Goliath fight.

Proponents will argue that the proposed use (a virtually free lease for a commercial health care building for two agencies already funded by Provincial taxes) is justified use of the parkland.  They would also argue that since the parkland is not equipped with aparatus, that it is not worthy of being protected like other parks.   The parkland has been enjoyed as Edgehill Park (Huronia Park) by children, residents and vistors for decades.

[photo credits: John Todd - Depicts 'The Grove' which is the section of the park to be developed]

It's bad enough to declare parkland 'surplus' and sell it to the highest bidder... but to slice it up and give it away to special interests for free - it belongs to the community and is our legacy for future generations and we argue that it is not up to 6 elected officials to simply give it away.

Six of the nine members of the Town of Midland's Council have taken the stance that, despite a petition with almost 2000 signatures (realizing that only 5000 people voted in the last election) it is not enough to stop the rezoning and commercialization of what little waterfront /  waterview parkland is left in our community.

[photo credits: John Todd - Depicts 'The Grove' (left) which is the section of the park to be developed]

They need to find a location other than what's left of our parkland.  There were reportedly 20+ alternate sites considered after they approached Council for a list of Town-owned property.  They chose our best and they have put all their eggs in one basket and received government grants that hinge on them securing this one location.  Their poor planning should not trump our right to keep our parkland.

The community stands behind these worthy health organizations but we argue that this is not about the worthiness of an organization, it is about the loss of parkland to commercial interests, which is especially troubling when the commercial interests already draw funding from our taxes and seemingly are ingnoring numerous other locations in the community already serviced, with public transportation and in close proximity to other health / mental health services.  

At a public meeting... a surprise visitor appeared and addressed Council:

“You have valuable parkland you’re giving away. It makes no sense,” said Steve Gilchrist, Ontario’s former minister of municipal affairs and housing. 

Gilchrist helped draft the legislation the town is using to decide whether to allow Chigamik Community Health Centre and Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care to build a health-hub facility in the park. He also championed the creation of Rouge National Urban Park in Toronto.

“Parks add to the health of communities. That is something to be treasured,” he said. “(This plan) runs against the spirit of the planning act. As Mark Twain once said, "Buy land – they’re not making any more of it."

Furthermore, it remains to be seen if Midland will even see taxes or development charges.  The have not even had the land assessed for value.  They never opened it up to other interested parties and never put it up for sale.  Without knowing any of these facts, 6 of 9 councillors voted to re-zone to accommodate this building and parking lot in place of serene parkland. 

The health organizations wanting this land exist here, serve us now from alternate locations, and have decided that they want/need to move, merge and have selected the most pristine and beautiful water front park in the community as their new proposed location.  

Midland Council passed a zoning bylaw change last night (Monday September 28th) that we need your help to appeal to the OMB.  We have a very limited amount of time to launch the appeal and need funds to help pay for the legal expertise to navigate these waters.

Any un-used funds will be donated to local charities and evidence of those donations will be published.

[photo credits: John Todd - Depicts an area of the park which is not yet on the chopping block to be  developed]

Help us send the corporations back to their board rooms to find another property that is not the community's parkland.

If our own elected officials lack the will to champion our community's parkland then it is left to the community.  The sad irony is that they will fight us with our own tax dollars, counting on us being unable to raise the funds to challenge their decision.

Bravo! to Councillors Jack Contin, Jonathan Main and Patricia File for being able to delineate between the proposed use of the land and the simple fact that it is parkland and there are far too many un-answered questions to simply vote in favour of this proposal at this time.  They listened to their constituents and will very likely enjoy another term in office

Our community supporters will help fund this campaign but we need your help.  Anyone with OMB appeal experience in these matters is welcome to contact us and help out.

Help us stop them from "paving paradise and putting up a parking lot" and commercial building on our parkland.


Compromise is a big part of any dispute resolution and we propose that the compromise is that Midland helps them secure their funding for a new health hub on another site, other than our parkland.  We refuse to believe that this is only place in their catchment area (Midland) that allows for their funding.  Instead, it appears that it is the only place that they want and will settle for.  Hence this situation that both they and Midland Council has placed us in, seemingly pitting the community at large against health care providers - which could not be further from fact.  We all support their services, many of us use their services, and will continue to do so when they find a new site.


There is no arguing that the proposed building is attractive and 'green', but its one flaw is that is that it is a building and 100+ parking spaces on what is and has been picturesque, tranquil and natural green space buffering urban squall and affording all residents and visitors a calming green place to gaze over the magnificent Georgian Bay.




Thank you for your consideration and for any assistance that you may be able to provide to this cause.  Much of the Midland community thanks you.

To read some more background: Read Local News Coverage Of Town Meeting