The Ontario government has announced a $1-million contribution to turn the former Talisman Mountain Resort into a nature reserve
The contribution through the Species Conservation Program announced on Friday will support the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s efforts to restore and protect 123 acres of land along the Niagara Escarpment in the Beaver Valley.
The work planned for the property includes the removal of former ski lift and resort infrastructure, reforesting the ski slope, invasive species removal, habitat restoration and the long-term stewardship of the property.
“The Bruce Trail is one of Ontario’s greatest natural treasures, and adding a new, permanently protected nature reserve along its route is a generational opportunity to expand on our natural heritage while breathing new life into local tourism economies,” Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks Todd McCarthy said in a news release. “Through the Species Conservation Program, our government is proud to support the Bruce Trail Conservancy as it restores crucial habitat for species at risk and expands public access to nature, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.”
The BTC announced late last year that it was purchasing a large portion of the former Talisman resort property, including the brow of the Niagara Escarpment, the former ski slopes and the buildings at the base of the hill. The Talisman land include about 885 metres of Bruce Trail and secures trail connectivity to protected lands on both sides of the property. The ski hills are the only break in the forest canopy across a 10-km stretch of the Beaver Valley.
Lands above and below the slope, including the resort’s former golf course, were severed from the original property and were not part of the sale.
The ski resort ceased operations in the spring of 2011, when it closed for the season with no warning. The resort had been facing financial difficulties at the time and was for sale.
In the years that followed the property was the target of development, with proposals including a Nordic spa and hotel.
With its purchase, the BTC announced plans to restore the lands to their natural state, remediating the habitat of threatened species like the bobolink, eastern meadowlark, least bittern, Louisiana waterthrush and more.
The BTC announced in the spring that it planned to demolish the deteriorating resort buildings on the property, though last month it was announced that the BTC and Municipality of Grey Highlands officials plan to work together in “good-faith exploratory conversations regarding the future of the former Talisman site.”
To protect and reforest the property, the BTC embarked on what it is calling one of its most ambitious restoration projects in its 60-year history, with a fundraising goal of $7.5-million.
BTC Chief Executive Officer Michael McDonald said the permanent protection and ecological restoration of the lands mark a monumental milestone for the Beaver Valley and the entire Niagara Escarpment corridor.
“This vital investment from the provincial government is a powerful testament to what can be achieved when vision aligns with conservation action,” McDonald said in a news release. “We celebrate this investment in our work and this great outcome for nature.”
The government’s investment in the project is being delivered to the BTC through the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, a registered charity that connects and supports more than 50 land trusts and charities across Ontario. Through the Species Conservation Program the province has provided the OLTA with more than $12.5 million over five years to support land securement and conservation actions to benefit species at risk, the news release said.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Paul Vickers and Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Suanderson both heralded the importance of protecting the area’s natural heritage for the benefit of residents and visitors.
“This investment supports species at risk, strengthens local conservation efforts and ensures residents and visitors can continue to enjoy the Bruce Trail and the natural beauty that makes this region so special,” Vickers said.
Officials gather for an Ontario government funding announcement at the Talisman Forest Nature Reserve. supplied
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