Barbers Lake, a spring-fed body of water surrounded by wetlands, maple forests, and farmland is at the heart of a thriving rural community in Lanark Highlands. Visitors come for canoeing, bird watching and fishing. Long Sault Creek, a rare cold-water brook trout stream, flows through the lake. A habitat for at-risk species, the neighbouring wetlands provide a wildfire buffer and sequester carbon, mitigating climate change. The pit developers seek below water table extraction and minimum buffers to the lake, creek and wetlands – as little as 30 metres. Some Ontario municipalities protect these same natural assets with setbacks up to 2,000 metres. In stark contrast, this proposal includes an outlet for pit water to potentially flow directly into Barbers Lake. 

Thomas Cavanagh Construction Ltd. intends to excavate on land bordering the lake, permanently degrading this beautiful area. Their destructive plan proposes digging into the water table, up to 30 metres below the surface, removing up to 500,000 tonnes per year, hauling it away on a narrow secondary road. 

This pit would drastically alter the final 1.5 kilometres of scenic rolling hills leading to the adjacent Wheelers Pancake House, Sugar Bush, Museums, and hiking trails. This long-standing and uniquely Canadian agritourism business depends on the health of the maple forests and peaceful rural setting to host over 40,000 local and international visitors annually. 

A pit operating twelve hours a day, seven days a week is incompatible with tourism, a peaceful waterfront community, and rural living along the Highland Line and beyond. 

Any impact on the water table caused by excavation could threaten the survival of the maple trees and impact local wells. The establishment of a noisy, dusty, destructive industrial operation is incompatible with this renowned, sustainable business and the Barbers Lake waterfront community.

The Barbers Lake Pluton, a geological formation well documented for uranium hotspots, lies beneath this sand and gravel. Digging here could release Uranium and its byproducts into the air and water, creating a potential environmental disaster.

Radon gas is a recognised local hazard; many homes need constant ventilation to reduce the threat. Since radon binds to dust particles, creating radioactive dust, a serious health risk would exist for residents, travellers, and pit workers alike.

Ontario’s Auditor General reported the aggregate industry is largely unsupervised. Regulations and pit license terms are routinely ignored; inspections are infrequent. If approved in this sensitive area, this pit would operate with very little effective oversight.

Friends of Lanark Highlands, representing local residents and environmental advocates, has formed a valued alliance with the Shabot Obaadjiwan, Snimikobi, and Pikwakanagan Algonquin First Nations. Small Change Fund is working in partnership with Friends of Lanark Highlands to support this initiative. Together, we are committed to defending this land and water for generations to come. The land is there for us each day; we must be here for the land.

Your donations will fund the lawyers and experts needed to stop this destructive and precedent setting proposal at the upcoming Ontario Land Tribunal. We can make a difference!