Much still to be determined about the future of former Talisman Resort properties despite Council stamp of approval

BY SOUTHGREY.CA STAFF — On February 2, Grey Highlands Council unanimously approved a bylaw paving the way for the final sale of the municipally-owned lands in the Beaver Valley to Westway Capital Inc. (Westway). As such, Westway says they are looking forward to working with the Municipality of Grey Highlands and Grey County in building on the collective vision to revitalize the former Talisman Resort lands. But the hunger for more information continues to fester within the community.

Newsletter February 27th 2022

I would like to again thank you all for your support in this ongoing work to push for a more environmentally sustainable vision for the municipally owned Talisman Lands. The number of letters and calls to councillors is staggering and the number of conversations that are going on in the community is so heartening as we continue to plan for the next steps.

Niagara Escarpment Foundations Responds to the Sale of the Talisman Municipal Lands

Today, the Council of the Municipality of Grey Highlands unanimously passed a bylaw to finalize the sale of their municipally owned Talisman lands (see May 11, July 30 & December 16, 2021 updates). The sale of the municipality’s two parcels to Westway Capital Inc. should be viewed a major step backward for Escarpment protection. The Niagara Escarpment Foundation has joined with community groups in the Beaver Valley community over the past several months in opposing the sale.

Grey Highlands moving forward with sale of Talisman lands, community group files legal challenge

Owen Sound Times - Grey Highlands and a GTA-based group of investors have entered the closing period on a $2.5 million deal for the municipally owned portion of the former Talisman resort lands. Meanwhile, a community organization dedicated to the protection and environmental sustainability of the lands at the former resort is taking the municipality to court over the sale.

Who We Are:

Friends of the Beaver Valley has formed around a fundamental vision: that the beautiful, ecologically sensitive section of the Valley known as the Talisman Lands should be under public control in order to be sustainably managed and accessible to all in perpetuity. 

The Lands lie in the heart of the Beaver Valley corridor along the Niagara Escarpment in the traditional lands of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and come under the umbrella of the Niagara UNESCO Biosphere reserve. Formerly the location of a popular public ski resort, they are now at a turning point and open to new decisions about their use. 

Will they be purchased by a developer and converted to uses controlled only by zoning bylaws and the vague language of a municipal Official Plan? Or will they be controlled by a coalition of conservation bodies, community-based entrepreneurs, educators, organizations and individuals. We are committed to the second option where sustainable use of the land for generations of families into the future is decided according to clearly defined, transparent principles and where planning is able to evolve naturally through a locally grounded and innovative non profit development model.

We are proud and happy to have as a coalition partner the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy.

Successes:

Biodiversity:

© Ingrid Remkins

New Postings:

Talisman: Beauty and Diversity

The Talisman Lands lie in the heart of the Beaver Valley Corridor along the Niagara Escarpment, in traditional Saugeen Ojibway Territory. Formerly the location of a popular public ski resort, they are not at a turning point and open to new decisions about their use.

Meeting With Grey Highlands

On August 19, 2021, the Friends of the Beaver Valley (FBV) and representatives from The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) met with staff at the Municipality of Grey Highlands, Mayor McQueen and Councillors Cathy Little and Tom Allwood to present a collaboration proposal...

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