Join In Celebrating The 40th Anniversary Of Niagara, Ontario’s Premier Agricultural Lands Preservation Group

You Are Invited To PALS’ 40^th Annual General Meeting – Thursday, May 5^th, 2016

An Invite from Gracia Janes and the Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society

Posted May 1^st, 2016 on Niagara At Large

The Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society (PALS) –  the oldest farmland preservation group in Niagara, Ontario and in all of Canada – has invited land preservationist  cowboy, agri-tour operator and beef farmer,  Carl Cosack ,from the Dufferin County group Food and Water First, to speak at its 40^th Annual General Meeting on Thursday May 5,   7-9:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Congregation of Niagara Community Hall,  223 Church Street, St. Catharines.

“Cowboy land preservationist” and beef farmer Carl Cosack of Dufferin County, Ontario is keynote speaker

Cosack, is a “local hero” and “Quarry-breaker”   for his leadership role within the North Dufferin  Agricultural and Community Task force, in defeating  the Highland Company’s’ proposed mega-quarry in Melancthon, which was to be located over the purest ground water in Canada, if not the world.

It was a ‘David and Goliath’ win for what started out as just a few farmers opposing the plans of  a company   backed by a multibillion-dollar US hedge fund and powerful political lobbyists.

Hot-off a talk in Toronto on April 27^th, titled  “To sprawl or not to sprawl?”  Cosack ‘s strong but humorous message speaks to his undaunted resolve to  protect prime farmland  from unwanted and unnecessary urban expansions and uses , as these are lands that ensure   to-day’s and tomorrow’s Ontarians will be able to feed themselves,  and  protect vital water sources .

PALS’ Secretary /Treasure and one of its founding members, Gracia Janes  is confident   “Cosack’s belief in land preservation  and  ‘lessons learned’ from the Melancthon Quarry battle will  resonate  with PALS stalwarts as they celebrate their 40^th year of working to protect the  best farmlands in Canada , the unique and threatened tender fruit lands.”

A conservation park along the shores of Lake Gibson in Thorold, the Niagara community where Mel Swart lived and fought to (among other things) lay the groundwork for Niagara’s internationally recognized Greenbelt, aimed at protecting what is left of the region’s precious tender fruit and grape growing lands from sprawling development.

At this same annual meeting, PALS is pleased to host the launch of a new book, Mel Swart – Eco-Justice Champion – written by longtime PALS member and conservationist Dr. John Bacher PhD. The book focuses on the life’s work of the late Mel Swart, one of the most iconic political leaders ever to come out of the Niagara region and a true champion for the common good.

So come join PALS’ Anniversary Annual Meeting this coming Thursday, May 5^th from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Unitarian Congregation of Niagara Hall, 223 Church Street in St. Catharines, Ontario – a few steps away from where Queenston Street meets Church Street, and where you will find parking beside the Hall, behind the former purple bingo hall.

Learn more about the Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society by clicking on its home page at http://members.becon.org/~pals/index.html .

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