Join The Citizens’ Rally – Saturday, August 22nd, 2026 – To Save Farmland In Cooks Mills, Welland From Industrial Development

“This is our farmland, and these are our tax dollars. We are gathering on August 22 to show that the public deserves answers before decisions are made — not after.”                                                – Heather Fyfe, spokesperson for #HandsOffOurFarmland

Public Protest Announced as Questions Grow Over Potential Industrial Development on Ridge Road Farmland

A Call-Out To All Of Us from the Cooks Mills community Group Hands Off Our Farmland

Posted August 17^th, 2026 on Niagara At Large

Cooks Mills community group calls for transparency from Welland City Council, raises alarm over Ontario’s accelerating loss of agricultural land, and files information request.

The Cooks Mills community group, through its #HandsOffOurFarmland campaign, is calling on Welland City Council for full transparency regarding the future of agricultural land on Ridge Road and announcing a public protest for Saturday, August 22, 2026.

The call for answers follows reports that discussions may be underway regarding a potential industrial user for the taxpayer-acquired Ridge Road lands.

The group has submitted a request under Ontario’s Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act seeking municipal records related to planning, environmental assessments, and site coordination.

The group notes that the situation on Ridge Road reflects a troubling provincial trend. According to Census of Agriculture data, Ontario loses over 300 acres of prime farmland every day to urban expansion and industrial development — a rate community advocates call unsustainable for local food security and climate resilience.

“Residents should not be expected to accept the permanent loss of farmland and potentially massive infrastructure costs while decisions are happening behind closed doors,” said Heather Fyfe, spokesperson for #HandsOffOurFarmland.

“Agricultural land is a finite resource. Once it’s paved over for industrial development, it is gone forever.” #HandsOffOurFarmland is urging City Council to reject converting the Ridge Road agricultural lands to industrial use, raising key concerns over:

• • Public Transparency: Whether the City is actively negotiating with or engaging a specific industrial end user for public land.
• • Provincial Farmland Protection: The permanent loss of productive agricultural land during an ongoing provincial food security crisis.
• • Infrastructure & Financial Burden: Potential tax increases to pay for roads, water, wastewater, and long-term maintenance servicing.
• • Environmental Safeguards: Unanswered questions regarding groundwater, air quality, surrounding farms, and nearby residential homes. 

DETAILS: PUBLIC PROTEST

• Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
• Time: 11 a.m. to noon
• Location: Welland City Hall, 60 East Main Street, Welland

“This is our farmland, and these are our tax dollars,” added Fyfe. “We are gathering on August 22 to show that the public deserves answers before decisions are made — not after.”

We need all hands on deck. Parking at the Welland Farmers’ Market (free), or behind City Hall, metred. SATURDAY AUGUST 22ND, 11 AM60 East Main Street, Welland City Hall. Bring your signs! Bring your friends!

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