More Than 160 Chefs to Protest Ontario Mega Quarry by Dishing Out Soup

7/31/2019 More Than 160 Chefs to Protest Ontario Mega Quarry by Dishing Out Soup

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More than 160 chefs to protest Ontariomega quarry by dishing out soupRebecca Burton, CTV Toronto

Published Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 7:00AM EDT

Swiss chard and potato, hot plum with a cold ice cream topping, even

a harvest medley of beets, turnips and squash. This is just a taste of

what will be offered up at Torontos Soupstock 2012.

As the successor to last Octobers Foodstock, this mega-culinary

event will gather over 160 renowned Canadian chefs and

restaurateurs in a fundraising event to rally against the proposedmega-quarry in southern Ontario.

As restaurateurs we view food as culture. So when you are making a

contribution to food culture, its very important to respond to where

you are geographically, chef Jamie Kennedy told CTV Toronto.

Kennedy will dish out 2-3,000 portions of his Swiss chard and potato

soup at Woodbine Park on Oct.21, to crowds expected to reach 30-

40,000 people.

The proposed quarry will sit just 100 kilometres northwest of Toronto

on Highway 124 near Shelburne. The expansive quarry would span

2,300 acres across the Township of Melancthon, eliminating farmland

to tap into one billion tonnes of limestone deposit.

It is estimated that 600 million litres of water will be pumped from the

quarry every day due to the high water table.

Kennedy joined the efforts as part of the opposition to the quarry to

slow down the process. He wants to allow for more negotiations and

involvement from community members.

A lot of us are supporting our rural communities because we depend


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on it for food, said Kennedy.

Highland Companies, backed by a Boston hedge fund, is heading the

project, promising they will rehabilitate the site agricultural and

associated uses, according to its website.

The Ontario government announced on Sept. 1, 2011 that a full

environmental assessment will be required before a decision is

made, a first in history. If the quarry is approved it will be the largest

in Ontario and the second largest rock quarry in Canada.

Melancthon Mayor Bill Hill told CTV Toronto he expects the

governments decision to be years away, as the environmentalassessment has not even begun. Hill expects the assessment to

begin early next year and take up to two years to complete.

Obviously and understandably there has been severe opposition to

this, said Hill. But Hill said his council has yet to take a stance on the

quarry and are currently reviewing the data.

Highland Companies confirmed Friday it is currently evaluating how

to commence with the environmental assessment saying there hasbeen no timeline set against it.

Co-sponsored by the David Suzuki foundation and the Canadian

Chefs Congress, Soupstock will take place in Toronto this year to

target GTA residents.

Faisal Moola, director of operations at the Suzuki Foundation, said

GTA residents are unaware how influential local agriculture is tothem.

This proposed project is unprecedented in Canada in terms of the

impact it will have on farmland and nature, said Moola.

Moola classified this as some of the best farmland in Ontario;


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farmland that is already being lost at precipitous levels to new

highways, aggregate development and unsustainable practice.

According to Moola, 16 per cent of class one agricultural soil, soil that

has the highest rate of agricultural land capability, has beendeveloped for urbanization in the last 10 years.

This is not the time to be moving forward with this proposal that

would destroy so much farmland so quickly, he said.

Moola said continued research by the Suzuki foundation has found

that greenbelt farmland surrounding the GTA has other benefits as

well. Approximately 40 million tonnes of carbon are absorbed out ofthe atmosphere by this farmland that fights emissions causing global

warming.

Fundraising from Soupstock will go towards the continued fight

against the mega-quarry and research on the importance of this

farmland in the battle against climate change.

Michael Stadtlander, president of the Canadian Chefs Congress,

lives just 30 kilometres from the proposed site.

According to Stadtlander, the land is known primarily as a potato-

growing region, producing approximately 20 pounds of potatoes for

each Toronto resident.

Farmers in the area have expressed concern that if the quarry is dug,

bordering farms will be vulnerable to drought. Wells could also begin

to dry if moisture moves into the pit. All factors that could seriouslyhinder the production of potato crops.

I really dont like things when it gets too quiet. It should not be put

on the backburner. Its not going to go away, said Stadtlander.

In an effort to keep things local at Soupstock, all chefs will be


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provided with food from local producers distributed at Evergreen

Brickworks on Wednesday.

Stadtlander, who will use ingredients from his own farm, said this

move towards locally grown foods is a trend that is picking up eachyear.

Even visitors are expected to do their part, as they are requested to

bring their own bowls and spoons to cut down on waste.

Last years event was hosted about an hour outside Toronto and

attracted an overwhelming 28,000 people. Over 100 chefs offered

unique tastes beside musical talent such as Sarah Harmer, RonSexsmith and Blue Rodeo.

This years decision to offer soup was based on its versatility said

Stadtlander. He also credited the season and weather in the decision.

A local line-up of artists from the likes of Jim Cuddy to Snowblink will

provide the musical backdrop to the event. Music organizer Brian

Burks said he hopes to create a family-friendly atmosphere while

producing a hugely memorable concert.

But if the soup runs out quickly, other anti-quarry efforts have popped

up across the GTA to join the fight.

The beautiful landscape being devastated by the largest mega-

quarries was enough to inspire artists to protest, said artist Donna

Tranquada.

Tranquada will join artists against the mega-quarry to kick off its artshow and sale in the east-end of the city on Oct. 18. Even Ontario

College of Art and Design Students launched a poster exhibit against

the mega-quarry at Mildreds Temple Kitchen on Thursday.

Sales from these art shows will also go towards organizations fighting

the mega-quarry.


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The loss of thousands of acres of the best soil on the edge of the

GTA is something we should be concerned about, said Moola.

Soupstock will run from 11:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. on Sun. Oct. 21, 2012

at Woodbine Park. A $10 entry fee allows visitors three bowls of

soup.

Read more: http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/more-than-160-chefs-to-protest-ontario-mega-quarry-by-dishing-out-soup-

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More Than 160 Chefs to Protest Ontario Mega Quarry by Dishing Out Soup