ACO Port Hope asked 7 questions to Port Hope’s 22 Municipal Electoral Candidates. The questions were sent to all candidates and the responses are posted with permission. Below are the answers we received from nine of the candidates running for councillor in Ward 1, listed in alphabetical order.
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Q1: What is your vision for the Centre Pier area?
Les Andrews: I would like to see a Bandshell positioned at the southern end, water walls along the west edge and at the north end slabs poured to allow for temporary concession stands for trucks/trailers/tents. Essentially dedicate the entire pier to our Parks Department for recreation, arts and culture.
John Appleman: I want to see the pier become a place where we celebrate and enjoy both Lake Ontario and the Ganaraska river.
Todd Attridge: I’m currently the Chair of the Waterfront and Riverwalk Working Group which is a community-based group. One of the things I enjoy most about this group is that we don’t purport to be the experts in waterfront development but, rather, work with the community to cultivate their vision for a waterfront that offers something for everyone. Centre Pier, specifically, could be re-imagined many ways but its function and final design should serve as a community space for gathering, celebrating, and relaxing.
Miles Bowman: As a future council member, in many ways I think my opinion should be irrelevant. Rather, it should be my job to engage the community on projects like this and work to ensure that the maximum number of concerned citizens are given a chance to speak and address what they want this community space to look like when completed. This democratically-shaped opinion is what should win the day. Council should pass, or send back, proposals from staff based on this principle. If staff recommendations on the waterfront come forward that have not been appropriately vetted and engaged with by the public, this would be a non-starter for me. For my money, I want public space that puts Port Hope on the map. I like helping people bring in big and inspiring ideas and I’d love to see the space help our community access nature, and strengthen culture and commercial pursuits in the town. The waterfront should be a draw and extension from the downtown core and a gateway to our natural beach assets. Consulting with and updating our Strategic and Master Plans should be part of how we set about this, as should helping staff consult with the public and make recommendations to council. When I speak with the community I’m often floored by the deep and broad pool of talent that lives here. I would want to ensure that the consultation process unlocks our hidden knowledge base related to design, planning, architecture, and conservation so as to generate a waterfront plan that is truly special in the end.
Claire Holloway Wadhwani: I would love to see the Centre Pier used for community purposes, potentially including, arts and cultural exhibits, a hub for community organizations and citizens groups, an indoor market hall for the farmer’s market in the winter season, and other uses. I think the new buildings should reflect our heritage and add to the interest of our waterfront, acting as a draw for residents and visitors. I would love to see the pier welcome appropriate businesses, creating a public/private partnership to sustain the pier as an additional community gathering place.
William Andrew Lambert: I would have loved to have seen some part of the heritage industrial buildings saved, but that ship has obviously sailed. This needs to be much more than just open green space. Some plaques and/or story boards telling about the important port and manufacturing site this once was are definitely required. Beyond that, the space needs to be made inviting through the construction of at least one shelter (from rain and sun), the placement of benches and picnic tables, garbage and recycle bins, creation of pathways, planting of trees and perennial gardens. The base of the pier would also be an excellent place for the construction of a simple structure that could host a variety of events such as a farmer’s market, art displays, craft and hobby shows and the like. Free, or highly affordable spaces, out of the weather, are needed and this would be a logical location.
Miranda Lukaniuk: My vision is for the residents and visitors of Port Hope to look at this Centre Pier area and be proud and impressed. My vision for the future is that we can still appreciate the beautiful Heritage aesthetic at the same time as highlighting the vibrant art. I would like to block the view of Cameco as much as possible. It certainly is an eyesore.
Norm Orviss: My vision for this area is to try and reclaim the area for a family picnic and play area as well as move the boat launch area to the that side so that it does not impede traffic. Provided this does not disturb natural fishing and feed beds.
Adam James Pearson: In all honesty, my vision of the Centre Pier is over a decade away unfortunately. I am looking forward to having a Harbour again in the future. Restoring the Port in Port Hope.
Q2: In any planned riverwalk enhancements, how might we reference the stories behind the central role that the Ganaraska River has played in the history of Port Hope?
Les Andrews: I would like to see a number of interactive, outdoor terminals, loaded with photos and narratives about historical Port Hope.
John Appleman: Hopefully we tell the rivers whole story.
Todd Attridge: The Working Group is in consultation with many Indigenous groups who have the longest-standing stories and history with the river. The goal is to include their voices as the riverwalk is re-imagined. Aside from that, there are other more modern and colonial stories of how the river has served to grow Port Hope such as Molson Mill, Corbett Dam, and the File Factory, just to name a few. To honour everyone, Ganaraska River’s entire story should be told.
Miles Bowman: Much of the work that I’ve done in Port Hope has been about honouring and elevating our stories. I do this because rural Ontario stories matter as much as any other in the province. This kind of work requires a dedication to curating and showcasing these stories and letting them contribute to lasting cultural expression in this area. We can share and tell these stories to ourselves and visitors. And we can do it in ways that are more easily accessible to everyone. I have experience in approaches that could work. In Critical Mass we’ve developed an app that will tell audio stories of our town to listeners depending on their location. This app could also deliver tours about history, architecture, and key environmental assets. Virtual reality add-ons could show what buildings looked like in the past (something we’ve explored, and have local experts in). This free app meets AODA standards to help more users experience this content. Another approach could be to deploy QR codes (scannable IDs with your phone) at key cultural and environmental assets. These markers directly connect users with webpages. Through government employment grants we could create jobs for local people to literally record and share our own stories with the world and keep those assets into the future. This project could also be designed to be more intuitively inclusive of a broad audience. All of this work requires acknowledging that we are not the first arrivals to this land and that stories related to the Ganaraska date back far before Port Hope. Groups I work with have begun the necessary work of establishing contact with local Indigenous groups to include their stories. And there is more to be done as we find ways to appropriately honour the Ganaraska’s full history. These projects need someone with an understanding of these standards who can navigate technology. Such an understanding will help make appreciating and enjoying history and conservation relevant to broader audiences. I see my role on council as making space for our community groups together to work on larger projects like this. There are a wealth of opportunities to better showcase and be proud of Port Hope’s stories.
Claire Holloway Wadhwani: I was really inspired by the use of “Riverwalk” as the language used in the consultations and process for development of the new plans. I think there is tremendous potential to highlight the history of our community using points of interest along the river. I imagine a historical storyline told through appropriately styled signage providing a glimpse into our past while enjoying this unique natural feature.
William Andrew Lambert: Again, I think the logical answer would be through a series of story boards not unlike the ones used by the GRCA along the river path, within the conservation area. These can provide a lot of good information at relatively low cost.
Miranda Lukaniuk: I would like to see some sort of functional installations, perhaps similar to the Farley Mowat installation of the Viking and those small Fisherman and metal salmon sculptures by the side of the river made by local artists and telling the story of the Ganaraska River.
Norm Orviss: In keeping the theme of the river that built the town and the importance of the Ganaraska, there should be development of areas throughout the river walk that speak to the history and changes that have taken place. Make it a school friendly teaching exhibit as you walk up the river.
Adam James Pearson: As you are aware, the Ganaraska River has always been one of Port Hope’s best features. I walk the trail almost every day, and have for over a decade. I would love to see information areas to explain to visitors about the fish migration, the historic buildings, the power that was generated for the mills. I get asked every year about the reason for the float your fanny. To reference the multiple floods, and more specifically the 1980 flood.
Q3: How would you ensure that the new Waterfront/Riverwalk landscape will be historically appropriate and carefully integrated with Port Hope’s commercial core?
Les Andrews: Future Waterfront/Riverwalk structures could follow a turn-of-the-century theme. Envision a 1900’s look. This would make a very unique attraction to residents and visitors alike. There are bundles of historical building designs available to assist us in developing this concept.
John Appleman: I would like to see archways on either side of Walton Street. These archways should blend in with the historic downtown while encouraging people to walk the river.
Todd Attridge: All alterations and development should weave seamlessly into Port Hope’s brand. The “look and feel” should enhance our existing “look and feel” and, functionally, we have an opportunity to provide activity, vibrancy, and environmental protection.
Miles Bowman: I’m not sure what’s being asked here. I have questions about which historic and cultural ambience are being prioritized and what areas of Lakeshore this pertains to. In that context, my answer again points toward our Master and Cultural Plans (the latter is currently under review, the former about to be updated). These documents help the town to better make decisions about who it wants to be and how it reflects itself to the world. Importantly, during their development I would look to call on advocacy groups like the ACO to help ensure historical consideration is included in their construction. Meanwhile, much of Lakeshore already hints at an agricultural past, and I think we can do more to preserve and highlight that, of course. I also know that before these lands were used for farmland in this way, they were used in other ways. Part of acknowledging a fulsome preservation of history means more broadly consulting with citizens as to how we express our community’s stories. This process would involve a balance between respecting our town’s protected historical districts and other areas where landowners should be able to develop their property as they see fit.
Claire Holloway Wadhwani: As with any community planning, I think the best path is to convene round table discussions with key stakeholders to explore what is possible and what is feasible. I would see groups like the ACO being at this table, along with HBIA members, the Waterfront/Riverwalk committee, Parks & Recreation, Works & Engineering, the Environmental Advisory Committee, etc. When great minds get together, we can explore ideas and find common ground. I have every confidence in the ability of the ACO and other stakeholders to advise on the historical appropriateness of proposals and to contribute to review and validation of Heritage Impact Assessments for proposed alternations. This would be an important element of a strong and thorough public engagement process.
William Andrew Lambert: Any development in this area should follow the existing guidelines for businesses located in the heritage district with respect to paint colours, size of signage, fonts etc. Building materials and the style of construction should also be sympathetic to what would have been used 100 years ago. We want something that will fit in and be seen as wholly appropriate.
Miranda Lukaniuk: I am not a big fan of big ugly modern house built up next to each other that create a grey concrete desert. Before the time of the urban sprawl format of development profiteering model people would settle more organically or in a functional manor as a reaction to industry and need for housing ( such as some of the still left over houses on Bruton street the tiny minor’s residences) I would love to see a more organic looking combination of multi options of houses with green spaces in between them to have a nice mix of neighbourhoods that accommodate a variety of economic classes and cultures. Tiny houses, town houses, larger properties, common green spaces.
Norm Orviss: Any plans developed for the waterfront and riverwalk would need to comply with the ecological and historical value of each area and integrate seamlessly into each area with minimal disruption. This would need to be a well executed plan that has been vetted carefully.
Q4: In the face of further new development, how might the historic and cultural ambience of Lakeshore Road best be sustained?
Les Andrews: Trees, trees and more trees.
John Appleman: That is a very good question and I will have to study it better to give you a great answer.
Todd Attridge: I find the question confusing and, perhaps, there is a more pointed question that isn’t being asked. If the question is asking, “how can we maintain a historical look to the neighbourhood as new development takes shape?” then I believe it can be addressed through our Design Guides. Design Guides are intended to promote high-quality design developments that will be compatible with the existing community.
Miles Bowman: I’ve worked over the last four years to bring housing innovation to Port Hope. Our community is struggling with affordability, housing stock, and rental stock. All of these undercut our ability to bring in and keep workers that run our local economy. I’ve even been told that industry has passed on Port Hope because their workers can’t find housing. Without housing for the workforce, Port Hope’s future is jeopardized. While ARUs are mandated by the provincial government and are therefore going to be part of our future, how they appear in Port Hope will be up to us. To start, our process to update our bylaws on this subject was lacking. The public consultation approach needed improvements so that feedback could be incorporated into the final recommendations. Without public advice, our bylaws will doubly fail to consider Port Hope’s historic idiosyncrasies and our housing issues. When ARUs are incorporated into historic neighbourhoods, the town can provide guidance on style, and planning regulations. Input from the Historic Stakeholders (I’m looking in the direction of the ACO) could positively influence developments by pointing toward desired aesthetic and materials. Nevertheless, our current housing crisis means that families and workers are being barred access to this community. We need to ensure a balance between our historic past and the practicalities that address this pressing community need.
Claire Holloway Wadhwani: When it comes to planning and development, I believe it is integral that we develop and articulate a clear vision in our Official Plan (coming up for review by the new Council). I think this must include provisions for alignment and integration of new development with our natural and cultural heritage. Using our Official Plan as the entry point, we should proactively seek out partnerships with developers who share our vision and who will work to build new neighbourhoods and community features in line with our vision. In specific regards to Lakeshore Rd, I believe we should be looking at development that maintains agricultural lands, preserves environmentally sensitive areas, and integrates with historical features like Wesleyville village. As always, I would advocate for comprehensive consultation with key community stakeholders and with residents to contribute to the development of this vision. I also believe strongly that we must avoid further suburban style development which isolates neighbourhoods from one another, preventing community integration and threatening our small town culture.
William Andrew Lambert: New developments need not be the sort of high priced, single family, urban sprawl that we have had of late. There are much better models and Port Hope needs to insist on those other types of development. New projects must have a variety of price points, including a significant amount of affordable housing. This can be accomplished through the addition of semis, townhomes and low rise buildings. These do not have to look ugly and can be sprinkled throughout the development (not clumped together). Any new development should have adequate green spaces, walking/cycling paths, storm water retention ponds, trees, shrubs and areas of natural vegetation. They should also maintain a decent setback (perhaps 20 m) from Lakeshore road to help preserve its rural character and allow for any future improvements to the road itself.
Miranda Lukaniuk: Again we need to step away from companies that just want to maximize the use of the land building house after house after house for profit. I know that the municipality of Port Hope is a corporation and needs to be run as an effective business in a sense, and gaining more taxpayers is one method. However the beauty and value of Port Hope is unique. Not very many towns of this size are left in Ontario that are preserved in this way without mindless characterless development. That is what draws people, businesses, tourists, and film productions here.
Norm Orviss: This can be done by maintaining strict guidance on permits and developments, being submitted for approval. Plan for the type of development needed and maintain strict approval procedures.
Q5: How might we ensure that these structures [Additional Residential Units] will be in keeping with Port Hope’s historic and distinctive neighbourhoods?
Les Andrews: ARU’s would have to follow the design elements of both historic and modern neighbourhoods. One size or design doesn’t fit everywhere.
John Appleman: Again I think I would have to study this more but I do believe we could keep the integrity of the architecture within given neighbourhoods.
Todd Attridge: I believe Design Guides are intended to do this. I believe our best approach is always to be proactive and intentional by setting expectations as early as possible.
Miles Bowman: My feeling is that there are far too few resources available for people with historic homes to help them find the workers and approaches to appropriately maintain or restore their property. In this way, I would want to pursue a much more dynamic relationship with the ACO whereby local instructions and guides could be constructed to help homeowners. Living in historic homes is a constant learning experience and much of it can feel like fumbling in the dark. I would love to see the ACO take a more central role in offering educational material, for example, that helps our homeowners make responsible choices to preserve historical character and to point them to better solutions in cases where old practices may need to be abandoned. As a more concrete example, our local house tour has been developing great content that shares local houses. What if a curriculum helped guide future projects? The video offerings from this group could help viewers understand how to manage historical restorations, share key learnings about restoration or simply highlight before and after shots to underscore the importance and effect of historical preservation. All of this builds a knowledge base that is activated and visible to the public.
Claire Holloway Wadhwani: In the update to the zoning by-law, some provisions have been included regarding height and size restrictions. However, the provisions are a one-size fits all approach, which limits the ability for residents to develop structures in keeping with their neighbourhoods. While I support the maintenance of our heritage district as a core feature of our community for enjoyment by residents and visitors, I would not support restrictions that make it financially or physically unfeasible for property owners to develop these new structures, thus rendering the by-law change ineffective. I believe we need to balance the need for appropriate densification to address the affordable housing crisis and to accommodate growth. The changes to the by-law were done with virtually no public engagement, not with affordable housing groups, nor with stakeholders like the ACO. This was a missed opportunity to develop ‘made in Port Hope ‘specifications that balance the need for more housing, with the interests and values of our community, including preservation of our distinctive heritage and small town feel.
William Andrew Lambert: I believe this would be a good opportunity for the creation of a Planning Advisory Committee and that one of their responsibilities could be to forge a plan that would address this very question. We have a wealth of planning expertise in Town that could be utilized on such a committee to help us deal with this issue and others. Some measure of control and influence on designs could also be gained through the existing Committee of Adjustment, if they were given the proper direction from Town Hall. There are also plenty of good directions to be found within Port Hope’s Official Plan, we just need to begin paying attention to what it says, before granting planning applications.
Miranda Lukaniuk: I own a 400 year old house in Europe. There are always ways to compromise when updating efficiency and keeping the traditional aesthetic. For example, we have an old oven that heats up only the centre of the house. Instead of discarding this old tradition, we put a water tank inside and a pump to pump water all through the walls of the house, extending the efficiency of heating the home. Historically people had less technology to work with and there are very important clues from our past that we do not have to abandon for sake of efficiency. Aesthetically, personally I think that older traditional architecture must be preserved for this community and any new structures should complement it without costing the homeowner an arm and a leg. It is possible.
Norm Orviss: With this bylaw change there should also have been guidance as the type of structures that can be built and the materials to maintain the historic look of the neighbourhood.
Adam James Pearson: I have talked with people a lot about this. Getting people in homes is very important. So is the look and feel of the neighbourhoods.
Q6: What strategies would you suggest to further encourage the conservation, restoration, and adaptive re-use of existing historic structures in Port Hope?
Les Andrews: I’ll answer this question with an example. The exterior facade of the Old Hospital at 65 Ward Street could be saved/restored, the interior demolished and rebuilt.
John Appleman: I would encourage a strategy that involves all the parties involved and come to a workable arrangement.
Todd Attridge: I believe we should always use and re-purpose as often as we can and whenever it makes sense. Having done a fair amount of world travel, I’ve seen many creative uses of historic structures from re-purposing salvage to turning historic structures into public art to modernization of interiors while preserving historical facades to full integration of past and future architecture. All of these strategies, and more, are great alternatives to a full demolition.
Miles Bowman: I’m living through this right now! As a property manager in the community I can tell you we’ve stumbled into several exchanges with planners and workers where preservation is viewed as “too much effort”. As above, this is where I want to see the ACO be a much more direct help, especially to developers and local homeowners. For example, on the properties I’ve worked on, we’ve had to fight to preserve one of the rare original tin ceilings in the county because it was too hard to address fire separation requirements. Here is where I would want more of the brain trust that lies within the ACO to actively bring forward delegations that can advise on principled approaches to solutions that maintain historic features. In our case, we had to source a new product that could allow fire separation in a way that would meet code and then convince the municipality to approve it – a first in the county and a huge amount of effort! Here is where I see an opportunity for ACO involvement. What if they helped spot threats to historic character in the building code and provided our municipality (especially planners and inspectors) with best practices for addressing historic needs and for assessing historic properties? Placing the power of many behind these kinds of efforts would mean that each developer would not have to solve “preservation problems” in isolation and on their own. Similarly, what if the ACO assembled lists of tradespeople qualified to assist with preservation and restoration? The list could be expanded to include planners and inspectors. Any of these approaches would reduce the barriers on homeowners and developers that lead to historic features being cast aside.
Claire Holloway Wadhwani: I support the continued inclusion of incentives and supports for the adaptation and restoration of historic buildings in our Community Improvement Plan, especially those aimed at improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of these structures. I would support extending these provisions to buildings outside the designated heritage district. I would also like to see groups like the ACO actively engaged with the development of our Community Climate Action Plan, so that we can connect the preservation of historical buildings to other efforts to promote resiliency and sustainability of our community assets in the age of climate change. This plan will no doubt include targets for transitioning buildings off of fossil fuels for heating/cooling, among other provisions, and it will be important to recognize that retrofitting and adaptation of heritage structures may be more complex and/or expensive than newer structures which may require additional support.
William Andrew Lambert: Port Hope has already missed a number of golden opportunities to preserve pieces of its built cultural heritage. The Post Office and Centre Pier Buildings immediately spring to mind. Town Hall needs to work more closely with ACO (Port Hope) to continue adding significant buildings to the registry and to encourage their adaptive re-use. 65 Ward Street is an example of a designated building the current owner is not maintaining and would like to tear down. The municipality could work with the owner and help them find another location that would be far more suitable for the type of LTC development they are proposing. The existing heritage in this town is one of its greatest assets and Council needs to develop the political will to get serious about preserving that and repurposing it to advantage.
Miranda Lukaniuk: Planting native trees, putting up classic, tasteful art installations that tell the story of the history of this area. Make the public aware of the value of trees.
Norm Orviss: Encourage through grants and tax relief on some structures so that they may be rebuilt, conserved and restored to their former beauty.
Adam James Pearson: Every historically designated building in town has its own unique story. Many are waiting vacant for restoration. I feel that to encourage building owners to either move forward with restoration, or sell to in investor that is willing to restore, the municipality needs to put a time limit on tax exemptions. Building owners should need to show that they are actively renovating, or actively selling, in order to receive a tax exemption.
Q7: What is your position on the Penryn/Victoria Street woodlot?
Les Andrews: If it was Municipal land we could cull and replant and try and regenerate this woodlot. Unfortunately, it is privately owned and our lawyers do not hold out much hope for the Municipality to be successful in the upcoming hearings.
John Appleman: I am in favour of every standing tree living if at all possible.
Todd Attridge: The Victoria woodlot is meaningful to the people of Port Hope and is a perfect example of why Council needs to be intentional in its writing of our upcoming Official Plan. I would like to review the materials and make sure we’ve exhausted all possible options before we clear cut trees. I also feel we should restore the Tree Advisory Committee, review options for a tree canopy by-law, and consider a natural heritage inventory to get ahead of these kinds of issues in the future.
Miles Bowman: The Penryn Victoria Woodlot is, in my view, a necessary natural feature of our town that provides protection against sun and erosion from lake-bound winds, offers a significant connection to nature and demonstrates why its preservation is so important. The woodlot, and many others like it in town, was taken for granted and not well maintained. In part, I believe this has led to some of the perceptions about whether it should be cut down. Yet these assets take decades to replace! Moving forward I think we need a clearer and more activated guide for keeping tree lots in Port Hope healthy and in place over the long term. I also think that we need to work harder to install more places where we can connect with nature. This matter is currently being adjudicated on appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal, and if this matter is litigated, no councillor will have effect on that outcome. Notably, for the proposal to proceed, the OLT will need to be satisfied that the developer meets required criteria, including whether: it’s proposal satisfies the Planning Act; is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, the Horseshoe Growth Plan, the Northumberland County Official Plan and the Port Hope Official Plan; that there will be no negative impacts on the natural features and ecological functions of the lot; and, adequately addresses the cultural heritage value and attributes. That said, my hope is that the Town will work to find a resolution with the developer that will maximize the retention of as much of the natural landscape as possible and minimize the financial impact/risk of litigating this issue. Overall, I think that this woodlot represents a significant learning moment for future councils with respect to negotiating with developers when they are interested in building homes where natural assets are located and where to direct effective future advocacy and protections for Port Hope.
Claire Holloway Wadhwani: My position is that the municipality should present a legal opposition to the developer’s plan to clear cut Penryn Woods at the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing scheduled for July 2023. I have been a vocal and active advocate for our tree canopy, including Penryn, in my capacity as a Board Member with Save our Trees. Penryn is an important natural and cultural heritage feature in our community. It is also an old growth forest that serves as an ecosystem for diverse species of plants, trees and wildlife. Importantly, it serves as the lone remaining bridge of tree canopy connecting the Alexander Street ravine and the forests and natural areas around the Little Creek lands north of Lakeshore. Penryn Woods now acts as both a visual and wind barrier between the new Mason Homes development and the older parts of the Victoria St. S / Bramley St. S neighbourhood, where residents are united in opposition to the removal of Penryn’s 900+ trees. It is also important to note that the planned buildings that would sit on the footprint of the now forest do not advance our community’s interest for affordable housing, green space, or for buildings that align with the feel of the surrounding neighbourhood. I also believe it was a mistake for Council to approve a deal with the developer regarding the bifurcation of Penryn from the rest of their Phase 5 development plan. This was a decision made in camera, outside of the public eye, which gave up our leverage to protect Penryn. Our next Council will have a more difficult path to securing the future of Penryn and will require community mobilization to support the case presented at the hearing.
William Andrew Lambert: I am a member of the Save Our Trees committee so it should surprise nobody that I am very strongly opposed to the Penryn Wood being cut down. The developer has not met the required conditions for approval to build here and they have submitted reports that do not stand up to any sort of peer review. The municipality needs to deny the required permits and face the developer, along with Save Our Trees at the Land Tribunal next summer. We cannot continue giving in to bad development projects and sacrificing our urban tree canopy which is not only important in terms of climate change and wildlife habitat, but also to maintaining the character of the existing neighbourhoods and indeed Port Hope as a whole.
Miranda Lukaniuk: I like picking puffballs in those woods and teaching my child how to find them. It is a crime to let that lot go down to that hideous development. There needs to at least be a compromise.
Norm Orviss: I agree with the Save the Trees stance on this Penryn/Victoria woodlot.
Adam James Pearson: As many people are aware, I am a lover of the environment. Mature trees are so incredibly valuable and important to us all Not just for the environmental impact, but also aesthetics. I will never be a fan of cutting down trees when it is not necessary. I will be the first to tell you, I am not an expert when it comes to historic buildings, or what are the best methods to restoring them. I absolutely love the history that Port Hope has, and I love being a part of a historically designated area. When I travel for vacation, I do not travel to beaches. I travel for history and culture. I travel to see things like the historic places of Italy. I travel to hike the rainforest in Costa Rica. If these places didn’t preserve their buildings, and their forests, where would they be? I see the same thing when it comes to my hometown. I may not be an expert in certain fields, but I am always ready and willing to listen to those that are the experts, and make decisions based on advice given. I live in Port Hope for a reason. I love living in a small town. I do not want to live in a city.