Threatened ancient red pine forest is among Sudbury’s top eco-tourism destinations
Toronto – Today Camp Keewaydin on Lake Temagami and the Wolf Lake
Coalition invite Premier McGuinty and family to join them on a canoe
trip to Temagami’s famed Wolf Lake, home to the world’s largest
ancient red pine forest. Promised by the Government of Ontario for
protection in 1999, Wolf Lake is currently under threat from mining
exploration by Calgary based Flag Resources.
On December 13, 2011, after news that Wolf Lake was threatened broke,
the Toronto Star reported that Premier McGuinty said he has paddled
the pristine lakes and rivers around Temagami. “I have in fact taken
my boys — at the end of every summer we take a canoe trip and we’ve
been to Temagami. It’s a great place, beautiful forests, great
freshwater lakes — clean freshwater lakes ,” McGuinty told reporters
at an Aurora high school.
“Premier McGuinty, it would be an honour for us to host you and your
family on a canoe trip to beautiful Wolf Lake this summer,” wrote
Bruce Ingersoll, Director of Camp Keewaydin. “Please join us as we
swim in Wolf Lake’s clear waters, climb its rocky ridges, paddle
through its morning mists, and relax in the shade of its ancient
pines.”
Every summer, thousands of people from near and far come to camp at
Wolf Lake. Outfitters, guides, lodges, camps, restaurants, and motels
depend on the boost that tourism and recreational spending provides.
A group of eight Temagami area camps alone infuses over $3.5 million
in direct spending into the economy each year, while providing
leadership development, healing, and educational experiences to
approximately 700 youth annually.
“Our campers have enjoyed Wolf Lake for over a hundred years,
bringing stable, renewable economic activity to Ontario,” said
Ingersoll. “We’d like to continue doing that for another hundred
years. This area should be permanently protected so that our
grandchildren can enjoy it as we have.” Camp Keewaydin alone has
contributed over $70 million to the economy since it opened in 1903 by
bringing over 16,000 youth on wilderness canoe trips.
“Mining in this area will negatively affect our ability to run canoe
trips in the region, and the destruction of old-growth forests
permanently eliminates a landscape vital to our economic health,” said
Eoin Wood, President of the Association of Youth Camps on the Temagami
Lakes. More than 50,000 campers have come to the Greater Temagami
area over the past 100 years.
CONTACT
Bruce Ingersoll, Camp Keewadin: 416-548-6120, 802-352-4709
David Sone, Wolf Lake Coalition: 416-599-0152 x.13
MORE INFORMATION: SaveWolfLake.org
Beautiful high resolution images of Wolf Lake available.
A compilation of photos and videos from my time in and around Wolf Lake, Temagami, Canada: home to the world's largest stand of old growth Red Pine. It is under renewed threat from mining as leases are coming up for another 20 year renewal.
If this isn't a provincial gem, what is?
Visit www.earthroots.org or www.friendsoftemagami.org for more information.
Follow me: www.twitter.com/robnelson4
Photography by Rob Nelson: www.robnelson.ca or www.facebook.com/RobNelsonPhoto
Music by Nigel "John" Stanford: www.johnstanfordmusic.com
