As someone whose family was…

As someone whose family was one of the original cabin owners on Engineers Lake (Winnetka Lake Road), the lake was home to my extended non-blood family. We spent every summer together, for 2 straight months. We spent everyday together, had a beautiful community. We had communal bonfires twice a year on the point, which is land now being blocked to the community, and according to the proposed plans being divided between Blandford and Mathes. I truly believe with my whole heart that "the point" should be kept communal and open to all to use and enjoy as it always has been. This would uphold the values that the coop was built on and that the community has always had.

Behind the travel allowance (road) is open land where hiking trails have been built. They were built over 20 years ago for the communities use and are well used by many families. They bring us to our treasured blueberry patches. They are a place where 2 generations of kids have had forts and played many a game of hide and go seek. To have this land become private and for the community to not have access to the trails and beloved blueberry patches would be so disheartening. Again, this community has always been about including and not excluding. This is changing the very fibre of our community into one of exclusion.