To whom it may concern: It…

To whom it may concern:

It is my fervent belief that a solution must be found for the permanent occupancy of the cottage lots in Rondeau, and that a sale under Section 9(3) of the Provincial Parks & Conservation Reserves Act (2006) as directed by Minister Jeff Yurek is the best way. As I understand it, in 2019 Minister Jeff Yurek ordered a sale of the cottage lots to Chatham-Kent, this process was started but then obstructed & halted by Ontario Parks bureaucrats in 2022 with little progress made. In my mind, this was the best solution for all parties involved and it is very unfortunate that this progress seems to have been lost and that we are back at square one.

I am fortunate enough to have married in to a Rondeau family. My children have spent all of their summers at Rondeau. They learned to swim and paddle in the waters of the bay and the lake. They learned of the necessity to be stewards of the land and the importance of respecting their natural environment. The natural connection that cottagers feel to the land, and the commitment that we all feel to protecting these lands, and creatures within, cannot be understated.

As a resident of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent I am also acutely aware of the positive impact that these cottages have on our local community. The economic and cultural influence of the cottage community is of great importance to our municipality.

This is a community that has long been held hostage by the uncertainty of our tenure in the park, and a myriad of empty promises from elected officials and government staff. We want to continue to make investments into our properties, our community and to support the park in its conservation efforts. We want to continue to represent the best interests of Rondeau Park and remain as stewards of this land.