I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the proposed inclusion of rock climbing as a permitted activity at Devil’s Glen Provincial Park. This amendment directly contradicts the ecological protection mandate outlined in the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, which prioritizes the preservation of ecological integrity above all else.

Ontario Parks’ own studies—including the Devil’s Glen Biological Inventories by Gould (1984) and Jalava (2008)—clearly identify the park’s cliff and talus areas as Extremely Sensitive to human disturbance. These habitats host rare and specialized plant and animal communities that have evolved over centuries in isolation. Research confirms that climbing activities can rapidly degrade these fragile ecosystems, which are not adapted to withstand recreational impacts.

The current climbing activity within the park is the result of years of neglect and mismanagement. Unauthorized access from adjacent lands has expanded unchecked, despite existing policies meant to prevent such use. The proposed plan fails to address serious overuse issues—such as unsanitary latrine practices at the cliff base—and instead suggests expanding infrastructure to accommodate more climbers.

The adjacent crown land proposed for park addition was originally acquired by the Nature Conservancy of Canada for long-term protection due to its exceptional natural heritage. Its transfer to Ontario Parks was intended to enhance conservation—not to facilitate recreational climbing for a politically connected interest group.

Ontario Parks staff previously conducted ecological assessments in climbing zones, identifying sensitive species and recommending protection zones. These were swiftly removed following pushback from the climbing community, despite climbing never being a permitted use. Since then, ecological monitoring appears to have been curtailed, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability.

While the proposed amendment includes language about protection policies, Ontario Parks’ recent actions suggest these will not be meaningfully enforced. If applied properly, very little of the park would be suitable for climbing—yet the plan seems designed to accommodate widespread use.

Without clear, enforceable commitments to prioritize ecological protection and manage existing impacts responsibly, I cannot support this proposal. Devil’s Glen is a rare and irreplaceable natural heritage site. Its future should not be compromised for the benefit of a single user group at the expense of broader conservation goals.