I have lived in southern…

I have lived in southern Ontario all my life (70+ years) and I very much appreciate the natural splendor that we have in this province. The Ontario Provincial Parks are some of the most precious corners of that natural splendor.
I have, and continue to enjoy the extraordinary recreational opportunities that our park systems make available to us, such as camping, hiking, swimming, and yes rock climbing!
Rock climbing used to be a bit of a fringe sport, but now it is widely popular and growing in its popularity. The overwhelming majority of climbers I've met and interacted with in the 10+ years I've been involved in the sport are good and responsible stewards of the environment. The biggest reason for this is they simply love the great outdoors and nature in general, but it is also because they understand that many people look at us and our sport with suspicion and misunderstanding and our continued access to climbing routes depends on our best behaviour.
Managed approaches to cliff faces, judicious selection of cliffs that can be climbed, and ongoing dialogue between the climbing community (through such groups as the Ontario Alliance of Climbers in this instance, and the longstanding interaction with the Alpine Club of Canada - Toronto Branch at Bon Echo Provincial Park) is a way to expand recreational opportunities in a responsible and sustainable manner.
When done thoughtfully, allowing climbing in parks such as Devil's Glen has no more impact, and perhaps less, than other permitted uses such as hiking or camping. At the same time, it encourages another segment of the population to be physically active and engage with our natural splendor.
I am pleased that the proposal stands to open Devil's Glen to allow rock climbing, and am confident that a a final affirmation of this proposal will serve the residents of Ontario well for years to come.