Amendment to the Devil’s…

Amendment to the Devil’s Glen Provincial Park Management Plan

Ontario Parks is seeking input regarding proposed amendments to the Devil’s Glen Provincial Park Management Plan. The proposed changes reflect a future addition of adjacent acquired lands to the park, a classification change, zoning changes, and changes to the permitted recreational activities within Natural Environment zones.

ero.ontario.ca

I am writing to express strong opposition to the proposed amendment that would permit rock climbing at Devil’s Glen Provincial Park. This proposal is incompatible with the park’s core mandate under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, which prioritizes the protection of ecological integrity above all other uses.

Devil’s Glen is home to a uniquely fragile ecosystem. The cliff face, talus slopes, and rim areas have been identified in multiple studies—including those by Gould (1984) and Jalava (2008)—as “Extremely Sensitive” to human disturbance. These habitats have evolved in isolation over centuries and lack the resilience to withstand recreational pressures. The park also contains what has been recognized as the finest example of an incised valley within its ecodistrict, further underscoring its scientific and conservation value.

Numerous ecological assessments have recommended that Devil’s Glen be managed as a nature reserve, not as a recreational climbing destination. The inclusion of adjacent crown lands—acquired by the Nature Conservancy of Canada for conservation purposes—should reinforce this direction. Instead, the proposed amendment appears to reward unauthorized use and neglect, rather than uphold the principles of responsible stewardship.

The expansion of climbing access has occurred not through policy, but through a failure of enforcement under the existing management plan. Ontario Parks’ apparent removal of ecological protection signage and the curtailing of impact assessments—reportedly in response to pressure from climbing advocates—is deeply concerning. It signals a troubling shift away from science-based conservation toward appeasement of a well-connected user group.

Permitting climbing and expanding infrastructure such as parking will only compound the ecological degradation already observed. Rather than weakening protections, Ontario Parks should be reaffirming its commitment to preserving the park’s irreplaceable natural heritage.

I urge Ontario Parks and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to reject this proposal and instead take meaningful steps to restore and enforce the protections that Devil’s Glen deserves. This is not just a matter of policy—it is a matter of ecological responsibility and public trust.