Ontario Reformatory
The ponds at the old Ontario Reformatory property sit beside the Eramosa River, ringed with cattails, goldenrod, and early autumn colour. A heron was fishing in the creek at the entrance as we walked in.
Also near the entrance is an overflowing garbage bin. Because the property isn’t under municipal control, there’s no waste collection and folks are supposed to pack it out.
One bin has become the unofficial destination for everyone passing through. By late September, it was piled well above the rim with cups, bottles, food packaging and bags spilling into the surrounding grass.
What didn’t fit in the bin had started accumulating in the bushes and along the shoreline. We hadn’t planned a cleanup, but it didn’t take long to fill several bags with litter from around the ponds.
We really enjoy the area, and it’s easy to see why these lands could become an urban national park. The landscape is beautiful, and we’re trying to keep it that way. We could only haul away a portion of the debris, along with a discarded umbrella, but we plan to be back on October 24 for a community cleanup. We’d be happy to have you join us.
Notable Finds
Broken Umbrella Frame; Recyclables: 17 cans, 14 bottles
Wildlife Observed
Heron fishing