By Bailey Telo, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On November 25, 2023, Core Burlington will be hosting a Christmas Artisans Market at Lowville United Church from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. The market will consist of homemade baked goods, handcrafted gift baskets, and local art. All proceeds will go directly to the environmental advocacy work that takes place at Core Burlington.

Fifteen local artisans will be joining the event from all over the Greater Hamilton and Toronto Area. Their products will include pottery, woodworking, and jewelry, just to name a few. Expect Kind Grind Roasters and Robin’s Homemade Meals to be serving up coffee and chili, and a silent auction.

As for the handcrafted gift baskets, the first 100 visitors that will attend the market will get a candy cone and a raffle ticket for a chance to win one. Get even more excited for their silent auction: items up for grabs include sports tickets, gift certificates, and a TV will all be part of the auction.

Mary Goh, of @themarypotter on Instagram, is one of the artisans that will be attending the market. She is known for creating both functional and decorative pottery. Goh’s table will be found on Saturday alongside fellow potter Sue Ramsay (@sueramsaypottery)

Suzy’s Critters and Creation will also be at the market. Suzy creates crocheted items ranging from adorable stuffed animals to baby items. Katie’s Knits (also known as @game.ofthrows on Instagram) will be bringing a variety of intricately-knitted handmade products including throws, scarves, hats and shawls to Core’s market.

Core Burlington’s mission is to “preserve the ecological integrity of rural Burlington, and to advocate for healthier communities by protecting our land, air and water.” Core is opposed to  the proposed expansion of Nelson Quarry, and their efforts are focused on preventing the expansion from happening.

The Core Burlington fundraiser/market aims to support efforts in preventing Nelson Quarry from securing a permit to quarry more Greenbelt escarpment lands in Burlington. Core states that “water flow, capacity and quality are all significantly interrupted by open-pit mining.”

The Quarry has escalated the matter to the Ontario Land Tribunal, so Core’s Christmas Market will be a critical part in supporting their opposition.

According to Core, they will need to raise 40,000 dollars in 2023. The money that is raised will be used to hire environmental experts and lawyers in the coming months (perhaps years). The funds will also help to continue their work and advocacy against the approval of Nelson Aggregate’s strategy to expand its open-pit mining operation by 125 acres.

Many citizens have expressed their concern and are opposed to the quarry for a variety of reasons. These concerns involve damage to the landscape that can never be rehabilitated, concerns over endangered species (the endangered Jefferson salamander, for example), water quality and volume issues, harmful effects to air quality, and more. 

On the flip side, Nelson Aggregate Co. has stated that no environmental concerns have been uncovered in their investigations on the proposed expansion site. However, a 2004 expansion proposal was vetoed in 2012 by the province’s Consolidated Hearings Board (Joint Board), ruling that insufficient environmental protections had been included for the area’s unique ecosystem. The company has, though, been working towards the final steps of its rehabilitation plan for Burlington’s existing quarry. The work has been ongoing since 2011, with the goal of transforming the site into a lake with an island situated in the centre. Rehabilitation efforts have focused on the site’s south face for over a decade. Most recently, Mayor Meed Ward and Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan announced the city’s commitment to opposing the quarry expansion.

Aside from Core’s Christmas market, citizens can also donate to the cause by purchasing a “Winter Wonderland” gift basket. Each basket will be filled with a variety of goods, including Lindt chocolates, Raincoast crackers, jams, and teas, put together by the team at Core. Baskets run at $115 and the last day to order will be December 12, 2023.

If you’d like to support Core’s cause but can’t attend the market, donations can also be made directly on Core’s website at https://www.coreburlington.com.

Whatever your stance on the Nelson Quarry expansion, mark your calendars to attend Core’s Christmas Artisans Market to spread some Christmas cheer and kick off the holiday season!

Sources:

Peesker, S. 2021, Sept. 10. Quarry-created park website misleading Burlington residents, says councillor. CBC News Hamilton. Url: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/nelson-quarry-1.6154405 (accessed Nov. 21, 2023).

CORE Burlington. 2023. Url: https://www.coreburlington.com/ (accessed Nov. 18, 2023).

CORE Burlington [@coreburlington]. (n.d.). Posts [Instagram Profile]. Instagram. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/coreburlington/?hl=en

OSSGA Press Release. 2023, February 27. Home. Local-news.ca. Url: https://local-news.ca/2023/02/27/nelson-aggregate-co-receives-ossgas-progressive-rehabilitation-award/ (accessed Nov. 21, 2023).