Blog by: Elisabeth Brückmann, Guest Author
This past weekend, I travelled to the mouth of Toronto’s Don River to view a truly extraordinary feat of environmental engineering. Standing on the new Commissioner Street Bridge and looking east along a new part of the river, I reflected on the potential to restore healthy environments and create real space for nature in the urban setting.
Some 25 years ago, before I went into law and completed my articling year at CELA, I was a young environmentalist working for the Task Force to Bring Back the Don. A City of Toronto sponsored citizens’ advisory group, Bring Back the Don was made up of urban naturalists, representatives of environmental groups, and interested community members living along the Don Valley. Their goal was to breathe new life into a long neglected and degraded river and river valley.
For years, the Don River was a symbol of urban decay. A history of industrialization, poor city planning, and neglect had left it polluted by runoff and sewer overflows. The valley was cut off from the city’s neighbourhoods by highways, roads, and rail lines with few access points. The stretch of the river south of Gerrard was widened and straightened long ago to allow the passage of barges connecting long-closed factories to Lake Ontario. The mouth of the river ended at a right angle turn at the Keating Channel. The huge marshland was filled in and replaced by a block of concrete industrial land at Cherry Street. The river’s role in flood prevention was lost and the mouth constantly filled with silt that had to be dredged yearly at incredible cost.
The idea of revitalizing such a degraded space seemed almost impossible at first. The scale of the work that would be required was extraordinary but the members of Bring Back the Don believed it could be done. They had a vision of restoring the Don River to a healthier, more sustainable state, bringing it back to life as a natural asset that could provide ecological, recreational, and aesthetic value to the city.
One of the key aspects of Bring Back the Don was its emphasis on community engagement. As a volunteer coordinator, my role was to build connections, organize events, and participate in public education. Our work ranged from cleaning up garbage and removing invasive species to planting native trees, leading educational walks, and supporting community art projects. Meanwhile, David Stonehouse, the city planner assigned to Bring Back the Don worked on larger projects to connect government decision makers and funding agencies to advance broader restoration projects.
The most significant of the restoration projects during my time was the installation of Chester Springs Marsh immediately south of the Bloor Street viaduct. A re-creation of one of the wetlands that would have lined the river in the past, the marsh was an endeavour involving investment from all three levels of government. The area of the marsh was dug out and hundreds of volunteers participated in plantings. Then the river was allowed to flow into the area such that the ponds filled with water. A few years after law school, I visited the valley and found the marsh fully established. The ponds were being visited by wildlife and water fowl and the plantings were thriving. Visitors were using the walking trails. It was wonderful to see.
Bring Back the Don’s longer-term vision for the future was a river valley marked by many projects like Chester Springs Marsh and for the Lower Don Lands, they envisioned a truly massive revitalization effort. I remember seeing an artist’s conception of 200 acres of industrial land at Lake Ontario transformed with parklands, improved flood protection, and the restoration of the river’s natural features. The river would be able to flow more naturally and there would be habitat for wildlife, reduced risk of flooding, and much-needed green space for Toronto’s growing population.
At the time, the revitalization of the Lower Don Lands seemed an impossibly tall order. The project would require an unprecedented investment and the long-term commitment of a range of public and private stakeholders. The barriers seemed almost insurmountable. It would be the work of many years.
Imagine my delight when I found myself, just this past weekend, seeing the Don River 25 years later. With literally billions of dollars in investment, the mouth of the Don has been completely reconstructed. In addition to the existing Keating Channel, there is a second naturalized outlet such that there is now an island at the mouth of the Don. The last barrier to the flow of water was removed just two weeks ago. New bridges are in place and there is a plan for new bike paths, parks, and public spaces as well as new housing and the commercial development that is to be expected in any such urban project. Additional wetlands will be added to help mitigate flooding. The Lower Don Lands will be a new neighbourhood with close connections to the river and a new destination for the City.
I am so grateful to all the volunteers, activists, and community members who dedicated their time, energy, and passion to this cause. It is heartening to know that government agencies supported this work, seeing the importance of a healthy environment in their project of City building. For me, seeing the extraordinary change is a bright spot in a challenging time. The Don River’s revival is an ongoing testament to what can be achieved when we work together for a common purpose.
Image courtesy of Waterfront Toronto.
Blog: Revitalizing the Don River – Reflecting on a Decades-Long Journey of Renewal
Blog by: Elisabeth Brückmann, Guest Author
This past weekend, I travelled to the mouth of Toronto’s Don River to view a truly extraordinary feat of environmental engineering. Standing on the new Commissioner Street Bridge and looking east along a new part of the river, I reflected on the potential to restore healthy environments and create real space for nature in the urban setting.
Some 25 years ago, before I went into law and completed my articling year at CELA, I was a young environmentalist working for the Task Force to Bring Back the Don. A City of Toronto sponsored citizens’ advisory group, Bring Back the Don was made up of urban naturalists, representatives of environmental groups, and interested community members living along the Don Valley. Their goal was to breathe new life into a long neglected and degraded river and river valley.
For years, the Don River was a symbol of urban decay. A history of industrialization, poor city planning, and neglect had left it polluted by runoff and sewer overflows. The valley was cut off from the city’s neighbourhoods by highways, roads, and rail lines with few access points. The stretch of the river south of Gerrard was widened and straightened long ago to allow the passage of barges connecting long-closed factories to Lake Ontario. The mouth of the river ended at a right angle turn at the Keating Channel. The huge marshland was filled in and replaced by a block of concrete industrial land at Cherry Street. The river’s role in flood prevention was lost and the mouth constantly filled with silt that had to be dredged yearly at incredible cost.
The idea of revitalizing such a degraded space seemed almost impossible at first. The scale of the work that would be required was extraordinary but the members of Bring Back the Don believed it could be done. They had a vision of restoring the Don River to a healthier, more sustainable state, bringing it back to life as a natural asset that could provide ecological, recreational, and aesthetic value to the city.
One of the key aspects of Bring Back the Don was its emphasis on community engagement. As a volunteer coordinator, my role was to build connections, organize events, and participate in public education. Our work ranged from cleaning up garbage and removing invasive species to planting native trees, leading educational walks, and supporting community art projects. Meanwhile, David Stonehouse, the city planner assigned to Bring Back the Don worked on larger projects to connect government decision makers and funding agencies to advance broader restoration projects.
The most significant of the restoration projects during my time was the installation of Chester Springs Marsh immediately south of the Bloor Street viaduct. A re-creation of one of the wetlands that would have lined the river in the past, the marsh was an endeavour involving investment from all three levels of government. The area of the marsh was dug out and hundreds of volunteers participated in plantings. Then the river was allowed to flow into the area such that the ponds filled with water. A few years after law school, I visited the valley and found the marsh fully established. The ponds were being visited by wildlife and water fowl and the plantings were thriving. Visitors were using the walking trails. It was wonderful to see.
Bring Back the Don’s longer-term vision for the future was a river valley marked by many projects like Chester Springs Marsh and for the Lower Don Lands, they envisioned a truly massive revitalization effort. I remember seeing an artist’s conception of 200 acres of industrial land at Lake Ontario transformed with parklands, improved flood protection, and the restoration of the river’s natural features. The river would be able to flow more naturally and there would be habitat for wildlife, reduced risk of flooding, and much-needed green space for Toronto’s growing population.
At the time, the revitalization of the Lower Don Lands seemed an impossibly tall order. The project would require an unprecedented investment and the long-term commitment of a range of public and private stakeholders. The barriers seemed almost insurmountable. It would be the work of many years.
Imagine my delight when I found myself, just this past weekend, seeing the Don River 25 years later. With literally billions of dollars in investment, the mouth of the Don has been completely reconstructed. In addition to the existing Keating Channel, there is a second naturalized outlet such that there is now an island at the mouth of the Don. The last barrier to the flow of water was removed just two weeks ago. New bridges are in place and there is a plan for new bike paths, parks, and public spaces as well as new housing and the commercial development that is to be expected in any such urban project. Additional wetlands will be added to help mitigate flooding. The Lower Don Lands will be a new neighbourhood with close connections to the river and a new destination for the City.
I am so grateful to all the volunteers, activists, and community members who dedicated their time, energy, and passion to this cause. It is heartening to know that government agencies supported this work, seeing the importance of a healthy environment in their project of City building. For me, seeing the extraordinary change is a bright spot in a challenging time. The Don River’s revival is an ongoing testament to what can be achieved when we work together for a common purpose.
Image courtesy of Waterfront Toronto.
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