50 years of outdoor learning marked at Albion Hills Field Centre

October 24, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
Over the last 50 years, a lot of lives have been touched by both Albion Hills Conservation Area and the Albion Hills Field Centre.
Last Thursday was a time for celebrating 50 years of outdoor education at the field centre.
Operated by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), which was formerly known as the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the centre offered the first overnight outdoor education centre operated by the authority.
Approximately 2,000 visitors walk through the doors of the centre each year, making it one of the top outdoor education sites around.
There were a number of dignitaries on hand for the celebration, along with people with memories of their time at the facility, and students from Palgrave Public School.
Ken Higgs worked for the Conservation Authority from 1957 until 1983, and was general manager from ‘61 to ‘82.
He told those on hand that the idea for the field centre started with Catherine Scholem, a retired Physa-ed teacher, and social studies teacher Blanche Snell, both from York Memorial Collegiate. They came up with the idea of starting an outdoor, conservation education program. He said they got in touch with the Humber Valley Conservation.
Higgs said the first conservation camp school was held in Bolton, in the floodplain of the Humber River in May 1953. He said he remembered the date because the camp started two days after his wedding.
The camps carried on for about nine years, while a group of outdoor education enthusiasts started making plans for a permanent field centre.
Higgs said a conservation foundation was formed in 1961. It was initially chaired by Fred Wade, and it was he who decided construction of the Albion Hills Field Centre was to be the first major project.
The sod was turned for the field centre in November, 1962, and Bill Davis, who was minister of education at the time, was on hand for the ceremony.
“Nature’s beauty does much to make man think, and living so close to nature as pupils will do in this school camp in years to come, let us hope that they will gain this love for nature’s gifts and gain a sense of responsibility towards the intelligent use of natural resources,” Davis said that the time, as he expressed the hope for the prosperity of the facility. “May its influence spread so that young pupils will enjoy a love for the out-of dorrs, establish lasting friendships, gain new knowledge and learn through conservation to become responsible citizens and respect and love their country.”
Higgs said Davis was on hand to officially open the field centre Oct. 23, 1963, and the first class to attend was from York Memorial.
Brian Denney, CEO of TRCA, explained there had been renovations going on at the field centre, so the decision was made to put the celebration back a year so they could be completed.
Moe Benthamite, supervisor of the field centre, said the renovations have been going on over the last couple of years. They have included retrofits of windows and washrooms, , and changing the heating to propane. The aim, he said, is a “carbon-neutral footprint.”
“Toronto and Region Conservation Authority is very proud of the institution of outdoor education,” commented TRCA Chair Gerri Lynn O’Connor.
She also reviewed some of the highlights from the last 50 years, which has seen soe 200,000 students and visitors pass through the facility.
Among other items, she cited a pioneer cabin on the property that has been refurbished, allowing students to experience something of the past.
Last week’s celebration opened with a smudging ceremony performed by Mississaugas of the New Credit Elder Garry Sault.
He told the audience, including the students, that since April, the Ministry of Education has been studying treaties involving First Nations People. He said even new immigrants have a role to play, pointing out when one comes to Canada, they become part of the people who made those treaties.
“We, in our own spiritual way, are trying to reintroduce you to the role,” he said.
“This is a real honour for me,” Mayor Marolyn Morrison commented, as she praised the “absolutely phenomenal Conservation Area” and stressing that the Town of Caledon takes conservation seriously.
“In 50 years, I do hope you’re having another wonderful celebration,” she added.
“I actually was here when this facility opened up 50 years ago,” Peel Regional Chair and CEO Emil Kolb remarked.
Kolb commented on how he had sat on the Conservation Authority for 17 years, recalling Caledon’s first mayor Ivor McMullin suggested he get involved. “I had some visions of my own,” Kolb recalled, adding McMullin had told him it was his chance to put that vision into conservation.
He also commented that Albion Hills used to attract a lot of visitors from Toronto. The traffic from the city, he said, reached the point that he got involved in installing his first set of traffic lights in Bolton.
In addition, Kolb remembered helping out in starting a small dairy operation at the site.
“It was a place where kids could go and have a lesson in good agriculture,” he remarked.
“It’s a great place and we’re doing great things in agriculture,” he added.
Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones observed that the concept of conservation started with Hazel in 1954 — “the weather, not the mayor.”
Jones added there have been a lot of changes since then in what to expect, and a lot of that is due to the work of conservation authorities.
Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson pointed to a banner on the wall, which reads, “50 years of learning and leadership in outdoor education,” commenting that message says it all.
Tilson expressed appreciation for what the centre has brought to students, as well as other groups like Scouts, Guides, etc., over the 50 years. He said the original and creative programs have a reputation of being both educational and enjoyable.
“We egerly look forward to the next 50 years,” he concluded. “Keep up the outstanding work.”