Vandals who cut down trees on Timmins trail could face fines of $100K
A volunteer group in Timmins is raising the alarm on chronic vandalism along a popular trail system.
People have been illegally cutting down trees, stripping them of their bark — as well as littering and spray painting parts of the Grassy River-High Falls trail loop.
Laurent Robichaud points out a tree that was cut down recently. (Sergio Arangio/CTV Northern Ontario)
Volunteers who maintain it are urging them to stop.
The Friends of the Grassy River volunteer group frequently patrols the trail system to ensure it’s well-maintained and litter-free.
Members said finding trash on the ground is frustrating enough, but some people have been cutting down live trees without permits.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Volunteer Shane Lebrun caught a group with axes in hand just a few weeks ago.
"They were cutting trees, about 13 in total," Lebrun said.
"It really upset me to see that."
He confronted the group, but they ignored him and continued on. Lebrun reported them to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, which is now investigating.
That can come with fines of up to $100,000 per tree, which Lebrun said is because of how harmful it is to the environment.
"Trees are what keep the soil together and keeps your ground from eroding," he said.
"If it was OK to cut trees, everyone would be out hacking trees, and it’s not cool."
The group has been urging people to leave these live trees alone, especially since discovering a precious tree rooted in a river rock cut down five years ago.
"This was the only White Pine sitting on the rock, right by the falls, and it got cut down and used as a shelter," said volunteer Laurent Robichaud.
"Any time I see a tree cut down close to the shoreline of High Falls, it hurts."
These volunteers said High Falls is a place of serenity and well-being, to enjoy the sound of the rushing river, the smell of the cedar, birch and balsam trees and take in the scenery.
And they say toppled trees, trash and motor traffic tarnish that.
"It’s always a constant battle to make people realize that this is a precious, precious location for us all and we have to take care of it," Robichaud said.
"Please stop destroying this area, we’re trying to keep it for everybody," added Lebrun.
Shane Lebrun of Friends of the Grassy River group. (Sergio Arangio/CTV Northern Ontario)
The two volunteers said they’ll be bringing out a group of people to plant up to 300 trees in the fall, to replace what’s been lost and damaged.
They say the MNRF can only do so much and that it’s up to everyone to use the trails respectfully.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.