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.

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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.