"Botanical garden plan alarms Farm fans. Nature lovers fear Experimental Farm will become theme park."

 by Carolynne Wheeler, Ottawa Citizen, August 3, 2001.

 (The first attempt to commercialize the Arboretum and Fletcher Wildlife Garden. And National Defence land at Dow's Lake was part of the project.)

---The Ottawa Botanical Society will charge $10 to $15 dollars for access to gardens it plans to build south of the arboretum. For the time being access to the Dominion Arboretum is free.

---Curfews are being imposed that prevent amateur astronomers and joggers from enjoying the site during the evening.

"A proposal to fence off part of the Central Experimental Farm to create a $35 million botanical garden has alarmed cyclists, joggers and other people who fear nature trails will give way to concession stands, parking lots and swarms of visitors."

"The proposed botanical garden on the east side of Prince of Wales Drive would surround but not swallow, the arboretum that is now a haven for nature lovers. A first, $10 million phase of the proposal from the Ottawa Botanical Garden Society is being studied by an advisory council appointed by Agriculture Canada."

"Phase 1 of the project would fence off about 44 hectares (108 acres) of land now designated for research. It would improve the existing arboretum and (Fletcher) wildlife garden and build a children's garden, a perennial garden, a heritage garden, a First Nations traditional garden, an herb and medicial  garden and a home garden centre with demonstration centres."

"Later stages are expected to include a conservatory with nine greenhouses with sales to the public, a butterfly house, washrooms and small cafes. The non-profit society would charge admission to the butterfly house and garden though not to the arboretum."

(The Fletcher Wildlife Garden currently has a butterfly garden, a fish pond and bridges and they are completely free. savecfbrockcliffe.)

"While the Department of Agriculture has pledged no commercial operations like shops or restaurants on its land, later phases of the project may involve land from National Defence and Public Works, which lacks those restrictions."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(How dare you suggest that profit-making enterprises take over National Defence property. This is Ordnance and Admiralty land used for the defence of Canada.savecfbrockcliffe.)

Navy Private is 1 minute or 160 metres away from the Dow's Lake parking lot. 

"The Department of National Defence has maintained its presence at the northeast corner of the CEF since the Second World War. HMCS Carleton now functions as a naval reserve unit in the buildings adjacent to Dow's Lake. The property is the last remaining land from the British Ordnance reserve of the mid-1800's. (CEF National Historic Site Management Plan (5 0f 20)."

The Ordnance and Admiralty Lands Act of 1927 Military properties in Canada transferred to the government of the late province of Canada --- (Locations in the Capital) Rideau and Ottawa Canals, City of Ottawa Barracks, Blockhouses and Adjuncts of the Canals.

Major's Hill Park was Ordnance and Admiralty land House of Commons Ottawa, July 6, 1908. Grand Trunk Hotel Site: MP Haughton Lennox "...You are practically giving the company the use of a large park which is the most beautiful in the city of Ottawa. It is idle to talk of $100,000 for so many feet of property. I get angry when I talk about this. I get so indignant at this proposal that I find it hard to keep my temper. But if we are going to dispose of this property, I would point out that there are special provisions that have to be met before we sell ordnance land."