NEWS RELEASE
MUNICIPALITY OF GREY HIGHLANDS
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The Municipality of Grey Highlands recognizes the importance of the Beaver Valley as one of Ontario’s iconic natural splendours, cut into the Niagara Escarpment.
A productive agriculture area, transected by the Bruce Trail, the Beaver Valley features several natural landmarks including Old Baldy, Hoggs Falls, the Duncan Crevice Caves and Eugenia Falls, and is known for a myriad of outdoor pursuits including skiing, snowboarding, hiking and cycling.
With increased tourism activity to the area, especially over the past year, the municipality has made a commitment to engage with stakeholders and community members to seek feedback and input for an overall Beaver Valley vision that will provide guiding principles for future undertakings in the area.
Carefully planned community development through public engagement will provide direct benefits to the entire municipality and will be focused on respecting the importance of the area’s natural and cultural assets, and supporting enhanced quality of life, rural lifestyle, and meaningful and sustainable economic activity.
“Council has long recognized the importance of the Beaver Valley as an important feature of our community fabric. Recent pressures related to increased visitation to the area have highlighted the need to ensure future activities respect the Valley’s ecological integrity and support the needs of the community for generations” said Grey Highlands Mayor, Paul McQueen.
As identified in Grey Highlands’ 2019-2023 Strategic Plan, the municipality values its shared responsibility to leave a legacy of a clean and nourishing natural environment while respecting the community’s heritage.
Beginning in April 2021, a public engagement process will encourage conversations that will inform the municipality in establishing priorities and undertakings for an overall Beaver Valley community vision.
Former Talisman Resort lands
On March 8, the Municipality of Grey Highlands and 2420124 Ontario Inc. (represented by Phil Calvano and Brian Ellis) entered into a Joint Venture Agreement that formalizes their commitment to collectively market and promote the opportunities available with the three properties that originally comprised the former Talisman Resort.
“The iconic nature of the Beaver Valley and the legacy of Talisman Resort have always been at the forefront of our vision to reinvigorate the former resort into a world-class hotel and wellness destination. Working together with the municipality provides us with an opportunity to attract partners who share our vision, who respect the natural attributes of the Beaver Valley, and who have a long-term vision for ensuring the legacy of the property and the entire region” said Brian Ellis, co-owner of Talisman Resort.
The Joint Venture Agreement between the Municipality of Grey Highlands and 2420124 Ontario Inc. is supported by Grey County and thinkCOMPASS and will be the catalyst for building a resilient and sustainable Grey Highlands community.
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