The Municipality of Grey Highlands will lend a helping hand to a project that will revitalize the cenotaph at Eugenia Falls.
At its meeting on Sept. 4, Grey Highlands council agreed to provide staff and equipment support to the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority for their Eugenia Falls Cenotaph Naturalization Project.
Conservation Authority CAO Tim Lanthier spoke briefly at the meeting and asked council to consider donating staff time and equipment to transport a mulch donation the authority has received for the project.
“We’re asking the municipality to become a partner,” Lanthier said.
The project will see a number of groups unite to revitalize the Eugenia Cenotaph, which is located on conservation authority land at Eugenia Falls.
The project has received a $3,000 grant from Community Foundation Grey Bruce and is being supported by the authority, the Flesherton-Markdale Legion, Grey Highlands Climate Action Group, Ontario Flora, the Grey Highlands Peace Committee, and the community of Eugenia.
The project will feature a new wildflower garden using plants found locally. This garden will demonstrate an alternative to planting non-native, sometimes invasive, species and high-maintenance lawns that often require chemical treatments. Designed by Claire Ellenwood of Ontario Flora, the garden will embrace the existing monument, surrounding fence, and the symbolic ginkgo tree, complimenting them with attractive native perennials, promoting sustainable landscaping practices.
Later in the meeting, council passed a resolution from Coun. Nadia Dubyk to support the request from Lanthier.
“This is another great example of partners and the community coming together to work together,” said Dubyk.
Chris Cornfield, the municipality’s director of transportation and public spaces, said it wouldn’t be a problem to organize a staff member a truck to transport the mulch.
“In the worst case scenario I will drive the truck myself,” said Cornfield.
