letter on lake-in-the-sky published in EMC paper

Is Marmora's lake-in-the-sky really eco-friendly?

Posted Jul 5, 2012 By Chris Faiers

---

Dear Editor,

Last week I read that Marmora and Lake Council is still considering turning the slag heap at the old Marmora Mine site into a "lake-in-the-sky" pumped water storage facility.

I had honestly thought this project had died a peaceful death, but as it hasn't, I should air some concerns.

Of course we all want jobs for our under-developed area, and everyone wants to be good planetary citizens in this age of global warming and declining energy sources. But I have doubts about many aspects of this project, including its eco-friendliness, its ongoing financial viability, and of course its safety for village residents.

My understanding is that this project will be a net consumer, not creator, of hydro energy. More energy will be consumed pumping water uphill than will be generated when it is released downhill.

This doesn't sound like a green energy project in any way. I have heard the terms "green washing," and even "greed energy" applied to schemes which purport to be eco-friendly, but which are really based on making money. In fact, it appears this project is a form of arbitrage, or "playing" Hydro for its rate differentials. We all know how efficient and well-managed Ontario Hydro is, so what if Hydro suddenly changes its rate structures again, and this "arbitrage" scheme loses its financial benefits?

Also the very thought of building a reservoir above the old mine site strikes me as completely unsafe. The report on last week's council meeting detailed one such dam burst, and the ensuing devastation from the flooding.

When I moved here 23 years ago, there was a proposal to fill the mine site with trash trucked in from Toronto. Marmora residents quickly formed the group Marmora Takes No Trash (TNT), and one of my first local experiences was marching to the mine site with a large raggletaggle group of angry and concerned residents.

We also held meetings which jammed the town hall, and that particularly nasty idea was eventually discarded.

I wonder if our concerns are shortsighted, or if the many people expressing these misgivings are seeing as clear-eyed as the minion who shouted, "Look, the emperor has no clothes!"

Chris Faiers

Marmora

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Items of interest in our weekly, local EMC Northeast print edition newspaper - as was dated and delivered in Marmora on Thursday, July 12 2012 (they have not yet updated their webpages from last week's content, at time of writing this): http://www.emcnortheast.ca/

Item #1: at bottom of pg 7, right beside EMC Editor Terry Bush's own editorial, a letter from Marmora resident Cindy Buchanan titled "We have the right to pay taxes at least":

Dear Editor:

Could somebody please tell me where to line up for my German dictionary? I need one to be able to translate the original version of the "Communist Manifesto.”

It has recently come to my attention that the Ontario Planning Act has recently had a face lift. Where it used be that an individual had property rights with regards to their land, the Planning Act had many "may’s,” "can’s" and "possible" now that same Act has the individual shall conform to the plan.

The plan however is unspecified and undefined, which makes it very easy for the planners to adapt. The property owner has no say, no rights, no recourse just they shall comply with the plan. This Planning Act has removed the rights of the property owner except, of course, the right to pay taxes in a timely fashion.

When do my local bureaucrats get their new uniforms and jack boots so they can all march in step?

Were there not two world wars, and countless others, fought against tyranny? I wonder how many veterans are shaking their heads and wondering if they, their friends and families suffered and died in vain, especially when they see the government imposing those same totalitarian views that they fought to prevent. How do they feel when the rest of us just sit back and go along with it because we do nothing to stop the removal of our rights and freedoms? Is our hubris so strong that we no longer care about ourselves or what our children and grandchildren are left to deal with?

We need to stop this mad lemming march to self annihilation. The only way to do that is to put a stop to all of this UN Agenda 21 driven "sustainable development" and "economic development", the first which is not sustainable and the second that drives a once free country like Canada only into poverty. The only people who benefit are the ones driving the proposed world government through the UN as a governing body. They are the top level of the two tier new world order commonly known as the haves while the rest of us “mensch” are the have-nots, we have not got the power to stop them unless we start to stand up to them now.

From a concerned “mensch”


===

Items #2, 3 & 4: bottom of pg 8 titled "Looking ahead to snow removal", continued on pg 9 under "Looking ahead"... local reporter Judy Backus report on the full council meeting of July 3, 2012:

#2... one of the first items of business being council's support of a recommendation put forward by CAO Ron Chittick who asked that Northland Power Inc. "be permitted to use the municipal road allowance for the installation, operation and maintaining of the necessary infrastructure to enable transmission of electricity between the Marmora Pumped Storage Facility and the Hydro One Networks transmission lines located just north of Beaver Creek Road, subject to the completion of a formal access agreement(s) satisfactory to the Municipality"...

>> Two residents spoke during the public input portion of the meeting, with...

#3: Fred Quarrie asking that the agendas of upcoming council meetings be posted on the municipal web site at least the day prior to the meeting, commenting that they are of little use once the meeting has taken place.

#4: Kathy Hamilton was next to speak, asking that a "full and open public debate on the Northland Power project" take place with representatives of Northland Power, the Ministries of Mines and Development, Natural Resources and Municipal Affairs and Housing in attendance. She mentioned that there had not been a public meeting since residents first learned of the project on June 10, 2011. She was told council would consider her request.





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Also published the next week in the Community Press, Thursday, July 19, 2012

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Damn Dangerous Dam-in-the-Sky for Marmora Mine???

picture of Marmora Mine & surrounding slag pile - site of proposed dam-in-the-sky!!!???

I sent the following letter-to-the-editor to both local papers (EMC and The Community Press) and to the Peterborough and Belleville major papers.


Dear Editors,
Last week I read that Marmora and Lake Council is still considering turning the slag heap at the old Marmora Mine site into a 'lake-in-the-sky' pumped water storage facility. I had honestly thought this project had died a peaceful death, but as it hasn't, I should air some concerns.

Of course we all want jobs for our under-developed area, and everyone wants to be good planetary citizens in this age of global warming and declining energy sources. But I have doubts about many aspects of this project, including its eco-friendliness, its ongoing financial viability, and of course its safety for village residents.

My understanding is that this project will be a net consumer, not creator, of hydro energy. More energy will be consumed pumping water uphill than will be generated when it is released downhill. This doesn't sound like a green energy project in any way. I have heard the terms "green washing", and even "greed energy" applied to schemes which purport to be eco-friendly, but which are really based on making money. In fact, it appears this project is a form of arbitrage, or 'playing' Hydro for its rate differentials. We all know how efficient and well-managed Ontario Hydro is, so what if Hydro suddenly changes its rate structures again, and this 'arbitrage' scheme loses its financial benefits?

Also the very thought of building a reservoir above the old mine site strikes me as completely unsafe. The report on last week's  Council meeting detailed one such dam burst, and the ensuing devastation from the flooding.

When I moved here 23 years ago, there was a proposal to fill the mine site with trash trucked in from Toronto. Marmora residents quickly formed the group MARMORA TAKES NO TRASH (TNT), and one of my first local experiences was marching to the mine site with a large raggle-taggle group of angry and concerned residents. We also held meetings which jammed the town hall, and that particularly nasty idea was eventually discarded.

  I wonder if  our concerns are short-sighted, or if the many people expressing these misgivings are seeing as clear-eyed as the minion who shouted, "Look, the emperor has no clothes!"



Chris Faiers
12 Main St.
Marmora, ON
K0K 2M0


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Note: Following is Marmora resident Kathy Hamilton's letter regarding her concerns over the proposal to build a pumped water storage on the Marmora Mine slag heap.



July 3, 2012
Mrs. Kathy Hamilton,
PO Box 112, 76 Cameron St., Marmora, ON K0K 2M0
Home Phone: (613) 472-5285

To: Hon. Michael Gravelle - Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources:

The main reason I'm writing to you is because my family fears for the future safety of our persons and property. We dread facing catastrophic, man-made flooding potential from the massive, man-made “upper reservoir” for storing water above and very near our home, that Northland Power plans to use for its pumped storage plant – as proposed for construction on property known as the Marmoraton Mine site that is privately owned by project partner Aecon.

Why is this site that was assessed “Not Practical” for pumped storage in 2005 – by Hatch Acres, for the OWA and MNR, deemed appropriate now? See last page-#55: http://www.owa.ca/assets/files/links/Waterpower_Potential_Nov2005.pdf

Northland Power intends to build their new lake-in-the-sky “upper reservoir” by re-sloping the existing “waste rock piles” adjacent to the abandoned mine pit, then applying a layer of gravel and an “impervious” liner of asphalt to its interior.

Northland Power's “upper reservoir” building plan doesn't sound safe for us!

Proponents insist that our protection from upper reservoir flooding will be ensured by your Ministry of Natural Resources because the project will be “ fully subjected to the requirements of the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act and the associated dam safety guidelines, including all of its most recent revisions.”

That insistence seems based on their focus within this definition that was recently suggested appropriate by a Hatch rep:
“Dam: For the purpose of the administration of the LRIA, a dam is defined as a structure that is constructed which holds back water in a river, lake, pond, or stream to raise the water level, create a reservoir to control flooding or divert the flow of water.”

But I still question the LRIA's applicability to this pumped storage project proposal, as alternately highlighted below:
“Dam: For the purpose of the administration of the LRIA, a dam is defined as a structure that is constructed which holds back water in a river, lake, pond, or stream to raise the water level, create a reservoir to control flooding or divert the flow of water.”


SINCE the proposed “upper reservoir” structure is not being constructed to fulfill any of these 3 functions:
to raise the water level;
to control flooding;
to divert the flow of water.
AND no natural “flow of water” is associated with this project that has been proposed for construction on privately-owned property - might this project and its “upper reservoir” fit through LRIA “loopholes”?

To avoid assumptions or opinions not based on facts, I would appreciate your returning to me, for sharing publicly:
your confirmation of any recent revisions to the LRIA or the above definition, with included and clear explanation of any altered impact on the LRIA's ability to alleviate local flooding fears pertinent to this project;
your confirmation of correct legal interpretations of the latter
So we can be confident that government-enforced LRIA “dam safety” regulations will be applicable to this project and its construction plans – hopefully before any permits, approvals or contract are granted.

My family should not remain ever less assured of government prioritization of personal and property protection from potential man-made catastrophic flooding than we were last fall – after we had first learned of this project June 10, 2011, 3 days after local council's June 7, 2011 unannounced granting of its approval. Longterm, undisclosed negotiations between “the municipality” and Northland Power had apparently succeeded. This was neatly wrapped up with local council's June 21, 2011 decision to pay for a marketing campaign to promote this private developer's project with our tax dollars and ignore any “negativity”. Upon being locally silenced by isolation through discrimination, all objections were rendered socially marginalized, politically irrelevant and publicly non-existent.
Please note that wilderness forest and a campground below the Taum Sauk, Missouri pumped storage plant deserved far superior and more modern standards for ensuring upper reservoir “dam safety” - as was provided by roller-compacted concrete upper reservoir reconstruction following the catastrophic 2005 breach of its original, that was built in the '60's and the last newly constructed dumped rockfill CFRD in the USA:
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/safety/projects/taum-sauk/ipoc-rpt/design.pdf
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5055409&ft=1&f=1003
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taum_Sauk_Hydroelectric_Power_Station#Upper_reservoir_breached
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taum_Sauk_Hydroelectric_Power_Station#Reconstruction

Why do Marmora's villagers deserve only re-sloped, existing “waste rock pile” upper reservoir construction?

Is it really any wonder there remain to date only 3 “Letters of Support Received” that were written and submitted by actual local residents of Marmora and Lake – in clear, public demonstration of unevidenced “overwhelming support from the community” of 4-5,000 total population – and that there remain zero from any local residents to be in this project's potential “danger zone” (which is a large portion of the village)?

I hope you will swiftly ensure my family and other ratepayers of more acceptable “dam safety” reassurances that are government-confirmed applicable to this project proposal and it's “upper reservoir” than we've received to date!

It would also help if you would confirm whether local ratepayer and OPA knowledge that the mine pit is spring-fed or our repeated public contradiction by this project's proponents that this proposed “lower reservoir” is “highly impervious” and has merely been filled by precipitation is factual – also whether your clarification of that discrepancy could make any difference to government approvals for, or regulation of, this project and/or its “upper reservoir” construction plan.
See pdf pg 97: http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/repository/mon/15000/267938.pdf

Sincerely,
Mrs. Kathy Hamilton

Non-reassuring references of “dam safety” pertinent to this Northland Power project proposal:
- the 3rd being a Hatch webpage “snapshot” and the first 2 listed amongst the “Letters of Support Received” displayed on Marmora and Lake's “Marmora Pumped Storage Project” promotional webpage:
http://www.marmoraandlake.ca/view.cfm?Prod_Key=3849&PROD_DETAIL_KEY=5080&TEMP=Content%20Single&KeyWord=N%2FA

#1) re Letter dated August 24, 2011 - from yourself, as former Minister of Northern Mines, Development and Forestry:
http://www.wmakers.com/94/files/Other/Marmora%20Support%20Ministry%20of%20NDM.pdf
- no further mention of, nor report from any such project review as yet, but the MMAH now knows I'm still waiting

#2) re Letter dated Sept 1, 2011 – from Linda Jeffries, as former Minister of Natural Resources:
http://www.wmakers.com/94/files/Other/Marmora%20Support%20Ministry%20of%20Natural%20Resources.pdf
- “ this project does not involve provincial Crown land”, [ergo the MNR] “has no direct role in the proposal at this time”... [however the MNR] “MAY have a regulatory role” [if it proceeds].
- Northland Power has stated in their own documentation: "Important for approvals that entire project is on private land"

#3) re Hatch webpage that was linked from my site since summer 2011 – titled “Parks Canada Dam Safety Standards”
- Original url now invalid: http://www.hatch.ca/energy/hydroelectric/projects/ds_dam_safety_std.htm
Contents excerpts: “dams are a provincial responsibility”... “Although all provinces have Water Acts under which dams can be regulated, only British Columbia, Alberta and Québec had enacted regulations specific to dam safety...  Ontario has been working on its new system for more than a decade."
- Identical page contents “snapshot” from Web Archive's visit of Dec 16, 2010 can still be viewed at:
http://web.archive.org/web/20101216132851/http://hatch.ca/Energy/Hydroelectric/Projects/ds_dam_safety_std.htm


CC'd to Ontario Provincial Officials: MMAH Kingston office; Minister of MAH; Minister of NDM; Minister of Energy; Minister of the Environment; Premier Dalton McGuinty; MPP for PE-H Todd Smith
Also to Federal Officials: Prime Minister Stephen Harper; MP for PE-H Daryl Kramp
FWD's to: upper” & “lower” Municipal Interests & Others BCC's to: Select Organizations, Ratepayers, Media &Others

my best Canada Day: JAILED, for opposing American control

Note: This is a re-posting from last year. The blog was just several months old then, so here's a chance for newer readers to learn my sordid history ...

DOMINION DAY IN JAIL

(Celebration 1975)





I spent last Dominion Day in jail
in a cold cell
on a steel bench -
cold, sleepless, angry and proud
tho almost wanting to feel foolish.


Fed a cheeseburger and a coffee in 24 hours
fingerprinted
stripped of my shirt
frogmarched - mugshot
insulted.


All this for the patriotic crime
of daring to say YANKEE GO HOME!
to the Yankee Shriners
parading thru downtown Toronto.
They thought it was the 4th of July
(Canada Division).


Cold, sleepless, hungry, angry
              PROUD
that I was cold, sleepless, hungry, angry
and not enjoying the July sun
lounging on the green grass in Queen's Park
or lining the parade route for the Shriners.
This growing pride made my solitary jail cell
a celebration of Dominion Day.

Chris Faiers



some publication history and notes:

This poem tells the true story of my arrest in 1975 for the heinous crime of wearing a bright yellow teeshirt emblazoned with YANKEE GO HOME as part of a protest against the Americanization of Canada. Our pro-nationalist group, The Canadian Liberation Movement, had recently adopted this slogan.

I was charged under the new Ontario "hate crime" laws, an example of the police misinterpreting a new law to suit a political agenda. Several other CLM members were also arrested as part of this somewhat misguided campaign - the Canadian people were definitely not of a mind to rise up and bear witness against the ongoing assimilation of our country into the United States.

We fought the charges all the way to the Supreme Court of Ontario, a process which took well over a year. I was acquitted by the Supreme Court, and the judge admonished a testifying officer for his lack of credibility.

In 1978 I started the literary press, Unfinished Monument Press, with intentions to publish more radical poetry than was generally published in Canada at the time (with some notable exceptions, including Milton Acorn and bill bissett).

The first collection I produced was my chapbook, Dominion Day in Jail. The poem was subsequently included in further collections of my poetry as well as in the Steel Rail Publishing poetry anthology Poems for Sale in the Street, edited by Tom Clement and Ted Plantos, 1979. The idea and title for the anthology were mine, suggested to Tom, who was boarding in the house I rented at 2128 Gerrard Street East in Toronto. A new generation of poets made appearances in this collection, including Jim Brown, Rosalind Eve Conway, Mary di Michele, Len Gasparini, Greg Gatenby, Gordon Gilhuly, Gwen Hauser, Jane Jordan, Julie McNeill, Robert Priest, Alfred Rushton, Sara Spracklin, and Kris Sri Bhaggihadatta. Steel Rail Publishing was founded by former members of the CLM house press after the CLM splintered and dissolved over issues of sectarianism and social fascism shortly after the ill-fated Yankee Go Home campaign.


******************************************************************

BALLS FOR BOWTIES!

Posting my old poem caused me to reminisce about those bad old days of opposing Amerikan control of Canada. The night before my arrest I was wandering on Yonge Street with two friends and comrades, Bob Chandler and Peter Flosznik. We were bravely sporting our emblazoned YANKEE GO HOME!  tee shirts, when a flying squad of cops forced us into an empty storefront entrance. I can't remember everything about this illegal harassment, or whether we had to turn our tee shirts inside out or whatever. But I do remember the head cop threatening us, You'll be wearing your balls for bowties if you keep those shirts on!!!

ah, SERVE AND PROTECT  (whom?)
 
June 30, 2012

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This is the second posting on my participation and writings on political protests. The first was the previous post, Street Fightin' Man, 1969. The concluding post will be my piece on the Human Summit, a group meditation at Woodbine Park, held during last summer's G20 protests.
 

haiku/haibun for Jim Christy and his stupa

Poet/novelist/artist/world traveler/raconteur/hipster Jim Christy is creating one of his 7-foot concrete and mosaic installations at my ZenRiver Gardens retreat. In deference to the spirit of  ZenRiver, Jim is kindly calling this unique work a stupa, a symbol of Buddhist inspiration.

As Jim reminded me today, he doesn't take breaks - they interfere with the artistic flow. But the other day Jim paused briefly during his labours, and a monarch butterfly instantly landed on his fingers:

Zen perfect
a monarch resting
on my finger




Above are some samples of Jim's mosaics from his website. Our ZenRiver neighbour, Warren Fraser, is the 'official' photographer of the stupa's progress, and sooner than later we'll post
Warren's pics of the completed stupa in all its glory.  
 

Citizen upset over Marmora Mine 'lake-in-the-sky'

 The Marmora Mine site, surrounded by its slag heap - proposed site for the 'lake-in-the-sky'




Following is a letter-to-the-editor* from Marmora citizen Kathy Hamilton about the recent Council meeting she attended, where further plans were presented regarding the 'pumped water storage' scheme at the old Marmora Mine site.

When I moved to this area 23 years ago, a similar scheme was being floated: to fill the huge open pit mine, now a gorgeous sky-blue lake, with Toronto garbage. I kid not. Locals formed the group MARMORA TAKES NO TRASH (TNT) and this ill-advised scheme was squashed. I remember marching in a long ragtag line of protesters on a hot summer day to the mine site, and also attending public meetings at the town hall. So there is a history of activism in this small village (population around 1,500) once the public becomes fully aware of the scope and potential 'problems' with these various schemes.

* I sincerely hope the two area newspapers will publish Kathy's letter, and also the media in the closest larger centres, Belleville and Peterborough. According to Kathy, she hasn't had much success having her views publicly disseminated in area media. 
- Chris 

June 26, 2012

Dear Editor,
My knickers practically knotted in excitement when I noticed the Agenda for the media-attended, regular afternoon meeting of the Big Gov't Wannabee Council for the Municipality of Marmora and Lake of June 19, 2012 said there would be a Delegation by Mr. John Wright, Northland Power - re: Update of Pumped Storage Project.
Surprise! Two representatives from Hatch were brought along, with Mr. Hans de Meel giving an additional presentation.

Could this mean the Sold-Out Little People in Marmora might finally get to immediately, publicly rebut and openly debate Northland Power representatives and their statements ( even better, those from Hatch too), for the first (and last?) time since the same day of June 10, 2011 that this post-dated project proposal was initially revealed to them - following its secretive council sanctioning June 7, 2011 and top-secret negotiating “for about a year” (or maybe “for several years” depending on who is quoted) prior to that?

Was news forthcoming, unlike that December 2011 Newsletter “Update” newspaper ad propaganda, posted to the municipal promo page?
Notta chance. Meeting opened, Delegate presentations made, Presenters packed up and Departed while meeting carried on. 3 minutes allowed for "public input" wasn't 'til near meeting end – pointless. Our private discussions outside won't count; weren't recorded or witnessed by anyone unbiased.

Northland Power's Tim Richardson had seemingly been brought along to enable getting Mr. Wright's microphone correctly adjusted, so we could hear his project "update" presentation of nothing much beyond "he said, they said, we said" favourable gossip from meetings with the Bigger (and Smarter?) People of Importance Still Holding Out, Elsewhere – whose “update” inferences must likewise flow as freely as cheap wine.

Mr. de Meel's “update” regurgitated Northland Power's insistence that project design safety guarantees are provided by following criteria under strict government and industry dam safety regulation, then shifted “update” focus onto providing his rendition of the local opposition's year-ago-studied Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) details and causes of Taum Sauk's similarly-constructed, original upper reservoir's catastrophic breach.
Anyone who has lived here long or knows this mine's history was surely impressed to get “update” information that the spring-fed lake in the mine pit had merely developed from precipitation? This gem provided today's basis for “update” confirmation that there could never be any such overtopping of the upper reservoir here in Marmora like the one that caused the Taum Sauk catastrophy, because of this limited water availability for the "lower reservoir" pit.

Whomever may have questioned any project supporters' sudden, latter-day interest in this long-avoided topic may have felt equally "reassured" by Mr. de Meel's exhonerating confirmation that any flooding due to any such overtopping problem here would just go "into the river" (with the people, vehicles, debris and homes inbetween?).

Neither he nor Mr. Wright gave an "update" to there remaining no explanation as to why the people whose lives and homes to be potentially imperilled in Marmora should not have been publicly assured on June 10, 2011 that they equally deserve and will be given the same level of protection from this upper reservoir's posing unnecessary potential for catastrophic, man-made flooding – as was provided to the surrounding, lower-elevation lands not even permanently human-occupied between the NEW Taum Sauk upper reservoir that was reconstructed to far superior and modern “public safety” standards – with “update” roller-compacted concrete walls.

That should have been the "update" that wasn't – just like there wasn't, but long ago should have been: "update" provisions for an open public debate between the "representatives of the proponents" and the well-informed local opposition; "update" media interviews with the local opposition; "update"apologies from every complicit politician continuing denial of political voice to local opposition concerns - and the "update" results of that multiple-Ministry "review" of this so-called "MarmoraPumped Storage Project" that was to have been under the leadership of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as stated in a letter dated August 24, 2011?

Kathy Hamilton – Marmora
http://www.hamiltonsgarage.com/marmora_green/

Unfinished Monument Press redux: donation to special collections, Univ. of Calgary

Toronto's Historical Plaques

at torontoplaques.com

Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques

"Patriots of 1837"

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted April, 2011

Here in the western end of the Toronto Necropolis is this monument which was erected by the Matthews Family & Friends A.D. 1993, according to information on the plaque. Here's what it says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.66759 -79.36290

This memorial is to honour the memory of Peter Matthews and Samuel Lount, who, without praise or glory died for political freedom and a system of responsible government.

Their minds were tranquil and serene
No terror in their looks were seen
Their steps upon the scaffold strong
A moment's pause...
their lives were gone

Peter Matthews was the son of Capt. Thomas Elmes Matthews, a United Empire Loyalist, and Mary Ruttan Matthews. Peter was born in the Bay of Quinte region of Upper Canada, now Ontario. He grew up and lived in Pickering Township in the area now known as the Village of Brougham, on his family's farm.

---

June 25, 2012 (emails)

Hi Marvin and James,
Yes, I'd be delighted to donate a selection of Unfinished Monument Press books to the University of Calgary, Special Collections!

A month or so ago I spent some time going through a boxful of Unfinished Monument books, & I donated a few for sale in the recent Haiku Canada 35th anniversary silent auction.

There is a casual assortment of books in the box, most in pristine condition, and I'd feel comforted knowing they have found a good and lasting home where their contribution to Canadian literary culture will be appreciated.

What I'd propose donating would be at least one copy of each Unfinished title I have (not sure of how many individual titles there are).

Yes, Marvin, please email me your snail mail address and I'll post the selection to you asap. Thank you for your concern and dedication in preserving a crucial part of our culture.

peace & poetry power!
Chris Faiers

(founder of Unfinished Monument Press in 1978 - publisher until the early 1990s, when I turned it over to James Deahl and his wife, Gilda Mekler)

Thanks, James, for passing this on to me  : )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~    


June 25, 2012


Dear Chris,

     I have just heard from this fellow from the Univ. of Calgary. Perhaps you have some extra copies of UnMon books.

. . . James



Dear James Deahl,


Please let me introduce myself. I am a volunteer book selector for Special Collections, at the University of Calgary. Several years ago I donated my large collection of Canadian poetry to this library. Since then I have been adding material to the collection on a regular basis. If you would like to read up on the collection, just google my name, in quotation marks.

For the past few years I have read and enjoyed some of your poetry. I was wondering if you would be willing to donate some volumes of Canadian poetry to the collection. Some of your own books, or even some volumes published by Unfinished Monument Press. My dream is to create a collection that reflects the poetic soul of a nation. If you would be willing, I can give you my address. It would be my pleasure to pass on your books to the U. of C., Rare Books. Your books would be looked after  in a state-of-the-art facility by professionals who have a deep knowledge and love of Canadian poetry.


Please let me know if you are interested.


Marvin Orbach, in Montreal

~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Perhaps other small press publishers are also caretaking valuable collections which they would like to donate.
- Chris

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

June 26/12
further emails re donations, including list of first 10 Unfinished Monument Press books


On 2012-06-25, at 5:33 PM, marvin orbach wrote:

Dear Chris,
  Thank you so very much for your kind offer.   I look forward to
receiving your books, reading and enjoying them, and then forwarding
them to the U. of C., their final resting place, where they will be
preserved in pristine condition for future generations of scholars and
researchers.   For me the Univ. of Calgary Special Collections
is biblioheaven.
    I should mention that my collection consists of two parts,
books and manuscripts. The collection includes signed handwriten poems
by our most famous poets. Just in case you would like to add one or
more to the collection, please feel free to do so.
    I have read some of your poetry over the years, and enjoyed it very much.
   A great big thank you for helping to advance Canadian literature.
Canada needs more people like you.
   Perhaps you could inscribe a book or two. It is always nice to
include personalized copies in the collection.
 
   Marvin Orbach
 
May your summer be filled with fields of lavender.
   Marvin, in Montreal West.

June 26/12


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First batch of donations

Hi Marvin,
Thanks for the kind words, which very much apply to yourself as well!

I did a quick browse through the 'Unfinished Monument Press' box, and was a bit disappointed to discover how few duplicates I've kept over the years. I plan to send the first batch of books this afternoon, but unfortunately it consists of just 10 books. I'll explore further, and perhaps there are more duplicates in hiding elsewhere  :  )

I also have a quite extensive and eclectic collection of small press poetry. I coordinated the Main Street Library Poetry Series in Toronto from 1979 to 1985, and many of the poets gave me gift copies of their books (some signed). I've often wondered what to do with these books as I slowly enter senility (turning 64 in 2 days). Perhaps I should start donating them as well ...

Following is the list of Unfinished Monument books I'm sending today:

POETS WHO DON'T DANCE - Shaunt Basmajian
JACK AND JILL IN TORONTO - Jones (Daniel)
ON THE ROAD FOR POETRY - Mona Fertig
DEAR LITTLE OLD LADY - Helen Costain
the dead leave holes - Ben Phillips
PCB JAM - Lynne Kositsky
IN HER MAJESTY'S CIVIL SERVICE - David Reid
QUANNI LORE - jw curry
FOR CHRIST AND KROPOTKIN - Brian Burch
LAST MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS - Mark McCawley

All these books were published during my 'editorship' of Unfinished Monument. I may supply some further data, time & energy permitting.

peace & poetry power!
Chris (Faiers)
now off to my ZenRiver Gardens with shaman dog Chase (wrfffffffffffffffff!) to help poet/playwright/artist Jim Christy build our magick stupa installation

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Batch #2 of donations
July 4, 2012

Hi Marvin,
I found some time this evening to prep the second batch of books for you to donate to the Univ. of Calgary special collections.

Two of the books are poetry collections by me with other presses:

ZenRiver: Poems & Haibun (Hidden Brook Press, 2008)
unacknowledged legislator (blewointmentpress, 1981)
The others are rare copies of Unfinished Monument Press chapbooks (which I didn't know I possessed):

Real Poetry by James Deahl (1981 - an essay on James' poetics and his first book)
Lount and Matthews: a commemorative booklet by Peter Flosznik (1982)
Original Innocence by Leslie Webb (1988) 
There is more of a personal connection with these books than with most of the Unfinished Monument books I published. As noted, this was James Deahl's first book, and he and I have been comrades and collaborators since our early days as poets.

Peter Flosznik was my best friend for a short while. He was killed in front of me riding motorbikes while we were on holidays in Freeport, Bahamas in 1982.

Leslie Webb was a girlfriend, and we shared an intense relationship.

I'm also including a broadsheet of mine, "Moon City", published by Mark McCawley's Greensleeve Publishing in 1989;

and Tough Times: When the money doesn't love us, essays edited by John B. Lee for Black Moss Press, 2010.


The copy of "ZenRiver: Poems & Haibun" is a special 'illuminated' copy, with art pen illustrations drawn by me. The dedication is to you and the University of Calgary Special Collections library.

Marvin, I hope you are feeling better and that your recovery is proceeding quickly and painlessly.

Thanks again for your dedication to the world of small press Canadiana poetry.

peace & poetry power!
Chris (Faiers) ... and Chase ... wrffffffffffffffffffffffffff!  - my familiar companion, currently in dog disguise  :  )




On 2012-06-28, at 9:05 AM, marvin orbach wrote:

Hi Chris,
   I have read the ten books that you sent me.  It was a wonderful
experience.   They will be in my next box of books to Calgary. Thanks
again for your kindness.
    I mentioned to Allan Briesmaster that perhaps a note in the
League's newsletter would   bring me overwhelming results.  I am
having second thoughts.  Maybe the collection should be written up in
the newsletter.
     Thanks for your very kind offer of writing reviews  for your
blog.  My instincts have always been for collecting rather than
writing.
I can't spend too much time in front of the computer since I am still
recuperating from an operation.  I must very sadly decline for now.
Your  offer gives me much honour.  Thanks again.
     The volumes that you sent will make great additions to the
collection at the U. of C.  Miigwetch.
     Cheers, for now.
     Shanti, Shalom.
     Marvin.

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 July 9/12

Hi Marvin,
Thanks for letting me know the package arrived OK, and many thanks for the compliments on my dubious artistry with the 'illuminated' copy of ZR:P&H  :  )

I'm not sure how many copies I've illustreated* in this manner - definitely fewer than 10. All have been gifts to other poets (e.g. Pearl Pirie, Jim Christy). I really enjoy doodling with the art pens - probably got the idea from bill bissett and his books ... I'm a big fan of bill's - he published my first 'real' collection of poetry with his blewointmentpress way back in 1981.

So pleased to know that these older chapbooks are being read & enjoyed, and then will live life anew in the AC controlled special collections at Univ. of Calgary - surely a sort of heaven for poetry books!

I'm about to head into TO - This Thursday is the launching of the new selected of Milton Acorn's poetry, IN A SPRINGTIME INSTANT, fittingly at the Parliament Street Library. We're going to hold a small reading in Allan Gardens beforehand, to commemorate Milt's leading of the Free Speech Movement 50 years ago.

peace & poetry power!
Chris ... and a heatstruck Chase ... wffffffff

*this was a typo, but Milt taught me to always accept typos of this nature - 'illustreated' is a great neologism - some might say I not only illustrated the books, but I also mistreated them in the process  :  )


p.s. glad to hear your recovery is progressing ... I passed another kidney stone a few nites ago ... getting so it's no big deal for me to drop one into the toilet bowl from time to time - arrgggghhhhh



On 2012-07-09, at 1:49 PM, marvin orbach wrote:

Hi Chris,
  Your package arrived  today.  What marvelous books you are sending
to the Univ. of Calgary!!   Thank you so much.   Your illuminated copy
of ZenRiver...    is something to behold.  It will be a treasured
addition to the collection.  I am sure the librarians in Special
Collections will be very excited  about it.   Have you illuminated
many of your books?  You are quite an artist.   I am looking forward
to reading and enjoying the books in my favourite armchair by the
window.
     Thanks once again for your kindess and generosity.
      My recuperation is coming along  very well.   Thanks for your concern.
      Blessings. from Montreal West.
      Toda raba  (thank you in Hebrew).
       Shukran (thank you in Arabic).
       Shalom, salaam, and shanti.
       Marvin.

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Hi Marvin,

I'm sending you one of my personal notebooks for the Univ. of Calgary archives. I've kept these notebooks much of my adult life, & they contain information on just about every aspect of my life, from mundane financial records and 'to do' lists to drafts of haiku and longer completed poetry manuscripts.

This notebook in dated Aug. 1989 on the cover under "subject". It's a green, cirlox-style spiral binder, approx. 8 1/2 X 11 inches, 108 pages, "FANCO" 3 subject notebook.

1989 was a crucial time in my life. I had bought a derelict century house in the mining hamlet of Cordova Mines after selling my small semi-detached 'starter' house in Toronto's east end. Two years earlier I had received the inaugural MIlton Acorn People's Poetry Medal for my collection, FOOT THROUGH THE CEILING (1986, Aya Press, then Mercury Press, Toronto).

I moved to Cordova Mines, Ontario, about 100 miles from Toronto, in early April, 1989. This notebook would have detailed my early experiences and musings in my new rural Ontario surroundings.


EEL PIE DHARMA: A MEMOIR/HAIBUN

There are many drafts of haiku, some included, some rejected, for what would become my book, EEL PIE DHARMA: A MEMOIR/HAIBUN (self-published with my Unfinished Monument Press, 1990). Almost at the end of the notebook is a list of the 28 chapters which would become this seminal English language haibun (and now much-referenced history of the tail end of the 1960s in London, England, and the hippie/squatting/music scene).

EPD has been quoted in EEL PIE ISLAND by Dan Van Der Vat and Michele Whitby (2009, Frances Lincoln Limited, London, England). It was also used as a reference for WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN: THE WHO FROM LIFEHOUSE TO QUADROPHENIA by Richie Unterburger (2011, Jawbone Press, London, England).

Noted English novelist Hari Kunzru credits EPD at the back of his novel MY REVOLUTIONS (2007, Penguin). It was nice of Kunzru to formally credit EPD as a source, but there are enough similarities between my life and that of his protagonist (named "Chris"), that I suspect EPD was as much an inspiration for his book as a resource. 


OTHER POETRY PROJECTS

Among the myriad notes, poetry drafts, financial records and jottings are drafts of a book review on a posthumous collection by poet Marty Singleton. I was probably doing this as a regular contributor for CANADIAN BOOK REVIEW ANNUAL.

Another poet who died young was Shaunt Basmajian, and there are notes on my plans to attend his poetry wake in Toronto.

Another project I was involved with was co-publishing an anthology titled SMALL PRESS LYNX with Edmonton poet Mark MCCawley. There are also travel plans for a Canada Council sponsored reading in Edmonton which Mark arranged for me.

Another project with Mark was his publication with his Greensleeves Press of a broadsheet of my poetry titled MOON CITY. There is a checklist of the poets and magazines where sent copies of this broadsheet on the next-to-last page. 


All in all, this old notebook provides a fascinating snapshot of the life I was beginning to live in rural Ontario, and a glimpse back at the very active life I had led in Toronto on the poetry and political scenes. It covers the year I turned 41.


peace & poetry power!
Chris (Faiers) ... and Chase wffffffffffffffffffffff (who has slept thru this pleasant hour of typing & reminiscing)

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Aug. 9, 2012
4th batch of donations

donation: "Small Press Lynx" anthology package (signed copy anthology, letters & original mss, notebook from that time period)

via Marvin Orbach for the Univ. of Calgary Special Literary Collections Archives


Hi Marvin,
AcornFest was an unqualified success and party! Can't get any better than that.And of course there's all the ongoing inspiration created by this annual thronging of poets : )

Today I'm sending you the complete package for the 1991 SMALL PRESS LYNX Anthology, co-edited & co-published by myself and Edmonton poet Mark McCawley.

The package contain one copy (of the two I own) of the anthology. Taking a quick glimpse thru, I'm amazed at the scope of the contributions. Several of the artists were better known as visual artists, so the antho contains some striking art work (including the cover by Beth Jankola).

From what I remember, Mark & I solicited pages from the poet/artists, rather than individual poems. Contributors were asked to do whatever they wished with 'their' page, and many of them took us at our word! I'd forgotten what a fun & freeform project this was.

I'm also including the complete folder for the project. This includes the original submissions & misc. correspondences between the editors and the participants. As many of the contributors have passed on, these letters may have particular value for the archives (Daniel Jones, Shaunt Basmajian, Margaret Saunders, Herb Barrett, Tom Crane, Ted Plantos, etc.).


I'm also including my personal notebook from this period, a 3-ring spiral "Fanco" booklet dated August 1989. I've discussed this "Cordova Mines" notebook & its history in an earlier email. It contains notes, haiku drafts for my EEL PIE DHARMA: A MEMOIR/HAIBUM (about to be republished this fall by HIdden Brook Press), drafts of reviews I was writing for CANADIAN BOOK REVIEW ANNUAL (from re-reading one I now suspect why a certain People's Poet prob. dislikes me ... with some justification) ... even finances and 'to-do' lists. Future sociologists, as well as literary historians, will enjoy this stuff immensely.

gotta go poopify Chase & then head off to water the transplanted pines at ZRG,

think you'll enjoy this batch ...

peace & poetry power!
Chris ... and Chase wffffffffffffffffffffffffff (just get me outside so I can pee & poop!)


p.s. Marvin, most of my recent work, including haiku/haibun, is online on my blog, Riffs & Ripples from ZenRiver Gardens:

http://riffsandripplesfromzenrivergardens.blogspot.com/

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Package #5

Faiers/Unfinished Monument Press archival material for Univ. of Calgary via Marvin Orbach
Aug. 14, 2012

correspondence folders:
Ted Plantos/Chris Faiers
Mona Fertig/Chris Faiers
Ben Phillips/Chris Faiers
Hi Marvin,
Again, I'm so pleased to have found a home for all my personal literary documents!
The Plantos folder is thinner than expected - likely there is further, earlier correspondence elsewhere. Ted and I did a lot of poetry activities together, and it was my suggestion to Tom Clement for Steel Rail Publishing to bring out the anthology POEMS FOR SALE IN THE STREET. This would have been my first contact with Ted, circa 1979. Over the years I featured Ted at The Main Street Library Poetry Series, and we did a reading together once at Northern District Branch of Toronto Public Library.

Ted and I were friends, along with fellow poet Shaunt Basmajian. I remember the three of us holding a beery movie night in Ted's tiny living room on Columbine Ave. in Toronto. The only memory I have is of watching DUNE, and shouting "Ride the wild worm!"!  Ted was a science fiction fan, I'm not, altho I had read Dune as part of a scifi course at Univ. of Guelph.

It was Ted who initiated the annual Milton Acorn People's Poetry Medal. I was the inaugural recipient in 1987 for my Aya/Mercury collection FOOT THROUGH THE CEILING.

I published chapbooks by both BenPhillips and Mona Fertig with Unfinished Monument Press. Their folders are thicker, and I noticed some letters still in their original envelopes.

Thanks, Marvin, for being such a dedicated supporter of CanLit/CanPo. As you noted in your email, you have also sacrificed much to give this support. And yes, we'll be forever linked in the archives at Univ. of Calgary - hopefully, an honour to both :  )

peace & poetry power!
Chris ... and a very patient Chase (past poopifying time late this morning/early aft) ... wfffffffffffffffffffffffff (get me outta here!)

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Batch #6 (Unfinished Monument Press chapbooks from Chris Faiers)
Aug. 28, 2012

PCB JAM  by Lynne Kositsky
WHITE RASTA by Chris Faiers

INTO THIS DARK EARTH by Raymond Souster and James Deahl  (signed by both authors - limited edition #86/99)

DEAR LITTLE OLD LADY by Helen Costain
POETS WHO DON'T DANCE by Shaunt Basmajian
SURPLUS WASTE AND OTHER POEMS by Shaunt Basmajian
THE DEAD LEAVE HOLES by Ben Phillips
QAANI LORE by jw curry
IN HER MAJESTY'S CIVIL SERVICE by David Reid
LAST MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS by Mark McCawley
ORIGINAL INNOCENCE by Leslie Webb
THIS IS HILARIOUS by Marshall Hrlyciuk
LOUNT AND MATTHEWS: A COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET by Peter Flosznik


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Batch #7 (Chris' collections)
Oct. 9/2012

Hi Marvin,
I'm taking a break from the fourth (arrgggh) & hopefully final proofing of EEL PIE ISLAND DHARMA;  I'll make the fourth visit down to Tai Grove's old farmhouse near Lake Ontario this Thursday.

After a proofing session & morning coffee I did some browsing thru a box my mother, Marianne Claire Faiers, sent me a few years ago. She was cleaning out her small condo on Hilton Head Island, & she wanted to ensure that she returned any of my writings and publications which might be of importance. Now I'm passing some of these 'rarities' on to you. I'm esp. pleased that I found an almost pristine copy of my 1978 chapbook  DOMINION DAY IN JAIL (I mistakenly call it my first chapbook in the intro, but I'd actually published those 2 haiku collection in 1969).

So into today's mail go my collections:

DOMINION DAY IN JAIL,  Unfinished Monument Press, 1978
WHITE RASTA, Unfinished Monument Press, 1980
UNACKNOWLEDGED LEGISLATOR, blewointmentpress, 1981 (signed to my mother
ISLAND WOMEN, HMS Press, 1983 (signed to my mother)
THE UNFINISHED ANTHOLOGY Vol. I, editor, Unfinished Monument Press, 1984
ZENRIVER: POEMS & HAIBUN, Hidden Brook Press, 2008 
Time to poopify a patient Chase, who's still digesting leftover turkey,
peace & poetry power!
yer pals
Chris ... and Chase ... Wrffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff!



*****************************************************
Batch #8
Nov. 26/12
page proofs for EEL PIE ISLAND DHARMA
Gwen Macewen memorial CD (donated by Virginia Dixon)

Hi Marvin (& Virginia),
Almost every Sunday afternoon for the past several months poet/novelist/etc. Jim Christy and his artist partner, Virginia Dixon, and I have met at The Ranch, a family roadhouse restaurant on Highway #7 between Marmora and Havelock. We're lured there by the incredibly cheap turkey dinners (under $8), & I  especially appreciate that they have Rickard's Red beer. We are often joined by other area artists, including my friend Morley Ellis, and a ZenRiver neighbour, Warren Fraser.

Last night we celebrated the arrival of Jim's newest book, and we started making plans for a local joint launch of our two newest publications.

Virginia thoughtfully brought a very rare and unique gift for me - a CD compilation created for the benefit for The Gwendolyn Macewen Memorial.
Virginia said the CDs weren't made for sale, but were gifts for donors of $20 or more. The CD contains archival tracks of Gwen reading, and also includes readings by Margaret Atwood, George bowering, bill bissett, Jim Christy, Irving Layton, Dennis Lee and Joe Rosenblatt.

The CD is exquisitely packaged, & much of this info is included on the jewel box. Virginia said she believe either 100 or 200 copies of the CD were made, adding to its rarity & archival importance.

After thanking Virginia for the gift, I told her about you & how you're collecting CanLit & CanPo material for the Univ. of Calgary archives. Virginia reached into her purse & handed me a second CD, which will be enclosed with the package I'm sending you this aft.

The other item in this package is the page proofs for EEL PIE ISLAND DHARMA (as promised).

Virginia also enlcosed a zip drive of info on the event, but for some reason my Mac system won't cooperate & let me open it. If the zip pdf doesn't arrive with this email, Marvin, let me know & perhaps Virginia can forward it directly to you. It should be preserved alongside the CD.  

Off to the post office to mail this incredible find,
peace & poetry power!
Chris ...and Chase ... Wrffffffffffffffffffffff!

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Raymond Souster Award created by League of Canadian Poets

(from an email by Toronto League of Canadian Poets rep, Allan Briesmaster)

Dear Friends,

At the League of Canadian Poets Annual General Meeting in Saskatoon on Saturday, my motion was approved unanimously, and the new annual award for the best book of poetry by a League member is now named the Raymond Souster Award. I would appreciate it if one of you who regularly visits Ray would give him this news.

The Award will be presented for the first time at the next Annual General Meeting, which will very likely be in Toronto on the second weekend in June next year, though there will not be an official announcement for a while yet. The League’s Nominating Committee proposed David Day, Louise Halfe, and Barry Dempster as the jurors for the Award for 2013, and they were approved by acclamation. Penn Kemp volunteered and was acclaimed as the Alternate juror.

As you know, this Award will be administered in the same way as the League’s other prestigious awards, the Gerald Lampert and Pat Lowther awards. It was long overdue. There are currently some 675 League members, and of course a new book by any of them will be eligible.

Thank you, David, for coming up with this idea and putting it forward at last year’s AGM.
-   -   -   -   -   -   -   -

I bet the “tropical” weather is far more bearable, if not downright pleasant, out there in the Gardens, compared to here! Say hi to Jim for me and Holly. We are fine, thanks.

peace & poetry power!

Allan

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Post a Comment On: Riffs & Ripples from ZenRiver Gardens

"Raymond Souster Award created by League of Canadian Poets"

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Conrad DiDiodato said...

This is a good day for people's poetry

20 June 2012 10:00

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