Anne Parr PRO TRAINER

GREAT NEWS: NO WIND TURBINES FOR THE 2010-11 WINTER SEASON

- WE WILL BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT SEASON!

BAD NEWS: We need your help to ensure that Loch Lomond Ski Area remains a safe, healthy and happy place to ski, snowboard, tube, and snowshoe for the following year and years to come.

We need public expressions via email/letter of your concerns regarding the proposed Big Thunder Wind Farm and its effect on your health, safety, and enjoyment of the area. Letters/emails must be sent to the Horizon Wind, the Toronto developer (see address below) before August 4/5th because they must include them in their submission to the Ministry of Environment MOE (approvals Branch) and show that they tried to address your concerns. (nice time they picked, summer vacation and all)

Please make the letters/emails personal as those are considered more important than any form letter and of course, be polite and courteous.

I doubt many of you are in a position to review their 700 page report available on their website www.bigthunderwindpower.ca and have your analysis ready prior to their Open Houses August 4/5, so, we have prepared a few suggestions (you might cut and paste your personal favourites and please make it your own).

You could ask if there was any consideration of the effect of shadow flicker on Loch Lomond Ski Area, especially the south side as the sun sets on the north side directly accross from it every ski day in winter. (note: the government has not yet considered that a ski area might be affected, so there are no rules/regulations yet; and the developer can ignore us -- put us and our 184 employees (last year) under!!! and noone is there to protect us--we are asking Bill Mauro and the City as landowner to please not allow this to proceed)

You could ask if the noise modelling used in their analysis includes the ski area or only "receptors" such as homes. (note: they couldn't care less; by following Provincial guidelines they don't have to consider ski areas BECAUSE THERE IS NO PRECIDENT IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA -- no rules yet) As well, you might add that you really don't want to ski in a noisy "industrial-feeling" environment (not that we even want to find out what that is).

You could possibly state that you feel there will be a loss of the "natural aspect" you enjoy such as the views of Loch Lomond Lake, Lake Superior, Pie Island and the Sleeping Giant from the top of the North side Birch-run, Maple-run, Chicken-run; (note: The City feels they ONLY conrol "viewshed" so this is very important --- the bigger question: how did this happen? who arranged such a poor lease?)

The loss of the enjoyment you might have sitting on the deck in the sunshine; especially Spring-time skiiing. ambiance, fellowship;

The effect on your activities, how distracting this could be and how much concentration is needed (ie. racing, distractions, aerials, snowboard jumping, snowshoeing.....)

Your feeling of lack of safety due to ice-throw, shadow flicker, noise and the like.

Your understanding that this would be the FIRST ski area with a WINDFARM on it with no control by the Ski Operation and you don't want to be an experiment! (note: Grouse Mountain BC, Jiminy Peaks MA, and Bolton VT, all have one turbine owned, controlled by the ski area)

THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AT BLUE MOUNTAIN IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO;

Are we less worthy of respect in Northern Ontario?

etc. etc. etc.== again, make it personal,

WE UNDERSTAND IT'S SUMMER BUT ATTENDANCE AT THESE UPCOMING DATES ARE CRITICAL TO STOPPING THIS PROJECT. Come out show your support and ask Horizon Wind questions as this is required to be included in their final report to the MOE. Remember: Silence is Consent!

For more information email www.savethenorwesters.com

July 26th - City Hall - 6:30 pm

August 4 - Blake Hall - Hwy 61 - 6-9 pm

August 5 - Labour Center - Fort William Road - 6-9 pm

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO Send your email/letters with questions to:

info@bigthunderwindpower.ca

copy:

Ministry of Environment  jgerretsen.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Ministry of Tourism  General_Info@mtr.gov.on.ca

Bill Mauro, Liberal MPP  bmauro.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Michael Gravelle, Liberal MPP  mgravell.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Mayor Peterson  lpeterson@thunderbay.org

other councillors -- first initial and last name @thunderbay.ca (ie. iangus@thunderbay.ca)

Sharing to those who care.

Have a great day.

Anne