Lightside

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They consider themselves guardians and caretakers. Each has his story, history and most are their family's first generation in this young land. Their devotion is fierce and each bears a strong sense of right and wrong. It is rigid, yet common sense holds sway.

All have a deep appreciation of Bluffers Park and its particular beauty. The sound of waves on the shore, glistening sunbeams off the lake's surface, just the fact such a delightful place exists enthralls. That anyone can go there is a bonus!

This group consists of Jim Pepper, a craftsman. George Vukicevich, and others who are retired. They share their camaraderie and appreciation of this unique place. And they share a desire to maintain this public park.

When a person spends several days a week, often from early morning until afternoon basking in sunshine, gazing over the lake waters and revelling in what is free, a sense of custodianship develops. In particular, they take exception to those who foul the waters and litter the park.

It was this that caused them to call me. There is a feeling of frustration generated by limited response to repeated calls to varied government levels, elected and hired officials of different stripes and persuasion. They want help in keeping the park clean for all.

What has this group seething is pollution. At varied times of the year, often very early in the morning, people gather at the boat launch ramps or somewhere within the park for personal reasons. Often these gatherings involve a form of burial.

Such events involve tradition and rituals Pepper, Vukicevich, and others are not familiar with. So they mind their own business and stay away. Good manners most would say, and justly so.

What riles them is what those who participate in such ceremonies leave in the park and the waters. This includes cast off clothing, green garbage bags of whatever, and plant matter. Participants consider these to be tributes to the deceased.

Of course, the bags sink and go to the bottom. But the boat launch is not very deep and boat engine propellers cut these bags. This results in water pollution, fouled props and damage to private property.

To prove the point, two of the group pointed out bags lurking just below the surface. Then they pointed out vegetable matter and wooden items. One had picked up a discarded claim form for cremated human remains.

Complaining to officials, calling for some control to curb the practice or offer a specific location for such practices have not yet been answered. Even though the lake is considered federal property and is protected by same.

According to a spokesperson for Toronto District Office, Ministry of Environment, human ashes are not considered to be "waste" by that agency. But the other items are.

So the friends of the park await some action.

Vukicevich wrote the Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Affairs and was again less than encouraged by the reply. The ministry established an Inter-Agency Working Group, consisting of representatives of provincial, federal and local authorities to examine the matter.

In response, religious groups who follow the tradition of scattering human ashes on water, offering religious tributes and such have been supplied with educational pamphlets. The friends of the park are skeptical this will achieve the desired results.

According to Pepper, they are not against any group practicing religion and tradition.

But blatant polluting is out!

Yet no official action is forthcoming. Perhaps government bodies at varied levels, committees are studying, preparing a course of action. One that will please all parties.

Until then, Vukicevich and all fear inaction will result in a lake filled with trash, a beautiful park and a shoreline polluted.