Cement barriers installed at Sauble Beach without consultation

At the recent Saugeen First Nation Band meeting that was live-streamed, it was brought forward that there was an issue with South Bruce Peninsula’s decision to install cement barricades prior to the Victoria Day long weekend eliminating many parking spaces.

photos by Saugeen Times

“This hasn’t been discussed with South Bruce and there is already an outstanding, on-going court case,” said Chief Lester Anoquot.

The barricades were brought in however, on a rental basis to prevent parking along a stretch of Lakeshore Blvd. and are expected to remain throughout the peak summer tourist season.

Band Councillor and Elder, Vernon Roote, pointed out that, in a prior letter sent to South Bruce Council by Saugeen First Nation’s lawyer, there should be no on-going work at the beach area.  “These cement barriers will prevent parking and will create a lot of foot traffic and, even during COVID, there are already a great number of people ignoring the COVID restrictions.”

Chief Anoquot said that he would arrange to have a letter sent directly from Saugeen First Nation Band council to South Bruce Mayor and Council.

                        Sauble signage

In 2020, the Town of South Bruce Peninsula moved forward in Sauble Beach with a proposal to cut the dunes backefrom the roadway to allow for “… more or safer parking during the summer months when tourism is intense”, to construct a cement block wall and ‘trim’ the dunes behind the wall to conform with its height. At that time, evidence of survey stakes also showed that not only would the dunes be affected but many trees and vegetation would also be removed in spite of the fact that dunes have been proven to be not only beneficial but vital to beach health.

Before demolition could begin however, SON First Nation, along with a court injunction from the environmental law charity EcoJustice, was able to stop the proposed demolition work of the dunes along Lakeshore Blvd.

The installation of the cement barriers this week is not the first time that work has gone ahead at Sauble Beach without consulting Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON).  There is currently on-going litigation that has been filed against South Bruce Peninsula jointly by Saugeen First Nation and the Government of Canada. This matter is expected to proceed to trial sometime this year.