This document summarizes 40 years of peaceful protest by a grassroots movement in North Pickering, Ontario to save farmland from being expropriated for an airport expansion. In 1972, over 18,600 acres of productive farmland were expropriated, displacing many farmers. Local residents organized under the group People or Planes (POP) to protest the development through non-violent demonstrations, media campaigns, and legal battles. After years of sustained protest that spread nationwide, POP was ultimately successful in stopping further development. While questions remain unanswered and the fight continues, the group has evolved into Land Over Landings to preserve additional lands and natural areas for future generations.

1. FORTY YEARS OF
PEACEFUL PROTEST
HOW A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT GROUNDED A GOVERNMENT

2. In 1972, at the time of expropriation,
the 126 working farms on this land
produced annually:
4 million gallons of milk
200,000 eggs
45,000 bushels of wheat
30,000 chickens
375,000 pounds of pork
over a million pounds of beef

3. Farming has always been a way of
life in North Pickering.

4. So has protest!
Elder Barclay and his son Eli were pioneers, farmers and rebels in 1837, in the
so-called Famers‟ Revolt. In 1972, and again in 1995 and 2005 Barclay
descendants fought to save their ancestral homes from demolition.

5. The penalty in 1837
In early Ontario protest was often synonymous with treason:
the penalty was death. Peter Matthews, settler of Brougham,
was hanged beside Samuel Lount and the family lands were taken
away “in perpetuity”. Brougham was known as „Radical Corners‟.

6. Ever Green Villa, circa 1872
Built by Eli Barclay, it was the finest home on the Brock Road.
In 1972, it would become the birthplace of POP.

7. Melody Manor in 1972
A century later Ever Green Villa had a new name, Melody Manor. It was still a
lovely home outside the thriving rural community of Brougham. As the old
timers used to say, ‘God was in his heaven and all was right with the world…’

8. Overnight, the world changed.
18,600 acres of Class One farmland had been expropriated
for the New Toronto International Airport.

9. The property is fenced off.
Security guards and ‘No Admittance’ in two official languages. As the protests
continue and the demolitions begin, there will be barbed wire and tank traps.

10. In the living room of Melody Manor,
People or Planes is born.

11. Under a picture
of the Queen,
plans are made.
Bill Lishman
heads the
meeting.

12. A new generation
of rebels springs
into action
With ‘weapons’ made from
farm tools, the
First Pickering Fusiliers
demand passports at the
entry to the federal office
of Transport Canada.

13. Hippies and old ladies use different
tactics to gain media attention.

14. Displaced farmers

15. join artists,

16. men in suits and farmers in
high level meetings

17. and
housewives
with guts

18. and
a sense
of theatre

19. as a massive media campaign
is launched

20. to save the land

21. and stop Blunderland!

22. The protest spilled over into Toronto
and eventually the entire country.

23. In Toronto
anti-airport
demonstrators
wear gas
masks and
banners
bearing the
names of
communities
that will be
destroyed.

24. Despite the protests, the demolitions begin.

25. Ernie Carruthers holds out,
refusing to leave his farm

26. or the century home where he was born.

27. Truckloads of rubble, the remains of their neighbours‟ houses,
are piled across the lane from their house.
Ernie‟s wife cries every day.
They give up and plan to move.

28. As Ernie and his wife move out,
POP holds a farewell party –
and three women move in.

29. Without power or telephones, they are cut off
from the outside world except for a ham radio.

30. Neighbours ignore security barricades
to bring supplies. Weeks go by.
The women refuse to leave until --

31. Suddenly, three years after it began,
they‟ve won! It‟s over!
Or is it?

32. Michael Robertson hears
bulldozers and rides his
horse to a house that is
being demolished. He
knows the airport’s been
stopped.
He climbs to the second
story window and prays, as
they continue to batter the
house beneath him.

33. But it really is over. The bulldozers stop.
The house is lost, but the battle is won.
And the celebration begins!

34. Then come the questions.
Still no answers, thirty-nine years – and counting…

35. From long-haired to grey-haired
It’s been a long fight.

36. From handsome home

37. to boarded-up and vandalized.

38. From boarded-up and vandalized

39. to a burnt out shell.

40. But it’s not over!
People or Planes lives on --

41. as Land Over Landings is born.

42. Working to save forests

43. and family farms

44. heritage homes

45. and cold water streams.

46. And putting families back in homes.

47. "Saving the last best farmland in Canada
is not pie in the sky, it's bread on the table.”
Michael Robertson, People or Planes/Land Over Landings

48. The National Trust of Great Britain was founded in 1895
They saw a need for quiet, pure air, exercise,
the sight of the sky and things growing.
Their motto: “forever for everyone’‟.

49. Because some statistics don‟t lie.

50. And the truth is simple.

51. “We have a magnificent public asset. As learned many
times over, however, such a resource can be squandered easily:
and once lost, it is gone forever.”
Lorne Almack
from the Green Door Alliance 'Federal Lands Prospectus'

52. “We have to move beyond just being against an airport
in North Pickering and start pursuing the idea of
a Land Trust.”
Ajax-Pickering MP Mark Holland

53. Where there’s life, there’s hope!

54. Where there’s land, there’s hope!