Fate of Talisman Resort property up in the air 10 years after closure
A decade after the Talisman Resort ceased operations, the fate of the once-popular 200-acre property is up in the air.
One group wants to preserve part of the land that years ago competed with Blue Mountain, complete with ski slopes, a golf course and lodging but now is home to vacant buildings as arrears pile up.
Still, the mayor believes it holds a special place in the hearts of residents.
"The Talisman sign shows the hay-day of the great place it was, the families that enjoyed it here. But it's time to move forward in a responsible way and in a way that works for our community," Grey Highlands Mayor Paul McQueen said.
The municipality owns two of the three properties after a bankruptcy auction, tax sale and foreclosures.
The town entered a joint venture agreement with the owners of the remaining resort property and brought in consultants to attract investors to try to find a way to move forward.
So far, town council has heard two proposals, one from the development firm Westway Capital and the other from the community group Friends of the Beaver Valley.
On Wednesday, the Escarpment Biosphere Reserve announced its interest. It submitted a letter of intent to purchase the property based on the principles prepared by Friends of the Beaver Valley.
"What is it you want to preserve for everyone into the future?" explained Friends of the Beaver Valley's Mary Ferguson. "Then, looking at the development, developing something that is really community-owned and community-led."
Much of the land has been deemed undevelopable in zoning terms, while the Niagara Escarpment Commission regulates other portions.
"We are trying to put together a proposal that would protect the important ecological areas, yet provide enough development tax revenue to satisfy the municipality," noted Robert Barnett, Escarpment Biosphere Reserve.
Meanwhile, Friends of the Beaver Valley are assembling a team of experts who will visit and assess the property next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.