Media Statement

March 14, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City Statement regarding Allandale Lands

On Thursday March 10, 2016, the City received a letter from the Grand Chief Konrad Sioui of the Huron Wendat
First Nation expressing concerns regarding the Allandale Station lands. We are taking these concerns very
seriously. Mayor Lehman called the Grand Chief personally on Friday March 11th and spoke with him regarding their
concerns, and will be meeting in person with the Grand Chief to address this matter and review all of the Citys
actions to date.
The City of Barrie has always carefully followed processes, the applicable legislation and any direction provided
by the Province of Ontario to ensure protection of the archaeological potential of the site. The following is a brief
summary of the Allandale Station lands:
In 2000 and 2001, (when Barrie was not the owner of the Allandale lands), the then owners of the lands
commissioned AFBY Archaeological and Heritage Consultants (AFBY) to conduct a standard archaeological
assessment of a large portion of the Allandale train station site. An excavation was undertaken and resulted in
clearance of any archaeological concern by the Ministry of Culture of the Allandale Site (BcGw-69) together with a
recommendation that additional areas be monitored during any construction activities. The AFBY reports state
that there is a high degree of disturbance across the site. The site was also affected by heavy flooding, resulting
in erosion that required large amounts of fill. The historical record indicates the ossuaries were excavated and
quite possibly destroyed.
In 2008, as part of a Request For Expressions of Interest (RFEI) process, Correct Group Inc. and the YMCA
responded to the RFEI with plans to develop the site. As a result of this possible development, the City undertook
further studies. The City of Barrie commissioned a Stage 1 Archaeological Background Research of the Allandale
Station Lands by Mr. Michael Henry of AMICK Consultants Limited. A copy of Mr. Henrys report was filed with the
Ministry of Culture.
Mr. Henrys report expressed that the Allandale train station site may contain further archeological resources. Mr.
Henrys report recommends monitoring the site during any work for archaeological issues. Barrie has continued
to monitor the site, has retained an archaeologist when required and is continuing to comply with its statutory
obligations.
In 2011 and 2014, two separate lawsuits involving the Allandale Station Lands were filed against the City of
Barrie. The first lawsuit was commenced by Correct Group Inc. against the City in Orangeville (Court File No. 38411). The second lawsuit was commenced in Brampton by Correct Group Inc. and Correct Building Corporation
against current and former City Councillors and staff, the Mayor and others(Court File: CV-13-5678-00). The
current ministry records indicate that Mr. Alan Furbacher is the president and a director of both Correct Group Inc.
and Correct Building Corporation.
In July 2011 human remains were discovered in a crawl space of the historic Allandale Train Station buildings.
The City of Barrie immediately notified the City of Barrie Police Department. Once it was determined that the
remains had been buried in excess of 50 years, Mr. Henry was retained to conduct a Stage 3 Archaeological Site
Assessment. Mr. Henry concluded that no archaeological resources of potential heritage value or interest were
encountered and no evidence of a formal grave or intentional burial was encountered. Mr. Henrys report stated,
among other things:
Although the possibility exists for additional human remains to be contained within the fill soil
in this area, we are reasonably certain that the material associated with the deposit accidentally
disturbed through restoration work has been completely removed. We are also reasonably
certain that no grave or burial is situated within the crawl space
The Corporation of the City of Barrie wishing to be proactive and to take all reasonable steps to
avoid further such incidents, has volunteered to retain a licensed archaeologist to monitor the
work in the crawl space in case any further bone should be encountered.

Media Statement
March 14, 2016

The Stage 3 AMICK Report was filed with the Cemeteries Regulation Unit and the Ministry of Culture. A copy is
also posted on the City of Barrie website.
Go Station Construction
It is the City of Barries understanding that Metrolinx conducted its own archaeological investigations for the work
it was completing for the Allandale GO Train Station. Barrie has no knowledge that Metrolinx discovered any
archaeological artifacts during the course of its works. With respect to the construction of the GO Station, in a
letter dated August 30, 2011, Mr. Henry, who was at that time conducting archaeological works for Barrie on the
Allandale site, concluded, among other things:
I am satisfied that there are no concerns at present with respect to potential impacts to
archaeological resources arising from excavation and regrading work to be completed. The
excavations to date appear to have been largely restricted to the excavation or previously
disturbed soil and there is no indication that impacts have occurred to native soil where there may
be as of yet undocumented archaeological resources, including burials.

The Province advised Barrie that the spokesperson for any possible remains on the Allandale lands is to be the
Chief of Chippewas of Rama First Nations. In April 2014, a meeting was held between the City of Barrie, the
Province of Ontario and representatives of Rama First Nations. During this meeting, it was noted through the
archaeological assessments, that there are two Nations that could potentially have interests in the remainsChippewas of Rama First Nations (Williams Treaty) and the Huron-Wendat First Nations. At the meeting in 2014,
the Province indicated that the declaration will include both groups and Barrie has been awaiting further direction
from the Province on the declaration.
No development has gone ahead. Over the past several years, the Citys efforts on the site have been focused
on restoring the Heritage Allandale Station buildings. As indicated earlier, there is currently no activity on the
Allandale site, no archeological work, no site work, no building work except for standard routine maintenance.
The City of Barrie has always carefully followed archaeological processes, the applicable legislation and any
direction provided by the Province of Ontario to ensure protection of the archaeological potential of the site. Barrie
has deep respect for First Nations and has been careful to follow the advice and recommendations of the
archaeologists who studied the Allandale site.
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