Markham protester chains self to tree

Bob Stiver tried to stop tree-cutting, but Mother Nature called

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 13, 2017
By Tim Kelly

A double-double spelled trouble for a Markham protester.

Bob Stiver's plan to stop the City of Markham from cutting down trees in the lot behind the restored Stiver Mill ran afoul when the 69-year-old protester, who had chained himself to a pair of trees, was foiled by Mother Nature

First it rained Oct. 11, and then, well, Stiver had to pee. That meant unchaining himself, so the protest was off and the cutting began.

"It began to rain and then I had to go to the bathroom, so I just unlocked myself," said Stiver, who has been barred from the property under threat of arrest.

Stiver, who has run the Stiver Mill Farmer's Market up until this year, has been frustrated over the city's decision to pave over the back lot where vendors set up throughout the summer and early fall. He maintains the trees and limestone surface reduce the temperature dramatically and doesn't feel there is a need for paving.

He has collected a petition of 1,650 names opposing the paving, mostly from farmer's market attendees who come each Sunday to the Unionville market.

Mayor Frank Scarpitti, in a previous interview, said paving the area in question, phase 2 of the Stiver Mill project, has long been in the works.

"The whole vision of the site that has always been discussed, and it has gone through a very public process, is that the parking lot will be redone with a combination of permeable paving and asphalt. We will have the ability to provide more formal parking.

"We want it (Stiver Mill) to be used, to have the flexibility of using it for different purposes and for that, we also have to provide parking," said Scarpitti.

Construction of the parking lot is scheduled to begin the morning of Oct. 16, weather permitting.