Give Today To Preserve Northern Ontario for Tomorrow

Help keep one of Northern Ontario's most beautiful and beloved natural areas accessible and intact for current and future generations.

Our campaign is an initiative of a diverse group of Ontarians deeply concerned by a local government’s decision to enable private property owners, by way of a new property survey that breaks dramatically with surrounding surveys, to gate off longstanding public land at the heart of Northern Ontario. As a result of inaction by local government, in 2023 the public lost access to a pristine natural landmark that has been visited and cherished by locals and visitors from far and wide, with the support of government officials, for generations.

Following an application by the same property owners to purchase the remaining public portions of the space and bring longstanding and widespread public use to an end, the Save The Rock non-profit organization requested a court injunction to afford the community an opportunity to fight for the restoration and protection of public land.

Located on the South Shore of Lake Nipissing in the vicinity of North Bay, this special spot has offered some of the most spectacular vistas of Lake Nipissing's rugged shoreline available to visitors for at least a century.

With the help of Save The Rock's legal and surveying teams, the community has learned that there are multiple significant issues with the property survey which resulted in the sudden and unexpected transfer of public land.

The campaign to protect public access to The Rock is a joint effort of members of the Anglophone, Francophone, and Indigenous communities, of people from diverse walks of life, who are united in a desire to preserve the recreational, environmental, and spiritual value and longstanding relationship of the community to this beloved place. We are supported in this effort by legal and surveying professionals, our local and regional media, and many others who have helped us to create a formidable movement.

In an era where money seems to trump the aspirations of communities, the public's only hope for saving The Rock is legal action. Your donation will support the formal legal and advocacy effort spearheaded by The Save The Rock non-profit organization, founded by the community to serve the community, and to be a source of inspiration and hope for communities everywhere. In particular, it will allow us to continue to partner with a seasoned team of legal and surveying professionals and ensure the public has access to the full extent of the law to achieve justice for everyone fighting hard to keep this longstanding public space public (see bottom of page for full details).

Perhaps most importantly, your donation will help us work to preserve a timeless source of beauty and joy in a world that is currently characterized by conflict and uncertainty.

The story is all too familiar. Those who live, work, and visit Northern Ontario are united in their effort to write a different ending. One that empowers the people who live, work, and visit here. One that puts limits on privatization and profit and encourages outcomes that genuinely serve the common good. One that stands for justice and preservation of our natural heritage.

Winston Churchill said: “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give”. Your donation will help us work to save a place that countless Ontarians agree must remain accessible to all, for all generations. No donation is too small. With the equivalent of just one dollar from every person who resides in the city of North Bay, we will be able to exceed our fundraising goal.

We are deeply grateful for your support, and look forward to continuing our work to help Save The Rock together.

DETAILS OF EXPENSES COVERED: All proceeds from this campaign will support the legal and surveying expenses connected to the goal of restoring and protecting public access to The Rock. Disbursement of any funds will continue to be contingent on Board approval of proposed activities, taking into account all relevant legal advice. Should the goals of this campaign be achieved prior to all funds being disbursed, the remaining funds will be held in reserve until such time as the Board of Directors determines an alternative, compatible use. Any questions regarding this initiative may be directed to the "Save The Rock" Facebook Group. Please note the Save The Rock Inc. cannot guarantee the outcome of the legal action initiated in conjunction with this campaign, and no statements from this page or any part of our promotional materials should be interpreted as a guarantee of success. Thank you!