The Ontario Superior Court has confirmed Hibou Conservation Area lands belong to the local conservation authority.
The Grey Sauble Conservation Authority (GSCA) says in a release, it’s pleased to announce the ruling ensures continued public access and conservation of the natural space north of the Owen Sound harbour near Leith.
This decision follows a situation that arose in April 2020 when a “For Sale” sign appeared on the northeast portion of the Hibou property. The sign raised immediate concerns from local residents and community groups, prompting widespread attention on social media.
They say, Conservation authority staff became aware that another party had registered a title interest in this section of the property and took immediate steps to address the issue.
They took legal action to prevent the sale and resolve the title dispute, and on May 27th, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice issued a decision declaring that all right, title, and interest in the subject property is vested in Grey Sauble Conservation Authority, and that any claim by the respondent or other parties is extinguished.
“We’re both delighted and relieved by this week’s Ontario Superior Court decision,” said GSCA Chief Administrative Officer, Tim Lanthier. “After a long process, we’re proud to confirm that Hibou Conservation Area will remain a treasured public space for our community.”
Hibou Conservation Area consists of approximately 329 acres of land along the shoreline of Georgian Bay. It was acquired by the former North Grey Region Conservation Authority (now GSCA) in the early to mid-1970s, following a successful community fundraising campaign. Since that time, GSCA has maintained Hibou as a public access conservation area.
