Developer going ahead with purchase of land next to Arnprior old-growth forest

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An Ashton-based developer has announced it is going ahead with the controversial purchase of an eight-hectare parcel of land next to Gillies Grove in Arnprior.

The land being purchased includes a slice of old-growth forest and frontage on the Ottawa River once owned by the lumber baron who was one of the town’s founders.

Cavanagh Communities had been in a “due diligence” phase before final purchase.

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“Cavanagh Communities are pleased to announce that by waiving the conditional period we are proceeding to finalize the purchase of vacant lands from Galilee Mission Center of Arnprior,” said Cavanagh Communities senior vice-president Pierre Dufresne in a statement Monday.

“While final plans are not yet developed, it is important to note that we will ensure connectivity to the nearby neighbourhoods and that the Grove natural heritage areas will be preserved and protected for future generations to enjoy,” he said.

“We look forward to engaging with the town and community as we progress through the planning process.”

While the Grove itself can’t be sold now or in the future — it was purchased in 2001 by the Nature Conservancy of Canada —  discussions about selling land adjacent to the Grove started last fall. Some groups that were interested said they didn’t get a chance to negotiate offers.   

Meanwhile, a community group called Save the Grove Again has argued that developing the land will prevent the Grove from expanding into the open space that is part of the land for sale. 

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“I would argue that the entire property is sensitive and is the future of the old-growth forest,” said Lacey Smith, the chair of the group’s board. 

Save the Grove Again, which has 250 active members and more than 3,000 signatures in an online petition opposing development, is not giving up, said Smith.

“We will be there every step of the way to do as much as we can,” she said. “People care very deeply about this land. The history of the town and this land is intertwined.”

Save the Grove Again argues that the land is of historical as well as environmental importance as the location of Kinnell Lodge, built in 1824 by the colourful Scottish chief Archibald McNab, who promoted a scheme to recruit settlers from Scotland that backfired due to McNab’s mistreatment of the settlers.

Lumber baron and political figure Daniel McLachlin bought the land in 1857 and settled his family there. The land was sold to lumbering rival David Gillies, who commissioned a Colonial Revival-style house on the Ottawa River in 1937.

In 1946, the land was sold to the Catholic Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who restored and added to the McLachlin house, which became a training centre for men entering the Oblate community. In 1975, the training centre became a retreat known as the Galilee Centre.

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Gillies Grove was designated a national historic site in 1993. Nature buffs fought to preserve the forest and its massive white pines from housing development. In 2001, the Nature Conservancy of Canada completed the purchase of the old-growth portion of the property.

In October 2023, the board of directors of the Galilee Centre made a proposal to the Oblates to keep the parcel of land that includes the retreat, with the remainder of the land to be sold separately.

According to a Galilee statement, many conversations were held with major stakeholders in Arnprior between September 2023 and March 2024, including discussions with the Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital, which is located west of the land, according to the Galilee Centre. None of the discussions resulted in either land purchase agreements or financial donations that would result in Galilee Centre being able to continue its operations, according to Galilee. 

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