NEWS RELEASE
SIMCOE COUNTY
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The County of Simcoe has acquired a parcel of land located in Innisfil through a generous donation made by the Sinclair family.
The 17.1-hectare tract, which will be referred to as ‘Montclair Woods’, is located near the Yonge Street and Killarney Beach Road intersection in Innisfil and will be protected for future generations as part of the Simcoe County Forest.
“We are extremely grateful to the Sinclair family for this incredible gift,” said Warden Basil Clarke. “This tract is a wonderful piece of land and will be a fantastic addition to the Simcoe County Forest. The Montclair Tract will serve as a public forest in the southern part of our region for many years to come.”
Mr. & Mrs. Keith and Ruth Sinclair and family gathered at the Simcoe County Museum on Friday, October 4 to celebrate the donation with a ceremony and sign unveiling. This is not the first time, however, that this family has contributed to the growth of the County Forest.
The ‘Sinclair Tract’, a significant forested property located within the community of Bradford West Gwillimbury, was acquired from Keith’s father, Robert Sinclair, in 1957. As a part of the farming community in south Simcoe for many years, the Sinclair family clearly understands the value of retaining healthy forests for today and tomorrow.
Spanning more than 33,000 acres, the Simcoe County Forest is the largest and one of the most productive municipal forests in Ontario. The County received national honours by being recognized as the Forest Capital of Canada for 2022 by the Canadian Institute of Forestry, the second time receiving the designation. The County of Simcoe was also the first jurisdiction to enter the ‘Agreement Forest’ program back in 1922 and since then has invested countless resources into growing, restoring, and protecting this incredible resource.
The Montclair Woods will be open to the public at a later date once adequate parking and access are established.
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