‘La Cloche Spirit: The Equivalent Light’ exhibit will be at the Vale Living with Lakes Center, Sudbury from Monday, November 19 to Friday, November 30. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Reception - Saturday, November 24, 1 - 4 p.m. and all are welcome.

The digital and analog exhibition photographs were taken in the Willisville Mountain area of La Cloche. This area was recently saved from the possibility of any future mining as a quarry. In 2011, the mining company Vale liberally surrendered the license for this property so it may be enjoyed for generations to come.

The exhibit was part of CONTACT 2012 in Toronto and at the Gore Bay Museum.

www.jonbutlerphoto.com

Photos chronicling years leading up to the exhibit will also be on display.

‘La Cloche Spirit: The Equivalent Light’ exhibit will be in the South Tower Lobby of the Royal Bank Plaza at 200 Bay St.,Toronto from Monday, May 13 to Saturday, May 26 and The Gore Bay Museum and Gallery from June 10 to August 6, 2012.

The digital and analog exhibition photographs were taken in the Willisville Mountain area of La Cloche. This area was recently saved from the possibility of any future mining as a quarry. In 2011, the mining company Vale liberally surrendered the license for this property so it may be enjoyed for generations to come.

The exhibit is part of CONTACT 2012 in Toronto and the public reception is on May 14 from 5 - 7:30 p.m. at 200 Bay St, South Tower Lobby, Royal Bank Plaza.

www.jonbutlerphoto.com

Vale Corporate Affairs Manager Angie Robson.

On what was described as a “historic day for Canada,” mining giant Vale announced it has formally ceded Willisville Mountain and other sensitive parcels of land surrounding it from an aggregate license associated with the company’s nearby Lawson Quarry.

 Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey.

“Jon had respectful, constructive discussions with Vale,” Jeffrey said. “He put a reasonable proposal on the table. Vale wants to be environmentally responsible and tried to work with us on that. I’m pleased we were able to help.”

  She said aggregate licenses were complex things and “polarizing” for people across the country, but that her role as minister was to strike a productive balance between a strong economy and a healthy environment. She said Friday’s announcement proved those two ideas don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Jon Treen, general manager of Vale’s Ontario operations and Jon Butler .

“This is a historic day for Canada, the LaCloche area, Willisville Mountain and the village of Willisville,” Butler, president of the Willisville & LaCloche Mountains Preservation Society said. “Vale must be sincerely congratulated for their move to preserve the Willisville Mountain area for our future generations.”

  The announcement was made at the community centre in Whitefish Falls, another small village just south of the mountain. A painting by Franklin Carmichael, one of the youngest members of the Group of Seven provided a backdrop for the press conference. Five of the seven painted on Willisville Mountain at some point in their respective careers.

Jon Butler, MPP Mike Brown and Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey in Whitefish Falls moments before Vale surrendered Willisville Mountain from their aggregate license #20568. 

Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown called the development exceptional.

  “Whenever you walk into a room of 100 people, there is always at least one that is opposed to what you are doing,” the veteran MPP said. “Today that wasn’t the case. Everybody was on the same page.

  “It can’t be anything but positive to have solved a problem before it occurred. Jon and his group deserve a lot of credit for getting that positive result. It’s a great thing not just for Willisville Mountain, but Ontario and Canada, too.”

Canadian folk singer Ian Tamblyn performed to a full house on Saturday night celebrating ‘Willisville Mountain. The concert in Whitefish Falls was on the same day Vale announced they were surrendering Willisville Mountain from their aggregate license.“This is a historic day for Canada, the La Cloche area, Willisville Mountain and the village of Willisville,” said Jon Butler, president of the Willisville & La Cloche Mountains Preservation Society. “Vale must be sincerely congratulated for their move to preserve the Willisville Mountain area for our future generations.”Tamblyn was recently named English  Songwriter of the Year by the Canadian Folk Music Awards for his 31st album ‘Gyrie’. Tamblyn performed at  Sudbury’s first ‘Northern Lights Festival’ and was the second recipient of the ‘Jackie Washington Award’. In 2009 Tamblyn released the ‘Willisville Mountain’ album that has become a La Cloche classic.