La Cloche Mountains Preservation Society

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.