'A bitter pill': Leamington council moves ahead with $640K chimney swift habitat, but questions priorities
Leamington is going ahead with building new housing, but it's not for people.
On Tuesday night, council discussed a $640,000 plan to build habitat for chimney swifts, a threatened bird species that's been nesting in the tall brick chimney of the town's former high school on Talbot Street West. The building is scheduled to be demolished, but the chimney can't come down unless a replacement habitat is built first.
It's the law, and council knows it, but that doesn't mean they're happy about it.
'You could build a pretty nice home. You could house some people who are facing housing precariousness with an expenditure like that,' said Mayor Hilda MacDonald. 'And here we are building a place for birds?'
Leamington chimney
Chimney swifts have been nesting in the tall brick chimney of the former high school on Talbot Street West in Leamington, Ont., on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor)
The chimney swift is protected under both federal and provincial endangered species legislation. The small, fast-flying bird migrates between Canada and South America each year and relies on older chimneys like the one at the old high school for nesting and roosting.
According to Ontario's Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, the main threats to the species include habitat loss and declining insect populations, which make up their food supply. Insecticides may be playing a role in both.
The birds have been listed as threatened in Ontario since 2009. That status means they're not endangered yet, but could be, if steps aren't taken to protect them.
'Chimney swift and its habitat are protected in order to support its conservation in Ontario,' ministry spokesperson Gary Wheeler said in a statement to CTV News.
Leamington is planning to build three new habitat towers along a public walking trail near Oak Street, or could face a million dollar fine. One tower will match the 17-metre height of the school's existing chimney, and two smaller towers will offer additional nesting options. The site will also include benches, native plants, and signs explaining the project to the public.
All of it must be built by the end of 2025 to meet the terms of a federal permit.
'When you're weighing in the importance of creating habitat for migratory birds or housing individuals who need a roof over their heads, in my estimation, the human housing is more important,' said Mayor MacDonald.
She says the town recently requested $300,000 from a funding partner to hire more social workers to deal with homelessness and is frustrated by how quickly and strictly the chimney swift rules are being enforced in comparison.
'It just seems to be an unfair requirement at this point in time when we're dealing with a human crisis,' she said. 'We're not against the environment. We're not against taking care of endangered birds. It's just... this requirement seems quite heavy-handed.'
'We have to do it,' she added. 'We're plugging our noses… before we do it.'
Local residents are also expressing frustration.
'That's a lot of money just to preserve the birds,' said Delvin Maxwell. 'Some of that money would do well with the homelessness here in Leamington.'
'It's a waste of money,' added Joe Testani. 'We're having problems in this town already, the homeless, the drugs, everything. And we're spending it on a bunch of birds?'
'That's crazy! To spend my money on that for birds? Come on,' he said. 'It's better to spend it on the homeless. At least help somebody out. Somebody or something. Anything.'
Still, the project has to move forward. The town plans to monitor the new site for up to five years to see if chimney swifts start using the new towers. If they do within the first three years, the monitoring period can end early.
Construction is expected to begin later this year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
14 minutes ago
- CBC
Saint John Fire Department looks at how to handle jump in encampment fires
The number of encampment fires in Saint John increased 31 per cent in 2024, and the trend continues in 2025. Now the fire department is looking at ways to manage the impact on resources.
CBC
14 minutes ago
- CBC
Ontario Barn Preservation group turning its attention to the north
In 2019, the non-profit Barn Preservation of Ontario was created in hopes of saving and preserving as many barns across the province as possible. Mainly focused in southern Ontario, the organization is now turning its attention to the historic barns of the north. "Right now we can't speak to how old the barns are in northern Ontario, we need reps up there to help us dig up the information up so we have a better knowledge of them," said group representative John Busch. "I had posted information on a barn here on the Facebook page and a woman commented and asked if I would consider coming to look at her barn." Busch is planning a trip to Manitoulin Island next month to see that barn, as well as six others he's become aware of. He says while the barns of the north are generally not as old as down south, some on the island date back to the 19th Century. The group literally tries to keep barns from falling over by giving advice to property owners, as well as suggesting contractors who could help. And one day, the group hopes to be able to offer financial support as well. "Once the history is wiped out, you have nothing. You need to study the history to learn the future," said Busch. "These old barns are built at a time when it would maybe cost the farmer $600 to help with the frame of it. They were then built by neighbours coming in to help finish the build. "The barn was the base of that farm but also the core connection often within the community." He hopes there will be someone in northern Ontario who will step up and become a regional rep for the organization in that area. "We need help, we need volunteers from northern Ontario to collect their stories and add them to the main consensus across the province," said Busch, adding that he has heard of some historic barns up in the Kirkland Lake and Cochrane areas, but hasn't been up to see them. "They probably don't even know about us. So we need someone in northern Ontario who can hold up our flag and help these people."
CBC
44 minutes ago
- CBC
Emotions high as cabin owners get closer look at Chance Harbour wildfire destruction
The Chance Harbour wildfire has been burning out-of-control for around two weeks, and is causing widespread destruction in cabin country on the Bonavista Bay. While many cabin owners lost their properties to the fire, others stayed nearby and fought the flames themselves. The CBC's Jessica Singer reports.
