It’s a Fact Sarah co-founded PERL to protect and enhance Burlington’s Niagara Escarpment and rural lands in the region of Halton, Ontario. Believing that people make a difference when they get involved, Sarah is a leading voice for the protection of the Escarpment.

Sarah has engaged in a series of activities that have led to the designation of a new, provincially significant, wetland complex and increased community awareness, inspiring people to take action and speak out about aggregate (sand, gravel, shale) extraction. In support of the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere, and under serious threat from the aggregate industry, Sarah launched a seven city, all acoustic, “I Love the Escarpment Tour” in 2005. Using tour footage, Sarah worked with film maker Andy Keen to produce “Escarpment Blues”, winning the 2007 Juno Award for Music DVD of the Year and educating Canadians to the importance of protecting the Niagara Escarpment and rural lands across Canada.

Raising awareness about the issues of quarrying and increasing the public’s appreciation of the Escarpment’s unique heritage only demonstrates a portion of Sarah’s commitment to the environment. Through her music, Sarah has been able to perform in support of such organizations as the Lake Ontario Water Keepers, Friends of Red Hill Creek, Gravel Watch Ontario, the David Suzuki Foundation, and the Adrock Algonquins as part of their “Save the Tree” campaign. In addition to supporting these organizations, Sarah serves on the Toronto Public Space Committee and the Green Gravel Committee.

Sarah believes that people make a difference when they get involved, so she has spent countless hours in meetings and giving speeches to help influence the dialogue between the quarry, the aggregate industry, government agencies and the local community and region. She has spurred the interest of the media, securing important news coverage on the issues, resulting in increased community awareness and education. Sarah has raised thousands of dollars to fund independent studies by PERL, providing valuable scientific research that has led to the designation of the Grindstone Creek Headwaters Wetland Complex. The designation of this wetland complex has protected it from quarrying and preserved its natural heritage for future generations to come.