40 years of Saving the Land.

Land Over Landings, is pleased to invite you to a celebration of People or Planes Day in the City of Pickering, at 10 a.m., March 2, in Brougham, in recognition of the historic events of March 2, 1972.

The Brougham Hall will be open from 11am to 3pm on both Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3.

WHO: Land Over Landings salutes PEOPLE OR PLANES .

WHAT: To mark exactly 40 years since the expropriation of tens of thousands of acres of north Pickering by the provincial & federal governments for a city and an airport that was never built, and that we are determined will never be built. A passing of the torch to the next generation of defenders of these precious acres of Class 1 farmland, waterways and habitat, and the threatened heritage houses currently under demolition orders from Transport Canada.

WHERE: Brougham, north Pickering, intersection of Brock Road & Highway Seven. Plenty of parking everywhere.

WHEN: Friday, March 2  Procession @10 a.m. from the Brougham Hall (east side, between Hwy 407 & Hwy 7). Come early to join the procession & get a sign (or bring your own!). Follow the procession back to the Hall for speeches by POP members, Q & A, and a wealth of displays and artefacts. Refreshments. Open House at the Hall Friday & Saturday 11-3. 

WHY: Because after 40 years the lands have become an oasis in the midst of sprawl, the last, best and biggest expanse of class 1 farmland on the edge of the largest urban centre in the country. Because we owe a debt to the future to save these lands, which remain under threat, particularly since the summer's release of the Needs Assessment Report stating Pickering remains "a prime location for an Airport". It wasn't in 72 and it isn't in 2012. 

On March 2^nd, 1972 the provincial and federal governments expropriated thousands of acres of North Pickering land for an airport and a satellite city, and Pickering was changed forever. But most importantly, in our opinion, a grassroots organization of unprecedented size, creativity and passion rose up to save the land -- People or Planes.  POP (as it came to be known) mounted a passive resistance campaign that became the hallmark for similar groups around the world, bringing together farmers and businessmen, artists and scientists, little old ladies and hippies, in response to a clarion call from one-time Pickering resident, the late great Scott Young, father of Neil Young, who wrote:  "I hope that opposition to this affront against common sense eventually will be nationwide, the largest single protest movement in Canadian history. It should be. It can be." IT WAS.

On March 2 we celebrate POP and Forty Years of Saving the Land with a reunion of many of the original POP members, all of whom continue to be active in environmental movements wherever they now live, including Brian Buckles, Bill Lishman and Pickering's own Lorne Almack, recipient of last year's Civic Award for Lifetime Achievement. 

Pickering has a proud and well-earned reputation for supporting green initiatives. Recognizing this grassroots community group for 40 years of saving the land, and continuing to work towards a green future, brings honour not only to People or Planes, but to all of us.

Join us for the outdoor media event at 10 a.m., Friday, March 2. Visit the Brougham Hall to meet POP members, peruse a wealth of displays and artefacts, and meet the author of Dying for an Airport. www.landoverlandings.com