A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially unveiled Crawford Lake’s reconstructed 800-meter boardwalk on September 4, restoring access to scenic views of the historically significant lake. New interpretive signage was installed around the lake a few weeks later on September 24.
Without the boardwalk, it’s difficult to navigate the lake’s landscape.
“It’s through a lot of wetland. It’s a lot of exposed limestone. So the boardwalk is the reason people can have an encounter with the lake in a really meaningful way,” explained Brenna Bartley, Education and Outreach Manager with Conservation Halton, during an interview at the ribbon-cutting.
The previous boardwalk, built in 1965, was ageing and needed replacement. To make this possible, the Federal Government invested $912,000, the Provincial Government invested $759,924, and Halton Region’s Developer Contribution Reserve provided additional funding.
An important part of the redesign was ensuring accessibility.
“We’ve addressed a lot of the steep sections. It’s much wider, so it’s a much more friendly environment for people who’ve got strollers and other wheeled devices. But as always, people should give us a call in advance so that we can help them with their individual [accessibility] needs,” Bartley explained.
She also highlighted that the boardwalk gives visitors new vantage points over the lake.
“Like quite high up in the treetops, they get a chance to sort of go out a little bit over the water and see into the water; they can see the fish, they can see the turtles, and they can see the shape of the bowl of the lake.”
What Makes Crawford Lake Unique?
Conservation Halton describes Crawford Lake, which formed more than 10,000 years ago, as a meromictic lake. In these lakes, “the water in the lower half does not mix with the water in the upper half,” according to the conservation authority, a separation that can be partially attributed to the lake’s shape.
Conservation Halton says each year, a light and dark layer of sediment will form and can be counted, similar to tree rings. Scientists can examine these layers and “have learned much about the history of the land, locally, regionally, and globally over the past 1000 years.”
In the 1970s, researchers studying Crawford Lake’s sediment found corn pollen dating back from the 13th to 15th centuries, providing evidence of Indigenous agriculture in the area and prompting further archaeological investigation around the lake, according to the Conservation Authority.
That investigation uncovered evidence of an Indigenous village, including longhouse structures, which Conservation Halton has reconstructed for visitors to experience.
New signage makes connections to the past
New interpretive signage was unveiled on September 24, following the boardwalk's September 4 reopening.
Created in partnership with Conservation Halton’s Indigenous Partners Council and scientific partners, the signs provide visitors with information about Crawford Lake’s ecological, scientific and cultural significance.
“The new signage invites visitors to experience Crawford Lake through a different lens, bringing together scientific knowledge and Indigenous Ways of Knowing. It creates an opportunity to learn from the lake while also reflecting on our relationships and responsibilities to the land and the beings we share it with,” said Leeanne Doxtator, Indigenous Education Coordinator with Conservation Halton in a release.
Want to visit? There may be an inexpensive way to make the trip
For those looking to get out and experience Crawford Lake themselves, a trip doesn’t have to break the bank. Conservation Halton has developed the “Parks Pass-it-On program” to provide inclusive access to their locations through a partnership with local libraries such as Milton Public Library, Oakville Public Library, Burlington Public Library, Halton Hills Public Library, and the Wellington County Public Library
For more information on visiting Crawford Lake, you can check out Conservation Halton’s website or call them at 905-878-5011.
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