Did JD Trespass?! Spycam photos!

2026.10.18

Spoiler alert – no, I didn’t.  But before I get into the details, a few things …

Some pictures are circulating that claim to show trespassing adjacent to Nellie Lunn Park. 

Seven pictures dating back to August 12, 2021 have been posted.

Of those pictures:

• 2 are from before the park reopened and the trespass mitigation measures were put in place,

• 2 are of people walking either towards or away from the locked gate with the ‘no trespassing’ sign on it – like walking up a driveway that has no sign on it (one picture is of the Clerk and Road Superintendent – more on that below!)

• 2 are of the same individual on a bicycle, likely on private property,

• 1 is of someone walking, again likely on private property.

The picture with the Clerk and the Road Superintendent shows them going up to the gate to verify that it is locked.   The Township has a legally registered Right of Way on that Cottage Access Road, but the property owner refused to allow access.

So, 2 people trespassing, which is still too many, but these instances have not been shared with the Township.  As part of the Trespass Mitigation plan in the Park Reopening Plan, there are additional steps that can be taken to create more substantial barriers, specifically gates at either end of the Cottage Access Road where it enters and exits the Park.  These were not initially put in place due to the impact on the cottagers who would need to open and close these gates when coming or going. 

Finally, to the picture of me ‘trespassing’.  It was taken in 2021 when I had permission from the Township to escort representatives from Crowe Valley Conservation Area, Bancroft Area Stewardship Council and others to examine the property as part of the Friends of Nellie Lunn report to Council.  The picture was taken on a section of the Cottage Access Road at the far end of the park.  I had permission to travel that road from a real estate agent involved in the sale of one of the cottage properties.  No trespassing took place.  This picture has been circulated before as evidence of trespassing, and it’s still not true.

If you would like a response to a particular question, please send it to me at jd@jd4Wollaston.ca.  I’ll be posting in several Facebook groups along with my webpage www.jd4Wollaston.ca so unless you send it to me directly, it may get missed.