Father Goose to join Food and Water First Celebration in Honeywood

Bill Lishman

Metroland file photo

Port Perry's Bill Lishman, known as 'Father Goose' for his historic flight with migrating Canada geese in 1993, will fly his ultralight plane to Melancthon to join the Food and Water First celebration on Saturday, Aug. 18.

An ultralight flight by a man known as Father Goose will help marry two crusades to save farmland.

Durham Region resident Bill Lishman, the first person to fly in formation with birds and the focal point of the 1996 movie Fly Away Home, plans to fly his ultralight plane from Pickering to Melancthon for the Food and Water First celebration on Saturday, Aug. 18.

“Quarries and gravel pits and airports trump farmland,” Lishman said. “It should be that farmland is the most valuable.”

While Lishman is known for his aviation efforts, he is also a member of Land Against Landings, a Pickering group dedicated to saving farmland from construction of an airport.

When he lands near the Honeywood arena, Lishman will explain the effort to maintain farmland in Durham. More than 40 years ago, his land was expropriated in favour of a runway.

“What we’re doing is trying to get people’s awareness of the value of that farmland,” he said.

“If you think of the future generations, if we keep paving it over there will be nothing left to grow stuff on to feed us. That’s what it comes down to.”

Lishman sees many similarities between how Land over Landings and Food and Water First operate.

“There’s quite a parallel. Fortunately, they were able to win the battle in a fairly short time,” he said. “We’ve been at it for 40 some-odd years.”

Flying to Melancthon provides an opportunity for the two groups to compare notes on protecting land.

“That whole group did a marvelous job putting pressure on a large corporation until they backed off,” Lishman said.  

While in the air, Lishman will photograph and video record the lands once targeted by The Highland Companies for an aggregate quarry.

“In the future, if the mega quarry rears its ugly head again, we can put together a video,” he said.

“When you can visualize the land like that ... it makes such a difference,” he added. “People will see what could be lost if it is developed.”

Shirley Boxem, who is organizing the Food and Water First celebration, said literally linking farmland groups by aircraft is a first for the North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT).

“Everything with NDACT is the first of its kind, so it’s redundant to say that,” Boxem said. “I think it’s just loads of fun. I’ve never heard of that type of element at an event before.”

Lishman’s fly-by and speech is one of many attractions slated for the celebration at the Honeywood arena.

Big Whiskey joins Harlan Pepper to perform throughout the four-hour event.

The party also includes local chefs from Men With Knives, Terra Nova Public House, Matthew Flett and One99 Restaurant sampling what is threatened when farmland is lost.

As well, an art show and sale, farmers’ market and kids' activities join the festivities.  

The celebration, as well as the Food and Water First movement, aims to build partnerships similar to that with Lishman in an effort to lobby for farmland protection

“If you’re operating as your own group with your own thing, it’s harder to grow. We’re looking for the common themes among these groups,” Boxem said. “It builds that critical mass even faster.”

Admission to the celebration costs $5 with hot food items priced between $2 and $5. It is free for youth younger than five-years-old. The ticket price covers the cost of operating the event.

For tickets, visit ndact.com or foodandwaterfirst.com.

By Bill Tremblay

Published in the Orangeville Banner, August 7, 2013