Reclamation

The Don Valley Brickworks had many positive and negative attributes when it was founded in 1889, that had a great effect on the wildlife and environment in the area, but also on the city. The quarry provided many bricks that helped to build a great number of houses and buildings in the area, and also provided work for many people that were suffering from unemployment at the time. Geologist A.P. Coleman was able to study the rocks and ground in the quarry, and discovered information that made the Don Valley Brickworks famous worldwide to geologists. Unfortunately, the environment was greatly effected by the development of the quarry, destroying the wildlife, and making it a very unattractive place for both humans and animals that lived there prior to the mining. At last in 1994, regeneration projects for the site began in order to benefit the natural environment, and to continue to gain from the quarry. The quarry was filled in using material from the excavation of the ScotiaBank Tower, enabling ponds and meadows to be created, and trees to be planted.

Once the quarry was filled, three ponds were created in order to divert water through brick plant, under Bayview Avenue and back into the Don River. This whole process acts as a form of purification for the water, while helping to maintain a peaceful and beautiful area for people to visit.

The quarry became a meadow once it was filled in, with ponds, rivers, plants, and grass. Animals such as fish and birds live in the meadow, as well as turtles that have outgrown their habitat. This has helped to benefit the natural environment, as it has brought back animals to their previous habitat after leaving before the mining began, while attracting people to see the beautiful scenery. 

Trees, plants and grass have been planted and grown in the restored site, allowing life to exist again in the former quarry, while attracting animals and other wildlife. The reclamation projects have been very beneficial for the Don Valley Brickworks site, turning the quarry into a park and historical site, reminding us of the past, while letting us enjoy the present, and even benefiting those to come in the future.