Save David Dunlap Observatory

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David Dunlap Observatory Panoramic Banner More and more "Development Free Zone" signs are popping up all over Richmond Hill. Please support our growing community effort to preserve the Dunlap lands as a public park and community observatory. Sign Up today to receive regular updates, obtain a DDO Development Free Zone lawn sign or volunteer.

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  • The Richmond Hill Naturalists and community groups such as the DDO Defenders  continue to advocate for the complete protection of the David Dunlap Observatory and Park.  Please call your local councilor (905-771-8800), write a letter and/or buy a sign.  Tell Town Council you want LEADERSHIP & ALL Dunlap Parklands protected!  If you support the community drive to preserve the entire Dunlap Observatory property, please purchase one of our beautiful lawn signs.  Our volunteers will be happy to deliver a sign to your door.  Contact DDOSigns@rhnaturalists.ca for details.

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  • In 2007, the Ontario government permitted the University of Toronto to put the historic David Dunlap Observatory and Park up for sale.  In July 2008, the property was purchased by Metrus for $70-million. Despite these events, the Richmond Hill Naturalists, along with many local residents are still working hard to protect the Observatory buildings and as much of the property as possible.  The RHN participated in the January 2009 Ontario Conservation Review Board hearings to argue for 100% protection and heritage designation of the Dunlap Lands. It is our hope that the historic Dunlap Observatory will one day reopen as a working museum and research facility and will continue to provide a rich astronomy education experience for generations of Canadian families.

    Given the world-renowned history of the Dunlap property as a centre of astronomical research and its importance as a public space and urban wilderness, it deserves to be protected by the Ontario Heritage Act so it can continue to be enjoyed by current and future generations.  You can help achieve this goal by by writing letters and donating to our legal defense fund and by registering your support on our Online Petition.

    We also hope you will take the time to get to know the DDO through the articles, photos and videos on this site.

 


Why the David Dunlap Observatory must be preserved

  • Comet Hale-BoppThe David Dunlap Observatory (DDO) has historical significance for Canadians. Dr. Helen Sawyer Hogg devoted a lifetime of research to DDO from its beginning in 1935.  A pioneer female astronomer in Canada, she contributed especially in the area of star cluster research.  An Asteroid, “Sawyer Hogg” is named in her honour.  In 1971, Dr. Thomas Bolton verified the existence of “black holes”, and, in 1987, Dr. Ian Shelton discovered an exploding star now know as Supernova1987A.

  • The DDO houses a telescope that is still the largest on Canadian soil. The telescope's primary mirror is 1.88 meters across and weighs 23 tonnes. It continues to produce viable scientific research and multiple publications each year.
  • D.D.OIn 1992/1993, Richmond Hill, in response to a request from the David Dunlap Observatory, adopted a Light Pollution By-law which allowed continued viable use of the telescope up to and including the present.

     
  • Dark Skies" are now considered an important part of urban design for health reasons as well as for the needs of the Observatory.  Richmond Hill and the David Dunlap Observatory should celebrate their leadership in the application of this kind of informed modern design.  A growing body of research, including studies from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, supports the health benefits of "Dark Skies".
     
  • DDO meadow - taken by Deb ChuteYork Region is presently aiming to increase forest cover to 25% from the present 22.5%.  The 180 acres in DDO Park is mainly forest cover. The remaining open fields can be reforested.
     
  • Water absorption, oxygen release, carbon dioxide uptake and carbon sink are all issues that cannot be ignored when discussing the value of 180 acres of mainly forested Park.
     
  • The undeveloped land of DDO is an essential part of Greater Toronto’s natural filtration medium for rain water and snow melt to percolate through to Lake Ontario.
     
  • Tree cover supports carbon storage and sequestration.  Urban vegetation also removes harmful air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone and particulate matter.  Urban Forest Effects is a computer model that puts dollars and sense on these concepts.   http://www.ufore.org  presents figures for Toronto and Calgary.
     
  • baby coyote 3Scientific research has proven that humans are individually and collectively healthier when exposed to nature in some form. It has positive effects on a wide range of health issues including cardiovascular disease and attention deficit disorder. (Nature Count$, Health, Wealth & Southern Ontario’s Greenspace, A Report by The Canadian Urban Institute and The Natural Spaces Leadership Alliance.  See http://www.canurb.com)
     
  • The DDO is home to a wide variety of trees, birds, animals, plants, insects and butterflies. David Suzuki emphasizes that health and wellbeing are dependant on green spaces that have “diverse and vibrant ecosystems". He adds, "With three quarters of Canadians now living in urban areas, we must hope that our city planners and municipal politicians are paying attention to this kind of research.”  (The Liberal David Suzuki column, September, 2007)
     
  • Urban Sprawl is robbing citizens of green space. Intensification must be kept to the main traffic corridors to protect the few remaining green spaces.
     
  • The DDO is surrounded by developmentPresently, the majority of green space in Richmond Hill lies in the northern part of the town. Preserving the DDO Park would help to balance the need for more green space in the southern part of the town.



     
  • The wooded area of DDO could be managed to a Forest Stewardship Council  certification standard and culled in a sustainable way for revenue resources.
     
  • As a large observatory that is conveniently situated within a day's drive of a dozen Ontario universities, the DDO can give university students hands-on experience with a world-class telescope.  Given the looming energy crisis, we can not count on the long-term availability of low-cost air travel to observatories in distant places such as Chile and Hawaii. It would be irresponsible to dismantle the telescope sitting in our own backyard, when other options may disappear in 10 years time.

  


DDO in the Media


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