Climbers, neighbours clash over Ontario park as government removes closure signs

CLEARVIEW — Threats, vandalism and a cease and desist order have marked exchanges between climbers, neighbours and Ontario Parks over rock climbing at Devil's Glen Provincial Park.

The conflict escalated recently when a resident near the park got into a yelling match with a rock climber that allegedly ended with the climber's hands around the neighbour's neck and a call to police, according to The Narwhal.

Residents Adam and Holly Pearce say they have seen sensitive plants ripped from the cliff face, tree limbs sawed off and a path built with gravel chipped off the cliffs.

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"We watched them start vandalizing the cliff and we reported it numerous times to Ontario Parks," Adam Pearce told The Narwhal.

In turn, the Pearces have been accused by climbers of destroying routes, stealing equipment and egging cars, which they deny.

"We never thought that it would affect us on a level that it has," Pearce said, adding the couple has received calls in the middle of the night with people threatening to burn their house down.

The Ontario Provincial Police told The Narwhal it was unable to comment on detailed questions about the number of calls for service, investigative actions or whether charges have been laid.

The most recent chapter of the conflict dates back to May 2023, when Ontario Parks put up signs closing several climbing routes in ecologically sensitive areas.

That summer, climbers criticized the decision, and by August, the office of then-environment minister David Piccini had ordered all the remaining signs be removed, documents show.

At least one government biologist argued removing the signs had "no scientific rationale," according to the documents.

Climbing has continued indiscriminately in the park since. Ontario Parks did not respond to a request for comment or specific questions from The Narwhal.

Mike Penney, volunteer president of the Ontario Alliance of Climbers, has been targeted for disputing Ontario Parks' efforts to close some areas.

He shared photos of posters in which his likeness is shown arguing about the scientific evidence behind those closures. The posters were shared on social media and, he said, left on the vehicles of climbers.

"I'm not denying that there is an impact to our natural environment through climbing," Penney said. "But I would argue that climbing has the least amount of impact out of any recreational sport that you could think of."

Creating a rock-climbing route is an invasive procedure. Climbers use tools to pry off loose rocks and battery-powered hammer drills to affix permanent bolts to the cliff face.

The Pearces have sent more than 100 emails and made dozens of phone calls to Ontario Parks over the years.

In response, the provincial agency issued them a cease and desist letter for excessive emails, phone calls and social media posts, which the ministry said are "inappropriate and serve no constructive purpose."

With files from The Narwhal