The former gravel pit transformed into a vibrant, natural community space will no longer be known as just Lake Margaret.
As of this week, the rehabilitated aggregate site is now the award-winning Lake Margaret.
At a ceremony Tuesday morning, the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (OSSGA) announced Lake Margaret is the recipient of their 2025 Bronze Plaque Award. The recognition is the OSSGA’s highest honour for environmental rehabilitation.
At he ceremony held in Jim Waite Park at the east end of Lake Margaret, Mike McSweeney, OSSGA executive director noted, “Lake Margaret is a shining example of what happens when community and environment are prioritized.”
McSweeney stressed, “At the Ontario Stone Sand and Gravel Association, we believe that the aggregate industry is not about supplying the materials that build our homes, roads, schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities, sidewalks, highways, etc. It’s about building relationships, strong, responsible and lasting relationships with the communities where we operate.”
And that is the basis for the prestigious Bronze Plaque Award, he added.
Adrienne Griffin Lacey, the city’s director of parks and recreation, commented on the significance of the large boulder to which the bronze plaque is attached.
“It is especially meaningful to see this bronze plaque displayed on stone from the original Axford pit quarry, tying the site’s history to its future.”
McSweeney observed, “This site was rehabilitated, not just with ecological goals in mind, but with people in mind. It reflects the values of the community it serves and stands as a legacy of collaboration and care.”
Written by Ian McCallum
