Bubble Grove

05/27/2026

We were back before the Ontario Land Tribunal today.

What is happening around our case should concern every property owner, entrepreneur, and taxpayer in Ontario, because precedents are being shaped through these processes that might be used against you someday, too..

At yet another opportunity to assess whether this appeal meets the evidentiary and procedural thresholds established through Ontario planning jurisprudence, and dismiss this empty challenge against a legal and compliant long standing Retreat property, the Tribunal instead directed this matter toward trial on June 25 & 26 to give the Appellants a chance to be heard.

Heard on what, we continue to have no idea.

To date, neither the Appellants nor the Tribunal have substantively addressed the core legal and procedural concerns we have repeatedly raised throughout this process.

Through numerous submissions, we have presented dozens of case authorities regarding:

• what constitutes valid planning evidence
• the requirement for clearly identified policy conflict
• the role of independent expert testimony
• and the standards expected of parties advancing an appeal, particularly third-party appellants challenging a lawful and conforming Existing Use.

Yet many of these very salient points remain unanswered. Basically ignored.

That is deeply concerning.

Legal tests, evidentiary thresholds, and procedural requirements exist for a reason. When unsupported or speculative appeals are permitted to advance without those standards being meaningfully addressed, the impacts extend far beyond a single case. The result is increased cost, prolonged uncertainty, strain on public systems, and further barriers to productive economic activity in Ontario.

This process continues to place an enormous burden on our family, our business, and our future, redirecting years of time, energy, and resources away from building the very enterprise that supports our livelihood and contributes to our community.

After four years in planning and 3 years of proceedings against us, there still has been no demonstrated evidence of negative impact presented against our use, nor independent expert testimony challenging our evid

05/12/2026

We purchased this legacy hospitality property in March of 2022.

By April 2022, we were already in conversations with the Niagara Escarpment Commission.

Today - 50 months later - we are still “in process.”

Fifty.
Months.
Over 4 years.
1/10th of our lives on this earth.

At this point, our planning file has lasted longer than many criminal prosecutions in Ontario.

That isn’t satire. It is unfortunately policy reality.

Under Ontario’s justice framework:

Provincial criminal matters are expected to conclude within 18 months.

Superior Court matters generally within 30 months.

Under the Supreme Court’s Jordan decision, excessive delay beyond those timelines can result in cases being thrown out entirely.

Nearly half (48%) of criminal charges in Ontario were withdrawn by the Crown in 2025 due to system strain.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurs trying to build thoughtful, environmentally responsible businesses can spend years trapped in procedural limbo.

Years repeating the same evidence, attending the same hearings, answering the same empty objections, while costs pile up endlessly.

The uncomfortable question:

Why does Ontario place stricter timelines on violent criminal proceedings than on economic development applications?

Why are taxpayers funding endless procedural warfare driven by private vendettas and obstruction tactics, while the province simultaneously collapses under court backlogs severe enough that charges are being withdrawn?

Where exactly are the priorities?

This is bigger than Bubble Grove.

No entrepreneur should spend 4.5 years trapped in an undefined administrative process with no meaningful accountability, no timeline certainty, and no off-ramp from procedural abuse.

Ontario says it is “open for business.”

But for many founders, farmers, builders, and local operators, the reality is:

Open for process.

Closed for progress.

At what point does Ontario acknowledge that endless delay is itself a form of systemic failure?

Where is the “Jordan Ceiling” for entrepreneurs?

Ford
Cho
Fedeli
Tangri
Downey
Thompson

When will Ontario start protecting the people actually trying to grow good business?

05/11/2026

On a legacy hospitality project, we are proposing a moderate upgrade that will utilize 0.7% of the property's total land area.

Less than 1% of the propety.

Far more impactful projects in Ontario have been passed with zero scrutiny ( ahem - Therme at Ontario Place anyone?)

Big projects with actual impact are being waved on through while we have yet to be granted a phone call with one single Minister.

Newly proposed On Farm Diversified Uses, on properties with zero commercial history, can access up to 2% of the total land parcel towards the commercial use.

Why is Bubble Grove, with a 40 year history of serving thousands of guests with no negative effect, being put through this much process for accessing less development than a newly established use?

???

According to the standing case law, this Appeal should have been dismissed.

Instead we have an upcoming case management conferences this month in prep for yet another Ontario Land Tribunal hearing, hopefully sometime this Summer.

Our 5th Summer trying to continue to run our legacy hospitality business under insane conditions that are totally antithetical to supporting good economy.

Why are we having to advocate for proper policy at this stage?







Agritourism
EcoFocused
LegacyHospitality
NiagaraEscarpment
GreyCounty
EconomicDevelopment
SupportLocal
RedTape

05/08/2026

The NEC is the agency which governs our land.
The Ontario Land Tribunal oversees land disputes in Ontario.

When the latest appeal against our confirmed NEC decision was levied, we submitted a Motion To Dismiss, informed by policy and law, which requested the Tribunal to Dismiss if the Appellants failed to provide evidence of impact or a direct misapplication of policy.

The Authorities are very clear that it is incumbent upon Appellants to present evidence upon the launching of an appeal and to point to specific policy alignment concerns.

A trial is earned through relevance. It is not granted as a courtesy or experiment, and the OLT is not a 2nd opinion when you dont like the original outcome. This is a serious adjudication process that requires Appellants to proof the right to a trial through their presentation of relevant evidence and expert policy analysis.

The Appellants in our case have never provided any of these things. At any step.

This Motion was the moment for the OLT to defend the rights of landowners against biassed and unsupported nuisance appeals.

Instead they chose to bend the rules to allow an appeal with no evidentiary basis.

The Appellants literally said in their response that they have no evidence to present now, though they are sure they will by the trial. That is not how this is supposed to work.

A very dangerous precedent has just been set and every business and landowner in Ontario should be very concerned - the OLT has now set the authority that:

- Evidence is not required to gain an appeal and a mere promise that some will appear on time is enough.

- No policy deficiency needs to be clearly stated, vague questions and listing policy headers are sufficient.

This is in total disregard to the governing authorities I have found which all put the onus and requirements at the feet of the Appellants to prove a case is deserved, at the time it is requested.

Show me where I am wrong. The case in the comments was dismissed on a Motion.
Why was our case not held to the same standard?

05/08/2026

Ontario planning law is very clear on Existing Uses.

The Niagara Escarpment Plan itself states:

“The objective is generally not to disrupt existing uses…”

It further confirms:

“An existing use, or a building, structure or facility associated with an existing use, may expand or be replaced on the property where it is located, when it can be sufficiently demonstrated that the objectives of the applicable designation of this Plan are met.”

Ontario case law goes even further.

The Supreme Court of Canada confirmed in Saint-Romuald (City) v. Olivier that lawful existing uses are entitled to reasonable evolution over time:

“Where the current use is a mere intensification of the pre-existing activity, as opposed to a difference in kind, it will rarely be open to objection.”

And:

“The characterization of the acquired right must be appropriately tailored so as to allow for reasonable evolution of prior activities.”

Ontario planning authorities have consistently reinforced the same principle:

The test is not vague concern, speculation, or personal opposition.

The test is impact.
Objective evidence.
Specific policy conflict.

Demonstrable undue adverse effect.

The Brougham v. South Frontenac / Fraser v. Rideau Lakes line of cases states that expansion applications are evaluated based on:

a) whether the proposal represents appropriate development of the property; and

b) whether it creates undue adverse impacts on surrounding properties or the neighbourhood.

That is the legal threshold.

For more than four years, we have defended a lawful 40+ year retreat operation through Ontario’s planning system.

Throughout this entire process:

- our core evidence has remained consistent,
- our statements around the use of the property have remained consistent
- and not one piece of objective evidence demonstrating actual impact has been produced against us.

How much public and private cost has been incurred through years of proceedings, and for what?

If no undue adverse impact has been identified or evidenced, what exactly is being litigated and stuck in prose for all of this time?

This video explains why this decision matters, not just for us, but for all landowners, small businesses, farms, retreat centres, and rural operators across Ontario who may one day find themselves before the Ontario Land Tribunal.

04/18/2026

✨Sky Camp Sound Bath Experience✨
Wednesday April 29th @ 5pm
Reset your system through vibration & sound.
You are surrounded in golden tones and soothing frequencies to calm your mind, body & soul.

🧖‍♀️ Arrive at 5pm to walk the trails, breathe in the fresh forest air, and melt into the warmth of the wood-fired cedar sauna at your own pace.

@ 6pm, the Sound Bath begins as everyone comes together in the dome.

Bring your water bottle, yoga mat, a pillow, and a blanket to be cozy during the experience.
A towel and bathing suit if you plan to enjoy the sauna.

Start with a wander to the ponds or through the forest. Steam up in the Sauna. Stretch when it feels good. As we nestle down in the dome, let the tones of the bowls and the whispers of the forest carry you on a journey.

Come as you are and leave feeling lighter.

Wednesday April 29th @ 5pm

📍Bubble Grove, Chatsworth Ontario
🕠 Sauna + Trails + Sound Bath
🔗 Link in bio ⬅️

04/14/2026

The forest is calling.
Calling you out to play amongst ancient rock formations formed during the last ice age and frolic under the cannopy of soaring old growth trees.

Release and reset with a private or group experience.

The Escarpment awaits ...

www.bubblegrove.ca

03/24/2026

Sky Camp Reserve

Treat yourself to a reset with our Opening Special to enjoy Sky Camp Social Spa all to yourselves.

2 hours, up to 4 Guests, for only $125

With acres of privacy and space, your own private dome camp and wood fired cedar sauna, this is your escape from the city.

With views across the valley, and wide open sky, you are right in the cradle of nature here.

Soaring forests rise up behind the camp with trails that lead you through ancient landscapes and 450 million year old rock faces.

Sky Camp Reserve's private booking gives you and your guests exclusive access to the dome, sauna and 86 acres of glorious nature.

The sauna will be toasty at your arrival and space to play a game, share a snack, truly enjoy the company of each other and the beauty of the land around you.

Camp is all yours for 2 hours and afterwards stay and explore the 7km of private trails that wind through the forests, orchards, ridges and meadows here.

Gather in the dome, heat up in the wood-fired sauna, stretch out on the deck, and breathe deep. Feel the magic of the earth with your toes in the grass.

Whether this is a getaway from the everyday, your investment in self wellness, a special celebration, or just a really nice day with good friends, Sky Camp was built to bring you together.

Book your Sky Camp Reserve
experience online today.

03/16/2026

Bookings Are Open Now

Imagine falling asleep to silence, waking up to nature, and spending the night in a glowing dome surrounded by nothing but stars. 🌙✨

At Bubble Grove, we are creating a place where you can truly unplug while Reconnecting to yourself, each other, and nature.

Book forward for your private geodesic dome with a wood-fired sauna, a crackling fire pit, and skies dark enough to remind you how big the universe really is.

Group Camping and The Bell Tents open this Summer.

Domes intended for Autumn. We are waiting on the last key steps ... almost there.

Booking your future stay now helps us grow ❤️

Intimate. Magical. Unforgettable.

👉 Book your escape at www.bubblegrove.ca



Photo Credit :
Zac Macca

Bubble Grove Retreat & Event Centre Escape To The Escarpment Getaways and Events inspired by nature. Perched on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment with views across the Big Head Valley in Grey County, Ontario, experience 86 acres of stunnig beauty with Private Trails, Geodesic Domes, and Sky Camp So...

03/16/2026

Bookings Are Open Now

Imagine falling asleep to silence, waking up to nature, and spending the night in a glowing dome surrounded by nothing but stars. 🌙✨

At Bubble Grove, we are creating a place where you can truly unplug while Reconnecting to yourself, each other, and nature.

Private geodesic dome with a wood-fired sauna, a crackling fire pit, and skies dark enough to remind you how big the universe really is.

Intimate. Magical. Unforgettable.

👉 Book your escape at www.bubblegrove.ca