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| Brian W. Baetz |
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| John F. Evans |
Our objective is to protect the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System (C2EP), a 5,500-hectare collection of natural lands in the Hamilton and Burlington areas of Ontario. After a modest amount of brainstorming with Deborah Smaluck, a friend and former administrative colleague, it was agreed it would be interesting to create a song that would be synonymous with the various roles nature plays in our lives on a daily basis. But how to create lyrics that would be meaningful and impactful and describe the indescribable? And then, how do we add music and have an artist sing the song? This was way out of our league, so the challenge was given to Debbie to go within and write some lyrics from the heart. In very short order, she came back with the following lyrics that were inspired by the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System. Our only contribution was suggesting the title, which was borrowed from a quote from the renowned Hamilton poet John Terpstra. John had been expanding on some points relating to the C2EP and succinctly said, “It’s not exactly wild, but it’s wild enough!”
Wild Enough
I wait for you beyond the concrete walls,
My green magnificence breathtaking to behold.
Creatures scurry about, rivers turn into falls,
We prepare for our day to unfold.
(refrain)
I want to thrive, I want to survive,
I want this earth to stay alive.
Once gone I am forever lost,
Will you speak for me, protect me, and honour me at any cost?
Honour me at any cost?
All are welcome, in harmony we play,
Run, climb, swim, discoveries abound.
The birds in chorus will sing the glory of the day,
We share a trust you’ll leave us as you found.
(repeat refrain)
In times of sorrow or doubt, you seek me out
Wrapped in my embrace, I hold you tight.
Show you my vistas, turtles, trees and walk you about,
Once soothed I release you, encouraged to shine your light.
(repeat refrain)
Born 10,000 years ago,
Infinite creatures, roaring rivers, lush flora and trees.
Survived rain, ice, drought, and snow,
Now you have brought me to my knees.
I want to thrive, I want to survive,
I want this earth to stay alive.
Once gone I am forever lost,
Will you speak for me, protect me, and honour me at any cost?
Honour me at any cost?
My green magnificence breathtaking to behold.
Creatures scurry about, rivers turn into falls,
We prepare for our day to unfold.
(refrain)
I want to thrive, I want to survive,
I want this earth to stay alive.
Once gone I am forever lost,
Will you speak for me, protect me, and honour me at any cost?
Honour me at any cost?
All are welcome, in harmony we play,
Run, climb, swim, discoveries abound.
The birds in chorus will sing the glory of the day,
We share a trust you’ll leave us as you found.
(repeat refrain)
In times of sorrow or doubt, you seek me out
Wrapped in my embrace, I hold you tight.
Show you my vistas, turtles, trees and walk you about,
Once soothed I release you, encouraged to shine your light.
(repeat refrain)
Born 10,000 years ago,
Infinite creatures, roaring rivers, lush flora and trees.
Survived rain, ice, drought, and snow,
Now you have brought me to my knees.
I want to thrive, I want to survive,
I want this earth to stay alive.
Once gone I am forever lost,
Will you speak for me, protect me, and honour me at any cost?
Honour me at any cost?
As a special gift to his mom, Debbie’s son Pete Smaluck commissioned his friend Rory Lavelle to create music for these “Wild Enough” lyrics, and Rory recorded the combined work. Rory’s amazing vocals have a distinct John Lennon vibe, and he sings it with the passion that you would expect from a committed environmentalist. If you are interested, the song can be heard here.
We had never thought of directing a film until Mark Chamberlain called up and offered a helicopter as well as a pilot and camera technician to go up and capture the beauty of the C2EP from the air. With that aerial footage in hand, Glen Prevost and Wade Genders shot some terrestrial footage, along with a bunch of interviews with local thought leaders. A script was written with Rashne Baetz, which was narrated by the charming voice of Julia Kollek, and original music by McMaster’s Matt Woolhouse was woven in to produce a 10-minute film, which can be viewed here.
Nature has infinite dimensions that reveal themselves to us as we immerse and connect with its beauty. Humans are part of nature, and our creative side is nurtured and stimulated by its mystery and depth. As the above examples of human creativity illustrate, the conservation of local nature is important for many subtle yet profound reasons, to both lawyers and non-lawyers alike.
Brian W. Baetz is a Fellow of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering and the Canadian Academy of Engineering and is the Director of McMaster University’s W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology. John F. Evans K.C. LSM is a retired advocate, a fellow of The American College of Trial Lawyers, and a past president of The Advocates’ Society. They are working with fellow Hamilton Naturalists’ Club members Kevin Empey, Jen Baker and Brian McHattie on fundraising for land acquisition in the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System.
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