Windfields Farm - Post Closure Disrespect and Community Action

Post Closure Disrespect and Community Action

After the farms closure much of the earlier promised preservation and respect of the property failed to materialize, the property, buildings, and graves left instead to fall into a state of decay and disrepair. Pictures began to appear of the gravesites of world famous Northern Dancer and other notable Windfields horses with 4 foot tall weeds surrounding them, as well as the historical structures falling prey to vandals, the elements, and time. Negative media attention in the fall of 2011 spurred the current owners of the "Core" property (Durham College and/or The University Of Ontario Institute of Technology) to step up maintenance of the gravesite areas and pledge to better respect the property, although no other commitments were made towards the future of the property at that point in time.

Supporters far and wide who wish a better ending for the iconic farm have banded together and are making their voices heard in the media, as well as in Social Media at the Friends Of Windfields Farm Facebook page.

As of the fall of 2012 the City Of Oshawa has become an ally to the cause for proper respect for the Windfields property, and at the behest of the city, UOIT has agreed to form a "Community Advisory Group" to allow all interested parties to discuss the future of the farm in detail. Parties who have requested to be privy to this group include a small number of core supporters of the aforementioned Friends of Windfields Farm supporters group, representatives from the Ontario Equestrian Federation, board members from Heritage Oshawa, as well as select City Of Oshawa staffers.