Presidents Message - August 1, 2003

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to try to lead our group for the next two years. I appreciate the confidence invested in me, having not worked up through the ranks of the executive of our club. We all realize what we had in a President, in Jim Rainforth—I can make no promises to perform to this gentleman's standard, as he is truly a tough act to follow, but I will certainly try.

Issues fell into place quickly in my short time here. Briefly, as I currently see it, the primary issues that will attract our attention so far include:

• We have an urgent requirement to fill several executive positions on the Board, most notable of which is Treasurer.
• Our club has won the chance to host the 2004 AGM for the Bruce Trail Association. The venue and food arrangements, and the draw license portions of this are well in hand, however there is lots of work to do over the next year to make this event a success. Frank Delogu ably heads the AGM Committee.
• Although we have no news for this issue of the Newsletter, rest assured (I do) that Jim Rainforth and others are working diligently with respect to government funding to bring the trail bridge over the QEW at Sandplant Hill to fruition.
• Margaret Kalogeropoulos, our Landowner Relations Director, and others have been working towards the acquisition of the Fox and Arbuthnot properties in the Ball Avenue - Merritt Street area of Merritton, to optimize our trail route there off of the CNR tracks. A significant amount of cleanup of garbage and refuse is required on these properties, and our club members will be hearing more about this over the winter as we plan for an April cleanup.

The fundamental reason why most of us joined the NBTC is for the love of the Bruce Trail, whether to hike it, maintain it, or preserve it, and not the politics of it. By dealing effectively with the forgoing list of issues, and others to come, our executive and volunteers will continue to make seamless and enjoyable the experience we all wish to walk away with by joining the Niagara club. Your help and support will be greatly appreciated.

Andy Panko President
August 1, 2003

Landowner Appreciation Dinner

Mark your calendars now, the Annual Landowner Appreciation Dinner will be held on November 8, 2003 at the Rockway Community Centre located at 2021 Regional Road 69 (Pelham Road), Lincoln.

Supper will be provided by the Bruce Trail Club members. Social hour begins at 5:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m.

Please RSVP by November 15, to Margaret Kalogeropoulos at panos@vaxxine.com. Or call Fred Azzopardi, 905-735-2345, or Frank Delogu at 905-684-2090.

Marion Patten Donates Oil Painting

An important fund raising project begins this fall with our 2003/2004 raffle of a 31 by 431/2 inch framed oil painting by artist Marion Patten , entitled " The Roaring Twenty".

The Niagara Falls resident, and Niagara Bruce Trail Club member, Mrs. Patten has painted numerous local scenes, including scenes from along the Bruce Trail. She has previously donated a painting to the club as part of our fund raising activities.

The "Roaring Twenty" depicts Twenty Mile Creek approximately 0.5 km below the lower Balls Falls (54.8 km. Map 4, Bruce Trail Reference, Edition 22) and the subject scene can be clearly observed by hikers along the trail.

It is a scene which changes dramatically depending on the light, the water flow, the season and other whims of nature.

Clearly one of the beauty spots of the Niagara Section of the Bruce Trail, Mrs. Patten's painting will be a treasured prize in our 2003/2004 fund raising raffle.

The raffle will be held at the Annual General Meeting of the Bruce Trail Association in September of 2004, hosted by the Niagara Bruce Trail Club at Lippa Park, Ollie Road, Pelham.

Some 3,500 tickets are to be sold and club directors, hike leaders and the general membership are being asked to assist as well as other clubs of the BTA. Tickets are $2 each, 3 for $5, or $17 for a book of 10. The painting has an assessed value of $900.

For information on tickets or the project, contact Keith Rae at (905) 892-6633.

Brock Offers Bruce Trail Course

Continuing Education at Brock University is offering a unique non-credit course featuring the Bruce Trail. This five-session course will be instructed by a different local expert each day and will include topics such as the geography and history of the Bruce Trail, birding, a visit to Woodend Conservation Area, a 1 ½ hour hike and learning about the flora and fauna along the Trail.

The course is open to all adults, begins September 18th and continues for five consecutive Tuesdays from 5pm-7pm. For more information or to register for this course, see the new fall issue of the Brock University Community Education & Activities guide, visit the Web site at www.brocku.ca/conted or call Continuing Education at 905-688-5550, ext. 4775.

Laura Secord Hike

The Twelfth Annual Laura Secord hike was held June 14th The eight Niagara BTC members who enjoyed the day were Judy Gaudier, Bernice Thiessen, Marion Roggeband, Marion Hanover, Vito Fassano, Jim Rainforth, Eibert Dykstra and Nick Ebner.

Manning the checkpoints and serving refreshments were Shirley and Gord Orr, Marion and Herb Patten, Maria Batcules, John Hartman and Cathy Baggot. At DeCew House the hikers were greeted by Laura Secord (Liz Reaker) and were presented with the LS Badge by Niagara club President Andy Panko.

Niagara End To End

From the hikers themselves:

"Another wonderful weekend of hiking and visiting on the Niagara End to End. Please extend our thanks to your group of volunteers from our group of enjoyers". — Barb and the Gang.

I, too, would like to thank all the wonderful volunteers who made the last six Niagara End to Ends. Such great events and such a pleasure to organize.

Thanks, Vince Highcock .

P.S. The "boot" has now been passed to Fred Azzopardi for 2004.

Another Benefit of BTA Membership

The BTA has been advised that members can now access the Dundas Valley Conservation Area and The Spencer Creek Wilderness Area (including Webster Falls Park) free of charge. Membership Cards must be presented to the gate attendant. The membership card will be treated as a day pass. The free access will only apply to those covered by the member card (individual or family) other passengers will have to pay the day rate. Please advise your hike leaders and members.

Kingsbridge Park Fees

The Niagara Parks Commission has implemented a $10 per car parking fee on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays until Labour Day weekend. This won't affect our hikers now, but watch for the parking fee review at the end of the year. Hike leaders may need to reconsider meeting at the park next year.

Calling All Trail Captains

We're asking for help from the trail captains, once again, to deliver BTA calendars and invitations to the Landowner Appreciation Dinner, and to meet the landowners in each section and verify that our information is correct. Trail captains will be contacted.

Interested in Climbing Kilimanjaro?

Brinkman Travel Inc. recently organized a climb up Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania. Fourteen of the 17 hikers, all from Niagara, including the trip's organizer and owner of Brinkman Travel reached the summit of East Africa's highest mountain.

Ineke Brinkman is currently organizing a second climb from February 12 to 23, 2004. For further information contact: Ineke Brinkman, CTC at Brinkman Travel Inc, 15 Lyman Street, St. Catharines, ON L2R 5M8 Tel: 905 988 9100 Fax: 905 988 9400 Email: mail@brinkmantravel.com

A Warm Welcome to The Following New Members

Chris Batchelor Shane Bateman Walter Brewer Peter Bryant Janice Burke Scott Crawford and family Greg Daigler Dean Douglas Brian Emes Randi Evans Jack Fortin William Fuller & family Donna Gracey Art Howell/Trisha McCarthy Linda Jeffries Jana Johnston Paul Jones

Bernie Katz Katherine Knap Heather Lade & family Aaron Lawrence &family Alida Leistra David Manning Nicole Mc Clean Marni MacDonald Kathy Mackenzie Scott Moore Jerry Niklas Robert Norminton Cameron &Penny Page Lisetta Paron Maria Pederson Augustin Pestana Susan Postill

Don Quinlan and family Tanya Raheel Anne Ritchie William Russell Douglas Saunders Reginald Smart Pamela Tancock Brian Thompson Mark Totten Hans & Wendy Vetter D.C. &J.K. Walker Particia Walshe Ian & Stephanie Washbrook Charles Wedzinger Janet Wood & family Suzanne & James Yager & family Don & Gloria Young Joyce Young & family

And, as always,
Happy Hiking!