The Niagara Bruce Trail Club

The Niagara Grapevine -- Spring 2001

Editor: Diane R. Sauder, 126 Trelawn Pkwy. Welland, L3C6L9, (905) 788-2951 email dsauder@iaw.com
Web version by John Lye email jlye@spartan.ac.brocku.ca

The deadline for inclusion in the Summer 2001 issue is May 1st

Contents:

Getting in touch: the NBTC Executive        

The President's Report

This is my last report as President of the Niagara Bruce Trail Club. Two years have elapsed since I took office, and as specified in our By-Laws, a new President will be chosen at our AGM on April 21st.

It has been a privilege for me to serve this organization , and a pleasure to work with the volunteers who make up our Board of Directors. I express my appreciation to them and to the hard working Trail Captains and helpers who maintain our Trail from Queenston to Grimsby. The dedication our volunteers demonstrate is an inspiration to all of us who enjoy the benefits and pleasures of the Bruce.

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday, April 21st. Mark the date on your calendar and try to attend. As usual, the meeting will be held at St John’s Anglican Church Hall in Jordan, and will be preceded by a pot luck supper at 6:00 PM. Bring your favourite food preparation (as well as dishes and utensils), and share in another outstanding meal. The meeting will follow supper. Doors open at 5:00 PM.

At the meeting, a Nominating Committee will present a slate of candidates for your approval - to fill available positions on our Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee is currently seeking candidates for the following positions: (1) .....Vice- President, (2) .....Secretary, (3) ..... Media Relations Coordinator, (4) .....Landowner Relations Director, (5) ..... Membership director. Are you interested? do you know someone who needs to be encouraged to come forward? Contact me!

If you wish to make a nomination to the Nominating Committee, it should be in writing. It must be accompanied by a written confirmation of willingness to serve from the nominee, and must be received by the committee at least 5 days before the AGM. (Contact any member of the committee: - John Hartman (934-1149), or Brenda Yadoroznij ( 935-3025) for more information.

Retiring Board Members.....There is always a sense of loss when valued Board members decide to retire. We will sorely miss the contributions of our Past President, John Hartman; our Media Relations Coordinator, Ann Judd, our Assistant Landowner Relations Director Ron Massey, and our membership director Norma Delogu. All these individuals served with distinction and contributed immeasurably to the workings of our Club.

QEW Crossing Update:..... Our Club executive and the BTA continue to press forward with plans to secure a safe Trail crossing of the QEW at Sand Plant hill. The issue is still being discussed and considered by MTO and all parties who have an interest. There will be another Information Session hosted by MTO sometime in March. I encourage you to attend and express your views in writing on the forms provided at the session, as many of you did at the previous sessions. Watch for announcements of times and locations in local newspapers..

Before closing for the final time, I want to share a telephone conversation that I had with a gentleman who called from Regina Saskatchewan. His mother recently died at age 87, and the family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations to the BTA would be appreciated by those who wished to pay their respects He called to request that the resulting monies be targeted to the Niagara section of the Trail because his mother had been a member of our Niagara club for many years. Many of you may remember her. Her name was Lillian Jones.

Bill

St. John Ambulance Course

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE
219 CHURCH ST., ST. CATHARINES
(901) 685-8964

Standard First Aid with a Heart Saver - (Adult CPR), is a 13 hour course that may be taken over 4 evenings at St. John's, 219 Church St in St Catharines. The cost is $79.00 per person - that includes books and supplies. (There is no tax.)

Anyone interested in becoming a Hike Leader should consider taking this course as successful completion is a requirement to take the BTA Hike Leadership Certification.

There are day classes available as well as evening classes.

If you are interested, contact Nicole at St John Ambulance - 685-8964.

BTA Receives $615,000 Ontario Trillium Grant!

By Cecile Dillon

On January 8, the Honourable Cam Jackson, Minister of Tourism, announced the awarding of a $615,000 Ontario Trillium Grant to the Bruce Trail Association. The event was held at Raspberry House, our organization's headquarters.

Richard Boehke, BTA President welcomed this significant financial contribution. As he pointed out, the grant has come at a critical time for the association as it accelerates its efforts to secure the Bruce Trail by 2015. All members can assist in "REALIZING THE DREAM'' of securing the Trail by contributing to the campaign now under way.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation. With $100 million in annual funding from the province's charitable gaming initiative, it provides grants to eligible charitable and not-for-profit organizations in the arts, culture, sports, recreation, environment, and social services.

Landowner's Appreciation Pot Luck Supper—Another Hearting Warming Success!!

By Bill Lidkea

The 2000 Landowner's Appreciation Supper was again a well attended, enjoyable event. It was attended by 29 landowners along with eight guests. The landowners represented 20 properties along the trail, including five corporations (Niagara Parks Commission), City of St. Catharines, Morningstar Mill, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, and the Winery. Also present were 75 hikers who showed grateful recognition to the landowners.

The landowners relations committee this year extended the invitation to include neighbours and relatives. It had been our hope that landowners would bring in neighbouring landowners. We will repeat this suggestion again next year. Thanks to Ron Massey, Louise Libera, and Grace Bevan for helping to deliver calendars and invitations to our 110 Landowners. This a huge task to undertake.

The supper itself was a huge success due to the hikers bringing double servings and large dishes. Liz Reaker, our social convener and her loyal crew, did an excellent job setting up the food. The local fiddler's group Earl Holderney's provided an enjoyable musical background for this event, before and after dinner. Doug Draper, a freelance reporter gave an educational presentation on the issues around preserving our escarpment. See you all next year.

A Tip of the Hat to the Stuffers

Thanks to Dave Brown who opens his home four times a year so the Niagara BTA can meet and put (stuff) the hike schedules and newsletters in envelopes for safe delivery to our members homes. Dave calls for volunteers, opens his home, sets up tables, prepares the sponges and water dishes for wetting the envelopes, and provides coffee and tea. It is an enjoyable social event. After the work is done the group enjoys homemade goodies brought by the volunteers, lively conversation and laughter. THANKS to all the workers!

Secure the Trail by 2015

Can it be done? It can be done if we organize ourselves and mobile our resources to do the job. Quite often we hear of the completed sale of a property on the present or optimum route. Too late for the BTA to indicate an interest or put an offer. If we had only known in time! Now with funds available, it's a shame to miss these opportunies.

HIKERS! Talk to the landowners whenever possible. Talk to the neighbours and other hikers who might know the landowners. Pass on relevant information to a member of the Landowner Relations Committee. In our BTA, please contact Bill Lideka 905-227-2716 or Fred Azzopardi 905-735-2345. They in turn will contact the “Niagara Agent” for the BTA Land Securement Committee, Ernie Kuichmeister, at Raspberry House or by e-mail at ehkmeister@globalvista.com.xx

Membership Director Norma Delogu Welcomes New Members

Gabe Takach & family   Bruce Manion
Slyia Dunbar   Norma Sanderson
Cathy Belic   Anne Scheer
Patricia-Elliot Mayer   David Walters
Sue & Bob Kamm   Beverly Cook
Ruth & Gary Klingenburg   Bob Grieb
Marion & Chris Ennever   Lori King
Tony Millington   Janice Clark
Ramona Jones   Clarice Lechner Hyman
Louise Maria Augustino  Terry Goss
Jill & Hans Van Der Slagt   Wm. McMaster
Christine & Walter Vanderwindt   Christine & Micheal Petriw
Laurie & Bruce MacKenzie   Lisa Walters

In Memory

Lillian Jones, a member of the Niagara BTA in its earliest days, passed away in Regina, Saskatchewan, Dec.23, 2000 in her 87th. year. She served as newsletter editor from 1980-82. A remembrance of her life will be held in St Catharines.

Grace Maureen Murre, passed away January 26, 2001. She will be sadly missed by Tys, a Niagara BTA Trail Captain, 4 children, Micheal, Bruce, Blair, Shelly, their families and 11 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Maureen, an active member and supporter of the NBTA, enjoyed the trail. Her presence is dearly missed.

Trail Worker’s Workshop

Reminder from Kim Burt

Upcoming Hikes For 2001

FORT TO FORT----APRIL 7&8

NIAGARA END TO END -----MAY 19,20,21

LAURA SECORD---------------JUNE16

PORT TO PORT (MERRITTHON)-OCT 13

Call Frank for details 684-2090

Annual General Meeting





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