Summer 2004
Editor: Diane Sauder 126 Trelawn Pkwy. Welland dsauder@iaw.com
Phone 905 788-2951 FAX 905 386 7400 email dsauder@iaw.com
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Summer 2004 | |
| Published Quarterly by the Niagara Bruce Trail Club email http://people.becon.org/~nbtc/ | ||
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Editor: Diane Sauder 126 Trelawn Pkwy. Welland dsauder@iaw.com
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Web Version: John Lye email jlye@brocku.ca
Deadline for inclusion in the Autumn 2004 issue is August 1.
Contents: |
Our club held its annual General Meeting on Sunday, April 18, at Rockway Community Centre. The almost 60 members attending learned that our club remains financially viable, our safety record is excellent, our relationship with the BTA is sound, and our membership numbers are increasing. Special thanks to our retiring members Fred Azzopardi, Paul Bateson, Bea Bateson, and Barbara Henderson.
As important as this yearly meeting is to our club from a legal sense, the camaraderie enjoyed by the attendees, centred around an excellent pot-luck supper and re-affirmed old friendships and cemented new ones. Thank you to the organizers and many helpers to make the meeting and meal a success.
YOUR NEW EXECUTIVE FOR 2004-5
We are all looking forward to an interesting time when the Niagara club hosts the BTA Annual General Meeting this September. It should be a fun and educational experience. The Organizing Committee has kept registration fees low in order to try to include as many Bruce Trail Association members as possible, from our club and all the other clubs.
Friday evening, September 17, we will start out at the Barn at Ball's Falls with a mixer social, with wine and munchies, and silent auction.
Saturday morning, the 18th, will see the formal business meeting, at Lipa Park
Saturday afternoon will include some interesting workshops, in the form of seminars, field trips and hikes, followed by a social hour late in the afternoon
Saturday night, The banquet will be held at Lipa Park, on with a great meal and entertainment, and wrap up of the silent auction
Sunday 19 Local hiking will occur. See the upcoming Bruce Trail News for more information,
Urgent need of hike leaders for our weekly hikes. Contact Eibert Dykstra at eibertd@sympatico.ca.
If interested in trail maintenance Dave Walters at david.walters@sympatico.ca.
Happy and Safe Hiking !!
Andy Panko, President
Niagara Bruce Trail Club
The NBTC has pledged to raise $16,000 by 2006 as part of the Escarpment Legacy Campaign. Approximately 10% is "in the bank" and we are currently selling raffle tickets on the painting "Roaring Twenty" donated by Marion Patten. We urge all members to support this project by purchasing and/or selling tickets when contacted.
Garage Sale
Date: June 26, 2004
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Place: 43 Port Master Drive,
Port Dalhouise
Organizer:
June Green (905) 937-0720
June has offered to organize and host this "fundraiser - garage sale," with all proceeds going to support the Escarpment Legacy Campaign. June will need help in making this sale a success. Good, saleable items are needed, as well as volunteers to help with the set-up, and conducting of the sale. Please call June and offer your support. NO CLOTHES!!
We as a club need other projects or ideas and ask that you forward suggestions to our Fundraising Chair Cecile Dillon, or members Keith Rae, Paul Davies, Jim Rainforth
In July of 2002, property owner Brenda Fox contacted the Bruce Trail Association to say she would like to donate part of her property to the BTA. Unfortunately, there was a great deal of rubbish on the land-bound site, apparently dumped from the top of the escarpment over the edge by neighbours. An adjacent property, also land-bound, was acquired by the BTA from an estate in 2003. It, too, needed to be cleaned.
These properties lie adjacent to a railroad track where our trail currently goes. We wanted to secure a safe route for the trail; preserve a natural corridor& create a partnership between the City, the BTA& the Province.
Our club had to formulate a plan of action regarding the proposed clean up. Our V.P. Keith Rae coordinated the work. Wayne Ettinger, owner of the Trillium Railway Co Ltd and John Fisher of Woodington Industries (through Walker Environmental services) provided equipment to move and dispose of the garbage. Home Depot, Canadian Tire, and Tim Hortons donated gloves, bags and coffee.
Andy Panko and I made soup for the hungry workers. Our Trail Maintenance Director, Dave Walters, mobilized our hardy trail workers as did the "flying squad", headed by Chris Walker of the Toronto Club and Paul Beneteau of the Iroquoia Club. A team of enthusiastic Katimavik workers volunteered. On March 1, Keith Rae made a presentation to City Council asking that the City publish and distribute flyers to neighbouring homeowners notifying them about the joint project and requesting posted signs designating the area as a footpath/no dumping etc. The proposal received unanimous support
The results of the project were impressive. A total of 78 volunteers spent 442 person hours moving 32 cubic yards of metal and 100 cubic yards of non-metal junk. That's a lot of garbage! No one person could have accomplished what a great teamwork did in two days!
Twenty -three hikers including eight from the Niagara club registered for the Fort to Fort April 24/25th. Seventeen hikers received badges from President Andy Panko. Three Niagara members Marion Roggeband, Vito Fassano and Fred Azzopardi walked 56km. on Saturday and were back Sunday morning to walk another day. Mary &Barry Leighton, Shirley & Gord, braved the elements on Sunday to provide refreshments for the wet hikers, who were most appreciative.
Thanks Frank Delogu- Organizer
The Incident Policy received final reading and was passed. This policy will direct and guide the BTA's efforts in managing its response to incidents which occur on or along the Bruce Trail or on BTA managed property or, for a volunteer or staff member, on BTA business.
As of March 31, 2004 the Provincial ELAP program for the funding of property came to an end and the MNR has advised the BTA that they will not be accepting any new funding requests until further notice. At the present time the BTA is funding any properties that become available following a similar process used under ELAP.
An update on the Legacy Campaign indicated $699,744 raised to date. The lead-time prior to the launch of the campaign was apparently not sufficient and therefore we are not seeing the hoped for results at this time.
The BTA has been advised that the Ontario Heritage Foundation (OHF) does not support snowmobiles and other mechanized vehicular use on lands for which it is titleholder and the BTA is the designated land manager. Therefore, a motion was passed that the BTA adopt a policy of not permitting any motorized vehicular use, including but not limited to snowmobiles, under all circumstances on lands for which it is the designated land manager and/or titleholder.
Spring at last. New status report forms have been mailed to all trail captains who are asked to check their sections for winter damage, fallen trees etc. Hikers who notice problems on the trail are also asked to report them to me so that I can pass along to the proper captain. We have an ambitious program planned for this year. Included projects are
The estimated cost of materials for these projects is in excess of $2000.00.
I can be reached at (905) 646-2461 or Email david.walters@sympatico.ca
Dave Walters
Director of Trail Maintenance, NBTC
In October 2003, Fred Azzopardi returned to Malta where he was born. He had such a magical time hiking with travelers from all over Europe. He plans to go back in 2005 for six months this time. The weather is beautiful, hiking spectacular, friendly people, plenty of history and places to see, with reasonable accommodations. If anyone is interested in joining him for any length of time, he suggests a month. Give him a call for more information. (905) 735-2345
Join The Bruce Trail Association for the official RAY LOWES SIDETRAIL DEDICATION To honour a founder of the trail. Saturday , June 12, 2004 1:00 Raspberry House
9:00am. Return hike of 3.8 km. trail 10:30am. Family hike Hosted by Iroquoia BTC. Refreshments to follow.
Colleen Adams
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Shelley Loveless & family
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Peter Sidey
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Get well thoughts & A speedy recovery to all our injured and ill NBT hikers & members !
Sat. June 12th. 4:45am. Registration $15 to cover badge
Bus &lunch at Decew house
Contact Frank Delogu at 684-2090 Auggo@vaxxine.com
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HTML mark-up by John Lye August 30,
2004
