Annual General Meeting
September 17, 2016
Club Reports
REPORT TO THE BRUCE TRAIL CONSERVANCY
Annual General Meeting - SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
Good morning -- I am very pleased to be here representing the Niagara Club.
Admin
The Niagara Club experienced 6 retirees this year, with a combined 50 years of service. We are happy to
report that all positions were filled by very capable, active members. Our membership continues to grow ….
now 705, up from 657 a year ago.
Landowners
Bill 100 presented some challenges …. two landowners gave us notice to move our trail. However, after
friendly discussions and additional reassurances, these were resolved.
Event Hikes
Our 2016 event hikes (Fort to Fort, End to End, Laura Secord) were all very successful. Eventbrite was used for
registering the Fort to Fort and Laura Secord hikers – this greatly reduced the administrative effort of
organizing the hikes. We increased the fee for the hikes to offset the Eventbrite cost as well as increased cost
of providing food and bus transportation. For more Information concerning Eventbrite, I can refer you to
Debbie Demizio, Vice President, Niagara Club.
Trails & Maintenance
Trail projects continue, with a focus on maintenance, tree removal, and blazing. An opportunity was identified
to reroute an on-road stretch of the trail (1.8 km) onto an unopened road allowance. The project includes two
bridges. Approvals have been obtained from the Town of Lincoln and Niagara Peninsula Conservation
Authority. We have applied to the TD Friends of the Environment Sesquicentennial funding program for a
grant. The project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2017.
A new 2.5 km side trail had been opened in Firemen’s Park, Niagara Falls. This portion of trail is on BTC owned
land and was originally part of the optimum route which had to be removed due to an unsafe railroad bridge.
This will keep the trail in good condition, if and when it becomes part of the main trail once again. Also it
provides public access to a short loop hike, from the park.
Hiking
1)
Developed reciprocal hikes with Guelph Hiking Club and Thames Valley Club
2)
3)
Conducted Mood Walks for Niagara Region Health through the summer. This was so successful that
the requested more hikes for the Fall.
Led 2 hikes (one full day and one half day) for a group of Girl Guides from Oakville who were earning
their Duke of Edinburgh Badge.
4)
Worked with Iroquoia Club to develop a new event – Steel Town Stomp, complete with badge. First
official event will be held on Saturday October 8th, 2016
5)
We try to schedule for a couple of “Out of Niagara Peninsula” hikes per quarter
6)
Encourage members and hike leaders to suggest different themed hikes. We have conducted Wine
Hike Series, Fantasy of Trees, Historical Hikes, Doors Open, Bluebird Walk, Strawberry Full Moon,
Bottle Drive and Ewell Gibbons hike.
Niagara Club Report
Page 1
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
7) Posting hikes to Facebook and the website have brought people from around the province to join our
hikes. Some eventually become members
Internet
Recently, the registrar and host provider for our domain ‘niagarabrucetrail.org’ abandoned its internet
services. We were left without access to our website content, and our domain name was in jeopardy. The
provider was unresponsive.
We registered two new domains (‘niagarabrucetrailclub.org’ and ‘niagarabrucetrail.club’), moved our content
to them, and began the process to recover our original domain. It was important to recover the original
domain as it is on print materials, in email addresses, used in many links to us throughout the internet, and
scores highly in search results. We had built considerable ‘awareness equity’ in the domain. It was a torturous
process to recover the domain. As it turned out, the domain was registered personally to a volunteer no
longer active in club activities, but with his help, we recovered our domain.
Our solution is to transfer the domain registration to an account held by the club, with the ‘President Board of
Directors, Niagara Bruce Trail Club’ as owner, and with passwords and account information held by our
Secretary. We will have at least two different contacts in the registration (and host provider) accounts.
Niagara Club BTC Board Representative
At this time Trudy Senesi retires from her position as the Niagara Club’s representative to the BTC Board which
she had held for 7 years. Fortunately for us, Trudy still holds a position on the Niagara board as a Director at
Large. She has been a great asset to our board, providing creative ideas, consistent dedication and unfailing
energy. Trudy also is an Honourary Life Member of the Niagara Bruce Trail Club. We are pleased that she will
continue to offer her broad experience, advice and great sense of humour. I will have big shoes to fill.
Other
We also continue to fund a bursary at Niagara College and, once again, our Bruce Trail Day will be held there.
Our club has a donation being presented today.
In conclusion, I want to express my thanks to our leaders and the many volunteers who contribute so much to
the success of our club.
Corrie Kellestine
President, Niagara Club
Niagara Club Report
Page 2
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
REPORT TO THE BRUCE TRAIL CONSERVANCY
Annual General Meeting - SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
Although this past year has not seen as many major projects as the prior year, there has been no lack of
activity on the part of our volunteers!
After a long search, we were finally able to find a successor for our Trail Director with Ken Lawday stepping
down in the spring of 2015 - Lyne Desforges took over the reins last fall. Under Lyne’s direction (though she
will be the first to say that the group runs like a well-oiled machine on its own), the Trail Maintenance group
has been focused on basic trail maintenance including pick and shovel repairs, repairs of many structures and
the clearing of fallen trees. There were also some final touches to the McNally Barn project which was mainly
completed in the prior year. Our trail maintenance group racked up an astounding 8,187 volunteer hours last
year!
Our Hike Leaders were also busy last year, organizing a total of 690 hikes – up 15% from the prior year. Among
the highlights was our annual New Year’s Day Hike with 180 people in attendance, and our new series of
Snowshoe hikes, for which a badge was designed and produced. With a little bit of luck, we might actually get
some snow for the 2016/2016 season! Anne Armstrong, our long serving Hike Director has announced that
this will be her last year in the position – she will definitely be missed.
The use of Social Media continues to be of increasing importance to our club. Under the leadership of our
Media Director Michael McDonald, the long-term goal of our social media presence is to help strengthen our
club support, share timely information and promote our club’s activities on the trail. At last count we had 759
“likes” on our Facebook page and 719 followers on Twitter.
Our Club’s finances remain strong under the capable stewardship of our Finance Director, Justin Park.
Although we have run small deficits for the past two years, we expect to turn that around in the current fiscal
year with a reduction in costs relating to larger projects, as well as through initiatives we will be taking up with
the aid of our new Fundraising Director – Joelle Efford-Gibbons. The Fundraising position has been vacant for
a couple of years, and we are looking forward to some exciting activities in this area.
My personal thank go out to all of our Directors over the past year; (Allan Meyer, Anne Armstrong, Cynthia
Archer, Gary Beaudoin, Gloria Pennycook, Joelle Efford-Gibbons, John Farquharson, Justin Park, Leslie Arnott,
Lyne Desforges, Michael McDonald, Paul Toffoletti, Scott Beveridge and Vern Erickson), all of whom have
contributed enormously to our club’s success with their tireless efforts.
Doug Stansbury
President, IBTC
Iroquoia Club Report
Page 1
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
REPORT TO THE BRUCE TRAIL CONSERVANCY
Annual General Meeting - SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
The last year has been one of significant activity by our club, building on many of the initiatives launched by
our former President, Todd Bardes, who sadly passed away in December 2015.
Our “Committee 4000” has developed an outstanding marketing plan for the Club, which will enable us to
connect with new members, we hope many of them younger and from ethnic communities. Our membership
has seen its first significant increase for quite a few years, in part due to our new marketing efforts. Special
thanks are due to Dave Tyson, for creating the idea, and to Magdalena Vanderkooy and Sharon Magor, for
preparing the marketing plan.
150 members attended our AGM this spring, the largest number for many years; the event was a big success,
with our guest speaker being Randal Heide, Executive Director of Wildlife Preservation Canada.
Another important element in our community outreach has been the completion of our new website, which is
now much more attractive and interactive. Our members are providing new material for the website regularly,
and also for our social media initiatives. Special thanks are due to Deborah Brander for all her hard work, and
to Stephen Kamnitzer for continuing to provide technical support for our website.
One of the most exciting ideas developed by Toronto Club, now in its third year, is the annual Hike-a-Thon,
which has become a significant fundraiser for the BTC. We are delighted to see that several other clubs Caledon, Iroquoia, Dufferin and Niagara - have now joined with us in marketing this event. Thanks are due to
Krista Bennatti and her team of volunteers on this project.
Our hike leader group has also launched other initiatives. The most successful of these is our new membership
in the website meetup.com. Nearly 500 non-BTC members have joined in our meetup group and many are
participating in our outings and present a major potential source of membership and support. Thanks to Alina
Lin for taking the initiative for meetup.com, and to Wayne Crockett, our Hiking Director, for making it happen,
along with Al Brown and Andrew Wood.
Turning to the conservation side of our activities, our 3rd annual Earth Day event, Wetland themed, in April
2016 attracted over 50 people to hear Alison Forde, a wildlife biologist and environmental educator at the
Riverwood Conservancy, talk about turtles, and Dr. Roberta Fulthorpe, professor of environmental sciences at
the University of Toronto, talk about invasive wetland species. Thanks to Marlis Butcher and the other
members of the club’s Conservation Committee.
Another important conservation initiative was the creation of the Todd Bardes Meadowland Side Trail, on a
BTC-managed property just north of Limehouse. This Side Trail highlights the conservation work the club has
undertaken together with the BTC’s ecologists to assist Monarch butterflies, pollinators, and songbirds.
During the year, the BTC acquired the Jespersen property in Toronto section, just west of Heritage Road. This
property connects with the Terra Cotta conservation area, and will become an important addition to our Main
Trail. Most of the funding for this purchase came from a bequest from a former Toronto Club member, Lan
Kwan Sum.
Toronto Club Report
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AGM 2016 – September 17 ,2016
Behind the scenes, Malcolm Sanderson held down the roles of both Secretary and Treasurer, providing the
nuts-and-bolts support without which our club could not survive. I would also like to acknowledge Peter
Leeney, who has at one time or another stepped in to almost every single volunteer role the club has to offer.
Toronto Club will be hosting the BTC's 2017, 50th Anniversary, AGM, at the Teatro Conference and Event
Centre in Milton. We hope to see everyone there!
Toronto Club Report
Page 2
AGM 2016 – September 17 ,2016
REPORT TO THE BRUCE TRAIL CONSERVANCY
Annual General Meeting - SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
As the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club works to advance the Mission of the Bruce Trail Conservancy there are
three areas that I would like to highlight.
 Land Stewardship: Our Club takes great dedication in managing 18 BTC conservation properties and
easements in our section and in particular our continual activity in restoring and re-foresting these
lands. However, the hot, dry summer of 2016 has stressed many of our recent tree plantings,
significantly reducing survivorship.
 Trail Maintenance & Development: A team of dedicated quadrant leaders, trail captains and sawyers
maintain the trails. Our team is always on the lookout for possible improvements to the route to keep
the trail interesting and to preserve the terrain. These individuals, often unseen by the hikers, keep
our trails in the best possible condition for the enjoyment of everyone.
 Hiking Programs: There are a series of General Hikes and the ever popular Tuesday Hikes. As an
added feature some of these hikes are also listed as specialty hikes such as Introductory Hikes, Fall
Colour Hikes, Photography Hikes and several series of End to End Hikes. In addition to these we also
have a “Student Hike Program”. Basically we take classes of students out, introducing them to the trail
and showing how these hikes can complement their learning experience. A special thanks to the
Gosling Foundation for their ongoing support of the “Student Hike Program”.
One area that can always be a task for any organization is keeping current with all the new technology that
challenges us on a regular basis. Over the past year we have taken new technology and are putting it to use in
several areas. Our treasurer has converted the accounting system, with significant time and effort, over to
Quick Books. This is now providing us with timely and informative reports that will be comparable across the
BTC and its clubs. Two new volunteers to the club executive have also taken on challenges. One has started
an Instagram Account that allows us to share photos and their stories on the internet in a timely fashion for
wide distribution. Another new volunteer is taking on the web site and updating the site to make it easier to
maintain and share information. These initiatives will allow us to take advantage of technology, not be
overwhelmed by it.
Another example of volunteers in action was another new member to the club who has taken on the lead in
organizing Bruce Trail Day for the club. A daunting task yes but a great way to get involved in a very
meaningful way. Everyone is welcome at the Glen Haffy Conservation area on Sunday, October 2, 2016.
The Badlands parking lot is approved to move ahead during the coming year. This will result in the main trail
being rerouted for the duration of the parking lot construction, so everyone should check the BTC website for
the trail changes. The parking lot will hold 33 cars and provide a turnaround for school buses. Plans for
developing the actual site are still being developed, but the long term plan is to create a viewing platform and
to revamp the trail system to provide a more meaningful experience for visitors to the site.
The Caledon Hills Club has always run an active fundraising program. This includes our extensive Christmas
Tree and Wreath Sales, an annual event with Theatre Orangeville and a Fall Colours Train excursion. These
activities which are regularly “sold out” allow us to present a cheque to the Bruce Trail Conservancy at the
AGM.
Caledon Hills Club Report
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AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
I would like to close with one message. None of these activities would have been possible without the drive
and commitment of the numerous volunteers who give countless hours of their time to enhance the Mission
of the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
Submitted by David Lamb, Director, Bruce Trail Conservancy
Caledon Hills Club Report
Page 2
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
REPORT TO THE BRUCE TRAIL CONSERVANCY
Annual General Meeting - SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
Focus of the Dufferin Hi-Land Club over the last year has been preparing to host this year's AGM. Luckily, our
AGM Team returned to once again lead the committee. The team has put a huge effort into organizing a top
notch weekend.
October 17/18 was our Club’s 2015 Two-Day End-to-End. A surge in registration filled three buses! Off road
parking was urgently organized on an adjacent property and on Saturday morning the area was blanketed with
snow. Undaunted, the hikers returned Sunday morning and were cheered on at check points by enthusiastic
volunteers with healthy food.
March 24, 2015, Dufferin County was pounded by a severe ice storm. Fallen trees and limbs blocked most of
the trail. Luckily, our Club has several certified chain saw operations. Countless hours and three weeks later,
teams of well-organized volunteers had totally cleared the trail.
May 28, our Club dedicated a seven kilometre section of main trail as a friendship trail, twinned with a section
of the Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia.
In 2016, Dufferin Hi-Land’s trails were audited. A few minor items were discovered and rectified immediately.
The Club places a high priority on grass cutting along the trail, keeping the trail highly visible to hikers and
reducing their chances of ticks. One benefit of this year’s record-breaking dry summer has been slower grass
growth.
Our Club has dedicated funds and a lot of volunteer time to community outreach. The goal is to raise local
awareness of the trail and attract more community involvement. A one-page promotional brochure with a
detailed map is extremely popular as a handout at local events and tourist outlets. A Club initiative is
underway to offer Bruce Trail hikes to local elementary schools.
Working alongside our committed group of Board members and eager volunteers, it is my pleasure to serve as
President of Dufferin Hi-Lands Bruce Trail Club.
Carl Alexander
Dufferin Hi-Land Club Report
Page 1
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
REPORT TO THE BRUCE TRAIL CONSERVANCY
Annual General Meeting - SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
Hello from the Blue Mountains Club! What do we have to crow about this year? The answer is: a newlyrestored Lime Kiln has been added to the Trail; we've had our most popular and financially successful End-toEnd ever; and, this Fall, we are joining the Friendship Trail program. And, oh yes, our wonderful volunteers is
what made all this possible!
The 150-year old Lime Kiln is on a property owned by long-time Bruce Trail supporter Dr. William Franks and
his family. In 2015 he agreed to have it be made part of the Trail and has now donated the property as well as
the Side Trail leading to it, to the Bruce Trail Conservancy. The club began with clearing access to it, and then
arranged to restore it. Funds were raised, skilled workmen were hired to stabilize the masonry and create an
attractive circular safety fence around the top of the kiln. Club volunteers then created the “Franks Lime Kiln
Side Trail”, built ground-level fencing as well as an explanatory plaque. The formal opening, in April, was
attended by the press and local politicians with speakers including key stakeholders such as Dr. Franks, the
restoration companies, our Club volunteers and the major funder. And Beth Gilhespy, our then-ED now-CEO,
joined us with a heartfelt thank-you and a lively summary of why ongoing efforts to secure the conservancy
corridor continue to be so crucial. Where is it? See Trail Reroutes, Map 22.
The Blue Mountain 2016 End-to-End set new records for participation and fundraising. 160 enrolled, 41% more
than in 2015 for the two-day 68km event. 127 badges were issued - a 32% increase. Net proceeds were $4,000
for the E-E, up by 33%. Plus $1,000 for the optional Saturday evening BBQ - up by 37%. In addition, during the
year 128 additional hikers completed our E2E in self-organized hikes ranging from 2 to as many as 28 separate
legs and requested the badge.
With a club membership of about 540 (up 18% over last year), we have about 150 active volunteers, and really
appreciate the efforts of their cheerful, reliable and competent participation. For example, the 2016 End-toEnd had 25 volunteers for the core event plus 15 additional volunteers for the Saturday BBQ. We have 14 Land
Stewards, 37 Trail Captains and 38 Hike Leaders. It is always unfair to pick only specific names but the Franks
Lime Kiln was a one-of a kind effort in 2016 that has a permanent legacy: Dick Edwards led the program with
the help of many but especially Herman Ohrt, Rob Mooy, Linda Finley, David Little, Terry Kimmerly and Steve
Adair. Many thanks to all our volunteers!
In 2016, Blue Mountains becomes the eighth BTC Club to join the Friendship Trail family. We are pairing with
Trilha Transcarioca, in Brazil near Rio de Janeiro. Our section is 5 km in length (km 10.4 to 15.7) and an on-site
opening ceremony is being organized for Saturday October 22.
Respectfully submitted by Michael Treuman, Blue Mountains Bruce Trail Club, Publicity on behalf of Herman
Ohrt, Blue Mountains Bruce Trail Club President
Blue Mountains Club Report
Page 1
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
REPORT TO THE BRUCE TRAIL CONSERVANCY
Annual General Meeting - SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
The BVBTC has had a busy and eventful year!
Current Status: 581 members
151 active volunteers
62 Trail Captains
54 Land Stewards
Achievements:
1. Trail Development and Maintenance
 The Webwood Falls view platform was completed, a grant of $1440 was received from the
Community Foundation of Grey Bruce thanks to Will Overton’s submission.
 The Wodehouse Side Trail from the Main Trail near Bill’s Creek, on the Kimberley Springs property,
to the above karst area has been completed. BVBTC collaborated with the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Forestry, Grey Sauble Conservation Authority, and The Friends of the Kimberley
Forest to develop a safe route through this area of significant geological interest. A late fall
opening is planned.
 Busy beavers built five very efficient dams and submerged a section of the Main Trail west of
Epping. Volunteers, with the help of 3 university students provided by the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Forestry, built and filled wooden piers that were used as supports for a board walk
extension making for a safe, dry passage through the area. Hikers will also be treated to an
example of beavers who are clever, industrious, and very persistent as they follow the Trail along
the side of the pond.
 The BVBTC’s chain sawyers continue their tasks of keeping the Trail safe and clear. Many thanks to
John Hollingsworth for the many years he has guided the safe cutting and clearing of trees, fallen
or about to fall on the Trail. We welcome and thank Blain Horsley for taking over this role.
 The BVBTC, with the support of landowners and residents, was successful in helping convince the
Town of Blue Mountain to close the 5th Line access road to Loree, thereby ending Hummer Tours
from accessing the Bruce Trail.
 A thank you to Ros Rossetti for organizing two working vacation groups of BTC Volunteers to help
our Club’s Costa Rican Friendship Trail partner. Participants will collaborate with members of the
Sendero Pacifico in helping with improvements to their Trail.
 A BTC plaque has been placed on the Main Trail overlooking the Bighead Valley to recognize the
generosity of Murray Cleland, one of the Meaford citizens who helped form the BVBTC in 1964.
2. Land Stewardship
 Two new properties acquired so far this year, with discussions in the works for others.
 The garlic mustard pulling team was busy at five sites – Old Baldy, Loree Forest, Hogg’s Falls,
the Clarke property and Webwood. Some individual Trail captains have worked on infestations
on their own properties.
 Adam and Brian from the BTC, together with 3 sawyers and 7 other volunteers from our Club
worked at the Harshman, Campbell and Fairmount Wetlands properties, all of which had the
larger buckthorn trees. This, combined with the work of past years, gives us a passage cleared
of buckthorn from Sideroad 25 to Grey Road 40.
Beaver Valley Club Report
Page 1
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016

Our Club has mounted a special project to help our frontline volunteers involved in Trail
Maintenance and Land Stewardship with on-line access through the internet to digital maps of
both individual Trail sections and individual properties within the BV (maps provided by Scott
Langley). A program for training land stewards, trail captains, mechanized mowers, sawyers
and hike leaders in procedures for accessing, marking-up and using the maps from their own
devices was then developed and implemented.
3. Landowner Relations
 David Port stepped down from this portfolio and we thank him for the years he worked
fostering the continued goodwill of our Landowners.
 We welcome Bill McMurray as our new Landowner Relations Director.
4. Trail Activities
 Member End-to-Ends featured the Sydenham section
 Winter snowshoe hikes for a special badge
 Falling Water Trail Loop one day 31.1km challenge for special badge, 77 hikers registered
 Webwood Falls Viewing Platform Dedication, October 16, 2016
 Regular weekly hikes, soups’s on, potlucks
5. Members & Volunteers
 Volunteers were deservedly recognized at our Volunteer Appreciation Evening in April. This
year we had wonderful support from the community with 19 donors and over 50 prizes for our
volunteers.
 Our Trail Angel program has had a busy summer with many appreciative hikers.
6. Fundraising
 Trivia Night and our Club’s Barn Dance replenished our coffers. As a result our Club was able to
make several donations to the BTC. Steve Griffiths retired from this portfolio. This position is
yet to be filled.
7. Communications and Publicity
 An E-Newsletter, created by Irena Marinko, was launched this year
 Sharon Black retired from her role as BVBTC webmaster. Irena Marinko will be the new
manager of our Club’s website.
 BVBTC Facebook updated by Margaret Yaraskavitch
 Beaver Tales newsletter edited by Joan Nuffield and Lisa Sammut
 E-Notes, provided by Christine Blake.
 Special Events Exhibits: Canada Day display in Kimberley, Green & Healthy Living Festival in
Collingwood, Northface Challenge at Blue Mountain Resort, Gold Rush Days in Eugenia Falls
 Making Connections with Partners – Networked at RT07 Conference (Tourism for Bruce Grey
Simcoe), Contributed to the Grey Highlands tourism initiative, participated in the Grey County
“Healthy Kids” study.
 Connecting with the Bruce Grey Woodlands Association, their members have been invited to a
fall hike
Beaver Valley Club Report
Page 2
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
8. Other Highlights
 Our Club’s members voted to accept the revised By-Laws and Director’s Manual at our June
AGM
 New BVBTC Board Directors : Mike Arkless, Treasurer (Dennis Knight retired from this role) and
Monica Tirion, Secretary (Christine Blake retired from this role).
 The BVBTC Board voted to support our local information systems experts in the further
development of the BVBTC Google Drive Database.
Respectfully Submitted,
September 9, 2016
Jill Smith-Brodie
President
BVBTC
Beaver Valley Club Report
Page 3
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
REPORT TO THE BRUCE TRAIL CONSERVANCY
Annual General Meeting - SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
Sydenham Club is still both a small Club as well as a big Club. We have a small Membership, but also a
long section of Trail.
Membership - Our Club membership has continued a slow and steady climb, reaching 435 members on June
30, fiscal yearend, the highest it’s been in recent memory, and up by 6% from a year prior. The challenge is to
keep it there, by retaining members and avoiding lapsed memberships. We have been calling lapsed
members, and having some success in convincing some to re-join, thanks to Don Richards!
Our annual Spring Social in May was popular again, despite uncooperative weather, at a non-Trail location this
year, with hikes and a delicious potluck supper enjoyed by all.
Our Club newsletter, the Sydenham Hiker, is published quarterly for our members, and provides great stories
and photos about our Club activities. Thanks to Carol Harris our editor!
Public Relations - We set up a Marketing booth again this year at the Owen Sound Health Fair. This continues
to be a successful Public Outreach event for us. The Community Club Fair at the Owen Sound Library was not
well attended, but never the less, these efforts seem to be helping attract new members.
Our Facebook page remains popular with both members and not-yet members. Thanks to Sandra Howe for
posting regular photos of marvelous outings on our Facebook page!
Our website www.sydenhamtrail.ca also continues to be updated regularly, thanks Jamie, and remains a good
promotion and communication tool as well.
Volunteers – Our Club Board of Directors eagerly welcomed 2 new members this past year. Peter Harris took
over the reins of Hike Coordinator and has provided great leadership and organization of our Hike Leaders, and
the Club hikes. Marie-Claude Bouret, our new Events Coordinator, also hit the ground running by organizing a
picnic / hike event in Owen Sound with our Lebanese friends, see “Friendship Trail” below.
Our Club is also refreshing the Honour Roll this year, thanks to Don Richards for his leadership on this. We
have not added anyone to our Honour Roll for several years, but will be doing so this year at our Club AGM
coming up in October.
Hikes – Our 2015 Club End-to-End hike series concluded in October 2015, very successfully, with 120 hikers
registered, and 80 of them completing every hike. Most of it was reported on at last year’s AGM, but thanks
again now to Jim Coburn, and his organizing committee and other volunteer helpers! This hike series also
contributed to our Club fund-raising efforts as well.
(We did not organize an E2E in 2016, but will be back at it in 2017.)
Other Club hikes - Peter Harris and our Hike Leaders continue to provide a good variety of hikes in every
season – thank you!
Friendship Trail - We organized a special hike on April 23 on our Lebanon Mountain Trail – Bruce Trail
Friendship Trail. The flags of Canada and Lebanon were fluttering in the forest that day, as a large group of 30
Lebanese hikers from the Toronto area, joined local Sydenham Club members at the Bayview Escarpment
Nature Reserve. For several of our Lebanese friends, it was their first hike on the Bruce Trail! They brought
great energy and amazing spirit, and we enjoyed friendship, sharing of cultures, and especially food!
Thanks to our Lebanese Canadian community leaders and members – Wafaa, Lina, Dunia, Maysoun,
Sana, Najwa, and Bechara, and also thanks to our friends in Lebanon – Nadine, Salam, and Martine of the LMT
Sydenham Club Report
Page 1
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
Association, and Jassem for bringing the Lebanese flags directly from Beirut. All are very supportive of the
Friendship Trail concept!
Land Securement - the BTC secured 2 properties this past year in Sydenham Club. The Walter’s Creek Nature
Reserve has secured 16.5 acres and 447 m. of OR, and the Keeling Sydenham Nature Reserve has protected
127 acres of lovely conservation land near Rockford, east of the Inglis Falls Conservation Area. See the BTC
Annual Report for further details.
A Donor Tour was held on the Hallman property at Walter’s Creek, to thank our Donors for enabling that
successful acquisition.
Trail: several areas of activity this past year:
a) We built a new Memorial Forest Side Trail, near Jones Falls, in cooperation with Grey Sauble Conservation
Authority, which allows viewing of Jones Falls from below the falls. (The Main Trail passes by above the
falls.)
b) Bill 100 - this new Ontario Government legislation, the Supporting Ontario’s Trails Act, had good intentions
to support Trails within the Province via several helpful new initiatives, but was seriously and deliberately
misrepresented in the local press, especially in rural Ontario, by the Ontario Landowners Association
(OLA). They distributed false information widely that this Bill would allow trail groups to take easements
without landowner permission. This was later shown to be significantly false, but the damage was done.
In Sydenham Club, we had 6 landowners call, asking to remove the Bruce Trail from their land over these
negative editorials – for 3 of them we were able to change their minds, but the other 3 we lost our
handshake agreements. This has resulted in almost 7 km more road walking in Sydenham, and the
removal of 6 km of Main Trail from the Optimum Route. For at least the foreseeable future….
(One of the good stories about this is the KOA camp south of Owen Sound, where we got a new
handshake agreement with the landowner to use their land and local trails, which allowed us to
replace some of the Bruce Trail back on the Optimum Route. Another good story is that the BTC is
currently negotiating with one landowner to purchase his land and thereby secure the Trail back onto
OR.)
c) ATV’s and monster trucks are becoming a problem on some of our Main Trail and side trails where we use
unopened Road Allowances. The sheer numbers that are using these trails are causing a rapid obliteration
of the pathway. At Bognor Marsh, we had to re-route the Side Trail off the Road Allowance, for this
reason.
d) We had a guided hike for 36 local Tourism operators into Silent Valley which has seen a steady
increase in visitors.
e) Sydenham also had two large signs installed, to introduce visitors to a BTC Nature Reserve. One was
placed at the entrance to Silent Valley, and the other in Fossil Glen. This may be the first time the
BTC has done this.
f)
We also spent a lot of effort as usual clearing fallen trees during the spring. (And this year we faced
an increase in the amount of fallen trees to remove, usually spring is the busy time but this year it has
persisted all summer.) Not to mention miles & miles of weed-whacking all summer! Many thanks to
our Trail Captains, and Trail Director Ron Savage & his crews of trail workers, for all their efforts!
Land Stewardship - we now have over 40 properties to care for in Sydenham. So we have a large crew of Land
Stewards volunteering for those jobs. Thanks to Bob Knapp our Stewardship Director, Richard Bonert, and the
whole team, we are taking good care of BTC properties, we completed quite a bit of boundary staking this
year, and also had to deal with some encroachment issues – cattle and horses were being allowed onto our
BTC lands without our permission.
Sydenham Club Report
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AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
Finances - are generally in good shape, with a healthy bank balance. This year we moved our Club’s fiscal
yearend from July 31 to June 30, so as to align with BTC financial reporting standards that all Clubs’ fiscal
yearends should be at the end of a calendar “quarter”. To help accomplish this, we made our past fiscal
year a “transitional” one, only 11 months, i.e. from August 1, 2015, until June 30, 2016. Thanks to Mike
Edney our capable Treasurer.
Fundraising – Our self-published books “Looping Through Sydenham – 25 loop hikes”, and “Silent Valley –
a stunning jewel in a beautiful necklace” continue to bring in funds for the BTC. And this past year our
E2E hikes were another successful fundraiser. Therefore, we were in a good position to make a healthy
donation to the BTC this year. (Amount not stated, by general agreement.)
And, we have a donation from Bell Canada, which counts as Fund-raising. Our Trail Director Ron Savage
worked for Bell, before he retired, and they support their employees (and former employees) in volunteer
activities. So for more than the past 10 years, Ron has been applying for an annual grant, and they keep giving
it to him! (Although it’s been decided to not publish the amounts donated by the various Clubs, this particular
donation was made directly by a generous Corporate sponsor, and therefore deserves public recognition.
Thanks to Bell Canada for this $2,500 donation! Ron will be presenting it at the AGM.)
Records – I cannot forget to mention our final 2 members of Sydenham Club Board of Directors – Judy
Mapleson our Secretary, and Pat Savage our Archivist – who keep great records all year long of all the above
activities!
Thank you!
Frank Schoenhoeffer, SBTC President
Sydenham Club Report
Page 3
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
REPORT TO THE BRUCE TRAIL CONSERVANCY
Annual General Meeting - SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
Walter Brewer, President Peninsula BTC
The PBTC continues to have strong volunteer
support from well over 125 individuals who
serve as Stewards, Trail Captains and on the
Board. A big thank you to them.
1.1
Snake Boardwalk Rebuild Completed
For the last three years a work party of 6-8 stalwarts and
many occasional helpers worked weekly in June and July
ripping up and replacing the Snake Boardwalk. This is
strenuous, muddy, hard work yet many folks come back
each week because they found the work and sense of
achievement to be fun!
The Snake Boardwalk at Neyaashiinigmiing (Cape Croker) is
over 3,000 feet long (the longest single boardwalk on the
Bruce Trail) and it provides a great experience for the
walking public. It was built between 1997-9 by the
members of the Chippewas of Nawash Nation and was
funded by four BTC clubs.
The boardwalk had aged, deteriorated, become slippery
and slanted so the Peninsula Club decided to replace it. A
core team lead by the Trail Captain, Alan Bobo and directed
by Zane Davis, owner of “Treadscape” met weekly through
2014 and completed over 1,300 feet of restoration.
The team reformed in 2015 and 2016 to complete the
project. Tom Hall and Laura Browne lead the team who
were encouraged by additional rounds of funding from RBC
Blue Water Foundation, The Hamlin Family Foundation and
donations from the PBTC and the estates of two families
close to the project.
1.1
Land Acquisitions
Vanishing Streams has been purchased and the
trail has been rerouted off road and a nice thank
you event was hosted May26 with BTC folk
showing off the interesting aspects of the land
(and there are many). We have two land
acquisitions pending for 2016-7 a great increase
in managed land and work for the Land
Stewards!
We named the volunteers members of the “Order of the
Muddy Boot” for obvious reasons. A core team of 6-8
helpers came out to almost every work party often assisted
by other volunteers. The work was doubled because they
had to pull up boards and old material, remove nails and
then lay down new a new boardwalk. The project was
honoured by the BTC with the Phillip Gosling Award for
“clearly demonstrated excellence in improving an existing
Trail section, with particular focus on addressing
environmental impacts.”
Special thanks to the The Chippewas of Nawash First Nation
for permitting the Bruce Trail to be routed though the
Neyaashiinigmiing Reserve which is the home of the Snake
Boardwalk.
Peninsula Club Report
Page 1
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016
1.2
50th Anniversary at Tobermory
The grand opening of the Bruce Trail was in the centennial year 1967; it was celebrated at the Cairn in
Tobermory June 10. We are working with BTC teams to bring you a chance to relive the excitement of that
event. Come out and honour the volunteers who built the first trail and those that keep it wonderful. Our club
is researching the archives and building a new WEB platform in order to provide a wonderful experience.
Peninsula Club Report
Page 2
AGM 2016 – September 17, 2016