A N N U A L R E P O R T: J U LY 1 , 2 012 – J U N E 3 0 , 2 013
Celebrating our 50th Anniversar y Milestones
YEAR 2
Cover photo: Daniel K. Wilson
MISSION
The Bruce Trail Conservancy is a
charitable organization committed to
establishing a conservation corridor
containing a public footpath along
the Niagara Escarpment, in order to
protect its natural ecosystems and to
promote environmentally responsible
public access to this UNESCO World
Biosphere Reserve.
T H E
B R U C E
T R A I L
C O N S E R VA N C Y
VISION
The Bruce Trail Conservancy and its
partners will secure a conservation
corridor along the entire Niagara
Escarpment that contains the Bruce
Trail. Our steadfast commitment to
responsible land stewardship will
significantly contribute to the
preservation and enhancement of
the Escarpment ecosystem.
50TH ANNIVERSARY MILESTONE PROJECT GOAL
5,000 acres of Niagara Escarpment landscape containing the Bruce Trail
secured, stewarded and made available to the public over the next 5 years.
The programs and activities profiled in this report are supported
by the 14 Board Committees of the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
2
Photo: Sarah Pidcock
Thanks to the Richardson
family and other landowners,
the BTC received significant
land donations this year. A total
of 562 acres (227 hectares) of
Escarpment land was preserved,
144 acres (58 hectares) of
which was donated land.
Pinnacle Rock
Beaver Valley Land Donation – 135 acres
3
Photo: Kevin Durfy
Sharing the Br uce Trail
In March 2013, the BTC
launched its Ambassador
Program. Over 100 members
signed up to help promote the
Bruce Trail and the work of the
BTC to their personal social
circles. At the training workshops
our Ambassadors were asked
“Why are you proud to be a
BTC Member?”. Their quotes
are found throughout this
annual report.
H I G H L I G H T S – 2 012 / 2 013
Land worth more than $638,000 was donated to the BTC
$2.9 million was received by the BTC in donations, grants
and sponsorships
This year 562 acres (227 ha) of Escarpment land was
preserved, an increase of 23 acres (9 ha) over 2011/12
8,416 acres (3,406 ha) of Escarpment land are now protected
19 new or improved side trails were opened
Hundreds of new members joined the BTC as part of the
Sharing the Bruce Trail Anniversary programming
1,300 volunteers supported the efforts of the BTC
50.7 % of the Bruce Trail’s Optimum Route is now secured
4
Pr esident’s Message
Executive Dir ector’s Message
As you read this year's Annual
Report you'll be reminded how
the BTC has grown into quite a
diversified organization. Our role as
a leading land trust is expansive
when compared to the hands-on task of Trail
building that began over a half century ago. Of
course, the Trail has always been a major element
in the work of the BTC, but our roots are in the
vision of a preserved Niagara Escarpment. The
ongoing commitment of our 1,300 volunteers
makes both elements possible. The BTC is in good
health and strongly positioned to support both
traditional and innovative new programs,
particularly those cultivating future stewards of the
Trail and the Escarpment. I am very proud of the
efforts of BTC volunteers and staff this year.
Throughout the year we followed development
proposals that could potentially threaten the Bruce
Trail. We met with transportation planners from the
Ministry of Transportation to ensure that BTC interests
are protected in future GTA highway construction
projects. In our fast moving electronic world we kept
pace with technological change by developing timely
policy on geocaching and we began development of
a Bruce Trail smart phone App.
Also this past year, we met with Ontario Parks
representatives to gain their support for allowing
the Bruce Trail on Optimum Route at several
locations on the Escarpment. And (the best for last)
we were the recipient of the largest land donation
in our history, the beautiful 135-acre Pinnacle Rock.
These are just a few of this year's highlights. I am
particularly pleased that we continue to make
longterm investments in cultivating the next
generation of BTC supporters. We are blessed to
benefit from the generous support of our members
as well as corporate and foundation partners and
the many volunteers who support our mission. To
them, I express my deepest thanks.
We are able to share the wonders of Niagara
Escarpment and encourage a culture of
appreciation for conservation because of the
Bruce Trail.
This past year our 50th Anniversary Theme
was “Sharing the Trail”, and the achievements of the year
reflect the dedication of our members, volunteers, donors and
landowners to sharing the beauties of the Bruce Trail and the
Niagara Escarpment.
As a testament to his confidence in the work of the BTC,
Philip Gosling pledged $1 million from his Foundation towards
our land acquisition program, and by doing so inspired others
to give. Ten new nature reserves were created this year –
securing more than 500 acres of irreplaceable Escarpment
landscape. Our organization is buoyed by the strong
commitment of our donors, especially at a time
when funding from government agencies
has all but disappeared.
Landowners continue to show their
“Ours was a plan which
commitment to sharing by allowing
inspired people of all interests:
the Bruce Trail on their land. This
naturalists, hikers and campers,
past year the Richardson Family
conservationists, all caught up
donated their magnificent 135-acre
in the idea of an unbroken
Pinnacle Rock property to the BTC,
footpath tied in with a major
thereby adding permanence to their
conservation objective.”
long history of sharing.
Philip Gosling
Nineteen new side trails were
EXTRACTED FROM THE
BRUCE TRAIL NEWS, 1977
improved or opened, creating new
opportunities to explore more of the Niagara
Escarpment. Our ability to develop and maintain a
world-class recreational opportunity for the public is only
possible because of the incredible efforts of our volunteers.
Our Bruce Trail Ambassador program saw almost 100
members trained to reach out and share their love of the
Bruce Trail. Referrals from the program exceed 300 new
members and continue to grow. Korax Inc. has provided
valuable support by matching each new membership with a
$50 donation to the BTC.
Every day our members, volunteers, donors and staff are
helping the BTC realize our mission and move us closer to our
vision of a preserved Niagara Escarpment that we can share
via the Bruce Trail. I am truly honoured to be working within
this tremendous community of support.
Neil Hester
PRESIDENT
Beth (Kümmling) Gilhespy
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
5
L and Acquisition & Pr otection
This was another landmark year in the
preservation of land by the BTC.
Donations from our members and
partners, as well as generous donations
of land by our landowners, secured
562 acres (227 hectares) of land along
the Bruce Trail’s Conservation Corridor.
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The generosity of BTC donors and landowners
continues to inspire us all. Three properties
totalling 144 acres (58 hectares) and containing
2 km of Optimum Route were donated to the
BTC this past year, including the signature
Pinnacle Rock, donated by Mrs. Richardson in
memory of her husband. These landowners have
shown incredible dedication in their wish to share
the Bruce Trail and ensure their precious land is
preserved for all of us, forever. Other generous
donors made it possible to secure another
414 acres (167 hectares) of land through
direct purchase. Funds were raised
this year for the preservation of
beautiful Cedar Highlands,
which will now close in
the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
Additional funds were
made available on a
short term for the
acquisition of Silent
Valley; these funds will
be recouped for repayment during a Fall
Fairmount Wetland
fundraising campaign.
Dekker & Bick
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Cedar Springs Woods
Photo: Kevin Durfy
“... I want the Bruce Trail
to be here forev
Bruce Trail A
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Pinnacle Rock
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L and Acquisition & Pr otection
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Cape Rich View East
Kimberly Springs
Silent Valley
Photo: Kevin Durfy
“... I’m helping to preserve
something worthwhile.”
Bruce Trail Ambassador
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10 p r o p e r t i e s w e r e s e c u r e d
PROPERTY
SIZE
METHOD
Greenridge
1.5 acres (0.61 ha)
Funded by BTC Donors
Cline Bench
5.0 acres (2 ha)
Property generously donated by the Landowner
Fairmount Wetland
74 acres (30 ha)
Funded by BTC Donors
Cedar Spring Woods
10 acres (4 ha)
Funded by BTC Donors
Merkel
52 acres (21 ha)
Funded by BTC Donors, Grey-Sauble Conservaiton
Authority, the City of Owen Sound and Grey County
Kimberley Springs
56.5 acres (23 ha)
Funded by BTC Donors
Silent Valley
200 acres (81 ha)
Funded by a Loan
Pinnacle Rock
135 acres (55 ha)
Property generously donated by the Landowner
Dekker and Bick
3.9 acres (1.6 ha)
Property generously donated by the Landowner
Cape Rich View East
23 acres (9.5 ha)
Funded by BTC Donors
Cline Bench
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9
Br uce Trail 50th Anniversar y
Ye a r 2 : S h a r i n g t h e B r u c e T r a i l
5,000 acres of Niagara Escarpment landscape containing the Bruce Trail secured,
stewarded and made available to the
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public over the next 5 years.
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The 50th Anniversary Milestones Project is a celebration of all the elements that make the Bruce Trail so
exceptional, from the Trail itself to the BTC’s land
acquisition work to the many, many volunteers who
support the work of the BTC and Clubs. Each
year has a special theme; Year One
celebrated Bruce Trail Trailblazers;
this year our focus was
‘Sharing the Bruce Trail’.
This theme is critically
aligned with our organization’s mission. We
believe that by Sharing
the Bruce Trail through
connections with the
public, celebrating our
donors, engaging our
members and supporting
our volunteers, our organization will move closer to our goal
of a secure conservation corridor for
the Bruce Trail.
The Membership Referral Program
This referral program encourages current members
to reach out and share their love and appreciation of
the Bruce Trail in an effort to increase our BTC
membership base. To support that effort, Korax Inc
agreed to donate $50 to the BTC for each member
that joins through this program. At year end, 300
members had joined through the member Referral
Program, generating a $15,000 donation for the BTC,
and the number is rising.
The BTC also enlisted the help of a unique group
of members that were trained to become Bruce Trail
Ambassadors. Almost 100 BTC members agreed to
participate in training and committed to help further
our membership referral program by working hard
to help us reach our goal of 500 new members
through this program.
The Bruce Trail Experience
In June 2013 the BTC partnered with Friends of the
Greenbelt Foundation to create the Bruce Trail
Experience program. A BTC summer student (hired
with funds from Service Canada’s Canada Summer
Jobs program) hosted an information tent at select
trail locations in an effort to increase trail users
understanding of the Bruce Trail and the work of
the BTC. Hundreds of potential members were
given information about the Bruce Trail and 95 new
members signed up
on the spot.
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50th Anniversary Milestone Project Goal:
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In order to reach out and Share the Bruce Trail, we
initiated several membership events and outreach
events designed to get more people out and
involved with the Bruce Trail.
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Photo: Beth Gilhespy
DONORS
Our donors are the force behind the
amazing accomplishments of the BTC.
From funding land acquisitions to
understanding the need to support critical
operating costs, our donors stand in
support of the BTC’s mission.
Major Fundraising Gift
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At the annual Donor Night the Gosling
Foundation pledged $1 million in support of
the 50th Anniversary Milestones
Project. In accepting this gift on
behalf of the BTC, Executive
Director Beth Gilhespy gave context to
its importance, “The Gosling
Foundation’s gift will be the spark to
ignite this campaign. And having Philip
Gosling, one of our founders, celebrate his
lifelong commitment to this organization and
to the Bruce Trail - 50 years later, with this monumental gift - speaks volumes about what the Bruce
Trail means to Philip and the impact it continues to
have on all of us. This million dollar gift will put in
motion land acquisitions which otherwise would
not have been possible.”
Bruce Trail Conservancy Donor Hikes
In celebration of the phenomenal success of our Fall
2012 campaign to raise $1.3 million dollars and create 5 new nature reserves, the BTC launched a special initiative to thank and celebrate our donors.
Over the spring BTC staff hosted 5 donor hikes at
each of the new nature reserves. The hike events
were very well received and offered a wonderful
opportunity to thank our committed donors.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
In order to educate and encourage greater understanding of the Bruce Trail and the BTC, a number
of outreach programs were developed to Share the
Bruce Trail. Our Anniversary program events were
covered in many media outlets and the BTC’s use of
social media has been increasing.
Bruce Trail Expedition For Kids
“... We make a
Determined to share the wonders of
the Bruce Trail with as many kids as
possible, and raise funds for inner-city
kids in Hamilton and for the BTC,
Hamilton adventurers and philanthropists Fred Losani, Peter Turkstra, Teemu Lakkasuo
and Mark McLennan, launched their Bruce Trail
Expedition for Kids. The foursome dutifully tweeted,
texted, posted live broadcasts and you-tubed their
trek to thousands of school children. Hundreds of
kids meet them along the Bruce Trail to share in this
great adventure. On October 26th in Tobermory, after
30 days of hiking, the Bruce Trail Expedition for Kids
Team presented the BTC’s Executive Director Beth
Gilhespy with a cheque for $50,000 to support the
50th Anniversary Milestones Project.
difference!
Bruce Trail Ambassador
Freindship Trails
As part of our 50th Anniversary Milestones Project
the BTC is establishing Friendship Trails in each of
the Club sections. The Friendship Trail program is
sharing the Bruce Trail worldwide. To date 3 of
Friendship Trails have been created, one in each of
the following Club sections: Caledon, Sydenham,
Peninsula. In September 2013 the fourth Friendship
Trail will open in the Iroquoia Club section, twinned
with the Offa’s Dyke Path, located in Wales.
Happy 50th Anniversary to the Iroquoia and
Beaver Valley Bruce Trail Clubs.
11
Volunteers
Photo: Adam Brylowski
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and organizations.
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The number of volunteers giving their time and
energy to the Bruce Trail has increased this past
year to over 1,300. This increase is a direct result of
the new Membership Ambassador program, which
is not only reaching new members but
also bringing in new volunteers.
More corporate volunteers
explored and learned about
the Bruce Trail this year.
Over 100 corporate volunteers came out with
their companies to
spend time on the
Bruce Trail. They planted trees, pulled invasive
species and worked to
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grow and reach out to new volunteers
improve the Bruce Trail
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surroundings. Each
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group was also taken
on an interpretive
hike of the Trail and
provided with information about the
BTC and our work.
Information sharing
improved with the introduction of the new Volunteer
Management Database. The online
database is capable of sending out emails, tracking
years of volunteering and storing all the information
needed to support the Volunteer Program.
Information flows directly from the database to the
BTC head office, making it easier to keep track of all
of the Bruce Trail volunteers.
From the Trail to the Boardroom, and all points
in between, volunteers remain the lifeblood of
the BTC.
Da
n
The BTC Volunteer Program continues to
“... You meet the nicest people who
share common goals:”
Bruce Trail Ambassador
12
Marketing & Public A wareness
Sharing the Bruce Trail and the mission
of the BTC is a vital component to the
growth of our organization and our ability
to leverage support.
The BTC is committed to seeking out new and
fresh ways to engage people with the Bruce Trail
and to turn that interest into support. The Bruce
Trail story and the people that bring that story to
life offer us countless opportunities to Share the
Bruce Trail.
Our ambitious land acquisition campaign that
raised $1.3 million dollars and created 5 new
nature reserves generated a tremendous amount of
media coverage in support of the BTC’s mission.
Media outlets across the country covered the story
and it helped more people understand the vital and
large task at hand. The Bruce Trail Expedition for
Kids created a great framework for the media in
the Hamilton area; the Hamilton Spectator ran daily
stories on the excursion for the entire 30 day trip.
Additional general interest pieces about the Bruce
Trail were featured in many local newspapers and
online over the course of the year.
Along the theme of Sharing the Bruce Trail, the
BTC initiated a special photo contest with our partners at Bullfrog Power. The I ♥ The Bruce Trail
Photo Contest asked participants to head out to the
Bruce Trail to take pictures of heart shapes in
nature. This fun contest was very popular and generated 164 stellar heart themed entries. Six winners
were selected and a commemorative I ♥ The
Bruce Trail poster was created for sale in the
General Store.
Our corporate sponsors offer the BTC a unique
bounty of support and their contributions help us
connect and engage with a greater audience than
we could otherwise reach.
• Ontario Power Generation
launched their fourth year as a
BTC sponsor with the extremely popular Stop, Snap and Share
contest. The program generated
700 entries to the Stop, Snap &
Share photo contest, 1,900 votes
were cast and 35 people attended the end of program hike.
Under this sponsorship the BTC
was also able to launch our very
popular facebook page. OPG
continued to sponsor Bruce Trail
Day and assisted by purchasing
advertising to help publicize this
signature public event.
• KEEN Canada returned again this
year as a major donor, contributing
$25,000 to the 5 nature reserve campaign
• Bullfrog Power also returned as a
sponsorship partner, contributing to
the I ♥ The Bruce Trail Photo Contest.
• SAIL became a new corporate sponsor in 2013. SAIL, “the Outdoor
Superstore”, has partnered with the
BTC to help us Share the Bruce Trail
and also provided a $3,000 draw prize
to be awarded to a current BTC member at the September 2013 AGM. This is one of the
BTC’s efforts to thank our members for their continued support.
• The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation was the
lead sponsor for the Bruce Trail Experience. In this
program BTC staff hosted an information tent on
the Bruce Trail in an effort to increase trail users’
understanding of the Bruce Trail and the work of
the BTC. The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation
also created wonderful introductory hike sheets to
help people to get out and explore the Bruce Trail.
13
Membership
the Bruce Trail. To build on this fantastic
word-of-mouth support, the BTC launched
a number of initiatives in 2013 focusing on
sharing our membership opportunity.
Member Referral Program
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The BTC created its first Member Referral Program
in 2013, helping our members to Share the Bruce
Trail and encourage those they know become BTC
members. Outfitted with member referral cards
and forms from our website and magazine, our members have been
reaching out to friends and
family and inspiring them to
join the BTC.
Members have been
motivated to participate
thanks to a generous
offer by BTC corporate
donor, Korax Inc., who
is donating $50 for every
new member who joins
through the Member Referral
Program, to a total of 500 new
members. Over 300 members have
already joined through this program,
resulting in $15,000 in matching funds in support of
our mission.
Bruce Trail Ambassadors
Nearly 100 enthusiastic members came to a series of
training sessions in March to become Bruce Trail
Ambassadors. These dedicated volunteers brushed
up on their Bruce Trail ‘pitch’ and shared their member recruitment ideas.
14
Bruce Trail Experience
The BTC piloted an on-trail outreach program this
year, the Bruce Trail Experience, in partnership with
the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. To reach
out to non-member Bruce Trail users, a BTC summer
student (hired with funds from Service Canada’s
Canada Summer Jobs program) set up information
tents at select trail locations on summer weekends.
Our efforts resulted in 95 new members, and hundreds more people were educated about the work
of the BTC.
Encouraging Renewal
New Renewal Notices: Based on feedback from
our members, we updated our mailed renewal
notices to reduce confusion and create a more enticing call to renew.
K
bers, volunteers and donors do to Share
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years thanks in part to all that our mem-
In addition to being prime participants in the
Member Referral Program, many of these trained
ambassadors have been helping out at events and
outreach booths. This successful program has cultivated a community within our membership that is
skilled in, and comfortable with, sharing the Bruce
Trail and the BTC’s membership message.
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BTC membership has grown over the
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on
“... the beauty of the Trail itself and the
Photo: Daniel K. Wilson
enthusiasm of the members”
Bruce Trail Ambassador
Pilot Phone Campaign to Lapsed Members
Volunteers and staff at BTC head office called lapsed
members on a series of evenings in Fall 2012.
Roughly 25% of those reached renewed on the spot.
Membership Trends
Following a year of remarkable membership
growth in 2011-2012 that was fueled by a half-price
discount on new memberships (sponsored by
KEEN Canada), our overall membership in 2013
has returned to 8,564. That is a 2.7% decrease over
the course of the year, but a 1% increase in the
membership level prior to the KEEN-fuelled growth.
This demonstrates that we can enjoy the success of
a great member acquisition campaign, but our
challenge remains in engaging our members and
encouraging their renewed support. Through all
our efforts this year, we welcomed 1,644 new
memberships and saw 1,879 memberships lapse.
Membership
Initiatives
in 2013
• Member Referral Program
• Bruce Trail Ambassador
Training
• Bruce Trail Experience Booths
• Pilot phone campaign to
lapsed members
• Improved membership sales
at trade shows
15
L and Stewardship
Each year the BTC secures hundreds of
acres of Escarpment land in the name of
conservation. As we share more land,
with more people, greater focus must be
Phot
o: B
rian
Po
pe
li
er
placed on how we care for this land.
16
The BTC’s Land Stewardship program is committed to ensuring that BTC managed properties are
given dedicated attention. Fueling the program is a
team of dedicated volunteers and staff that work
together to make Land Stewardship a top priority
at the BTC.
This past year Land Stewardship volunteers and
staff worked on a number of projects on BTC-managed land and partnered with various organizations. Our continued partnership with educational
institutions such as Niagara College and the
University of Guelph saw us providing educational opportunities for students who will be the
driving force for conservation in years to come.
We also partnered with generous corporate
sponsors such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and
OLG, who helped plant a number of species along
the Niagara Escarpment to improve its natural
habitat; and Horizon Utilities, whose
donation is funding a ongoing program to control invasive species
on BTC-managed land.
Land Stewardship
received funding program from the Ministry
of Tourism, Culture and
Sport (through the 2013
Summer Experience
Program) to hire a stuMassasauga Rattlesnake
dent to continue work on
the BTC’s invasive species
monitoring program. This
project is becoming ever more
important as invasive species threaten the ecological integrity of our natural lands.
Locating and protecting rare species and Species
at Risk also continues to be a high priority for Land
Stewardship. BTC staff assisted the Ministry of
Natural Resource’s Butternut Recovery program by
recording the health of all known Butternut trees on
BTC-managed land, and shared this information
with the Forest Gene Conservation Association to
help save this endangered tree. BTC staff will also
be working with
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elie
Round-leaved Ragwort
the Provincial
Recovery Team to
conduct formal surveys of the Jefferson Salamander
on BTC-managed properties that have been
described as “Prime Jefferson Salamander habitat”
in the Speyside area.
During property visits by Land Stewards and BTC
staff this past year a number of rare species were
observed and recorded on BTC managed land.
These include Butternut, Hart’s Tongue Fern,
Photo: Brian Popelier
“... the Bruce Trail connects communities in the
spirit of conservation”
Bruce Trail Ambassador
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Upright Green Brier, Massasauga Rattlesnake,
Peregrine Falcon, Wall Rue, Perfoliate Tinker’s
Weed, Prairie Dropseed, Eastern Meadowlark,
Bobolink, Northern Pin Oak, Snapping Turtle,
Eastern Wood Pewee, Wood Thrush, Western
Chorus Frog, Laurentian Fragile Fern, Round-leaved
Ragwort and Coopers Milkvetch. The BTC is deeply
honoured to be able to protect land on which these
species can thrive.
Our volunteer Land Stewards and Land
Stewardship Directors were hard at work this year,
attending two training workshops and initiating various projects. The Beaver Valley section now boasts
a dedicated invasive species removal team that has
taken on the task of removing Common Buckthorn
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an
– one of the most persistent
of invasive species – on
BTC-managed properties.
Other projects include
installing fencing and
gates to ensure that the
Bruce Trail and BTC-managed properties are used for
pedestrian access only, removal of
garbage from a number of properties,
and installation of bird nesting boxes to
provide a safe haven for various species to raise
their young.
17
Landowner & External Relations
In this year of Sharing the Trail our thoughts
turn to the more than 985 landowners who
allow the Bruce Trail on their land, most
with no more formality than a handshake.
Their generosity in sharing their land has
allowed hundreds of thousands to experience the beauties of the Niagara
Escarpment for more than five decades.
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18
Co
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an
Some landowners are new to the Bruce Trail, but
have enthusiastically embraced our mission and
welcomed those who walk their land. Others go
back to the very early days of the Bruce Trail. The
Turnbull family in the Caledon Hills section, for
example, first gave permission for the Trail across
their land in 1963. In the 1970s Trail was rerouted
off their land because a neighbouring landowner
withdrew permission. This year, when the opportunity arose to place a side trail in the same area, the
Turnbulls were approached – almost 40 years later
– and enthusiastically reaffirmed their support for
the Trail. This is one of the many 50-year
old handshake agreements that
continue to persist all along the
Trail’s route.
Key to this ongoing
goodwill with landowners is the work of our
Volunteers in the
nine Bruce Trail
Clubs. They keep in
regular contact with
landowners to gain
and maintain permission, hold
landowner recognition
events, and convey on
behalf of all Bruce Trail
users our deep appreciation
for their generosity. Some meet-
ings with our landowners have turned into discussions on how their land could be preserved in perpetuity through a land donation, easement or property purchase, as demonstrated by this year’s
Richardson Family donation of Pinnacle Rock.
BTC staff and volunteers continued their outreach
to groups to share the message about our work on
the Niagara Escarpment. Presentations have been
made to service clubs, naturalists groups, and corporations looking for ways to enhance their employee
wellness programs.
The Friendship Trail Program continues to allow
the BTC to forge new partnerships and create new
trail concepts on an international scale. This year a
partnership was created with the Offa’s Dyke Path
(Wales), which is twinned with a beautiful section of
the Bruce Trail in the Iroquoia section.
BTC Staff and volunteers represented the BTC on
the Niagara Escarpment Commission’s Public
Interest Advisory Council, reviewing and commenting on Niagara Escarpment Plan Amendment applications. The Executive Director is Secretary of the
Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Spaces System
(NEPOSS) Council. This year the BTC entered into a
partnerership with agencies including the Royal
Botanical Gardens, the Regional Municipality of
Halton and Conservation Halton, among others, for
development of the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark
system. BTC staff and volunteers are continuing their
dialogue with municipal, provincial and federal representatives to advance the goal of a secured
Optimum Route that contains the Bruce Trail. BTC
staff members have provided various agencies with
expertise in ecological review and assessment.
Opportunities like these keep us up to date on issues
affecting the Escarpment and allow us to educate
our conservation partners on the important work of
the BTC.
Photo: Daniel K. Wilson
“... honest and true to our word
when dealing with landowners and the public.”
Bruce Trail Ambassador
19
Trail Management
This past year was the year of the side
trail, with six Clubs completing 19 new
or improved side trails and as a result
sharing the beauty of the Niagara
Escarpment.
While many hikers follow only our main Bruce
Trail, our side trails open up additional opportunities to explore the extraordinary richness and diversity of the Niagara Escarpment. Our side trails also
honour the many generous donors who have
bequeathed land to the BTC, or provided cash
donations for land purchase, by giving us
the opportunity to showcase these
Photo
:M
an
Kh
un
properties. Here are some of the
Ch
an
many examples of such trails
that were completed during
the past year:
• The Peninsula Club completed the Gravelly Point Side
Trail, which runs through the
amazing Malcolm Bluff Shores
property, purchased with member funds and the help of our partners at Ontario Nature. Weary hikers
will find hand-made stone armchairs
awaiting them on this trail when they arrive at the
stunning shores of Georgian Bay.
• The Dufferin Hi-Land Club has built a spectacular
trail through our Splitrock Narrows property,
acquired in 2012 with donations from our generous supporters.
• The Caledon Hills Club rerouted the Peter
Beecham Side Trail on to Griffith Ravine, a property purchased by the BTC with donor funds.
20
This past year a total of nineteen new side trails or
trail reroutes were completed. These reroutes
totalled 22 km of side trails and 3 km of main Bruce
Trail reroutes. In addition our volunteers were as
usual building and repairing bridges, boardwalks
and other structures up and down the Bruce Trail.
As an example of the challenges we encounter
when doing this work, one of our planned boardwalks in Iroquoia section was delayed when it was
discovered that the route went through the habitat
of the endangered Jefferson salamander. The project
was able to proceed once the landowner, Hamilton
Conservation Authority, arranged for a certified biologist to be present during the work. As an added
bonus, staff from the Hamilton Conservation
Authority volunteered to assist with carrying lumber
to the site. It is this kind of community support that
makes our efforts worthwhile.
With the 2012-2013 Fiscal year being a busy one
for the BTC’s land acquisition program we anticipate more exciting new side trails being opened up
in the coming year to highlight the beauties of
these properties.
Phot o:
Wen
de
rs H
ikin
gG
rou
p
“... the Bruce Trail is
keeping me sane in retirement”
Photo: Man Khun Chan
Bruce Trail Ambassador
2012-2013 Conservation Cor ridor Facts
Total acres secured
Total acres of Escarpment land
managed by BTC (225 parcels)
Total Optimum Route secured
Length of Optimum Route
Secured Optimum Route on
BTC and public land
Percentage of Trail Secure
2012-2013
2011-2012
2010-2011
227 hectares
(562 acres)
218 hectares
(539 acres)
171 hectares
(422 acres)
3,406 hectares
(8,416 acres)
3,329 hectares
(8,226 acres)
3,111 hectares
(7,687 acres)
4.8 km
5.9 km
3.2 km
873 km
870 km
869 km
442.7 km
439.8 km
417 km
50.7 %
50.5 %
48%
21
Phot
o: B
rian
Po
pe
lie
r
Fundraising
generously supported
our work.
As we look back over 50 years of Sharing
the Bruce Trail, we recognize the vital
role our generous donors and partners
Gosling Foundation
$1 Million
have played in enabling us to preserve
At the BTC Donor Recognition Event last
November, BTC donors applauded the announcement that the Gosling Foundation had pledged
$1 million towards the 50th Anniversary Milestones
Project. Dr. Philip Gosling celebrated his lifelong
commitment to the Bruce Trail with a legacy gift
that will help put in motion land acquisitions which
otherwise would not have been possible. This is
the largest foundation gift to the BTC to date, and
was a wonderful endorsement of support for the
campaign. We are committed to leveraging this gift
and finding other major donors, to help keep the
terrific momentum going.
and share the Niagara Escarpment and
the Bruce Trail.
el
ni
In 2012 the BTC launched its 50th Anniversary
Milestones Project – a bold venture aimed at raising
funds to secure and steward 5,000 more acres of
priceless Niagara Escarpment land containing the
Bruce Trail over the next five years. With the
help of our supporters, this year we
Ph
oto
:D
secured 10 properties and protected
a
562 acres of irreplaceable Niagara
Escarpment land with a value of
$1.5 million. There were gifts of
land, cash, securities, in-kind gifts,
time, talent and bequests made, all
to help us protect our conservation
corridor and Share the Trail.
We are pleased to feature a few of
the individuals and organizations who
n
lso
Wi
K.
Categor y of Support
TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
The BTC was able to produce and distribute 1,000
complimentary Bruce Trail Reference Guides free to
schools and libraries along the Trail thanks to a
$50,000 grant from TD Friends of the Environment
Foundation.
2012-2013
2011-2012
2010-2011
2009-2010
$2,102,584
$2,239,068
$ 2,065,362
$ 1,623,513
638,000
390,000
273,472
331,896
78,375
482,000
–
504,000
Donations (includes Individuals, Corporations and Foundations)
Land Acquisition and Conservation (Cash, Securities and
Insurance Policy Premiums)
Land Acquisition (Land Donations to the BTC)
Land Acquisition (Land Acquisition by, or donations to,
partner agencies with BTC support)
Endowment Fund
Subtotal Donations
46,110
24,849
13,126
401,816
$2,865,069
$3,135,917
$ 2,351,960
$ 2,861,225
Grants (includes Provincial and Municipal Governments)
Land Acquisition
–
$ 25,022
$ 8,768
$ 871,771
Land Conservation
16,486
30,586
120,383
129,606
Subtotal Grants
16,486
$ 55,608
$ 129,151
$ 1,001,377
$47,500
$ 73,200
$ 116,855
$ 115,765
$2,929,055
$ 3,259,725
$ 2,597,966
$ 3,978,367
Sponsorships
Total Donations, Grants and Sponsorships
22
“... we are continuing an important legacy
for future generations.”
SC Johnson & Son Ltd.
This local corporation has been a strong supporter
of the BTC for many years. This past fiscal year they
donated $30,000 to purchase the Greenridge property in Stoney Creek near Devil’s Punchbowl. This 1.5
acre hillside property is a vital connector for the
Bruce Trail; without it the Trail would be on several
kilometres of road.
Rob Simmt
Bruce Trail Member and avid hiker Rob Simmt and
his family made a significant gift this year in celebration of his late wife Beth. To honour her love of the
Bruce Trail they organized a golf tournament that
raised over $10,000 for the BTC. Rob continues to
hike the Trail and raise funds in support of the BTC
and we are grateful for his help.
Bruce Trail Ambassador
A selection of our supporters:
Foundations
Korax Inc.
Amarna Fund at Oakville Community
Foundation
MacKenzie Financial Corporation
Anonymous US Foundation
Mountain Equipment Co-Op
Brabant Foundation
Newalta Corporation
Bradstreet Family Foundation
New Initiatives Marketing
Brian and Susan Thomas Foundation
OMERS Administrative Corporation
Bruce Resource Stewardship Network
Pradip Gordon Enterprises Ltd.
Bruce Trail Stewardship Endowment
Fund at Guelph Community
Foundation
RBC Financial Group
Bruce Trail Expedition for Kids Fund at
Hamilton Community Foundation
Capacity Partners
Burlington Community Foundation
Newalta continues to be a leader in this corporate
giving program which was designed to help the BTC
become stronger, more effective and better able to
accomplish our Mission. Other Capacity Partners
were Discovery Ford, Acklands Grainger and RBC
Financial Group. We hope to add more partners in
the future.
Dalglish Family Foundation
Gosling Foundation
Over the next few years all of the Bruce Trail Clubs
will have celebrated their 50th Anniversaries, and as
a part of these celebrations they continue to profile
the important work of the Clubs and the BTC. We
thank them for their ongoing volunteer and financial
support to the BTC.
Monthly Pledgers
The BTC now has 172 Monthly Pledgers supporting
the organization, by providing over $65,000 in
annual contributions.
Samuel Group of Companies
SC Johnson & Son Ltd.
Sollazzo & Palombo Medicine
Professional Corp.
Sunshine Building
TD Bank Group
Jackman Foundation
J. Forbes Knight Charitable Foundation
Joan & Clifford Hatch Foundation
Norman and Margaret Jewison
Charitable Foundation
Phil McNamee Charitable Foundation
Bruce Trail Clubs
Meridian Credit Union
Ray Lowes Environmental Fund at
Hamilton Community Foundation
Ray & Wendy Miske Neighbourhood
Association Fund at Cambridge &
North Dumfries Community
Foundation
PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada
Foundation
Robert Fraser Cooper Endowment
Fund
Matching gift programs
Bayer Health Care
Bell Canada Employee Giving Program
Hydro One Employees & Pensioners’
Charity Trust
Juniper Network
Individuals
Anonymous Donor
Clarence Bick
John Dekker
Kimberley Danielle Mucyk & Michael
Joseph Walker (Land)
John Grandy & Meg Salter
TD Friends of the Environment
Foundation
Chris Hoffmann & Joan Eakin
Trees in Trust
Ingrid Petch
Westaway Charitable Foundation
Frances Richardson (land)
Alex & Christine Matulewicz
Malcolm Sanderson
2012/2013 Sources of Funding
IN D
IVI D
UAL
Corporations
LA
N
D
DO
NAT
IONS (22%)
T
(
)
NI
(2
GA
ZA
TIO
N S,
FOUN
DATIONS & CORPORAT
ION
S (2
8
%)
BE
TS
EN
OR
NM
%)
G OV ER
2%
Rob Simmt and Family
A.M. Jevnikar Medical Prof. Corp.
DON O R S (4 6 %)
QU
ES
Acklands Grainger
Estates
Autodesk Canada
Jerry Belan
Corporation of the Town of Mono
Elsie Brown
Discovery Ford Sales Burlington Limited
Edward Murray Cleland
Four Corners Group Inc.
Tom East
Harmony Whole Foods Market
Delphine Fergusson
Home to Home Association
Tyes Murre
Horizon Utilities Corporation
Dr. John D. Robinson
Jim’s Concrete
23
Financials
THE BRUCE TRAIL CONSERVANCY
Thanks to the generous financial commitment
of our members, donors, landowners and other
supporters we had another successful year.
Land Acquisition
Consistent with our mission of securing a conservation corridor on
the Niagara Escarpment, the most significant spending by the BTC
this year was for property acquisitions. The BTC acquired 9 properties
as assets (8 in 2012), worth $1,358,672 ($1,692,940 in 2012), and
incurred additional property acquisition and securement costs of
$225,814 ($205,878 in 2012) for a total of $1,584,486 in land acquisition costs ($1,898,818 in 2012). Land acquisition costs included
$26,700 for the acquisition of the Merkel property in a four-way partnership with Grey-Sauble Conservation Authority (GSCA), the city of
Owen Sound and Grey County; GSCA holds title to the property.
At June 30, 2013 the BTC owned 64 properties and a bridge
over the QEW, which have a net book value of $10,479,342
($9,392,133 in 2012). The net increase of $1,087,209 over last
year arose from acquisitions of $1,358,672 decreased by depreciation of $23,463 and the transfer of two properties (Dean and
Haddock) to Ontario Parks, valued at $248,000.
Balance Sheet
Our Balance Sheet shows total assets of $13,045,883 ($12,014,862
in 2012). As in previous years, the vast majority of these assets are
restricted, held in the Conservation Fund, and reflect land acquisition items in the form of cash and investments of $68,973 and land
and buildings of $10,479,342 (cash and investments $247,599 and
land and buildings $9,392,133 in F2012).The rest of our assets consist of $1,642,162 in restricted cash and marketable securities in our
Endowment Fund ($1,436,356 in 2012) and other cash and investments, including the Land Stewardship Reserve Fund, totalling
$855,406 ($938,774 in 2012). Current liabilities decreased due to
repayment of a loan of $477,667.
Revenues and Expenses
Bruce Trail Enterprises net earnings were $81,507, a 21 percent
increase over 2012 ($64,773) due primarily to the availability of the
27th Edition Bruce Trail Reference, which was released late in fiscal
2012 and had the most financial impact in 2013. Membership revIncludes: salaries, benefits and
government remittances. Each
enues decreased 3 percent over 2012 to $404,997.
program area involves
Donations of cash, securities and land were relatively unchanged
multiple staff.
ENT(9%)
over the year. Grants of $16,486 were lower than 2012
CUR EM
E
S
D
FU NDR
LAN 3%)
AIS I
($55,608). Bequests placed in the Endowment
(1
N
G
G (1
IN
8%
NT
Fund totalled $46,110 ($24,849 in 2012).
U
)
CO
Over this past fiscal year 77% of total
AC
donations were allocated to the land
acquisition program.
Expenses for the year totalled
$1,834,602 ($1,731,271 in
2012).The cost of salaries, benefits
and government remittances for BTC
AM
staff was $991,374. The majority of
S(5
LU
%)
D payroll costs were related to fundraising
NT
R
EE
%)
MEM
WA for land acquisition and other programs, and
RM
BER & P
H (18
TE
U B L I C O U T R E AC
AN
DS
N
AG E
LA
membership and public outreach.
MENT
(5%)
Overall our 2013 revenues exceeded expenses by
$1,686,810, the majority of which ($1,584,486) was used for land
purchases and related costs.
VO
)
(3%)
T D& M
(12
%
IP
GR
SH
IST RATIO
ING (8%)
ADM I N
KE T
RO
OT H E R P
24
AR
M
N(
1
FINA 0%)
NC
E/
Staff Payroll Allocation
by Program Area
Revenue
Donations - cash
Donations - property
Membership dues
Grants
Sponsorships
BTE earnings (net)
Interest and investment income
Sundry income
Expenses
Fundraising
Administrative salaries and benefits
Land Securement
Member and public outreach
Land stewardship
Marketing
Club’s share of membership dues
Bruce Trail Magazine
Volunteer management
Trail development and maintenance
Land management and property taxes
Other committee and meeting expenses
Amortization
Bank and credit card service fees
Life insurance
Insurance
Club designated donations
Management fees - investments
Computer and internet
Annual general meeting
Professional fees
Office printing, supplies and postage
Office equipment rental and maintenance
Landowner relations
Rent, utilities, and maintenance
Foreign currency exchange loss
Sundry and miscellaneous
Staff expense and travel
Legal
Excess (deficiency) of revenue over expenses
from operations
Other income
Change in unrealized gains from investments
Excess (deficiency) of revenue over expenses
for the year
Fund balances at beginning of the year
Bequests and donations
Interfund transfer
Property transfers to other agencies, net
Fund balances at end of the year
Combined Schedule of Revenue and Expenses and Fund Balances for the Year Ended June 30, 2013
Conservation
Fund
$ 2,068,171
638,000
16,486
47,500
81,507
1,903
10,432
Capacity
Fund
$
34,413
382,615
135
2,817
Endowment
Fund
$
65,903
-
Life Membership
Fund
$
22,382
5,283
-
Land Stewardship
Reserve Fund
$
Fiscal 2013
Combined Total
Fiscal 2012
Combined Total
11,855
-
$ 2,102,584
638,000
404,997
16,486
47,500
81,507
85,079
13,249
$ 2,239,068
390,000
418,095
55,608
68,200
64,773
67,012
24,804
2,863,999
419,980
65,903
27,665
11,855
3,389,402
3,327,560
270,519
225,814
204,375
175,572
97,307
85,675
62,109
58,870
54,170
44,537
23,463
23,476
15,389
7,231
-
227,630
91,311
9,433
25,732
23,301
20,713
17,127
11,375
10,250
7,351
7,142
4,818
4,784
3,056
1,234
15,797
-
2,519
676
-
1,846
-
270,519
227,630
225,814
204,375
175,572
97,307
93,830
85,675
62,109
58,870
54,170
44,537
32,896
25,732
23,476
23,301
20,713
18,319
17,127
15,389
11,375
10,250
7,351
7,231
7,142
4,818
4,784
3,056
1,234
277,591
236,360
205,878
168,073
136,673
94,590
97,823
82,247
72,353
39,086
34,327
58,154
36,572
26,891
24,057
24,142
30,138
13,430
23,080
7,908
8,698
11,505
7,236
2,711
6,885
844
4,019
-
1,348,507
465,257
15,797
3,195
1,846
1,834,602
1,731,271
1,515,492
(45,277)
50,106
24,470
10,009
1,554,800
1,596,289
-
-
109,590
6,005
16,415
132,010
19,662
1,515,492
(45,277)
159,696
30,475
26,424
1,686,810
1,615,951
9,411,588
(6,370)
1,436,356
170,332
273,363
11,285,269
9,644,469
10,927,080
(51,647)
1,596,052
200,807
299,787
12,972,079
11,260,420
(63,884)
(248,000)
-
46,110
-
(71,983)
-
135,867
-
46,110
(248,000)
24,849
-
(311,884)
-
46,110
(71,983)
135,867
(201,890)
24,849
$10,615,196
$ (51,647)
$ 1,642,162
$ 128,824
$ 435,654
$ 12,770,189
$ 11,285,269
This schedule is an extract from the audited financial statements of The Bruce Trail Conservancy. The complete financial statements, including all related notes, are available upon request.
25
Financials
The Land Stewardship Reserve Fund was created in
2011 to hold funds for the long-term stewardship of BTC
property holdings. As properties are acquired, funds
equal to 10 percent of their value are placed into the
Reserve Fund; funds may also be allocated from certain
bequests and donations at the discretion of the Board of
Directors. The balance of the Land Stewardship Reserve
Fund at year end was $435,654, an increase of $162,291
($135,867 based on land value plus interest and investment income of $26,424) over 2012.
Investments
The Endowment Fund generated a net investment income
of $159,696 ($66,514 in 2012) inclusive of unrealized
gains of $109,590 ($19,662 in 2012). The rate of return,
net of fees, for the 12 months ending 30 June 2013 was
11.1% with an average return of 8% since inception in
November 2009. The Fund is invested in cash, equity and
bond funds as permitted under the BTC Investment Policy,
which is monitored by both Burgundy Asset Management
and the Board of Directors through the BTC Treasurer.
BALANCE SHEET
Assets
Cash
Accounts receivable
Inventory
Prepaids and deposits
June 30, 2013
June 30, 2012
July 1, 2011
$
$
$
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Restricted assets - Endowment Fund
Cash
Marketable securities
Restricted assets - Life Membership Fund
Cash
Marketable securities
Restricted assets - Land Stewardship Reserve Fund
Cash
Marketable securities
Restricted assets - Conservation Fund
Cash
Land and other assets
Cash surrender value of life insurance
96,278
8,366
34,433
15,189
154,266
133,537
62,734
97,217
44,689
338,177
104,781
34,913
49,418
31,674
220,786
23,526
32,959
45,113
48,072
1,594,090
1,642,162
39,430
1,396,926
1,436,356
13,170
1,331,823
1,344,993
19,510
109,314
128,824
170,332
170,332
56,122
56,122
136,830
298,824
435,654
273,363
273,363
102,192
102,192
68,973
10,479,342
10,548,315
247,599
9,392,133
9,639,732
458,414
7,733,743
8,192,157
113,136
123,943
-
$ 13,045,883
$ 12,014,862
$ 9,961,363
$
$
$
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Deferred revenue - Grants
- Memberships
Mortgage payable
Loan payable
Deferred revenue - Memberships
179,702
5,678
59,538
244,918
157,776
22,045
50,763
477,667
708,251
116,485
23,526
62,620
90,000
292,631
30,776
21,342
24,263
10,615,196
(51,647)
1,642,162
128,824
435,654
12,770,189
9,411,588
(6,370)
1,436,356
170,332
273,363
11,285,269
8,041,336
1,344,993
155,948
102,192
9,644,469
$ 13,045,883
$ 12,014,862
$ 9,961,363
Fund Balances
Conservation Fund
Capacity Fund
Endowment Fund
Life Membership Fund
Land Stewardship Reserve Fund
26
This balance sheet is an extract from the audited financial statements of The Bruce Trail Conservancy. The complete financial statements, including all related notes, are available upon request.
Thanks to our 2012-2013 BTC Donors
JULY 1, 2012 TO JUNE 30, 2013
SPECIAL PROJECT FUNDING
Ontario Land Trust Alliance Inc
Ontario Heritage Trust
City of Hamilton
CAPACITY PARTNERS
Newalta
Discovery Ford Sales Burlington
Limited
Acklands Grainger
RBC Financial Group
ESTATES
Estate of Jerry Belan
Estate of Elsie Brown
Estate of Edward Murray Cleland
Estate of Tom East
Estate of Delphine Fergusson
Estate of Tys Murre
Estate of Dr. John D Robinson
Estate of Myra Smithies
$400,000 +
Anonymous
Anonymous (Land donation)
The Gosling Foundation
$50,000-$99,999
Anonymous US Foundation
The Bruce Trail Expedition for
Kids Fund at Hamilton
Community Foundation
Kimberley Danielle Mucyk &
Michael Joseph Walker
(Land donation)
$20,000-$49,999
Bruce Resource Stewardship
Network
John Grandy & Meg Salter
Alex & Christine Matulewicz
S C Johnson & Son Ltd
$10,000 - 19,999
Clarence Bick
John Dekker
Joyce Herridge
Horizon Utilities Corporation
Joan & Clifford Hatch Foundation
Korax Inc
Ingrid Petch
Robert Simmt & Family
Toronto BTC
$5,000 - 9,999
Amarna Fund at Oakville
Community Foundation
Beaver Valley BTC
Gertrude Beck
Warren Bell
Blue Mountains BTC
Brian and Susan Thomas
Foundation
Caledon Hills BTC
Jim's Concrete
Gordon Currie
Maurice & Marilyn Gomme
Bill & Mimi Hamilton
Chris Hoffmann & Joan Eakin
Iroquoia BTC
Eberhard Leistner
Peter Long
Meridian Credit Union
Diane Nicolucci
Tony Paine & Susan Collacott
Peninsula BTC
David Platt
Peter Quinton
Malcolm Sanderson
John Thode
Anne Wadge
Ken & Cecile Weber
$2,500 - $4,999
Christina & Todd Bardes
Bell Canada - Employee Giving
Program
Bradstreet Family Foundation
Burlington Community
Foundation
Dalglish Family Foundation
Bruce & Anne Godwin
Larry Haigh
J Forbes Knight Charitable
Foundation
Art Johnston
Jean Kerins
Bruce King & Valerie Jones
David Moule
Mountain Equipment Co-op
Norman & Margaret Jewison
Charitable Foundation
OMERS Administrative
Corporation
Joan & Joel Parkes
Michael & Norma Piggott
Eugenia Piliotis & Bruce Geddes
Ray Lowes Environmental Fund
at Hamilton Community
Foundation
Run Dufferin
David Sutton
Arnold Tweed & Family
$1,000 - 2,999
Charles Aberhart
John & Judy Appleton
Caroline Archer & Al Wright
John & Dianne Armstrong
Autodesk Canada
Nicholas & Elizabeth Avery
Bill Barnett
Roger & Brenda Beach
Gary Beaudoin
Alan & Helen Billing
Howard Block
David & Lynda Bowen & Family
Michael Bowick & Family
Ken & Heidi Brisco
Robin Butler
Bruce & Ruth Calvert
Donna Carpenter
Charity Hike Club
Ian & Elizabeth Clunie
Jane Collins
Corporation of the Town of Mono
Robert Crockford & Family
Robert Daisley
John Dashwood
Honor & Michael de Pencier
Helen Denton
George & Heather Dickson
Dufferin Hi-Land BTC
Dufferin Hi-Land Tuesday
Hiking Group
Charles Dunham
Grant & Laine Ehrhardt
Victor Enns & Family
Louise Fast & Joan Slamen
Elizabeth Fedorkow & David Alles
Doug Finley
Jeffrey Forgrave
Four Corners Group Inc
Ron Gatis & Family
John Gingrich
Shirley Grant
Cathie Green & Family
John & Jane Greenhouse
Corry Groep
Mark Hallman
Keith Harding & Family
Harmony Whole Foods Market
Richard Harvey
Art and Marg Heidebrecht
Home to Home Association
Stephen Howe
Christina Jefferies
Kenneth Jewett
John Keating
Nancy Kleer & Allan Walsh
Susan Krajnc
Lucie Larose & Neil McKay
Heather Latto
Diana Laubitz
Gayle Laws
Brandon Levac
Christine Lewis
Robert Light
Cynthia MacLeod
Rosalind Madsen
H Ayala Manolson
Joelle Martin
Peter McArthur & Cathy Clarke
Janice McClelland & Don Blok
Don McCrossan
John & Elizabeth McCullam
Brian McDiarmid
Patricia McDonald-Harrison
Wallace Mitchell
Robert Mitchell & Family
Rose-Mary Mitter
John & Linda Morgan
Margaret Morison
Howard & Pamela Newman
Gordon & Daphne Nicholls
Pathfinders Hiking Group of
Oakville
Marg & Will Overton
Robert Parrish
William Parsons
Phil McNamee Charitable
Foundation
RBC Financial Group
Connie Reeve
Joan Richard
Donald & Lois Richards
Rick Russell & Family
Samuel Group of Companies
David Sarginson & Family
Frank Schoenhoeffer
Trudy Senesi
Charles Skelton
Bruce Smith & Linda Amos
Sollazzo & Palombo Medicine
Professional Corporation
Patrick Speissegger & Family
Diane Stampfler
Rob Straby & Family
Sunshine Building
Elizabeth A. Swift
Sydenham BTC
Susan Thomson
Trees in Trust
Aline & Dick Tso
Annette Urlocker
Harold Vandersluis
Michael Virostek & Family
Dorothy & Gerd Wengler
Westaway Chartitable Foundation
George & Lois Whetham
Dave & Fay Whitney
Jim Wilker
Norman Wingrove
Gail Worth
Edward Wright
Joyce Young
Vince Zvonar
$500 - $999
AM Jevnikar Medical
Professional Corporation
Pierre & Maureen Arnold
Anthony & Anne Arrell & Family
Michael Barnard & Family
Sabine Behnk & Steven Furino
Penny Bell
Anthony Bird
Del & Nancy Bonham & Family
Heather Bosman
Frank Bouma
George Bowman
Brabant Foundation
Hans Brandl
Martha Breithaupt
Gordon Brocklebank
Hazel Broker
Douglas Brown
BTC Stewardship Endowment
Fund at the Guelph
Community Foundation
Sheila & Jeffrey Buckingham
Marlis Butcher & Family
Margot & Richard Byers
Rudi Carter & Family
Stephen Carty
Leah Casselman
Anne Caza
Ron Chapman
William Chapman
Shannon Chattington
Allen Clarke
Kenneth Corts & Anna-Marie
Castrodale
Andrew Costley
Dawn Crandell
Pat & Rick Dale
Michael Dawson
Ted & Jayne Dawson
Ruth Denyer
Joshua Dey
H C Duthie / L C Allen
Thomas Duyck & Family
Edgar Allan Eagle
Barbara Euler
Heather Evans & Derek Ferris
Family
Jerry Farrell
Andrea Fowler & Family
Jim & Betty Fyshe
Heather Gardiner
Peter Garstang
Stan & Diane Gasner
Peter Goldthorpe
Frank Greaves
Norman & Bonnie Greene
Gary & Sheilagh Hall
Peter & Barb Halsall
Scott Hamilton
David Harris & Family
Joan Hayes & Ron Varley
Rosemary Hayhurst-France
John Higham
Wednesday Hikers
William Hryniuk & Family
Theresa Hulleman
Jeremiah & Mita Hurley
Hydro One Employees &
Pensioners’ Charity Trust
Jackman Foundation
John Jackson
Ann Jackson & Denis Ho
David & Susan Johnson
Robert Johnson
Janette Johnston
Stephen Kamnitzer & Family
Gerry & Rose Karker
Daryl Keays & Maureen
McGuigan
Gisela Knappe
Dave Knox
Ernie & Moni Kuechmeister
Peter Leeney
Leonard Lillie
Carolynne Locke
Michael Lundholm
Frances MacFarlane
MacKenzie Financial Corporation
William Markow
Karl Massfeller
Marshall Matson
Robin Maughan & Family
Anne McClure & Family
Muriel McCoy
Robert McCuen
Grant McGlaughlin & Family
Chris McGonagle & Family
Maureen McGuigan
Helen McNeill
Catherine Middleton
Ray & Wendy Miske
Neighbourhood Association
Fund with the Cambridge &
North Dumfries Community
Foundation
Sharon Mugford
Dave & Lois Muir
Rob Murray & Family
Patricia Nelson
New Initiatives Marketing
Lee Nicholls
Fred Nix & Franca De Angelis
Jamie O'Donnell & Family
Richard Ogilvie & Family
Jean O'Grady
Claudette Paquin
Carol Parlow & Family
Michael Pedersen
Chantal Perrot
Diane Pope
Pradip Gordon Enterprises Ltd
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Canada Foundation
Herman Proper & Family
Russell Quick
George & Jennifer Rigg
Richard W Rinn & Family
Robert Fraser Cooper
Endowment Fund
Anne & John Roberts
Celia Rodd
Beth Ross
Elaine Ross & Family
Ronald & Patricia Savage
Alfred Schurr & Family
Robert Sears
Evelyn Shaver
Isabelle Sheardown &
Keith McEwen
Carol & Ken Sheppard & Family
Mary & Ray Shier
Jocelyn & Ted Shipman
Peter Sidgwick
Arthur Smith
Maureen Smith
Carol Snelling
John Sollazzo
Rosemary Speirs
Nancy Stayzer
Deb Steel
Sheila Stiles
Willard Sutherland
Peter Szatmari
TD Bank Group
TD Friends of the Environment
Foundation
Ted Tennant
Richard Thode
Paul Thompson
Brenda Tipper & Family
John Todd
Leon & Rosy Tretjakewitsch
Tuesday Hikers of the CHBTC
Peter Van Dillen & Family
Ilsetraut von Fehrentheil
Sharon & David Wadley
John & Grace Wakulat
Brenda Welch
Donna Wells & Family
Tom Wilson
Glen & Karen Wood
Ross Wood
David Young
Loudon Young
Danny Shu Wah Yu & Family
Thank you to our monthly
pledgers. Together they
donated over $65,000 this
past fiscal year.
Donna Aivalis
John & Judy Appleton
Michael Barnard & Family
Patricia Barton
Tony & Joan Barton
Steve & Jean Baxter & Family
Vikki Baylis & Family
John Bedford
Peter & Kim Bell
Marc Bertola & Family
Susan Bigland-Witton
Laurel Boatman
Karen Bonham & Family
Edward Borowski
David Bray
Mark Brett & Family
Ken & Heidi Brisco
Carol Budge
William Buhlman & Family
Barbara Burrows & Family
George Calder
Bruce & Ruth Calvert
Ewan Cameron
Michael Campbell
Louise Carberry
Malcolm Carr
Irene Carroll
Anne Cathrae
Eric Chabot
June Chambers & Family
Ron Chapman
William Chapman
Jan Church
Joanne & Mike Cicchini
Marilyn Cooper
James & Ann Couse
Christine Craig
Doug & Loreen Cumming
Victor & Sandra Davis
Catherine Daw
Ted & Jayne Dawson
Suzie DeVries
Harold Dickert
Stephen & Rosemary Digby
Heather DiMarco
Greig Dunn
Richard & Gloria Edwards
David Eikelboom
Patricia Elgie-Hamilton
Eadaoin Elliott
Barbara Euler
Josephine Evans
Elizabeth Fedorkow & David Alles
Mary Ferguson
Doug Finley
Greg & Alice Forbes
Jeffrey Forgrave
Stewart Forrest & Family
James Forster
Andrea Fowler & Family
Bill & Mary Eliz Fulton
Kit & Gilles Gagnon
Bill George & Barb Jackel
Donna Gierszewski
Don & Mimi Gillies
Christine Gordon
Jan Graves & Family
John & Jane Greenhouse
Geoff & Joann Guy
Stephen Hardacre &
Nadia Chiarotto
Donna Hemeon
Robert Hiemstra
Rainer & Ferelith HoffmannTaylor
Stephen Howe
Monica Hypher & Brian Byrnes
Ann Jackson & Denis Ho
Christina Jefferies
Jake Jenkins
Herbert Jenkins & Family
Dave Jewett
David Johnston
Janette Johnston
Julie Jones
Steve Jones & Family
Stephen & Karen Keenan-Chyc
& Family
Nicholas Keresztesi & Family
P J Kidston & Family
Brenda Kings & Family
Christine & Michael Kirby
Gisela Knappe
John Kranyics
Ernie & Moni Kuechmeister
John Kuhne
Alkarim Ladha & Family
Frank & Julie Lauritzen
Gayle Laws
Yong Cho Lee & Family
Peter Leeney
Brandon Levac
Christine Lewis
John & Kathryn Lye
Errol MacKenzie & Jeanne
Keldson
Peter & Marilyn MacLoghlin
Susan & Leslie MacMillan
William Markow
Donald Marshall
Nancy McCowan
Maureen McFarland
Sylvia J McGeer
Maureen McGuigan
Richard & Karen McLean
Kevin McLean & Adrienne
McRuvie
Leslie Michel
Catherine Middleton
Darryl Minard & Family
Russ & Pat Moore
David Moule
Patricia Nelson
Bill Nestorovich
Howard & Pamela Newman
Linda Nielsen-Jones
Rosalind Nightingale
Jamie O'Donnell & Family
Susan O'Neill & Family
Allan Outram
Marg & Will Overton
Heather Pantrey
M. Roy Parry
Nancy & Terry Petch & Family
Rosemary & Ian Petrie
Eugenia Piliotis & Bruce Geddes
Meg Poel
Diane Pope
Henry & Susan Popp
Anne-Marie Prendiville &
John Gillies
Susan & James Preyde
Roger Ratcliff
Mike Reel
Glynnis Rengger
Mary Frances Richardson
Don & Betty Richmond
Chris Robinson
Paul Roney
Larry Scott
Joyce Scruton
Lorraine Sherred
Nancy Sherwin
Mary & Ray Shier
Jocelyn & Ted Shipman
Peter & Christine Silvester
Ronald Simpkin & Family
Jason Smith
Maureen Smith
Grace Sorley
Patrick Speissegger & Family
Paul Stanbury
Sheila Stiles
Michael Stoten
Rob Straby & Family
Richard Switzer & Family
Willard & Sharon Thorne
Brenda Tipper & Family
Katherine Turner
George Vnoucek & Carolyn
Welch
David Wallis & Joan Jenkins
Karen Ward & Andre Kipin &
Family
Ken & Cecile Weber
Dorothy & Gerd Wengler
Heather Whitney
Gary Wilson
M C Hastings Withers
Elaine & Clifton Young
Fred & Shirley Young
Norman & Marilyn Young
HONORARY PRESIDENT
STAFF
Dr. Philip Gosling
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BRUCE TRAIL FOUNDERS
Beth (Kümmling) Gilhespy
Dr. Raymond Lowes, Dr. Philip Gosling,
Dr. Norman Pearson, Dr. Robert McLaren
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
HONORARY PATRONS
DIRECTOR OF FUNDRAISING
Robert Bateman, Sheila Copps, Jim Cuddy
Jan Graves
Marsha Russell
DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS
Jackie Randle
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Lynn Allen, Roger Beach, Neil Hester, Jean Kerins,
Janice McClelland, Malcolm Sanderson
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Warren Bell, Marlis Butcher, John Grandy,
Bruce Price, Connie Reeve
DIRECTOR OF LAND SECUREMENT
Antoin Diamond
DONOR STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR
Kimra Shillingford
LAND STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR
Adam Brylowski
CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP OFFICER
Brian Popelier
DIRECTORS FROM CLUBS
Niagara: Trudy Senesi
Iroquoia: Paul Toffoletti
Toronto: Peter Leeney
Caledon Hills: Jean Kerins
Dufferin Hi-Land: Isabelle Sheardown
Blue Mountains: Marietta Service
Beaver Valley: Joëlle Martin
Sydenham: Don Richards
Peninsula: Walter Brewer
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
Laura Tuohy
CARTOGRAPHER
Scott Langley
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Allison Wright
ACCOUNTANT
Kevin Durfy
OFFICE ADMINISTRATORS
Sharon Fennell, Patricia Stainton,
Cheryll Sullivan
P.O. Box 857
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 3N9
Tel: 905-529-6821
Toll-Free: 1-800-665-4453
Fax: 905-529-6823
Email: [email protected]
www.brucetrail.org
Charitable Reg. No.: 11921 7578 RR0001