Winter 2019 THE QUARTERLY OF THE TORONTO BRUCE TRAIL CLUB Vol. LVI No. 4 www.torontobrucetrailclub.org | [email protected] Farewell to Footnotes Our Club enters a new era The first issue of Footnotes was published in 1964. Since then there have been many changes to the Bruce Trail, to Footnotes, and in the world. Footnotes was originally published three times a year. In 1979 - fifteen years after inception - the Club Board decided to expand it to a quarterly publication. Add another forty years to that timeline to arrive at 2019 and we again stand at a fork in the Trail, driven by the need for change. We now have alternate methods of disseminating information that are quicker and less impactful on the environment. The club website and e-Notes are two such examples. Both of these vehicles allow us to send information to you in a more timely manner without requiring the long lead times it takes to produce a paper-based postally-distributed newsletter. In response to changes in technology, changes in the world climate, and heeding what you the members asked at the Spring AGM, the TBTC with support of the BTC has decided to end Footnotes. This issue is the final issue that will be produced. As editor of these last six issues it has been my privilege to serve and contribute. I look forward to continue doing so through our alternate communication vehicles. Orest Nahacziwec Communications Director and Footnotes Editor Footnotes in 1964 Footnotes in 1979 Footnotes in 2019 www.torontobrucetrailclub.org Table of Contents Footnotes Toronto Bruce Trail Club is published quarterly by the Board of Directors (as of September 18th, 2019) Farewell Footnotes P1 Toronto Bruce Trail Club P.O. Box 597 Hiking Director’s Notes P3 2938 Dundas Street West President; Toronto, Ontario M6P 4E7 Volunteer Co-ordinator: Stairway Repaired P4 Graham Allen [email protected] [email protected] 2019 Susan Oleskevich Awardee P4 www.torontobrucetrailclub.org Vice-President; Hiking Director: ISSN 0380-9354 AGM 2020 P5 David Royle A member of the Bruce Trail Conservancy [email protected] Reaching Out To Our Supporters P5 Many thanks to all the volunteers who Past President; Lifetime Achievement Award P5 helped in the production of this issue. BTC Land Securement Secretariat Rep.: John Grandy General Information P6 Send address changes to: BTC Director; Trail Director: Hike Program (Dec to Feb) P7 The Bruce Trail Conservancy Marlis Butcher PO Box 857, Hamilton, ON L8N 3N9 [email protected] Looking Ahead P13 www.brucetrail.org Secretary: 1-800-665-4453 Ext 0 Trail Users’ Code P16 Robert Gillespie [email protected] For missing copies of Footnotes Yours to Discover P17 call 1-800-665-4453 Ext 0 Treasurer: End To End Hikers P18 Monday to Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Sarah-Louise Quig Land Stewardship Director; Cheltenham Badlands P19 Opinions expressed in Footnotes are not Land Management Committee Chair: necessarily the views of the TBTC unless Peter Leeney (acting) In Memory of James Forster P20 stated as such. Advertising does not imply 905-822-1877 endorsement by the TBTC. [email protected] Footnotes Resource Support Membership Director: Alina Lin Footnotes Editor: Orest Nahacziwec [email protected] Proofreaders: Marilyn MacKellar Communications Director; Kathryn Emirzian Footnotes Editor Orest Nahacziwec Advertising [email protected] & Mail Coordinator: Jude Keast Bookkeeper; Director at Large Webmaster: Stephen Kamnitzer Janet McColeman E-Notes Editors: Wayne Crockett Magdalena Vanderkooy Directors at Large: Natalia Svechnikova Log in to the Members section of Archivist: vacant vacancies - volunteers needed: the Club website using your BTC Social Director membership number and your City of Toronto Liaison: Nick Teramura Fundraising own password. Halton Hills Chapter: Janet Le Lievre Archivist The Toronto Bruce Trail Club is one of nine clubs making up the Bruce Trail Conservancy, which is dedicated to the conservation of the Niagara Escarpment. You are invited to visit the Toronto Club’s website at www.torontobrucetrailclub.org 2 Winter 2019 www.torontobrucetrailclub.org Hiking Director’s Notes WIDEN YOUR VIEWFINDER, HIKERS! Widen your viewfinder, hikers -to the broadest settings possible! In September we hosted our annual Toronto End to End. This year it was a two-day event. The spotlight was certainly beaming on Jacquie Van Dyke for her exemplary leadership in organizing such a successful event. We will be welcoming Michael McDonald, Chief Executive Officer of the Bruce Trail Conservancy, to our A.G.M. on Sunday, April 19, 2020. We will again be meeting at the Kortright Centre for Conservation. Bus hikes will be organized to bring members to the event. Under the inspiring leadership of Graham Allen, our Board of Directors has adopted the Toronto Bruce Trail Club Strategic Plan which includes more inclusive opportunities that recognize and promote diversity within our Club. Building community is at the heart of everything that the Toronto Bruce Trail Club offers. We are offering a Hiker Initiation Program in April. The H.I.P. Committee consists of Martina Furrer, Peter Leeney, Brenda Menezes, David Royle, Tom Swales, Magdalena Van Der Koy and Juliet Williams. We are delighted to receive a range of accolades from new hikers who have experienced our Program. The Toronto Bruce Trail Club recognized the contribution Tom Swales made in 2018 as leader of this initiative. Tom was warmly applauded as he received the Todd Bardes Award at the 2019 A.G.M. Our Hiking Program continues to promote the collective contributions of both hike leaders and hikers. One of of our most experienced and well loved hike leaders Barbara Euler leads by example in this regard. Barbara received the prestigious Nina Carlisle Award at the A.G.M. Thank you Barbara for your continuing dedication to our Club. We set off a fresh chapter this Fall, to step out of any restrictive boxes and colour outside the lines a bit more. Our club has so many great and innovative members. We charge our hike leaders to put their talents on display in creating a wide selection of hikes. I also encourage hikers to speak up and share their out-of-the-box ideas. One such timely initiative that illustrates the power of thinking outside the box occurred in the Spring. An idea was put forward by Francine Tremblay to hike leader Brenda Menezes, to hold a Navigation and Map Reading Course for hikers. Brenda and David followed through by contacting one of our most experienced leaders, Charles Whitlock. Ten hikers gathered at the prestigious Fung Ly Kok Taoist Centre on a gorgeous sunny Sunday in August to be taught these essential skills by Charles. Together we created an exceptional learning opportunity. The accomplishment that Francine, Brenda, David and Charles achieved is just one snapshot of the work of the Toronto Bruce Trail Club. I know of many other examples of the collective contributions our members make that not only connect people to nature but strengthen existing relationships. Further exciting opportunities will keep rolling in and you will want plenty of white space in your calendar when that happens. Few clubs can match the spectrum of hikes our Club offers to a wide diversity of people. Of special note, our one of a kind Winter Ski & Snowshoe Coach Program is up and running. This continues to be a huge success, led by Martina Furrer. Her dedication to providing high quality experiences as our outstanding leader of the Winter Program has been officially recognized by the Toronto Bruce Trail Club. Under the leadership of Peter Leeney, the Hike Leader Training Committee is preparing a Training Program to be launched in April. The H.L.T. Committee consists of Wayne Crockett, Magdalena Van Der Koy, Peter Leeney, Brenda Menezes, Jackie Van Dyke and Charles Whitlock. There really is no better time to become a hike leader. Our hike leaders have the experience and knowledge to deliver exceptional experiences: train with us and you will be in safe hands. Thank you everyone for your contribution to our continued success. David Royle Hiking Director and Vice President, Toronto Bruce Trail Club Email: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Winter 2019 3 www.torontobrucetrailclub.org Stairway Repaired by Marlis Butcher, Trail Director In September seven Trail Maintenance volunteers spent a fun day repairing a staircase in Silver Creek. The frame of the staircase, built about twenty years ago, was still structurally sound, but it was tilting and most of the gravel had washed out. The team leveled the staircase and added eight new steps to help hold in the new gravel fill. The team also did some stone masonry, creating a rough patio at both ends of the staircase. At the same time a set of steps lower down the hill were repaired, and new water bars were added to help control the rain runoff. The results are “heavenly” - and just in time for the 2019 End-to-End hikers to enjoy. Many thanks to Shimeem Al-Ayash, Lois Bastell, John Borley, Rose-Mary Mitter, Dave Paape, and Peter Pritchard who volunteered their time on this work party. John Borley, Lois Bastell, Peter Pritchard 2019 Susan Oleskevich Awardee The TBTC’s very own Dave Paape was the 2019 recipient of the Susan Oleskevich Award* at the BTC’s annual general meeting. Dave has been a member and volunteer with the TBTC since at least 1984. Trail maintenance has been his “thing” – he’s always inspecting and maintaining the Trail. Dave comes out on just about every work party in the Toronto section, eager to ensure that our trails are safe and interesting for hikers. In fact, he just moved from Toronto to Georgetown to be closer to the Trail.