IROQUOA The Iroquoian Official Newsletter of the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club SPRING 2015 SIGHTS ON THE TRAIL Saturday April 18th , 2015 - 52nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 12:00 NOON Meeting Begins TWO PRE-MEETING HIKES 9:00 AM - 2 Hour Hike 10:00 am - 1 Hour Hike Silent Auction * Elections * Club Reports * Awards * Lunch Guest speaker Dr. David Galbraith, Head of Science at the Royal Botanical Gardens will talk about the Cootes to Escarpment Ecopark Initiative IROQUOIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014/2015 THE IROQUOIAN President The Iroquoian Newsletter is Cathie Mills - 905-538-1583 published quarterly by the IBTC, [email protected] one of nine member clubs of the Vice President & Fundraising Bruce Trail Conservancy, a Doug Stansbury 905-545-2715 registered non-profit organization. Bruce Trail [email protected] Conservancy We welcome submission of articles Iroquoia Club BTC Board Representative or photographs for publication from Paul Toffoletti - 905-634-2642 PO Box 857 our members. All submissions will Hamilton, ON, L8N 3N9 Secretary be reviewed and must be approved Catherine Kilpatrick by the Board of Directors. [email protected] VISIT THE CLUB’S Contact the Newsletter Editor at WEBSITE FOR Trail Director [email protected] INFORMATION AND Ken Lawday - 905-876-2527 [email protected] ACTIVITIES: www.iroquoia.on.ca Hiking Director Anne Armstrong 905-337-3937 [email protected] Treasurer THE IROQUOIAN PUBLICATION Martin Hazleden 905-336-0550 DEADLINES [email protected] Volunteer Director SPRING ISSUE - JANUARY 20 Karina Gould SUMMER ISSUE - APRIL 20 www.facebook.com/ [email protected] IroquoiaBruceTrailClub FALL ISSUE - JULY 20 Membership Director WINTER ISSUE - OCTOBER 20 Vern Erickson 905-667-4370 [email protected] Media Director & Newsletter Editor Advertising rates, per issue, are Michael McDonald www.twitter.com/ as follows: 905-928-5324 IroquoiaBruceTr michaeldouglasmcdonald@gmail. com 1/4 page - 3.5 x 5: $60.00 Land Securement Director 1/2 page - 7.5 x 5: $90.00 Michael Kraft 519-780-2397 Full page - 8 x 10: $150.00 [email protected] Ads MUST be sent print ready as PDF or WORD Landowner Relations Director For Advertising submissions John Farquharson please contact KATHY BOYCE - 905-639-3092 [email protected] PLEASE SIGN UP FOR THE EMAIL Land Stewardship Director EDITION OF THIS NEWSLETTER Gary Beaudoin 905-335-8076 !2 NATURE ON THE TRAIL Imagine coming across this little fellow…a saw whet owl, only about 7 inches high! And also having your camera at the ready! Such was the delightful experience of Sean Morton and Sonya Richmond, the Land Steward team for our Dopko property ,near the Grimsby boundary of Iroquoia. Such an event is one of the bonuses of volunteering to be a Land Steward for the BTC. As most members know by now, the BTC is continuing work to guarantee a conservation corridor all the way along the Niagara Escarpment, containing a public footpath. Part of that effort involves purchasing and managing key properties. The BTC currently manages over 200 such properties, 17 of which are in Iroquoia, and we have Stewards/Steward Teams covering all of these properties. The Stewardship process is as follows. Each property has been studied in detail by BTC Staff, who prepare a Stewardship Plan, which is the basis of the Land Steward’s regular duties. Stewards are required to visit their properties and report to their Land Steward Director at least twice per year. These site visits involve inspection of the overall property (not just the Trail area itself) and especially property boundaries, for it is there that issues often occur. Unlike a city property, the boundaries of these properties are not always obvious, so appropriately determining and marking boundaries, and posting signage, are the first duties of the Land Steward. After that, the Steward can begin to work on Recommendations and other aspects of the Stewardship Plan, including observations on the wildlife and vegetation of the Property. And one may be skilled enough to capture a memorable image like our saw whet owl above! written by Gary Beaudoin, Land Steward Director, Iroquoia !3 Comfortable Hiking Holidays NOTICE TO MEMBERS (416) 445-2628 Proposed slate of our Board of [email protected] www.letshike.com Directors for election 52nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING KENYA Saturday April 18th , 2015 July 5 to 17, 2015 Have you always wanted to go on a safari but can't see yourself Cathie Mills* sitting in a jeep all day long, day after day? For active travellers like ourselves, a walking safari is the perfect way to get to Doug Stansbury* know Kenya. It really gets you up close & personal with the animals - and there are A LOT of animals to be seen. In Anne Armstrong* addition, there is the natural beauty of the land and the proud heritage of its tribes; we have included many extras as part of Michael McDonald* our program so that you will have a complete Kenyan experience. Vern Erickson* As animal lovers, walking amongst giraffes and zebras is a big draw but we felt that the trip should encompass the culture as Gary Beaudoin* well. So we added a lecture by the tour owner (who is from the Kikuyu tribe), a visit to a weaving cooperative, visits to Masai Paul Toffoletti* homesteads, a visit to a local elementary school, a visit to a local market (not a tourist market but a regular market where John Farquharson* locals would shop), and a tour of a tea plantation. We are very proud of the program we have put together and Michael Kralt this trip has easily become one of our favourites of the year. Take a walk on the wild side with us this July; it’s one of Karina Gould the coolest months of the year in Kenya! Allan Meyer PERU & MACHU PICCHU September 12 to 25, 2015 Spend a week exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas by * denotes Directors standing for re-election hiking through the famed salt pans of Maras, the ancient ruins of Pisac, and trekking high up into the Urubamba mountain range. Then that all important day arrives when we hike into Machu Picchu – rounding the corner of the Sun Gate and seeing Machu Picchu with your own eyes will give you goose bumps. Do not to delay in making your reservation. Land Steward for a day – Sat. May 10 Inca permits must be booked now to ensure we get into Machu Picchu on our desired date! Have you ever wanted to know what a BTC Land Steward does? Join me as we look for TURKEY problems, property boundaries, spot native and October 17 to 28, 2015 Hike in Cappadocia with its secret frescoed churches, non-native flora and fauna and go through a list underground cities and volcanic tuff sculpted into fairy of other items to investigate. We will also discuss chimneys. Visit ancient ruins, shop the bazaars of Istanbul and take a history lesson through time. Steeped in tradition and a the BTC Land Stewardship program and how masterpiece of nature, Turkey will impress you. you can participate. This event will be limited to 4 people and will take place in the Burlington CUBA area in the morning. It will involve walking on November 1 to 13, 2015 Forget the resorts and come see the real Cuba! Hike through the trail and walking through the bush, and on jungle-like forests, picturesque colonial towns & sugar cane fields. Explore the Viñales Valley, swim in the San Juan River uneven ground. If interested please send an pools & have lunch on a coffee plantation. Get a true feel for email to Paul Toffoletti at what Cuba is really all about – culturally, scenically and historically, and have yourself an experience you will talk about [email protected] and state “landsteward” forever. in the subject line. Pace: Slow – Terrain: Moderate Hike an adventure. For more info call 905-634-2642 Rest in comfort. !4 IROQUOIA BRUCE TRAIL CLUB Certi&ied Hike Leader Training – June 2015 Iroquoia is a club with approximately 2100 plus or minus members. It is always a challenge to provide a good variety and number of hikes for our members to enjoy. We are constantly in need of revitalizing our group of hike leaders. This is where we need you. Have you ever thought of becoming a hike leader? It is not that difEicult. To accomplish our goal of providing a good variety of hikes. we need hike leaders who are knowledgeable in hike leading management and are willing to lead hikes for various levels and abilities of hiking. This will be an investment in our club’s future as well. Iroquoia is offering a hike leader training session in June, 2015. The session will be offered on June 7 from 9:00 am. to 5:00 pm. at McMaster University. It will be delivered by a CertiEied Hike Leading Instructor in a classroom setting, with hands on outdoor training. Cost will be $50 for Iroquoia Club members and $75 for non members. Part of the training will include apprenticeship with a hike leader on two Iroquoia hikes on days that are suitable for you. More information will follow upon registration. To register yourself or for more information, please send an e-mail to Anne Armstrong at [email protected] or call Anne Armstrong at 905-337-3937. You must also register with Hike Ontario. Please use the link below. h#ps://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CHL060715-HAM Anne Armstrong Hike Management Director, Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club IROQUOIA CLUB SEEKING A TRAIL DIRECTOR Following 5 successful years in this role, our Club’s current Trail Director - Ken Lawday will be stepping down in April 2015.