Woolwich Trails Group

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Meeting Minutes

 

Chair person: Gloria Yeung

Those attending: Jim Bauman, Mark Bauman, Murray Beacom, Brad Fisher, Merle Hoffman, Paul Miller, Inga Rinne, Ann Roberts, John and Bev Robinson, Clint Rohr, Nancy Stayzer, Gloria Yeung.

 

  1. Membership committee report: John R. reported that there are currently 94 members.
  2. Guidebooks: The 5th edition of the Woolwich Trails Guidebook is now available!  Thanks to Gloria for the many hours spend editing text and maps….it really looks great. Thanks to John and Bev R. for the great cover photo and to Murray for supplying the subjects…another great cover.  Once again Jim did a great job with the printing. Thanks to Dale and Roberta Schofield for their $2000 donation to the group for printing.  This is in exchange for the ad for Wings of Paradise on the inside front cover.   A plaque acknowledging their kind donation will be put in the kiosk at Priddle Park.
  3. Kiosks/mapping: Gloria has revised the 8.5 x 11” colour map.  She is working with Melinda at the Region to get the forestry layer on the large maps for the kiosks.  Reeves Printing will then print and laminate the map.  Gloria has printed and laminated the small pieces of info for the kiosks.  John Mc. is doing some reprinting at work.  Hope to have the kiosks finished this fall.
  4. Trail travels: Jim talked about his trail experiences on the coastal trail from Anchorage, the TCT between Dawson and Whitehorse and the Chilicoot trail at Skagway.  Inga talked about biking the Confederation trail on PEI.  We hope to hear about Eleanor’s trail adventures in Britain at the next meeting.  
  5. June hike report:  Shirley led the June hike at Floradale. 
  6. September 19th hike: Joy is leading the hike in Schneiders Woods.  The group is invited to a pot luck hosted by the GVTA following the hike.
  7. August 21st work party: Mark organized a work party to repair the steps washed away on the HVT in May.  Nancy reported that it is in fine working order.
  8. Fall Work Party: Mark would like to repair the bridge over Martin’s Creek.  Will plan a work party once the corn is harvested (likely after Thanksgiving) making access easier.  Merle, Clint, Paul, Jim, Nancy and John R. are interested in helping.  
  9. Grand Valley Trail: In 2003 the group volunteered to help with maintenance on a section of the GVT (between Line 86 and the Woolwich/Wellington boundary). In August John R. and Ann cleared and reblazed the section between Line 86 and Middlebrook.  Ann and Bob Beninger of GVTA, cleared and reblazed the section between Middlebrook and the Township/county boundary in July.  This section is in good shape for the remainder of 2004.  Anyone interested in doing the spring maintenance check can contact Ann.
  10. Elmira Lions Club Report: In Art’s absence Ann reported that a new section of the Ring Trail in Elmira (on the Elmira Industrial Lands) was completed this summer. 
  11. Conestogo/Winterbourne Optimist Club report: In Pete’s absence Nancy reported that the Kissing Bridge Trailway/TCT between Northfield and the Grand River was surfaced with stone dust in August.  Pete hopes to install the TCT Discovery signs along the KBT/TCT this fall.
  12. Trail trimming:  Thanks to John R. and students Cory Pulzin and Landon Gregory for their help with trimming along the HVT, TCT and MRT in 2004.  John R. suggests that a hand trimmer/weed wacker be attached to the walk-behind for burdocks etc.  Nancy said that her son Cory may be interested in trimming in 2005.  Ann will have the walk-behind serviced this winter.
  13. Hike ad in the Record: John R. offered to check into the community page of the Life section of the Record to see if the group can advertise their hikes (as the GVTA does).
  14. Breslau:  In June, Mark, Loretta and Ann explored some trail route options in Breslau which could link the 2 new residential developments (Thomasfield and Forewell).  Ann to make some inquiries.
  15. TWEEC(Township of Woolwich Environmental Enhancement Committee) updates: TWEEC has three tree planting projects planned for this fall: Breslau PS tree planting, Oct. 2 at 9 am, Bristow Park (land behind the visitor info centre) in Elmira and Triangle Park in St. Jacobs (land between the public school and the train tracks).  The Breslau project is part of the schools naturalization project.  The projects in Elmira and St. Jacobs are part of Home Hardware’s 40th anniversary celebration.  HH is planting 40 trees at 40 sites in each province and territory.  The planting date is Wed. Sept. 29, 9 am.  Please contact Ann if you are interested and available in helping plant trees on either October 2 or September 29th.  
  16. Possible Projects for 2005: John suggested installing some stone dust on the HVT east of Martin’s Creek.  A possible Breslau trail connection was also discussed.
  17. Woolwich Healthy Communities Discussion: Clint reported that there has been interest shown for an indoor walking track, similar to the one at the Waterloo rec. centre, to be part of the new rec. complex in Elmira.  Mark indicated that this is being discussed with the rec. facility plans.  Initial estimates are at $.5 million for an indoor track.

Joy sent along the following information with Gloria:

    1. Healthy Communities Party:  Wed. Feb 9 or 23rd---is one date better than the other?  Do people want to continue with a format similar to that of past years (dinner, awards, timeline of events for each group)?  Perhaps we could use this as an opportunity to discuss the smart growth plan, especially alternative transportation modes.  Perhaps we could have someone come in and speak….Kevin Curtis and Ken Seiling were suggested.  Please let Joy know your thoughts.
    2. Newsletter:  the HC newsletter is usually sent out in spring and fall. Is there a need for both or could we just send out a spring newsletter…this would be a good time to announce upcoming work parties, hikes etc.  Please let Joy know your thoughts.
    3. Provincial Healthy Communities Conference: Sept 23 to 25 in Perth.  Topic is inspiring change and encouraging healthy communities.  Cost is $115 for the conference.   Meals and accommodation would be extra.  The Coordinating Committee would put $300 towards the cost for anyone who might be interested in attending.  More info on the conference is at www.healthycommunities.on.ca/projects/annualconference.   Call Joy if you are interested in attending.

 

 

Dates to remember……

 

Next meeting date: Wednesday October 20, 2004, 7 pm at the fire hall in St. Jacobs.

 

Next Family Sunday Hike….

October 17th, 2004, 2pm:  Explore the trail system near Fergus.

Cross the bridge into downtown Elora and turn right onto Road 18.  Continue on Road 18, through Aboyne, until you get to the overhead railway bridge just before Fergus.  Take the first right past the railway bridge and park in the lot.

Trail rating: easy walking stone dust rail trail.  Note: there is a steep hill to access the trail.

 

Minutes prepared by Ann Roberts.  Questions? Please contact Ann at 669-1647 x265 or Schering@look.ca .

 Note: If you no longer wish to receive these minutes or other information from the trails group please contact Ann to have your name removed from the mailing list.  Thanks.