FOUR different hikes you can choose from to make it a full day at Kortright
 Yes that’s right. If coming by bus you have 3 choices for hiking. The bus fare is $25 for members and $10 for children (members):
- Biodiversity Hike - Join us for a 3-4 km hike to learn about the importance of local areas like Kortright Conservation Area and the Bruce Trail, the 7 principles of "Leave No Trace", and all the organisms around us. Come to share your knowledge and learn from others!
- Nature Photography Hike - Join our Club's hike leader Nijole Mockevicius, an avid photographer. Nijole will be discussing - together with the participants - and applying basic camera techniques for the most common nature images taken along the trails. Bring your DSLR camera, iPad, iPhone, or other devices.
- Hike with Andrew - Join Andrew Proczek for an intermediate 7.7 km perimeter loop hike on all of the Kortright Centre For Conservation trails. Some hills. Strong beginners welcome.
Sign up for these hikes here.
- If you are driving to Kortright, you can join Frank Ye & Jen Zhang on a 9k hike through variable terrain starting from Centre. Sign up for their hike here. (There is no cost for the car hike.)
Return to Menu
|
|
We have lots of deserving volunteers that you can congratulate in person!
 How about all those hard-working trail maintenance volunteers? Some of them have been on the job for 30 years such as Patti Guminny who will be recognized. In all there are 12 trail volunteers who have reached a certain threshold where they will be recognized.
The Nina Carlisle award will be handed out to the person most deserving for their long-standing service. There is also the Todd Bardes award which goes to an individual for going above and beyond over a shorter time period. Take a look at past award winners here.
Return to menu
|
|
Guest Speaker Shimeem Al-Ayash – A Sense of Belonging
 Shimeem Al-Ayash is the Volunteer and Outreach Assistant at the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC). As part of the Community Engagement team at the BTC, Shimeem works with all nine Bruce Trail Clubs to raise awareness about the Bruce Trail, encourage support for and participation in the BTC, and develop new initiatives to reach new audiences. Shimeem chairs the BTC’s inter-Club committee for Diversity Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB). At our AGM, Shimeem will explore what it means to foster a sense of belonging as it relates to the Bruce Trail, drawing from her personal experiences as a newcomer to Canada and her professional roles both at the BTC and throughout her career.
Return to menu
|
|
What Happens at the AGM? Timing and Agenda for the Meeting and Hikes
 Here’s a quick glance at the schedule of events. If you are going on a bus hike before the meeting, your day begins at 8:30 leaving from either the Kipling or York Mills station (which one you pick). A car hike starting at the Kortright grounds begins at 9 a.m.
Registration begins at 11 a.m. at the Kortright Centre. A fully catered lunch begins at 11:45 a.m. and the meeting gets underway at 1 p.m. We should all be adjourned by 2:30 p.m., leaving you more time to socialize or explore more of the beautiful grounds. If you would like to see the full meeting agenda you can go to this link: Meeting Agenda. If you can’t make the meeting and would like someone to vote as your proxy, contact our secretary by email:
rhea.on.board@gmail.com and she will send you a form you can sign and return to her by April 18.
Return to menu
|
|
Motion to change Board of Directors term limits
A proposal will be made at this year’s AGM to change the Toronto Board of Director term limits from 15 years to a maximum of 9 years. This change is in step with the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s Board of Directors term limits. The change to 9 years was agreed upon by the Toronto Board and requires a vote by all members, since the term limits for directors are outlined in our Constitution. Reduced terms for directors allow the board to build on the ideas of both veteran leaders and new emerging leaders. The motion, simply stated, will be to reduce board of director term limits from 15 years to 9 years (with one year extension for exceptional circumstances).
Return to menu
|
|
Saturday April 20 Hockley Valley and Mono Cliffs Bus Hike
 Here’s a bus hike on Saturday April 20 you don’t want to miss. It features two hiking options in the beautiful Caledon Hills and Dufferin Hi-Land sections of the Bruce Trail. Choose between a moderate hike (about 13k) and a fast hike (about 18k). Both groups will hike north from Hockley Valley to the Split Rock Side Trail. Refreshments after, if time allows. Martina Furrer, Roland Mark, Leonora Rochwerger and Tim Wainwright are your hike leaders. The cost is $25 for members. Bus leaves York Mills subway station at 8:30 a.m. with an anticipated return to the city by 6 p.m. Registration opens tomorrow April 6. Here is the link to sign up.
Return to menu
|
|
Hiker Initiation Program (HIP) 2024
For those who want to know more about hiking with the Bruce Trail Club, we offer a Hiker Initiation Program (HIP). The 2024 program has two parts: Hiking overview by webinar and introductory hikes. The first part, a free webinar open to all, will be held Monday, May 6, 2024, from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. We will provide information on the ins and outs of hiking, and the benefits of hiking. The webinar via Zoom, is presented by experienced hike leaders from the Toronto Club. Also, learn about the Bruce Trail, our winter Hiking program, biodiversity, and how to become a member. This webinar will be followed by an opportunity to go on an organized hike which will be scheduled in May. Look for more information about the hiking program on our website, social media and the next issue of E-Notes. Sign up here now!
Return to menu
|
|
|
|
Have you kept in touch with hikers that you used to hike with on bus, car and urban hikes, but haven’t seen for a while? Maybe you are remembering your old friends from your trail maintenance or biodiversity excursions?
The Toronto Club is a welcoming place. If you are a recent member and would like to know more about Club activities such as our hiking programs, land stewardship, trail maintenance, events and event planning, you’ve come to the right place! All of the group leaders and board members will be at the Kortright Centre April 21. There will be lots of time to ask questions either formally or informally at lunch or in the hallways.
