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E-Notes Bulletin: Remembering Wayne Crockett, 1957-2022
November 26, 2022
 
In Memoriam: Wayne Crockett
by Tom Swales, Hiking Director

It is with a heavy heart that I advise of the unexpected and sudden passing of our well respected and much loved Hike Leader and friend, Wayne Crockett, on Sunday November 20th 2022.

Wayne, one of our most dedicated and active volunteers, joined the Toronto Bruce Trail Club in 1994, served on the board as Hiking Director for two terms (2008-2011 & 2015-2017), was presented the Nina Carlisle Award in 2018 in recognition of his many years of service which began as the TBTC archivist in 2004, and continued to actively support the club, hiking program, and fellow Hike Leaders in multiple roles and as an excellent person to turn to for advice. .

Wayne is best known for his many Bus Hikes which included End-End series allowing members to earn badges (the Beaver Valley series completed Nov 12 2022 being the most recent) and annual favorites such as his War Of 1812 themed hikes, the Lynn Valley trail to Port Dover for perch fish and chips on the beach, the Niagara Glen & Whirlpool, Petroglyphs Provincial Park, and a Christmas lunch hike at Mono Cliffs. He had a deep passion for organizing and leading hikes and eagerly anticipated his upcoming hikes as much as those would participate. You could expect a well-planned day enjoying nature, a professionally led and organized hike, and a carefully selected post-hike refreshment stop to enjoy fellowship with like-minded hikers. In the Winter season Wayne was actively involved in the Cross Country Skiing/Snowshoeing program. Wayne was very much looking forward to the trip to Magog in March, hiking with a group in Newfoundland, and getting back to leading some of his regular Bus Hikes during the 2023 season. 

Wayne assisted with Hike Leader Training, the Hiker Initiation Program (H.I.P.), training and technical support of the hike registration systems (both old and new), AV and remote call-in support for the in-person meetings, and managed the First Student bus bookings for the Bus Hikes up to recently. He has been the editor of E-Notes which has been very effective in communicating news and information of what’s happening in the club and promoting upcoming hikes and trips.

Wayne would always step up to help with no hesitation whenever there was a need. Whether it was taking over to assist on a hike at literally the last minute, researching and leading urban walks because there was a demand and a hike leader had to retire, or getting our hikes on the BTC Unified Hiking schedule, Wayne would be there. During the pandemic when the Bus Hikes were on hiatus and the hiking program wasn’t shut down, Wayne was one of the Hike Leaders who regularly led Urban Walks and even managed to lead a couple of snowshoe outings in the city when group size restrictions meant the Winter Coach Trips couldn’t be run. In 2022 his constant efforts to promote the Bus Hikes and Coach Trips through E-Notes and other means helped make the season successful and get us on the path to a promising future. 

Wayne has inspired and mentored many of the Hike Leaders from the now more experienced to the more recent graduates. Anyone mentored by him has learned a lot to become a quality and confident hike leader. He was one of the best people to turn to for advice but at the same time if people had new ideas he would encourage them to pick it up and run with it. 

Wayne was a genuine, kind, generous, knowledgeable, and good natured person and will be sorely missed by all who hiked with him whom he gave so many memorable experiences and by the fellow volunteers that worked with him. 

His influence on the Hiking Program through the people he inspired and passed his wisdom on to and much of what we have in place today will be with us for a long time. 

Wayne’s family plans a private Celebration Of Life at a later date. Anyone wishing to donate in Wayne’s memory can do so to the Bruce Trail Conservancy or the Heart and Stroke Foundation

The TBTC Board will be discussing ways of recognizing Wayne over the coming weeks. 

David Royle and I will be leading the Toronto Island evening walk on December 10th and will be paying tribute to Wayne during the walk. Registration opens November 26th.

Click here for Wayne's family's obituary. 

Note: Hikers and friends are invited to share their photos and memories of Wayne in a memorial album on the Share Your Hike Facebook page.
 
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Toronto Bruce Trail Club E-Notes Editor, Publisher: Magdalena Vanderkooy mvkooy@gmail.com 






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Toronto Bruce Trail Club · PO Box 597 · Toronto, On M6P4E7 · Canada