September 2023
Two themes dominate this month's newsletter - our annual Bruce Trail Day, and a plethora of hikes. That's only fitting as we approach what many consider the best hiking time of the year, when the bugs are gone, the temperatures have cooled, and the colours are brilliant.
Here's what you'll find this month:
- Belonging is second nature: President David Royle ushers in the fall season with a message about our Club's commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
- Bruce Trail Day, Oct 1: The theme this year is "welcoming". Which neighbour, friend, colleague or relative will you invite to join you on one of our special hikes? #brucetrailforall
- Maureen Smith Tribute Hike: Our Club lost a very special person this spring. We hope you'll join us as we pay tribute through a hike that includes, naturally, the Maureen Smith Side Trail.
- Playground of the Gods in Newfoundland: Hike leader Ross Tito hiked in Newfoundland this summer, an experience he says is unforgettable.
- Ask us Anything: When it comes to inclusion and belonging, physical difficulties present a special challenge for people who love the Trail. Our columnist provides a list of places that are easier to navigate, and some are even wheel-chair accessible.
- Earn the Blue Mountains Badge in 6 "easy" bus hikes: Registration is now open for the first in this series that we told you about in May.
- Mark your Calendars: Lots of upcoming events, listed here to help you keep track.
Happy September, everyone.
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President’s Message: Belonging is Second Nature
 On Sunday, October 1 we hold our annual Bruce Trail Day. This year our theme is about creating a Club that is welcoming to all, and where everyone knows they belong.
In my role as President I want to embrace our Club’s commitment to making sure that this sense of belonging is like second nature, for everyone, forever. The outdoors, as we know, are good for our hearts, bodies and minds. Everyone deserves opportunities to benefit from time in nature.
Our Club formed a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Team in 2021. This team knows how important the sense of belonging is, but at the same time they recognize there are barriers in our society that prevent some from feeling welcome and included on trails and public land. (Three of our Directors also sit on the larger Bruce Trail Conservancy DEIB Committee: Karen Hanson, Louise Kent and David Royle.)
Racial and social justice is essential to our mission. A history of underinvestment in particular communities, particularly for people of colour, and structural inequality creates high barriers for some individuals to participate in outdoor activities. The DEIB team is working towards a more just future. We recognize the need for our Club to honour everyone’s history and identities, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender identity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, age and ability.
Building an inclusive hiking community is not easy. It takes time, patience and trust in teamwork. The same can be said about protecting and preserving our trails and the work that our Land Management Committee promotes. The TBTC is equally committed to the long-term stewardship of both.
The Toronto Bruce Trail Club Board of Directors want to welcome everyone into the hiking community. We believe everyone should enjoy the benefits of the work our trail volunteers undertake. Also, we believe a diverse, engaged and growing community is vital for the future of the trails we love. Our members will be the strongest champion for trails if it builds connections across identities and honours open dialogue about how we can all do better.
Embrace the good things.
David Royle President, Toronto Bruce Trail Club
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Toronto Club Celebrates Bruce Trail Day with Special “Welcoming” Hikes
 Each year, the Toronto Club, along with its 8 sister clubs, holds special hikes and events to celebrate Bruce Trail Day. This year, on Oct. 1, 2023, as our President David Royle noted above, the theme is inclusion and “welcoming.”
Bruce Trail Day is especially geared to those new to the trail, who might want to learn more. For this year’s theme, we want to emphasize “belonging” for all; so that everyone, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, physical limitation, or age, feels welcome to connect to nature and to your community of hikers.
As this newsletter reaches many members and regular supporters, we encourage you to invite a friend that might benefit from our theme of “welcoming.” We’ll also be reaching out to various special interest organizations and media and influencers to introduce the trail to non-members.
If you want to learn more about our people, our clubs, and the Bruce Trail, there are special hikes and displays Oct. 1 in Limehouse (near Georgetown). Limehouse Memorial Hall is open for refreshments, displays and washrooms. Toronto Club members will be on hand to answer questions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
New this year, is an emphasis on urban Toronto, the multicultural capital of Canada where we can make hikes more easily accessible, by transit, for many more people. Our hike leaders will take special care to “make you feel welcome,” and talk about how we want to build an inclusive hiking community.
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Details and Registration for Bruce Trail Day Hikes
 Mississauga Urban Hike: Come out and celebrate Bruce Trail Day in Mississauga with a beautiful walk high above the Credit River on University of Toronto (Mississauga) trails followed by an end to end of the attractive Sawmill Valley Trail. The hike will originate and finish at Erindale Park with a loop on each end. The Credit River Valley is a significant feature of the Bruce Trail and the Credit Valley Footpath, an unfinished side trail that, once completed, will extend all the way to Port Credit. The river valley was a major trading route for native peoples as well as home and hunting grounds for the Mississaugas of the Credit. The terrain is relatively easy without any major hills. We will be walking on a variety of dirt, packed gravel, and paved paths with some grass and boardwalks. Public washrooms available at Erindale Park only, but nature stops will be offered during the hike.
Distance: 12k. Cost: Free. Click here to register.
Toronto Urban Hike – Rosedale Ravines Join us to celebrate Bruce Trail Day with a hike on trails right in the heart of Toronto through the scenic Rosedale Ravines, Evergreen Brickworks, and Mount Pleasant Cemetery. This will be an opportunity to hear and learn about the Bruce Trail, the conservation work of the Bruce Trail Conservancy, and the Toronto Bruce Trail Club's year-round hiking program. Beginners and families are welcome on this Level 1 Hike. There will be a break at the Evergreen Brickworks for lunch and washrooms, before continuing on to the Moore Park Ravine. Bring lunch, water, and raingear (if applicable). Sturdy walking shoes or runners recommended.
Distance: 10k. Cost: Free. Click here to register.
Scotsdale Farm Bus Hike. We will start the hike just east of Scotsdale Farm (near Georgetown) and follow part of the Great Esker side trail to the new Trafalgar side trail. There will be two possible drop-out points -- after 5 km and after 7 km. We will go through Limehouse Conservation Area and the "Hole in the Wall". The hike will end at Limehouse where snacks will be available as part of Bruce Trail Day. But bring lunch and water. The bus fare is subsidized by the Toronto Club -- It is the same for both members and non-members: $20 for adults, $10 for children. No charge for parking at Kipling Station. Current Toronto Bruce Trail Club members are welcome to join but are asked to wait until Sunday September 17th (two weeks prior to the hike) before registering so we can allow priority for non-members wishing to join the hike.
Distance: 11k. Cost: (see above). Click here to register.
Biodiversity Car Hike (Limehouse). This hike will be led by members of the TBTC Biodiversity team. It will be a nature walk through two of the Bruce Trail Conservancy properties. It will follow the main trail and some of the blue side trails. There is lots to see as the seasons change and the fall colours come into their beauty. The leaders will explain the iNaturalist app and how to identify plants and trees along the trail. We will meet at the Limehouse Community Centre (22nd Side Road and Fifth Line – Halton Hills)
Distance: 6-8 k. Cost: Free. Click here to register |
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Questions? Contact us: information@torontobrucetrailclub.org
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Maureen Smith Tribute Hike at Scotsdale Farm
Farewell to the Ultimate Volunteer
 When Maureen Smith died peacefully on Thursday, March 1st at the age of 90, she was allowed to exit with the quiet dignity that was a central theme of her life. As a Club, we mourned the passing of one of our most influential volunteers. A story about her many contributions was featured in our April issue of E-Notes.
On Sunday, October 15 at 10:00 a.m., we invite you to join Maureen’s family and friends and the Toronto Bruce Trail Club on a gentle Level 2 loop hike suitable for beginners, to celebrate her life and years of service to the club. Bring a lunch to enjoy on the trail as well as a good supply of water (2 litres is recommended). The 10 km hike will follow the Bennett Heritage Trail, Maureen Smith Trail, the main Bruce Trail, and the Irwin Quarry Trail. We will return to the Scotsdale Heritage Farm by 2:00 p.m.
At the beginning of the hike Toronto Bruce Trail Club President David Royle will pay tribute to this wonderful volunteer who gave so much to the Club. Anyone is welcome to join us for the presentation, even if you cannot participate in the hike.
After the hike there will be the option of post-hike refreshments at the Copper Kettle pub in Glen Williams. Registration for the hike is currently open.
To reach Scotsdale Farm Parking Lot
From 401, take Trafalgar Road north to where it merges with Highway 7. Continue north on Trafalgar/Highway 7 to Halton Regional Road 3 (Signs for Regional Rd 3/Trafalgar Road N/Ballinafad/Brisbane) and keep right. Continue on Trafalgar/Regional Road 3 for 600 metres and driveway for Scotsdale Farm will be on the right. There is a blue and white sign.
Questions? Please contact hike leaders Tom Swales, Hiking Director, Toronto Bruce Trail Club tjswales@gmail.com or David Royle, President, Toronto Bruce Trail Club dhjroyle@gmail.com
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Hike Leader Ross Tito hikes ‘Playground of the Gods’ in Newfoundland
What part of Canada or foreign country did you travel to hike this summer? For Ross Tito, a hike leader with the Toronto Club, the answer is Newfoundland, an experience he found to be unforgettable. We asked Ross to tell us about some of the highlights of the trip in his own words:
 I went on a nine-day hiking trip to Newfoundland and Labrador, hiking a portion of Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with people from Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, and Massachusetts. The site at Green Garden along the Gulf of St Lawrence shows some of the volcanic rocks formed millions of years ago. The Tableland, where ground composition is so toxic that it does not any vegetation to grow, is a place to hike and see.
We hiked and viewed the magnificent scenery of the Ten-Mile-Long Western Brook Pond, a Canadian Fjord where the towering rock mountain is a billion years old. We added to this the scenic Long Trout River Pond Trail to the slope of Tableland and Gros Morne Mountain. Gros Morne is a 17 km grinding climb of rocks of all shape and sizes on the second highest mountain in the province.
Our group averaged 15 km daily hikes and while it was painstaking, it was very rewarding. The panoramic views above the mountains is phenomenal. I called these sites the “Playground of the Gods.” Although Gros Morne Park has one of the highest moose populations, I was not fortunate enough to see one, except for the one at the Discovery Center Museum. I learned that their consumption of dry twigs can average 50 lbs daily!
Leaving Norris Point, I took a nine-hour bus ride from Deer Lake to St. John’s. The following morning, I went on a 16 km solo hike from Cape Spear, “the Most Easterly Point of North American Continent” to St John’s Harbour via the East Coast Trail, Fort Amherst Trail, and Blackhead Rd. I also did a 15 km solo hike from Signal Hill, where Marconi received the First Transatlantic Wireless Signal on Dec. 12, 1901.
While there, I was able to feast on a seafood diet that consisted of mussels, halibut, cod, salmon, as well as Moose Burger. It was not just the mountains, the ocean, and the food that I enjoyed, it was also meeting very nice people while learning and experiencing their traditions and culture.
Thanks to Gros Morne Adventures, who made all the incredible arrangements. Jokingly, I told the local hike leader that I’ll be back in 4.5 years when I turn 80 as no one from their group has climbed Gros Morne at that age.
If you decide to go yourself, I suggest joining a local hike group that will make all the necessary land, water transportation, accommodation, meals, and pick-up to/from the airport.
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- advertisement -
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Questions about hiking? Our E-Notes columnist, Peter Leeney, has the answers.
Q: Do you have recommendations for ways that people who have physical difficulties can enjoy the trails? Are there parts that are wheelchair-friendly?
A: The mission of the Bruce Trail Conservancy is to preserve a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever. But the reality is that the Trail is a “footpath”, so it is not completely accessible to “everyone”. Having said that, there are parts of the Trail that are more accessible than others and close to very scenic parts of the Niagara Escarpment.
Here are a few places around the Greater Hamilton-Toronto area:
(Map references to the BT Reference Guide)
- The 2 km section of the Main Trail from the Sydenham Lookout to Borer’s Falls parking lot is flat and easy walking. Great views from the Lookout and near Borer’s Falls. (Map 8, km 59.8)
- Kerncliff Park – on Kerns Rd just south of Dundas Hwy. Extensive boardwalks looking up to the Escarpment and views over Lake Ontario. (Map 9).
- Mt Nemo – from the parking lot off Guelph Line the 800-meter Mt Nemo side trail leads out to an impressive viewpoint. (The Main Trail is quite rocky, but the side trail is flat). (Map 10).
- Crawford Lake, located just north of Burlington, is a beautiful scenic area with a traditional Iroquoian village and information centre on site. Quoting from their website, "The well-maintained path to the lake is largely accessible by wheelchair or scooter, and much of the path consists of boardwalk. There are large, beautiful wood carvings throughout the woodland walk and because of its heavy tree cover, the path is well-shaded. It’s a wonderful place to spend an afternoon!” (Map 11).
- At Scotsdale Farm, the Maureen Smith and Bennet Heritage side trails are easy going walking with lots of different plants to see. (Map 13)
- There is an accessible viewing platform at Cheltenham Badlands. Over one km of the Main Trail goes around the Badlands. (Map 14).
For a very inspiring story about a mother who was determined to find a way for her wheelchair-bound son to enjoy Ontario's trails, check this link. The story includes suggestions for how clubs like our can make our trails more accommodating. Indeed, more can and ought to be done.
So, as you tromp along in your ankle-high waterproof boots and hiking poles, it will not be surprising to see someone wearing flip-flops, pushing their one-year-old in a stroller.
The Trail is for everyone. You just have to pick your spots.
Do you have a question about hiking? Submit it to info@torontobrucetrailclub.com.
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Blue Mountains 6-hike series starts Sept 9
 Registration is now open for the first of the 6 Blue Mountains section bus hikes, highlighted in the May issue of E-Notes. Michael Humpage and George Lennon are the hike leaders. Join them for all 6 of the hikes, and you will earn the Blue Mountains Club End-to-End Boot Badge. (If you have to miss one of the scheduled bus hikes with Michael and George, you can independently complete the portions that you missed and then still receive the badge.)
These hikes are designed so that anyone of reasonable fitness will be able to earn the Blue Mountains E2E badge. The average distance for each hike is 12k.
The Saturday dates for this fall’s bus hikes to the Blue Mountains section: September 9, October 14 and 28, November 11 and 25. The final hike will be scheduled in Spring, to avoid the snows of late Fall. To register for the Sept 9th hike, click here.
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Mark your calendars
Sept 9, 10: Annual Toronto Section E2E
Sunday Oct 1: Bruce Trail Day (see above for links to activities)
Oct 14: Indigenous Teachings Hike
 Alan Colley, Wolf Clan member of the Anishinaabe Nation, educator and guide, joins Lynn McFerran and the Biodiversity Team on this car hike to share stories and Indigenous teachings about the land and its plants. Registration opens on September 15th.
Oct 15: Maureen Smith tribute hike
Upcoming Bus Hikes
Sept. 9: Hike 1 of 6, Blue Mountains Section
Sept 16: Speyside to Limehouse. Toronto E2E, hike 2 of 4
Sept 30: Fall Colours, Dufferin-Highlands
Oct 7: Scotsdale Farm to Terra Cotta. Toronto E2E, 3 of 4
Oct 14: Blue Mountains E2E, Hike 2 of 6
Oct 28: Blue Mountains E2E, Hike 3 of 6
Fri September 22 to Sun September 24 – Saugeen Peninusula
Oct 21: Algonquin Park, Centennial Ridges Trail
For the latest in all our hikes (bus hikes, car hikes, urban hikes and coach hikes), check the Hiking Calendar.
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