by Marie Knapp
For me this is like picking up where we left off over 30 years ago. Bob had been very involved with the procurement of Hibou. We have continued to visit the area for a walk along the shore or for a ski or snowshoe over the years. The water levels changing have had an impact on the beach at Paynter’s Bay but that didn’t keep us from entering the trails more to the south and finding a place for a refreshing dip in the water on a hot summer’s day.
Frequently it crossed my mind that we should develop a Friends of Hibou to help with the upkeep of the area. In his book published in 2008, Bob Knapp wrote: “Thirty five years have passed since Hibou became a park. Perhaps it is time to form a friends of Hibou organization to assist with the park so that it continues to be a very special place on Georgian Bay“.
The timing is right. Malcolm Kirk died in September 2012. In his obituary I found the following: “An ardent conservationist throughout his life, Mac was deeply committed to the preservation of Ontario’s and Canada’s natural heritage. Mac and his generation were the pioneers of Ontario’s modern environmental movement. His legacy is manifested in numerous nature reserves which were secured in conjunction with public and non-profit nature organizations.” Yes the time is right! It is partly filling a legacy left behind by those of another generation who were ahead of their times. This is very exciting!
Reminder: Help us get Hibou Beach ready for kids and adults to enjoy this summer. Last year the beach was significantly improved when several volunteers came together for a morning to work at removing sawdust and wood debris along the shore. Let’s do it again!
Friends of Hibou Conservation Area - Ontario, Canada 