Tag: opening

June 28, 2018. The Hibou Wetland Interpretive Trail was officially opened!

We would like to thank all who have supported Friends of Hibou volunteering your time, and energy since we began our work in 2013.  Celebrating the completion of this project was a great event.  It was a sunny warm day.  We enjoyed seeing all those who attended.  Thank you to Carol Harris for these photos.

People gathered at the entrance to the trail. Sonya Skinner, CEO of Grey Sauble Conservation Authority (GSCA) greeted people arriving.

 

 

 

Kate McLaren is past President of OSFN, one of our donors.

Krista Mckee, retired from GSCA, contributed significantly to the design of the signs abd brochure.

Don Sankey, a member of the Friends of Hibou Steering committee is also Chair of the GSCA Foundation, another donor.

Catherine Little, Chair of the  GSCA Board of Governors brought greetings from the GSCA and complimented Friends of Hibou on the work that went into the trail as well as the outcome.

Bob Knapp, Co-Chair of the Committee, spoke about the history of Friends of Hibou and introduced the speakers.

Dick Hibma, past Board Chair expressed his support for this project. He introduced  Larry Miller MP who said he will be bringing his grandchild to walk the trail when they come to visit Owen Sound.

 

Bill Walker MPP spoke of the value of the Interpretive Trail in educating as well as in promoting and supporting general health and well being.

 

 

 

Don Sankey thanked the Funders: Kiwanis Club of Owen Sound, OSFN, Community Foundation, Bob and Marie Knapp  Family Endowment Fund (Community Foundation), GSCA Foundation, TD Environmental Fund.   Marie Knapp expressed the vision seeing a future where parents and grandparents bring their children to the Trail.  She also invited teachers to bring classes there for the many ways the trail supports the curriculum at several levels. The brochure is available in the box below the signs at both entrances and on line if someone wishes to review it in advance.

The Trail was officially opened when the ribbon was cut by Stewart Reid of Community Foundation with Kate McLaren of OSFN and Kevin Dandeno of the Kiwanis.

Following a short meet and greet with light refreshments, Bob Knapp led a walk around the trail loop.

 

We hope you will find an opportunity to walk the trail.  Pick up a brochure at the large sign and read the interpretive comments related to each number as you reach the appropriate post.  Wetlands serve a valuable purpose in preventing flooding and helping to filter surface water. They also provide habitat for plants and animals not found elsewhere. Enjoy your walk through this wetland.

 

 

 

 

Grand Opening of the Hibou Boardwalk Trail May 10, 2015

Opening 1The new boardwalk trail is ready to be officially opening.  Marie Knapp talks about how it was a community that brought the Conservation Area into being, a community that began Friends of Hibou and now a community of volunteers that built the Boardwalk.

 

Opening 2The Trail is officially opened when Evelyn Holley who is on the Friends of Hibou Committee, and Susan Tuohy, Bank Manager from TD Canada Trust, the funder of the materials necessary to build the Boardwalk, cut the yellow ribbon.

 

Opening 3Bob talks about how the Boardwalk makes an area passable that would otherwise be underwater due to Beaver activity and nature.  In spring the wetlands come to life.

 

 

 

Opening 4 The group enjoys walking along the 200 feet of Boardwalk built by volunteers and laid down late fall 2014.

 

 

 

 

Opening 5Marie shows Susan where we walked in and how the trail system works.  There are maps at all junctures on the trails and each map is placed so the reader is facing North to simplify map reading.

May 11 at 12:30 Grand Opening of the Hibou Trail Boardwalk

Oct 2013 eIn the Fall of 2014, an enthusiastic group of volunteers built and placed about 200 ft of boardwalk over a wet portion of trail.  That trail had been impassible for a good portion of the year.  Now we will celebrate by officially opening this new boardwalk.

Come and join us Monday May 11 at 12:30pm for a brief opening ceremony located in the north east section of the park.

Park on the road by the beach entrance and head north towards Leith to the trail entrance.  Try to arrive at the Boardwalk for 12:30pm opening which should be very brief. Light refreshments will be served.

Anyone who would like to volunteer for trail work following the opening, bring some clippers or a pruning saw and we’ll be making sure the trails are in good shape.

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