Submitted by Kathleen Stahlbaum and Marg Glendon, Peninsula Bruce Trail Club
Bruce Trail Day is an annual celebration held on the first Sunday of October. Each Bruce Trail Club offers free guided hikes and invites everyone to join in activities organized by the individual Clubs. It is an opportunity for everyone to learn more about our year-round hiking program, trail maintenance, land stewardship and volunteering with Bruce Trail Clubs. This year’s theme was Sense of Belonging. Bruce Trail Conservancy and Peninsula Bruce Trail Club (PBTC) are working towards ensuring that the Bruce Trail fosters a sense of belonging in the outdoors, no matter age, ability, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or circumstances.
This year, PBTC collaborated with Cape Croker Park and the Anishinaabe Cultural Program to offer free guided hikes, a light lunch, and an opportunity to gather together at the Cape Croker Park Pavilion.
Bruce Trail Day started with a house-shuttering bang of thunder, rain and high winds. By noon, the storm had passed through and we were greeted with a warm, beautiful Autumn day.
Although PBTC hike leaders had to cancel our morning Bruce Trail Day hikes due to safety concerns, we were still able to gather together in the warmth of the fire at the Cape Croker Park Pavilion and enjoy Three Sisters Soup prepared by Darrell from Neyaashiinigmiing at lunch. Thanks to Caley Doran for coordinating the delivery of Three Sisters Soup and starting the fire at the Pavilion. Lenore Keeshig demonstrated basket making and Brian Popelier (BTC Ecologist) was available to answer questions about land stewardship of BTC Nature Reserve on the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula.
Following lunch, Lenore Keeshig and Tainin Hopkinson led a hike on the Ginebek Miikaans Trail – a section of the Bruce Trail located along the shoreline
