Hike June 29, 2010 "On June 29 , the Tuesday Hiking Group had a wonderful hike in great weather and a memorable learning experience to have a totally blind person, Bev Berger and her guide dog Jasper, with some assistant from Dave Platt, lead our hike. During the hike the hikers also got to experience how it feels to be blind by being blindfolded and walking about 1 km while guided by a partner. |
Caledon Hills BTC hike leader wins BTC Volunteer of the Year award by Joan Richard Albert McMaster, one of our club's popular hike leaders, has received the Bruce Trail Conservancy's Volunteer of the Year Award for 2009. While the award was announced at the BTC's AGM in September, Albert was presented with the plaque at our winter potluck, shortly after leading about 30 hikers on a trek through Forks of the Credit. When CHBTC V-P Jean Kerins was speaking to Albert about what she should say on his behalf since he would not be present at the AGM (in part because he was attending another event on CHBTC's behalf), he responded that he didn't know what he had done, but whatever it was, he'd had fun doing it. Albert makes hike leading look effortless, so that you could be forgiven for thinking that it is. He likes to say that he goes out walking everyday anyway, so it's all the same to him if 30 people tag along. However, from the point of view of the hikers, especially those who are new to hiking and to the club, Albert's gentle, easy-going manner, his frequent stops to describe the flora and the social and natural history of the trail and to answer interminable questions are traits that deserve some recognition. It was Marilyn Ross, the Tuesday Hike Coordinator, who got the ball rolling when she responded to a call from the BTC for nominees for the award. Marilyn wrote how Albert had helped her when she became the new coordinator and offered to lead hikes when there were gaps or emergencies. In this regard, I also supported her nomination. When I became the Hike Coordinator in April, there was an on-going series of emails between a local high school and our club to take a group of local and exchange students for a hike. Albert was to be the leader. After several weeks of negotiations, the day was finally arriving. I emailed the school's liaison to confirm only to find out they wanted to change the time slot. I was afraid that that would mark the end of any hiking opportunity, but Albert was completely accommodating, willing to take these kids out whenever it was convenient for them. Likewise before Bruce Trail Day, Albert went out with Marilyn and myself to show us all the good hiking trails in the Forks of the Credit, and he did it on two separate trips, since Marilyn and I could not coordinate a day. On Bruce Trail Day, he was there to the bitter end, in spite of three downpours during the day. One of the dads whose family went hiking with Albert called him a “charmer”, since his little daughter had not complained. “She usually complains on the way back”, the dad said. Albert makes hiking fun, even for the little kids. One last story, while selling Christmas trees with a new volunteer, I was told that she had just joined the club this past spring and so much enjoyed the Tuesday hikes, “especially those with Albert, he just knows so much”. Albert would be the first to admit that there are a lot of deserving volunteers who do a lot for the Bruce Trail Conservancy and the various clubs. The BTC Volunteer of the Year Award is recognizing Albert as a front line volunteer, the face of the club and the Conservancy to hikers and to the community, who is always there when a hike leader is needed, responding with a smile. Congratulations Albert. Well done. |
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