“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” — Jane Goodall
Linda and Lee Attard
Linda and Lee Attard met Klaus and Marilyn Keunecke at an Octoberfest dinner/dance at the Port Franks Community Centre in 2011. Linda had recently retired from working in London and heard about a trail group that had just been formed in the Port Franks area. Someone pointed out Klaus and Marilyn, founding members of Lambton Shores Nature Trails, so Linda asked about the group’s work. She and Lee had young grandchildren at the time, and she thought the youngsters would enjoy hiking the trails when they visited. The Keuneckes invited Linda to a board meeting to learn more and well … she ended up joining the team! It wasn’t long until Linda took on the role of Treasurer, a position she has maintained to this day.
Linda says Lee became involved by osmosis! She “volunteered” him to join her with trail work and, before long, Linda notes, he was doing more on the trails than she was. Two memorable projects for Lee were at the Ausable River Cut CA -- the construction of the accessible platform in 2014 and the dune boardwalk in 2022. Among other things, Lee helps with the installation and removal of the kayak/canoe launch at the Ausable Cut each spring and fall. He has found that many of the practical skills he used in his career in plumbing and construction have been put to good use in LSNT projects over the years.
Linda also helps with trail work, but she plays a critical administrative role with LSNT. As Treasurer, Linda maintains LSNT’s financial matters, grant applications and membership records. She credits her working career as a bookkeeper with her ability to manage these tasks. Linda is also the driving force behind LSNT’s Holiday Market in the fall and Health & Wellness Bazaar in the spring. She recruits vendors and volunteers to make it happen and coordinates a myriad of “to-dos” to make sure both events are successful!
Linda and Lee believe it’s important to give back to the community in which you live … volunteerism, whether through their kids’ activities when they were younger, or with service groups as retirees, is an important part of their lives. As Linda says, “We love the people we have met through volunteering and we love this community!”
Thank you, Linda and Lee, for all the ways that you enrich your community.
Ipperwash Boardwalk Work
Ipperwash Boardwalk Work
Ipperwash Boardwalk Work
This morning nineteen volunteers, including folks from the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Lambton Outdoor Club and Lambton Shores Nature Trails, worked to replace and extend two boardwalks over swampy areas at the back of the white trail loop in Ipperwash Dunes & Swales. They hauled in lumber and construction materials, de-constructed the
This morning nineteen volunteers, including folks from the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Lambton Outdoor Club and Lambton Shores Nature Trails, worked to replace and extend two boardwalks over swampy areas at the back of the white trail loop in Ipperwash Dunes & Swales. They hauled in lumber and construction materials, de-constructed the old footbridges, set new culverts and built longer and wider frames. Over 100 deck boards were set to finish the first section and, for the second section, the walkway was widened from two to three planks. All this was accomplished in just over 2 ½ hours! Add to this the early start for helpers who picked up and delivered lumber to Ipperwash for a total of 68 volunteer work hours on this project. (And we’re not including the efforts of ten volunteers who prepped the deck boards for the project last week.)
Amazing work! Thank you to Ed, Terry, Darren, Mark, Winston, Mike, Christine, Lee M., Lee T., Ross, Denise, Sandra, Sam, Jen, Mary Lou, Kandyce, Hannah, Emma and Ethan. A special thanks to NCC for treating volunteers to a lunch prepared by MacPherson’s.
The trail has been transformed to provide easily navigable, safe passage for hikers. Today’s work was the first stage of a two-year project to refurbish and widen the boardwalks throughout Ipperwash Dunes & Swales.
Footbridge Installation
Ipperwash Boardwalk Work
Ipperwash Boardwalk Work
A footbridge has been installed in the Ausable River Valley on the new loop trail north of MacDonald. The trail was slightly adjusted to accommodate a gentler slope to a single crevasse crossing. Thanks to Mike, Christine, Mark, Terry, Todd, Lee M, Ed and Ross for hauling in the premade footbridge, navigating it down a major hill, install
A footbridge has been installed in the Ausable River Valley on the new loop trail north of MacDonald. The trail was slightly adjusted to accommodate a gentler slope to a single crevasse crossing. Thanks to Mike, Christine, Mark, Terry, Todd, Lee M, Ed and Ross for hauling in the premade footbridge, navigating it down a major hill, installing it, and adjusting the blazes for the new trail configuration.
Fishing Line Recycling
Ipperwash Boardwalk Work
Mystery Falls Improvements
Three fishing line recycling containers have been installed in the Port Franks area frequented by shoreline fishers - at the end of Huron St at Mud Creek, at the bottom of the stairs and the bottom of the dune at the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area. This will allow for fishing line to be disposed of properly and not strewn along the s
Three fishing line recycling containers have been installed in the Port Franks area frequented by shoreline fishers - at the end of Huron St at Mud Creek, at the bottom of the stairs and the bottom of the dune at the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area. This will allow for fishing line to be disposed of properly and not strewn along the shoreline where it can pose a real threat to birds and other wildlife. We please ask that no garbage be placed in the container. Thanks to Lee Main and Ross Atkinson for building and installing these recycling containers, a positive change for the environment!
Mystery Falls Improvements
Conservationist of the Year Award
Mystery Falls Improvements
A handful of volunteers worked on the Ausable River Valley & Mystery Falls trails. Many tasks were accomplished including the building of a new boardwalk over a muddy area, painting blue and white blazes, adding a centre support to 7 of the footbridges leading to the falls, clearing and bolstering the path near the bottom of the stairs at
A handful of volunteers worked on the Ausable River Valley & Mystery Falls trails. Many tasks were accomplished including the building of a new boardwalk over a muddy area, painting blue and white blazes, adding a centre support to 7 of the footbridges leading to the falls, clearing and bolstering the path near the bottom of the stairs at the falls, and stabilizing the steps at the back crossing of Mystery Creek including replacing the broken handrail. Thanks Terry, Todd, Mike, Christine, Richard, Michelle, Ed and Ross!
Boardwalk Extension
Conservationist of the Year Award
Conservationist of the Year Award
Seventeen volunteers committed a total of 42 hours to extend the existing boardwalk at the Ausable River Cut CA … to help hikers navigate the recently altered trail route and further protect the dune vegetation. The first step was to haul in all the necessary materials for the project, including twenty 16’ 2X4’s, over 200 deckboards and a
Seventeen volunteers committed a total of 42 hours to extend the existing boardwalk at the Ausable River Cut CA … to help hikers navigate the recently altered trail route and further protect the dune vegetation. The first step was to haul in all the necessary materials for the project, including twenty 16’ 2X4’s, over 200 deckboards and a myriad of tools, a job made easier with many hands. As is usual for LSNT projects, the work crew quickly settled into an organized pace with frame construction and layout and attachment of the deck boards. Of course, the process also included several bouts of problem-solving! The result is a gently winding extension of the existing boardwalk (constructed in 2022), up the slope of the dune into the woods. Some of our group also took the time to rake back the leaves from the accessible Storywalk path.
A big thank you to Mike, Christine, Bernard, Darren, Michelle, Tony, Gage, Lee T, Chris, Winston, Lee M, Todd, Sandra, Sam, Ed, Ross and Mary Lou.
Conservationist of the Year Award
Conservationist of the Year Award
Conservationist of the Year Award
LSNT has been honoured by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority with their “Conservationist of the Year Award”. To be acknowledged and validated in this manner makes us very proud of the collaborative efforts of our board, dedicated volunteers, community partners and supporters. Our ongoing, positive working relationship with ABCA,
LSNT has been honoured by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority with their “Conservationist of the Year Award”. To be acknowledged and validated in this manner makes us very proud of the collaborative efforts of our board, dedicated volunteers, community partners and supporters. Our ongoing, positive working relationship with ABCA, coordinated by Nathan Schoelier, facilitates efforts to protect our natural areas, but also make them accessible to nature-lovers. Thank you for this very special recognition!