“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” Helen Keller
Bryan Prouse
Bryan and his wife, Sharon, moved to Lambton Shores in 2021, and commuted to Sarnia until Bryan retired from his working career at the end of 2022. He and Sharon decided to join Lambton Shores Nature Trails in 2023. They had previously volunteered in similar work and enjoyed the satisfaction of participating in dedicated team work to improve the community’s public facilities. Bryan notes that his parents were hardworking, respectful members of their community, so those qualities rubbed off on him as a young person.
In his working life, Bryan was a member of a multi-disciplinary team that worked collaboratively to complete projects. He finds Lambton Shores Nature Trails very similar in its objectives, structure and work strategy, so it's a comfortable fit.
Bryan notes that his previous volunteer work was coordinated by his employer, but the efforts were always focused on improving the community and its assets. For him, this focus is the most rewarding part of volunteering with LSNT. Bryan finds that, even when he’s not participating in an LSNT work crew, he carries out similar tasks -- picking up litter, pulling weeds -- as he walks his dog on the trails or around town. He says, “My pockets are often full of recycling materials when I arrive home from a dog walk!”
An LSNT experience he particularly enjoyed was the clean-up of Hickory Creek at the Grand Trunk Trail bridge. Removing the fallen pieces of bridge iron from the creek, after they had been submerged in the water for decades, was very satisfying. Bryan notes, “I reside in close proximity to the bridge and am reminded of LSNT's hard work every time I cross it.”
Not only have Bryan’s efforts helped LSNT meet its goals, they have also benefitted him. He says “Being fairly new to Lambton Shores, volunteering for LSNT provides a true sense of community involvement and an opportunity to meet new people. Attending the social events and fundraisers, whenever we are able, provides even more opportunities to get involved.”
When asked about the importance of volunteering in the community, Bryan stresses that it “often provides resources for community improvement that the municipality may be unable to provide due to budgetary constraints.” Citizens have the opportunity to improve their surroundings but also develop a sense of self-pride that they have contributed to make life better for residents and their community more attractive for visitors.
Thank you, Bryan, for setting an excellent example for all of us!
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!