Escarpment Celebration Day

CONE hosts a Niagara Escarpment Celebration Day in a different Escarpment community. This will now be an annual event.

The day features hikes, presentations, stories, crafts, games, family activities and much more.

If you are interested in helping at a future Escarpment Celebration Day please fill out our volunteer form. We need volunteers to:

• lead hikes

• run games and activities

• staff booths

• and much more.

Escarpment Celebration Day 2007

The Escarpment Celebration Day 2007 was held on June 16, 2007 from 10am to 4pm at Queenston Heights Park, near Niagara Falls. Click here to see photos from the day.

What a beautiful day for a celebration! Under the shade of tall old trees, CONE hosted the celebration at Queenston Heights Park. CONE volunteers were once again identified by our trademark neon green CONE T-shirts.

The morning Bruce Trail hike was led by CONE board member Linda Pim who stepped in when the original leader was unable to attend. The hike started at the cairn marking the south terminus of the Bruce Trail. From the park, the trail enters deep woods along the escarpment brow, which provided for comfortable hiking on this hot day.

The Wildlife Education and Environmental Program (WEEP) captivated visitors with its live-rescue birds of prey. There were three birds with different stories – Einstein, the great horned owl; Socrates, the turkey vulture; and Whistler, the broad-winged hawk. The WEEP team gave two formal talks and answered countless individual questions.

After lunch, War of 1812 historian Robert Malcomson of St. Catharines led a fascinating two-hour tour of the area involved in the Battle of Queenston Heights, beginning at the Brock Monument. This area is steeped in both cultural and natural heritage. In fact, key elements of the battle were contingent on the sheer height of the escarpment. Robert shared his wealth of historical knowledge in a highly informative and entertaining way as he led hikers down the escarpment and up again.

Following with CONE tradition, all enjoyed the Escarpment Celebration Day cake-cutting. On hand to help cut were Kim Craitor, MPP Niagara Falls; Peter Partington, Chairman, Regional Municipality of Niagara; Gary Burroughs, Lord Mayor, Niagara-on-the-Lake; Michael Collins, Regional Councillor and Niagara Region member on the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC); Don Alexander, Niagara Escarpment Commissioner; Mark Frawley, NEC Director; Nuala Doherty, Program Manager, Ontario Trillium Foundation; and Clark Burnat, Managing Director, Niagara Historical Society and Museum. They were joined by Jean Smith, an honourary CONE director and Jean Hilborn, CONE president. The Honourable Jim Bradley, Ontario Minister of Tourism (and MPP for St. Catharines), missed the cake-cutting due to another engagement, but arrived in time to enjoy some cake with us.

The Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory brought its display. Information from the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, Niagara Escarpment Commission and Carolinan Canada were on display as well. In addition, wildlife posters from the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network and Canadian Wildlife Federation were available at the Kids Corner table. There were craft projects for youngsters, with those making bird feeders receiving Ontario Nature's bird feeder information sheet.

CONE extends hearty thanks to the Niagara Parks Commission for its support. Special thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation, whose generous grant made this event possible.

Escarpment Celebration Day 2006

The Escarpment Celebration Day 2006 was held on July 15, 2006 from 10am to 4pm at the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority office in the Inglis Falls Conservation Area, near Owen Sound. It was sunny and hot day. Click here to see more photos.

The day started with the Escarpment Centre Ontario Project hike led by Chris Hachey which gave visitors the chance to view Inglis Falls and discover more about the Escarpment Centre Ontario Project. Later in the morning Jesse Patterson enlightened and entertained everyone with his talk on the Northern Flying Squirrel.

Visitors then had the opportunity to review the educational displays and exhibits. Exhibitors during the Escarpment Celebration Day were: * Bruce Trail Association * CONE * Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy * Escarpment Centre Ontario * Grey Sauble Conservation Authority * Nature League * Niagara Escarpment Commission * Owen Sound Field Naturalists

There was time for a picnic lunch followed by the traditional cutting of the Escarpment Celebration Cake. CONE was happy to welcome several guests for the cake cutting ceremony: Ruth Lovell, Mayor, City of Owen Sound; Deborah Haswell, City/County Councillor & Grey County representative on the Niagara Escarpment Commission; Mark Frawley, Director, Niagara Escarpment Commission; Carole Hill, Vice President, Nature League; Diane Breukelman, Board member, Escarpment Centre Ontario; Dick Hibma, Chair, Grey Sauble Conservation Authority; Jean Hilborn, President, CONE.

Cutting the Escarpment Celebration Cake
(Left to right) Carole Hill, Vice President, Nature League; Mark Frawley, Director, Niagara Escarpment Commission; Deborah Haswell, City/County Councillor & Grey County representative on the Niagara Escarpment Commission; Diane Breukelman, Board member, Escarpment Centre Ontario; Dick Hibma, Chair, Grey Sauble Conservation Authority; Ruth Lovell, Mayor, City of Owen Sound; Jean Hilborn, President, CONE (Photo by Phyllis Lee)

After lunch Dr. Doug Larsen enthralled the hikers with his ecology lesson in the woods. Bradley Shaw, Executive Director of CONE, gave a presentation on Protecting a World Biosphere Reserve. In the afternoon visitors could learn more about the Escarpment's unique ecosystem during the Flora and Fauna hike led by Joan and Walter Crowe. Children had the opportunity to discover the natural wonders of the Niagara Escarpment forest during the Children's Discovery Hike led by Chris Hachey. Children enjoyed making their own nature crafts like butterfly or eagle masks in the CONE Kids Zone. The last hike by the volunteers of the Aboretum Alliance led visitors through the Inglis Falls Aboretum.

Many thanks to our partners - Grey Sauble Conservation Authority, the City of Owen Sound - Escarpment Center Ontario and the Nature League. Special thanks to Chris Hachey for all his work in making this event a success.

Special thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation, whose generous support made this event possible!

Escarpment Celebration Day 2003

On September 21, 2003 CONE celebrated the Escarpment at Dundas Valley Conservation Area.

In the morning, we enjoyed three informative and amusing speakers. Sue McMaster of Citizens Opposed to Paving the Escarpment (COPE) talked about the "Highway Madness" of the Mid Peninsula Highway and the Red Hill Creek Expressway. Paul Smith, Chair of Carolinian Canada, talked about the links between the Niagara Escarpment and Ontario's Carolinian Life Zone. CONE's own Linda Pim talked about how citizens can protect the Escarpment for our communities' future.

There was then time for mingling, lunch, review of exhibits and, a short walk from the Trail Centre, the unveiling of a plaque recognizing Dundas Valley as a significant Carolinian Canada site.

We were happy to welcome several dignitaries for the traditional cutting of the Escarpment Celebration cake: Ted McMeekin, MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Aldershot; Marvin Caplan, Hamilton's NEC representative; Susan West of the Ontario Trillium Foundation; and Frank McIntyre, Vice-Chair of the Hamilton Conservation Authority. We also acknowledged Margaret Cranmer-Byng for her many years of volunteer service to CONE and to the Escarpment.

Cutting the Escarpment Celebration Cake
(Left to right) Frank McIntyre, Vice-Chair, Hamilton Conservation Authority; Marvin Caplan, Hamilton representative on the NEC; Susan West, Ontario Trillium Foundation; AndrÈ Rudnicky, CONE President; and Ted McMeekin, MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Aldershot (Photo by Phyllis Lee)

We then had the opportunity to get outside and experience the beauty of the natural areas in the Dundas Valley, including stopping by the Hermitage to hear Paul Aird in his storytelling mode. It was quite magical, sitting on the grass under a huge mulberry tree, listening to him tell the fable about "The King and the Royal Trees" and afterwards, the contribution of the audience telling their own stories.

It was a lovely end to a very successful day. Thank you to all those who participated. And a special thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation, whose generous support made this event possible!

Escarpment Celebration Day 2001

  On July 10, 2001, CONE celebrated our Escarpment Celebration Day at Crawford Lake Conservation Area in Campbellville.

Over 600 people took part in a day of education, exploration and enjoyment at one of the Escarpment's most beautiful places.

The day was split into four activities: Visitor's Centre presentations, lunch and the celebratory cake cutting, hikes and tours, and ongoing family events.

The day opened with presentations in the Visitor's Centre auditorium. Nicola Ross gave a slide show of the Caledon countryside and some of the folklore of the area. Jerry and Mikal Lawton had some spectacular shots of waterfalls of the Escarpment. Linda Pim closed the morning session with a presentation on the tools in place for the protection of the Escarpment.

CONE Director Carol Greenlee staffing the CONE display
(Photo by Teresa Karolewski)

Our guests then joined participants in our afternoon hikes. CONE director Dr. Jim Molnar took us back through time with an archaeological walk through the Iroquoian Village.

Cutting the Escarpment Celebration Cake
From left to right: Linda Cupido, Ontario Trillium Foundation; Mark Frawley, Niagara Escarpment Commission; Ted Chudleigh, MPP Halton; Gord Krantz, Mayor of Milton; Bruce Mackenzie, CONE President
(Photo by Teresa Karolewski)

Maureen Smith of the Halton Hills Esquesing Chapter of the Toronto Bruce Trail Club led a delightful family hike along the Bruce Trail to the lookout. Teresa Rigg of the Halton/North Peel Naturalists Club led a nature discovery walk around Crawford Lake, identifying some of the flora and fauna of the area. For the more adventurous participants, Dan Welsh of the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club led a challenging hike through the Nassagaweya Canyon, stopping along the way for a rock-climbing demonstration by the Toronto Alpine Club.

Ongoing events during the afternoon were storytelling by Paul Aird, who kept young and old alike spellbound with his ecological tales and fables. In addition, budding young artists were encouraged in their creativity by volunteers from ArtLINKS at the Gathering Place.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR LEAD
ESCARPMENT CELEBRATION DAY
FUNDING PARTNER