NATIONAL WALKING WEEKEND - MIRA PARK

National Walking Weekend  for the Canadian Volkssport Federation (CVF) 18- 20 May  2013, in addition to our annual walking weekend event, we will be co-hosting a "Walk for Wildlife" event for the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF).

The club President Elsie Buck will have brochures and other information available from the Wild Life Federation.
http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/

The Cape Breton Island Hoppers will host one walk this weekend on Monday 20 May

Registration begins at 1:30

Guided Group  Walk starts at 2:00pm

Walk Leader is Shirley Pettigrew

Walk Distance(s) choice of 5K or 10K

Walk Rating as per CVF regulations is 1B (well groomed trails and very little inclines/hills)

Start Point is Mira Provincial Park, 439 Brickyard Road, Albert Bridge B1K 2R9 

Come join The CB Island Hoppers for an afternoon of "walking for the fun of it!"

BADDECK WALK EVENT

The CB Island Hoppers Volkssport Club have planned a 5K and/or 10K walk event in the Village of Baddeck on Sunday 12 May.

Walk event will take us through the Villages, along the boardwalk, the Alexander Graham Bell Museum grounds with lovely views of Baddeck Bay and Kidston Island and the lighthouse.


Meet at the Tourist Information Office parking lot located on Chebucto Street and across the street from the Telegraph House, that is normally the Start Point for our Year Round/Permanent Walk Event 

Registration begins at 1:30pm

Walk Start Time is 2:00pm 

This should be a great day to plan a  lunch and or dinner at the many restaurants in Baddeck; we strongly suggest making reservations at the restaurant of your choice as Mother's Day is a popular time for family outings on this very special day.

Come on out and have a great walking experience!

SPECIAL WALK EVENTS WITH HEART AND STROKE

Daffodils begin to appear on the Green Links Trail

WEDNESDAY 8th May

On The Esplanade:
Register for Prizes and a 10 or 20 minute walk
Come on out and join the CBIH Club president Elsie Buck and our past president Joe MacKinnon as they lead these walkabout sponsored by the Heart And Stroke Foundation.
Walk will begin noon hour, at the Round Room in the Civic Centre on the Esplanade.

Green Links Trail:
After the walks above Elsie and Joe will meetup with more enthusiastic walkers at  1:15 and step off at 1:30pm
Meet at St Anthony Daniels Church parking lot off Alexander Street.
Take a stroll through the Green Links Trail that is now becoming a part of the Active Transportation walking trails within CBRM. Note the many new changes along this trail, park benches, well groomed gravel trail suitable for walking, jogging, bicycles and or families with strollers.

CAMBRIDGE SUITES - SPECIAL RATE FOR LOUISBOURG300

Subject: Cambridge Suites Sydney - Special Rate

From: Erin Gerrow, Sales Associate, Cambridge Suites, Sydney

 I have taken a look at a rate for the Louisbourg 300 walking event on June 29 – 30^th.  Please find the details below:

 Discounted rate available to those travelling for the event:

 $139.00 plus tax per night, single/double occupancy

 Rate is for a one bedroom suite, with separate bedroom and living room area, kitchenette, pullout sofa, microwave, mini fridge, and many more comforts of home.

 The rate includes: complimentary breakfast buffet, Wi-Fi, local calling, on site fitness centre with whirlpool, sauna, and spa pool.  We are located directly on the Sydney Waterfront with access to the boardwalk.

 Overnight parking in our secure gated parking lot is $7.00 plus tax per night. 

 If you have any questions, please let me know. 

 I look forward to working with your group!

 Thanks again,

 Erin

 ERIN GERROW
Sales Associate
direct 902.564.4517 fax 902.564.6011

Cambridge Suites Hotel
380 Esplanade, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 1B1 

Let's go for a walk:
SUNDAY 5 MAY
Registration: 1:30 pm
Walk Start Time: 2:00 pm
Start/Finish: 380 Esplanade Sydney, Cambridge Suites
Distance(s) 5 and 10K walk events
Go to Events Calendar for further information:
www.capebretonislandhoppers.com

CVF DISTANCE AND EVENT BOOKS

Canadian Volkssport Federation – Distance and Event Books

From Michelle Bell, CVF Executive Assistant

Please be advised that our awards Coordinator, Marion Boom will not be processing any books between May 26th and July 2, 2013.

Do not send any books to Marion at her Trenton address please. Continue to send them to the CVF Office and I will pass them to Marion Boom who is our new Awards Coordinator for the CVF.

CVF Office Address:

IVV/CVF Awards

PO Box 2668, Station “D”

Ottawa, ON K1P 5W7

AFTER July 2, 2013 books may be sent directly to Marion at the following address:

Marion Boom
CVF Awards Coordinator
42 Bellingham Crescent
Ottawa, ON K2K 2T7


Thanks for your cooperation.
Michele Bell,
CVF Executive Assistant

Happiness is.......walking with friends!

HELP PROMOTE CBIH - WELLNESS FAIRS AND JUNE WALK EVENT

The Cape Breton Island Hoppers Volkssport Club has been invited to attend two Wellness Fairs in June so that we can promote our walking activity and to promote an active life style here in Cape Breton.

The first event is a wellness clinic at Victoria Park, 04 June 2013, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality has invited us to attend their Wellness Fair at Centre 200.

The Fair is Wed. 05 June 2013, noon to 5:00 pm.

This is a great opportunity to help your club and to meet potential new members.

We will also be able to present our new promotional banner and logo at these events and if you have not seen the banner then at least drop into one of the fairs to check it out

Elsie and Joe have been attending various function across Cape Breton and the CBRM area including the Farmer's Market to promote walking for Fun with the Island Hoppers!

How about taking a few minutes or an hour or so to help out so that we can keep our walking activity going on the island for another 16 or more years!

We need volunteers for these events.

Contact Elsie at  joeandelsie@ns.sympatico.ca  or call 562-3117

The more the merrier!

Elsie Buck, President CBIH

Let's go for a walk:
SUNDAY 5 MAY
Registration: 1:30 pm
Walk Start Time: 2:00 pm
Start/Finish: 380 Esplanade Sydney, Cambridge Suites
Distance(s) 5 and 10K walk events
Go to Events Calendar for further information:
www.capebretonislandhoppers.com

BAILLE ARD TRAIL: "New dog bylaw"

Baille Ard Recreation Association will be making a presentation to council in May.

There are two arguments to be made:

First, that the municipality should be open to accepting a lease from the NS Department of Community Services for the Baille Ard Nature Trails Lands with the continued stewardship of the Baille Ard Recreation Association.

Second, that the CBRM should support the volunteer stewardship efforts of the Baille Ard Recreation Association by extending the enforcement of the Dog Control bylaw to the Baille Ard Nature Trails.

We feel that the effect of the presentation will be greater if stakeholders and partners in the Baille Ard Nature Trails are part of it.  I hope that someone from ACAP, the Southend Community Centre, CBVRSB, CBRM Trails and CB Island Hoppers can help emphasize that the trails have a   value to our community that includes but goes well beyond a walking trail and that value should not be limited for the benefit of any one group of users.

Will you be part of the presentation?

David

Council is considering whether they should amend the new dog bylaw to exclude Baille Ard.  There is support for this on council.  I propose sending this letter to councilors.  I have tried to be rational and take the high road but finished by saying that our group is not interested in a limited vision for the trails and in trying to manage an off lead dog park.  Am I correct?

David

To Mayor Clarke and CBRM Councilors,

I am proud to have been part of a group that has dedicated so much time and effort over the last twenty-five years towards the development of a much visited trail system winding through a natural forested setting in the South End of Sydney.  This option to spend time in a natural setting whether walking or jogging; alone or in company of family and friends; with or without a dog goes far to enhance the quality of our lives.   This is a place within easy reach of many in our community where we can be active in all seasons and fill our lungs with the rich, clean air of an old growth forest. 

Our group has nurtured many working relationships and benefitted from the support of all levels of government, NGO’s, businesses and service organizations.  We have mapped the routes for trails and sought funding and groups to build them.  We have raised funds and organized the building of  bridges and the purchase and placement of signage and benches.  We have done the hard physical labour to maintain the trails and improve them.  We have welcomed and provided nature based experiences for many individuals, families and groups.  We continue to develop and present many curriculum based activities for our CBVRSB students.  We are about to embark on a particularly exciting project in partnership with ACAP, CBU and the schools of the CBVRSB,.  We continue to work with the CBRM Recreation Department and CBRM trails organizations to enhance the trails experience in our community.    

Baille Ard Recreation Association Mission

Our mission is the continued development, maintenance and promotion of the nature trails in the wooded Baille Ard area in the South End of Sydney.  We will promote the trails as a venue for health and wellness through outdoor activity.  Working with community partners and schools, we will seek to educate both children and adults regarding the Washbrook Watershed and to promote a sense of stewardship of nature.                     

In advance of your consideration of any amendment to the proposed new dog bylaw that might impact the Baille Ard Nature Trails, please factor in the following points:

.. CBRM is currently negotiating with the NS Department of Community Services for a lease on the Baille Ard Nature Trails lands that we believe is premised on our vision and mission.

..The Baille Ard Recreation Association has acted as the volunteer stewards of the Baille Ard Nature Trails for 20 years and worked for their creation for years before that.
.. A large number of partners and funders including the CBRM have contributed time, effort and money towards the vision of a community asset defined by its educational, recreational and wellness value to the community at large. **
.. Many volunteers have given countless hours and days towards the building, maintenance and promotion of the trails.
.. Our association has led the drive to have the Baille Ard Nature Trails accepted by our provincial government as a valuable and legitimate asset for our community.
.. It is the Baille Ard Recreation Association that accepts liability for the Baille Ard Nature Trails
.. Dogs and their responsible owners who keep their dogs on lead and clean up after their dogs have always been welcome on the Baille Ard Nature Trails.

.. an exclusion from enforcement would make the Baille Ard Nature Trails the de facto 'CBRM Off Lead Dog Park'.  Many people have stopped using the Baille Ard Nature Trails because of off lead dogs.  The identification of the trails as ‘off lead’ could only increase the number of off lead dogs and continue to exclude many from our community from the enjoyment of the trails.
..The Baille Ard Recreation Association would be left with responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the trails along with the problem of dealing with not only current but any number of new off lead dogs.  We would have no authority and in many cases little influence.

.. We are convinced that a growing group of off lead dog owners drawn to the Baille Ard Nature Trails would not be amenable to limiting their choice of time to use the trails and where they would go on the trails.   Once again who would have authority to manage that  situation and accept liability for issues that arise?
.. In this environment, the types of programs and community uses that we are providing and envisage for the trails as part of our mission would be severely limited due to our concern for participants and potential liability.

** Partners and Donors include:    ACAP Cape Breton, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Nova Scotia Health and Wellness, Sydney Credit Union, Steel City Credit Union, CBU, NSCC, Southend Community Centre, Canadian Government, Canadian Armed Forces, CBRM, Nova Scotia Community Services, Cape Breton Roadrunners, Cape Breton Island Hoppers, Cape Breton Fiddlers Run, CBRM Trails Group, Rotary Club of Sydney, CBVRSB, many private donors, Old Sydney Historical Society and others.

In conclusion, we have enjoyed a positive and very supportive relationship with CBRM.  We sincerely hope that Council understands that the enforcement of the Dog Bylaw provisions on the Baille Ard Nature Trails is part of their commitment to support our volunteer efforts.  The position in which an exemption from the bylaw would put our association would be unfair and untenable.  Moreover, if bylaw enforcement is not provided, we feel we would no longer be in a position to accomplish our mission and we would have to reconsider our role.  This would of course be with great regret.

Respectfully,

David Gabriel, for the Baille Ard Recreation Association

WALK EVENT - CHURCHES OF WHITNEY PIER

An inspiring walk event through the Whitney Pier area with its many older churches that represent the many cultures that made up the Pier area during the years when the making of steel had been the prime industry of Sydney. 
Do you remember the red glow that dominated the night sky?

The Island Hoppers present a walk event we have called:

"Churches of Whitney Pier:"

Walk Leader: Elsie Buck

Start and Finish Point:

Holy Redeemer Parish, 1135 Victoria Road, Whitney Pier B1N 1L3 

Date: Sunday 21 April

Time: Registration begins @1:30pm
        : Walk starts @ 2:00pm

Walk Distances: 5/10K

Trail Rating: 2A / 2B

This is an excellent opportunity to invite a friend to walk with you and to introduce them to walking for fun, fitness and friendship!



From a story on Facebook, an account of walking with friends and what volkssports are all about: Click on the link below and pass on to a friend.

Travel Writer Rants and Raves: Walking and traveling friends never change:

http://travelwriter-liz.blogspot.ca/2013/04/walking-and-traveling-friends-never.html