WALK CAPE BRETON

Message From our Atlantic Director

ATLANTIC DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Sorry I missed you all on the 17th of January. However, we cannot predict the weather this time of year. In May of this year I accepted the position of Atlantic Region Director. To date it has been interesting, just a little bit of work but fun and I am sure it will be worthwhile.

In June the Vice President of CVF attended the AVA Biennial convention in Colorado Springs. With the help of clubs in the Atlantic Region I gathered varies pieces of information together and forwarded them to the convention site for him to have on hand to pass out to those interested in Volksmarches in Canada.. Our Blue Books, in particular went over well. I have had various requests about walking events in the Maritimes as well as notification that there are Volkssporting bus tours from the United States planning on visiting Atlantic Canada this year.

We have nine active clubs to date in Atlantic Canada:
÷ The newest of these clubs is the Fundy Volkssport Club in Saint John NB. They have taken over the year round and seasonal walk in Saint John from the Oromocto Club.
÷ The Oromocto Club has changed its name to the River Valley Trail Blazers.
÷ The Sou’wester Volkssport Club in Cornerbrook NF changed its name to Humber Valley Volkssport Club
÷ Unfortunately, the Moncton Club has stood down until such time as there is an interest in starting the club up again. The Moncton Year Round will still be there as a Director’s walk

Convention 2004 will be held in Vancouver, May 21,22 & 23. If anyone is interested in attending please get your registrations in. They have also planned post convention tours for those interest in seeing the area while it BC. There is a cruise to Alaska planned, a one day bus trip to Whistler and 5-day bus trip to Vancouver Island. If you require further information I’m sure your club president can help you.

Convention 2005 will be held in Quebec City, May 27,28 & 29. Anyone who attended the convention in Quebec in 1998 can agree that it was a great time and excellent convention. Mark your calendars and plan to attend.

By now your club has received copies of the Atlantic Region’s Guide to Year Rounds/ Seasonal Events and Guided Walks (Blue Book). The Atlantic Region has a wide variety of walks and events through out this year. There is a total of 163 scheduled walks, 42 year rounds/seasonal walks and one bike seasonal. Be sure to get a copy. Elizabeth Nifort, a Dartmouth Club member, goes to a lot of work each year to have this book made ready for print. Elizabeth does a great job on the book and we should all take the time to thank her for her work.

This year will be a busy year for the Acadian Festival and special events are being put on by various clubs in the Atlantic Region. Elinor Mahar has put a lot of work into the special walk schedule so let’s all make sure we get a copy of it and get out their and learn more about the Acadian Heritage, enjoy the walking and have fun.

The Fundy Volkssport Club also has a walk on the 19th of June. Champlain landed in Saint John on June 19, 1604. The club is planning a walk to coincide with the reenactment and parade put on by the city of Saint John. A separate brochure will be coming out on this.

Keep in mind for your 2005 calendar of events – the River Valley Trail Blazers (formerly the Oromocto Volkssport Club) will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary. They are making plans now for the weekend of July 1st – 4th to hold various walks around and through covered bridges in the Sussex area of New Brunswick complete with a dinner in a covered bridge.

The Valley Trekkers will be taking part in the Port Royal 400th Anniversay year in 2005. They are planning on doing 400 kms of walking in the Annapolis Valley over the year. Special awards will be made available to Volkssporters as they complete the various walks in the Annapolis Valley. A weekend of events will be held in Annapolis Royal and surrounding area the first weekend in August. 2005.
÷
I am planning on joining you for your walks in Cheticamp in June and Louisbourg in August, and who knows I might get down to Cape Breton for other events.

If I can be of any assistance at all to anyone of you please do not hesitate to contact me. If you have questions and I’m not sure of the answer I will definitely find out for you. I look forward to being the Atlantic Region Director for the next couple of years.

See you on the trails,

Lynda Kanne
Atlantic Region Director
Canadian Volkssport Federation