Newsletter Vol1(1)

The Giant's Rib

Devoted to increasing awareness and protection of

the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve

Stan Nowak, Editor

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January 2007 Volume 1, Issue 1

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Giant's Rib Discovery Centre Board of Directors - 2007

Dr. Michael Brand John Bryden Michael Cox

Leo Deloyde Joseph Hollick George Koblyk

Dr. John MacRae John Mills Robert Morrow

Stan Nowak Gordon Perrault Sandra Root

Sue Vajoczki

Executive Director Board Advisors

Kenneth Hall Josephine Meeker Ben Vanderbrug

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EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT - 2006

Our accomplishments during the past year have been:

- the completion of our financial review, reorganization, and update of our financial statements;

- the development of a Business Plan, with the assistance of Business students from McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business. (NOTE: Because of the terms of our agreement with the Hamilton Conservation Authority, we must review the Business Plan in '07, and make appropriate changes);

- the establishment of our Strategic Objectives and the development of an Implementation Plan.

We have consolidated our joint venture with the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) by:

- assisting the HCA in developing the plans for the expansion of the Dundas Valley Trail Centre, to be renamed the Dundas Valley Escarpment Centre (DVEC);

- providing input into the Visitors' Service Plan for the DVEC;

- entering into negotiations for a new ten-year joint venture agreement with the HCA;

- offering to raise funds for the DVEC expansion.

At the Trail Centre (DVEC), despite the problems arising from the fire of November 2005, we have been able to:

- establish an Information Centre for the distribution, to the general public,of materials on the Niagara Escarpment and other World Biosphere Reserves. The Information Centre has helped us establish strong affiliations with other like-minded organizations, which supply us with materials for distribution. These are the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC),Tourism Hamilton, Conservation Halton, the Coalition on the Niagara Escarpment (CONE), and the HCA. The Information Centre operated successfully until the collapse of the ceiling in June 2006, when the room had to be closed for damage repairs. It will be re-opened in January 2007.

- prepare to initiate the Sunday afternoon lecture series on topics related to the Niagara Escarpment. Many organizations have volunteered to participate in this program. The lecture series will commence after repairs to the large assembly room are completed.

We have made a number of presentations to, and assembled displays for,

Presentations

: NEC: Leo DeLoyde, Anne Redish, Ken Hall

: Bruce Trail Executive: Leo DeLoyde

: Iroquoia Bruce Trail Executive: Ken Hall

: Leading Edge Conference: Anne Redish

Displays

: Hamilton Environmentalist of the Year Dinner

: Leading Edge Conference

We have a number of projects which are in the development stage and should be ready for initiation in the upcoming year:

- the creation of a website

- preparation of a province-wide education program related to the Escarpment and suitable for internet distribution

- creation of a Newsletter.

Submitted by Ken Hall

President, GRDC

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PROFILE OF THE NEW PRESIDENT - LEO DELOYDE

Leo DeLoyde has 29 years of experience in the municipal sector of which 21 have been spent at the City of Burlington. Leo Currently holds a position as General Manager of Community Services wiith the City of Burlington, which is responsible for Parks and Recreation, Roads Transit and Environmental Management. He has an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning, a Master's in Environmental Studies, and has completed an executive program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

His volunteer work includes ongoing organizational development and strategic planning work with the Bruce Trail Association. He is currently President of the Giant's Rib DiscoveryCentre. In the Fall of 2004, Leo chaired the Transportation Panel review of the Environmental Assessment Act. In 2002-03, Leo participated in CUI's local government program designed to assist Hungary and Slovakia achieve readiness for EU membership.

Prior to that, Leo was Vice-president of the Bruce Trail Association. Also he has been involved in the clean-up of Hamilton Harbour since 1986, has served as a board member on the Bay Area Restoration Council, and represented Burlington on the Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration Committee.

Leo has four children, enjoys the outdoors in all seasons, and has an extensive travel history.

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