The Giant's Rib     devoted to increasing awareness and protection of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve  Stan Nowak, Editor                                                                                                                         basil.cottage@sympatico.ca      905-627-8832 December 2007                                                                              Volume 1, Issue 11    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   President's Annual Report   SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GRDC 2006-2007 YEAR   The Giant’s Rib Discovery Centre Board and its energetic and capable Executive Director, Ken Hall really hit its stride in 2007.  The following represents several of the highlights of GRDC activities in 2007:   ·        Established the very successful "Bruce Duncan mamorial lecture Series" which in 2007 comprised some 8 lectures per year featuring related Niagara Escarpment topics   ·       Board adopted several Strategic Objectives for the year and accomplished most of them.    ·       GRDC recognized as a “Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve Committee” in June 2007 by the Canadian World Biosphere Reserves Association.   ·        Continuous growth of the Friends of the Giant’s Rib Association to almost 500 individuals.   ·        Conducted a successful fund Raising Event “Summer Solstice” at the Parks Canada Discovery Centre, raising over $6000.00 that will be used for website and Grade 4 Niagara Escarpment related curriculum development   ·        Received three supporting grants from groups such as the Rotary Club of Dundas for fossil display and stereoscopic air-photo displays. The Hamilton Community Partnership Program to provide natural and culture heritage programs and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation to develop and distribute educational programs   ·        Established the Giant’s Rib Art and Photography Gallery (opened on weekends throughout the year featuring a different artist or photographer each month)   ·        Established the Giant’s Rib Newsletter (distributed by e-mail to Friends of the Giant’s Rib and distributed in print form at the Trail Centre)   ·        Development of a web-site (www.giantsrib.ca) Appointment of a web-master to help stream-line presentations. Still under construction and enlargement.   ·        Built stronger partnerships and affiliations with the HCA, NEC, Parks Canada DC and Tourism Hamilton.    Special thanks goes to George Koblyk who re-established and updated GRDC displays at the Dundas Valley Trails centre.  Many thanks to our Board Members and dedicated volunteers who have been attending our interpretive displays throughout 2007.   In 2008, we look forward to further progress on several educational fronts.  Lectures and arts shows have already been booked for 2008.  Please monitor our website at www.giantsrib.ca for upcoming events.   Have a happy holiday season and a great new 2008.   Leo DeLoyde President GRDC      The Giant’s Rib presents                    The Bruce Duncan Memorial Lecture Series The Giant’s Rib Discovery Centre proudly announces the second Bruce Duncan Memorial Lecture Series for the first half of 2008.  This series, amed in honour of the former General Manager of the Hamilton Conservation Authority, is dedicated to promoting the Niagara Escarpment as an internationally-recognized World Biosphere Reserve, as well as being a truly unique topographic feature of our natural and cultural heritage. Details of each presentation will be available in subsequent newsletters.     January 20, 2008        In Praise of Winter - Images of the Duindas Valley                        Eleanore Kosydar   March 2, 2008             The Eramosa Karst - An Urban Park In Hamilton                            Marcus Buck   April 13, 2008              The Last Stand - Ancient Cliff-face Forests of the                                    Niagara Escarpment                                                                       Peter Kelly   May 4, 2008                 Amphibians of Hamilton and the Importance of Vernal Pools        Bruce McKenzie     All presentations will be held at the Dundas Valley Trail Centre, Dundas Valley Conservation Area, 650 Governor’s Road, Dundas. Park entrance fee is a $2.00 per person, or a maximum $5.00 per car. There is no admission fee for children under 12. All presentations will be held Sunday afternoons of the noted date starting at 2:00 p.m. There is no charge for the lectures, but donations are welcome and appreciated. For further information: Kenneth Hall (kenjoan75@sympatico.ca), Stan Nowak (basil.cottage@sympatico.ca). Everyone is welcome - we look forward to seeing you !!     The Giants Rib presents   Art and Photography of the Heritage of the Niagara Escarpment   Celebrating ‘the art’ of the natural and cultural heritage of the Niagara Escarpment at the Dundas Valley Escarpment Centre featuring a new local artist every month                     Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.     This Month’s Artist:  Christopher Hamilton - Conservation Areas of the Niagara escarpment   Christopher Hamilton is a Burlington resident who specializes in nature and wildlife photography taken within the region’s Conservation Areas and along the Niagara Escarpment, in an effort to promote awareness.  After leaving a career in the transportation industry, Christopher focussed on photography of the Escarpment and the life within, with a special interest in the Turkey Vultures of Mount Nemo Conservation Area.   He is also an author, having written The Cookbook for Men Whose Wives Don't Cook.  Currently Christopher works for the Hamilton Conservation Authority assisting with that organization’s 50th anniversary  marketing strategies.   Artwork for Sale 1.           Tiger Lily                                                       $500.00 2.           Hilton Falls – Ruins by the Falls                      $100.00 3.           Mt. Nemo – Honeybee                                    $100.00 4.           Mt. Nemo – Morning Haze                              $100.00 5.           Hilton Falls – Smiley Squirrel                          $100.00 6.           Mt. Nemo Trillium                                           $100.00 7.           Dundas Valley - First Day Fawn in the Forest   $100.00 8.           Crawford Lake                                                $650.00 9.           Hilton Falls - Winter Below the Falls                $100.00 Waterfalls along the Niagara Escarpment by Joseph Hollick    Dewitt Falls   Dewitt Falls is located in the Stoney Creek section of Hamilton on the east side of Dewitt Road just past the railway tracks as you drive up the Niagara Escarpment towards Ridge Rd. (Dewitt Rd. is one way upbound from the railway tracks to Ridge Rd.) The waterfall can be seem from a vehicle and in addition there is parking directly in front of the waterfall on the shoulder.   Dewitt Falls is dry much of the year as its catchment area includes small sections of Ridge Rd. and Tapleytown Rd. ditches and nearby adjoining fields and thus is limited to peak storm events. Its height according to the Hamilton Conservation Authority is 7m (23 ft.) and its crest width is 2m (6 ft.)   Even when the waterfall is dry, it is interesting to view due to its rock formation and a distinct Sulphur odour originating from the rock. In winter the waterfall’s appearance can be completely altered due to a cover of ice. This is one waterfall that is easy to view in all seasons, as you only have to drive past it without really leaving your vehicle.   The attached photo shows water flowing over Dewitt Falls.                                                   Join the Friends of the   Giant’s Rib     Your assistance would be welcome in helping the Giant’s Rib Discovery Centre to increase awareness and protection of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve; or you may wish only to be kept informed of upcoming GRDC activities and events. We hope to hear from you.   For more information, please contact: Ken Hall                905-627-1320    Gord Perrault        905-648-8041                                                                           mailto:basil.cottage@sympatico.cahttp://www.giantsrib.ca/http://www.giantsrib.ca/mailto:kenjoan75@sympatico.camailto:basil.cottage@sympatico.cashapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3shapeimage_1_link_4
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