Connecting Along the Bruce Trail
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Connecting Along the Bruce
And results of the Bruce Trail Inspired 2 Fundraiser, November 2023
🌄 The Allure of the Bruce Trail
For those of us who yearn to feel the Earth beneath our feet and reconnect with the grounding embrace of nature, the Bruce Trail beckons us, promising adventure, serenity, and an expansive connection with the natural world. This 900-km long gem winds along the Niagara Escarpment from Queenston to Tobermory (Ontario), revealing awe-inspiring natural beauty, with picturesque waterfalls, sweeping vistas, ancient forests, and unique geological formations.
🌳 Lifeline of Preservation
In addition to being a pathway through some of Ontario's most breathtaking landscapes, it is a lifeline for preserving these precious natural spaces and the creatures that depend upon them to live. The Bruce Trail passes through some remote as well as highly developed areas, and serves as the only major corridor for wildlife movement in some places.
In this way, the Trail and its surrounding lands provide a connected conservation corridor that helps to preserve the natural habitat and biodiversity of the area.
Connected natural corridors allow wildlife unfettered movement across the natural landscape and connect what could become isolated pockets of different species. This movement is not only important to accommodate different stages throughout species’ life cycles, but also as they adapt to climate change and the associated changes to their natural habitats.
🦌 The Challenge of Private Lands
What many don’t realize is that the Bruce Trail Conservancy—the steward of the Trail and one of Ontario’s largest land trusts—does not own or manage all the lands through which the Bruce Trail traverses.
In some areas, the Trail passes through private lands between pockets of protected areas, and in other areas it passes through or is diverted along roadways around private lands. These private lands are at risk from development and other threats, which also put the goal of a continuous connected conservation corridor at risk.
🏞️ Working Towards a Connected Conservation Corridor
The Bruce Trail Conservancy aims to secure unprotected private lands and continue creating nature reserves and other protected natural areas. This will help to establish a fully connected conservation corridor, in perpetuity. They do this by purchasing land with funds raised through fundraising campaigns and from individual donors, and by accepting donations of land.
The Conservancy considers a number of factors when prioritizing land for securement, including the ecological value of the land, the variety and stability of species that could be protected by securing the land, and the importance of the land for the continuity and safety of the Bruce Trail.
Once land is secured, the Conservancy ensures trail sections are located along the best route for both the human trail users and the sensitive wildlife that live in the area.
👩🎨 Joining Forces for Nature
With raising awareness for and contributing to the Conservancy’s aim of securing unprotected lands along this conservation corridor in mind, I joined forces with three other artists—Anne More, Cathy Lorraway, Victoria Pearce—to host our second art show in support of the Bruce Trail Conservancy. The show, supported by the Burlington Fine Arts Association, ran from November 10 to 19, 2023.
It was a pleasure to connect and reconnect with many who share our passion for art and for nature, the Escarpment, and the beloved trails. We loved hearing others’ stories and their connections with the Trail and the Niagara Escarpment.
🎨 Fundraising for Nature, Success
Collectively, we sold 17 paintings!!
With our commitment to donate 30% of the proceeds to the organization, we raised $4,200 for the Bruce Trail Conservancy. That takes our total raised for this organization through our art show fundraisers to just over $11,000. So thrilled!!
These paintings I did of scenes along the Bruce Trail made their way to collector’s homes during the show:
🙌 Much Gratitude
Thankful for all who came out to the show or reached out with their support and interest. This includes the show being featured in the Niagara Escarpment Views 2023 autumn issue (page 48), and in an article by Regina Hago, “Painting with a Purpose,” in the Arts & Life section of The Hamilton Spectator [Nov 18, 2023], and everyone [so many of you!!! ] who cheered us on and helped to spread the word.
Thankful also for those who were able to bring home the artworks they connected with. We hope these pieces will revive fond memories for time to come
Truly grateful to all!
🌐 Explore More on the Bruce Trail Conservancy's Website
If you are interested in learning more about or supporting the Bruce Trail Conservancy, please go check them out on their website at https://brucetrail.org/.
🏞 LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I have taken this acknowledgement word for word [with a small addition] from the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s web page https://brucetrail.org/ [accessed 2 November 2023]. The Conservancy did the work and I believe their statement expresses well what is also on my mind and in my heart.
The Bruce Trail Conservancy [and I] wish to acknowledge and honour the lands of the Niagara Escarpment as the traditional territory of Indigenous peoples. In both spirit and partnership, we recognize and thank the Anishinaabek, Huron-Wendat, Tionontati, Neutral Nation, Haudenosaunee, Métis, and all who provided stewardship of these lands over millennia.
Recognition of the contributions of Indigenous peoples is consistent with our commitment to making the promise of Truth and Reconciliation real in our communities. We are grateful for the opportunity to live, work, and play here and thank all those who have served and continue to serve as caretakers of this special place.
We are also mindful of broken covenants and the need to reconcile with all our allies and relations. Together, may we care for this land and each other, drawing upon the strength of our mutual history through peace and friendship, to create a lasting legacy of conservation for generations to come.