We are taking advantage of a new opportunity for our January meeting: a nature film festival. Check this out jhfestival.org and click on the Festival Films on Tour. We are using mainly short films from Jackson Hole Wild to host an event at the Seniors centre for our members. We’ll provide more details shortly!
Because of renovations at the Seniors’ Centre during the last week of January, we have to move the date away from January 30th to Tuesday, January 23rd at our usual time of 7:30 P.M.
Nicola Ross will be speaking to us next Tuesday, November 28th, 7:30 P.M. at the Orangeville Seniors Centre. Nicola will be talking about her latest book Dufferin Hikes: Loops and Lattes. This is the third in her series of local hiking guides, the others being Caledon Hikes, and Halton Hikes.
A number of us have used these books as guides for mostly short half-day hikes. She has cleverly chosen interesting routes that loop back to the starting point — and she caps that off with recommendations of where to have excellent snacks and lunches. I’ve enjoyed the several of her recommended routes that I’ve done. My wife hikes every Wednesday with a group of local women who have nearly completed all of the hikes in Nicola’s first two books, and are now beginning to hike through her Dufferin book. They’re loving the routes she recommends!
Nicola has a fascinating background, including being the editor for one of Ontario’s leading environmental journals. She is a hometown woman, having grown up in this area. She has become part of Caledon’s community landscape. Years spent hiking local trails, wandering down country roads and exploring villages prompted her to start the Caledon Countryside Alliance to help protect the area from urban sprawl. A columnist with In The Hills magazine for almost two decades and the award-winning author of five books including Caledon and Dufferin County, Nicola lends her knowledge of Caledon’s past and present to her familiarity with the trails that crisscross its dramatic landscape.
One of many things that fascinate me about having Nicola speak to us is her ability to combine enthusiasm for and understanding of her home environment with a remarkable ability to take action on her concerns, and then wrap that all in an entrepreneurial flavour as an author. She’s a fine example of how to live her passions. Besides, anyone who can title their blog A glorious gallimaufry of hiking stories, facts, figures and reviews, simply has to be seen and heard!
Nicola will no doubt be bringing copies of her books to sell. I know quite a few people who have or are going to get certain books as presents! …
The evening will include:
“The success of this evening is dependant upon your participation. We really want you to come and be an active part of this. Let us know what you would like to do and/or bring.”
Contact us by replying at the top of this post by Saturday Oct. 21st and let us know what you would like to present or bring to the UCFN Member’s Night. If you are contributing food also let us know, please.
American Painted Lady, Vanessa virginiensis, one of the migratory butterflies