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L , 1 9 9 9
Wednesday, April 21st,
1999
Grand
Trunk Trail featured in architectural journal
Latest Trail
update reports trees will be planted along Trail by students on Earth Day, Thursday, April
22
The Grand Trunk Trail committee met last Thursday to carry on the business of the Trail. A number of pieces of information were shared. One piece of information was one that was not welcomed-our application to the Canada Millennium Partnership Program was rejected. The form letter arrived last Wednesday; the "personal" letter of explanation will arrive next week. Of course, that news was disappointing-we felt we had a project worthy of support because we met so many of the stated criteria. C'est la vie.
 Sarnia Bridge railway viaduct, St. Marys Photo: Dan Schneider |
On a brighter note, the Sarnia Bridge portion of the Trail has been highlighted on the cover of ACORN, the Journal of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, Spring 1999. Editor, Dan Schneider, had contacted the GTT committee to find out if we would write an article showing that some bridges around Ontario are being preserved in viable ways as opposed to the demolition of ones regardless of their historical and architectural value. Dan writes about our Grand Trunk Trail project in "From the Editor" on page 3 and features our article and his photo of the Bridge on page 10. Copies of ACORN will be delivered to the Public Library, the Museum, the Information Centre at the VIA Station and the Journal-Argus. Feel free to have a read.
The weather is gradually improving and that means that the plaques that have been sponsored by so many of you can be fastened to the planks one the Sarnia Bridge. A few were installed last autumn but we want to put a push on this spring. If anyone would like to take part in this mini-project, call GTT committee member Heather Goad (284-1122). She will organize times and teams to do the fastening. It would be a help if you could bring your own screwdriver (I think a Red Robertson will be the one to chose). There are approximately 800 to install so we will need a few people at a time so as not to get in each other's way. If you can offer an hour or so, the installation will move on to get the 800 fastened. By the way, there are over 1500 planks, so there is still lots of room for your plaque if you haven't sponsored one yet.
Earth Day event
The Naturalization sub-committee of GTT has
organized an Earth Day event. On Thursday, April 22/99 the GTT "Naturalization
committee is pleased to work with the UTRCA Community Forestry Program in planting native
trees and shrubs to help restore our natural community". The Grades 4
and 7 classes from Holy Name and Arthur Meighen and the Environmental Science classes from
DCVI will do the planting from 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 3 pm. Each class plants
for an hour and has an activity hike for an hour. Parents and other volunteers are
welcome.
Shovels and pails for carrying wood chips will be provided but bring your own water. Snacks will be provided. Meet us at the Wellington Street entrance to the GTT. The RAIN DATE will be Monday April 26/99.
The GTT Computer Team of Alan Powell and Tony Reynen are working on the creation of an Access Map so that visitors to St. Marys will be able to figure out how to access the Trail. This map will show access points at Ingersoll and Wellington Streets as well as through the Flats/Lions' Park. Later, the accesses at James and Thames Road will be added.
We are also working on signage to help visitors find the Trail. The Design sub-committee will present a recommended design for these signs which will be placed by the Trail itself and at approved, strategic places downtown.
A request has been made to the Town to have a few garbage cans placed on the Trail temporarily. The GTT committee has ideas about selecting waste containers that will look attractive but we can't afford them just now. The generic barrels will have to suffice for the time being.
Thanks to Douglas'
Wallpaper
That brings you up to date with the Grand
Trunk Trail except for an embarassing omission-acknowledgement of Douglas'
Wallpaper and Decorating which donated the proceeds from a decorating seminar to
the GTT. Thank you for thinking of us.
Carol Robinson-Todd, Chairperson
Reprinted from the St. Marys Journal-Argus, Wed. April 21, 1999
