2021 Winners
Congratulations Trudy!
2021 NBTC Lifetime Achievement Award
Awarded annually to a member(s) who has made a significant volunteer contribution to the organization at the club level over many years. We are nominating Trudy Senesi for the NBTC Lifetime Achievement award. Her dedication and contribution to our club makes her a very worthy candidate. Trudy joined the club in 1996. She was the club’s representative to the BTC Board from 2006 until 2016, with a period off when she became VP and President of the NBTC. She also served on the NBTC Board as a director at large for a few more years. Trudy became an Honorary Member of the BTC in 2013. To the best of our knowledge, here are some of her many accomplishments: Trail Captain, Hike Leader, Land Stewart, Trail Angel. Was involved with land owner duties: distributed calendars and invitations to Land Owner Potluck to land owners; sold calendars to members; involved in updating land owner data annually. Maintained updated Niagara membership information, to enable our club to communicate with members through blasts. Chaired a committee to organize BTC Annual Meeting hosted in Niagara. Wonderful organizer of social events – pig roasts, Christmas Galas. Excelled at her ability to sell tickets to these events. In charge of Niagara’s End to End hike for some years. Dedicated and outstanding seller of t-shirts, if you dared to look. Led a group to South Africa for the opening of the Bruce Trail Friendship Trail. Somewhere during those years Trudy completed three end-to-ends. The last one was to hike each club section during it’s 50th anniversary year. She has never forgiven the Toronto Club for not bothering to create a 50th badge. It is difficult to find the words to describe Trudy’s dedication, energy, loyalty, support, friendship, empathy — if she knew a member who was not well, needed help or a ride, she would be there. We will still see Trudy at our events and she is still walking, having joined the NBTV … aka, the Niagara Bruce Trail Veterans. Corrie Kellestine & Norma Riddle
2021 NBTC Volunteer of the Year Award
Awarded annually to a member or committee whose volunteerism has gone above and beyond in the year just completed. As Media Relations Director Margaret’s role is exceptionally diverse and intricate. She has developed the role, significantly taking on additional responsibilities including Hiking 101, the Hike Leadership Program and the Design and Supply of Promotional items. This is in addition to the Website Design and Maintenance, Contributions to Social Media Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and the Interviews and Discussions with other external Media Outlets. The COVID 19 Pandemic has introduced more people to the trails in the form of casual walkers or people looking to explore the Bruce Trail. Despite the COVID Restrictions Margaret has been able to successfully organize and execute a hiking 101 program as well as Bruce Trail Day Mystery Hike reaching out to all demographic cohorts through the various Social Media Platforms. She is introducing a wider range of people to the NBTC and has been largely responsible for increasing the membership. Margaret is currently the sole NBTC member responsible for hike leader training. Whilst it has not been possible to run a hike leader program this year due to COVID she has personally been responsible for training many of the NBTC Hike Leaders. Without these leaders there would be no hiking program. In summation Margaret’s contribution and dedication to the NBTC is an example for us all. In addition to the contributions noted above she provides guidance and direction to other Volunteers and is the primary reason that the Niagara Bruce trail Club is successful. Alan Laver
Congratulations Margaret!
Congratulations Lou & Judy Gaudier!
2021 NBTC Unsung Hero Award (new for 2021)
Awarded annually to a member(s) who can always be counted on to lend a hand and volunteer at the club level over many years. Current board members not eligible. Lou and Judy Gaudier are always willing to help. They have been volunteering since they joined the club. Judy and Lou have led many hikes and Lou always takes care of the 50/50 draw at all of our special events. They always attend every fundraising event and gladly purchase calendars and t-shirts. Together they also host checkpoints for many of our event hikes. They traditionally have one of the favourite stops during the End to End as well as hosting checkpoints at the Merritthon and the Steeltown Stomp. If that weren’t enough, they also take their turn at our information booth at the Balls Falls Festival and for the entire Pelham Summerfest. Last year there were record breaking temperatures during that event. They were offered relief and given the OK to shut the tent down early but they continued greeting potential members for the duration of the festival. They truly are the face of our club and all of the time they have given to promoting and supporting the NBTC makes them very deserving of this award. Lisa Etienne