Centennial Trail Video 

 

THE CENTENNIAL TRAIL OFFICIAL OPENING

MAY 14, 2011

The Centennial Trail Official Opening ~ what an incredible celebration !

There was a gentle and celebratory feeling of joy and jubilation throughout the day…when I mentioned the 10’s of thousands of Volunteer hours to Doug Rennie of Tyam Construction, he immediately added that it was incredibly evident, as he walked the Trail and was amazed that the community could accomplish this task.

Young and seasoned residents alike, walked the trail … some riding on a loved one’s back … nine decades were represented from start to finish … one week at a spa could not have created a warmer feeling, each person traversing the trail and enjoying the beauty.

Rose Dudley, stopped counting at 100 people as she relaxed into conversation at the top of the wooden staircase … we could see from the BBQ that well over 200  people attended ~ one estimate being between 250 to 300  enthusiasts.

An enormous thank you to our invaluable and committed Team of Volunteer Trail Blazers inspired and led by the Village’s amazing and committed, John Dudley ! Please have a look at our many Thank You’s. If you also helped out, but do not see your name, please accept an enormous thank you !

Thank you also to our many partners for their generous funding, in-kind contributions, as well as permits for the Centennial Trail to be on both the School District and Ministry of Transportation property.

This day could not have been more successful ! The outstanding support and ‘All Hands On Deck’ attitude of the Lions Bay Emergency Social Services Team helped to make it all possible. This is an incredibly competent Team of Volunteers who served refreshments prior to the celebration, as well as BBQ’d for us all. This team is led by resident, Sally Pollock, and includes, Wendy Conway-Mair, Sue Forshaw, Celia Haas, Anne-Marie Halliday, Susan Loutet, Jan Schneider, Tina Schneider, Lisa Turpin, Ingrid Wray, and Gwen Zimmer, (Liz Carson was unable to attend), as well as helpers Peter Haas, David Halliday, Marianne Kohler, Darrel Loppe, Trudi Luethy, Doug Pollock and our youth volunteers Marina Fluery and Zack Turpin.

Thank you to : Shuttle Drivers, Sue and Albert Forshaw…the Lions Bay Fire Rescue ~ thank you to Fire Chief Andrew Oliver and the LBFR members Greg Turpin and Rick Wilson for assisting with the folding of the Flag, Edward Langford and the Lions Bay Search and Rescue Team, Wayne Michel, BC Ambulance, and Inspector Neil Cross, RCMP who added such dignity in his red serge. Thank you to our photographer, Lee Halliday !

A very special thank you to: Simon Pitches, Bag Piper, Lions Bay Fire Rescue. The sound of Bag Pipes lilted across the Brunswick hillside like a Scottish moor at the northern Centennial Trailhead and to Kelk Jeffery, age 8, violinist, for coming forward to accompany the gathering with ‘O Canada’.

Our elfin Lions Bay Phillies ~ 2 violins and a cello … created pure magic at Reflection Point along the Trail, overlooking spectacular Howe Sound…thank you ~ Elyse Ando, Lucy Jeffery and Grace Shore.

Thank you also to the first four residents to officially cross onto the Centennial Trail, and the accompanying youths : David Enns, Berenice Leboutillier, Hilda Mayo, Colin Watson, and youths : Max Gerlach, Kelk Jeffrey, Maya Peat, Lauren Tan.

Mary-Ann Booth, Chair, SD45, West Vancouver Board of Education emailed : “…I was overwhelmed by the community participation and pride in building this amazing community asset…a celebration that truly represented the spirit of your community.”

Mark Hersey, BC Operations Manager, Solid Rock Fencing emailed : “… It was a great day and I thoroughly enjoyed hiking the new trail.”

Ellen Forsyth, Former Secretary-Treasurer, SD45, West Vancouver emailed : “So much credit belongs to you, and to all the people at the ceremony, it was their dedication and love of the area that brought it into being. I will be back to walk your trails many times.”

Thank you to the Lions Bay Community News, publisher Cheryl Wozny and her editorial team for all of their ongoing support in ‘reporting out’ to our Village on the many community events including this one !

I wish to acknowledge and deeply thank the 40^th Anniversary Committee for their extraordinary dedication to Lions Bay : Tony Cox, Anne-Marie Halliday, Trudi Luethy, Louis Peterson, Ute Philips, Sally Pollock, Councillor Joanne Ronsley, Councillor Ruth Simons, Lucy Traini, and Ingrid Wray, with Michael Broughton.

By Mayor Brenda Broughton