A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Since the publication of our last Riversong, numerous issues that have been on our table for many months have been resolved to the delight of our Directors, staff and volunteers.

Last summer, a request for one year’s extension of our Five Year Cost Share program was made to Parks Canada. In order for Ruthven Park to meet the monies allotted for the final year Conservation budget, a significant withdrawal from the Marion Hartney Foundation would be required. In this unstable market we find ourselves in, the Directors were not in favour of this action at this time. To our delight, this extension has been approved by Parks Canada and the revised agreement will extend to the end of fiscal year 2004/05. This Board, staff and volunteers were congratulated on our accomplishments under the Cost-Share Agreement to date. This extension will now allow the Finance and Conservation committees to reassess the conservation of the Coach House.

Professor John Triggs, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario has announced the first Archaeological Field School at Ruthven Park from May 3 to June 11, 2004. This research program will focus on Indiana, the small industrial village established in the late 1830s. Professor Triggs has been keen to carry out this Field School since 2001 and we are thrilled to be able to partner with Wilfred Laurier University. With limited enrollment for 20 students, the course is filling quickly. At present, there is a need for housing for these students in proximity to Cayuga. If you have any suggestions, please contact Marilynn Havelka at the Ruthven Park Gate House.

Recently Sami Rehman, our former Watershed Stewardship Co-ordinator, has made available a Landowner Contact database program on CD ROM. Should anyone be interested in a copy of this database program, Mary Gartshore, Stewardship Committee Chairman is the contact. You may request a copy by calling the Ruthven Gate House.

Should you live near the Kitchener-Waterloo area, you quite possibly would have seen the excellent full page article on Ruthven which appeared in their Saturday, December 6th edition. This article featured the festive decorations in the Mansion highlighting Christmas decorations from mid-Victoria to the 1970s. A display of 1950s toys titled “I Had One of Those”, kindly donated by Doug and Bev Jarvis was featured in the reception room.

A view of the dolls that appeared in the 1950’s Toy Exhibit entitled “I Had One of Those”. The toys were loaned to Ruthven Park by collectors Doug and Bev Jarvis. From left to right: Maggie Muggins, Skater Barbara Ann Scott and the Eaton’s Beauty Doll.

Marilynn Havelka and I were guest speakers at the Ontario Land Trust Alliance Conference held at the Kingsbridge Centre, King City on November 22nd. There was a full house at our Seminar at which we highlighted how an organization can successfully partner ecological sensitive areas with culturally significant heritage buildings. The Lower Grand River Land Trust is the only Ontario land trust that owns historic buildings.

On December 15th, I received a letter from Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Culture, advising that Ruthven Park National Historic Site is the recipient of a Community Museum Operating Grant of $13,987.00. This was our first application for this Provincial grant and it is extremely gratifying to know that we met the recently revised stringent “Standards for Community Museums in Ontario”.

Very special congratulations are extended to Bob Speller, our Member of Parliament on his appointment to the Federal Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Bob has always played a very positive role with Parks Canada negotiations and we cordially wish him well in all his Cabinet Minister endeavours.

A reminder that membership fees are due for renewal and for those who joined prior to June 1, 2003.

In closing, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Lower Grand River Land Trust, I wish each of you and your dear families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Betsy Smith,
President, Lower Grand River Land Trust Inc.