Blue skies and sunshine brought families to Scanlon Creek Conservation Area on Saturday, for the annual National Trails Day celebration and Mayor’s Hike for Health.
The event is a partnership between the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA), which operates Scanlon, and provided guided hikes of its trails.
Mayor Rob Keffer welcomed participants to Scanlon and encouraged them to come on a hike. “Hiking - it’s healthy,” he said. "Enjoy yourself!”
Brian Kemp, a Bradford native and the LSRCA’s manager of conservation lands, led the longer and more challenging of the guided hikes. He told the crowd that he always keeps the date free, on his calendar.
“This is our favourite property,” Kemp said. “Glad you are using it for the Town.”
Co-worker Lauren Grzywniak led a shorter hike, along an easier trail, but Kemp warned, “Both hikes will have mosquitoes. Be prepared.”
For those not up to a 45 minute hike in the woods, the event also offered family games, live entertainment by singer Joel Grey and busker Circus Jonathan, free snacks, a barbecue, free sunscreen - and bug spray.
“June is Recreation and Parks month. Our department is celebrating for the entire month of June,” said Bethany Kuboniwa, Leisure Events and marketing co-ordinator. She encouraged residents to check out the upcoming activities, and enter a free draw for great prizes.
There was also a display by the town’s Compliance Division, with a focus on water conservation.
Handing out free glass water bottles, staffers Maggie Slingerland and Britany Hodge promoted Bradford’s tap water as a good, environmentally-friendly alternative to single-use plastic water bottles. They also provided information on lawn watering rules during the summer months, water conservation tips, and "gross factor" demonstration of what not to flush down the drain.
Jars of water contained items like toilet paper, flushable wipes, bandaids and a ball of bacon grease, “in there since 2017,” said Slingerland. She pointed out that while toilet paper had dissolved, the supposedly “flushable” wipes, bacon grease, Bandaids and Qtips were untouched – just some of the items that end up clogging the sewer lines and treatment plant, and should never be flushed.
The crowds stayed for the full two-hour event, enjoying the weather and Scanlon's spectacular scenery.
“Beautiful day. Beautiful weather,” said Deputy Mayor James Leduc, coming back from the hike.