Annual General Meeting and Discovery Night April 2025

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UPDATE – NO ENTRY FEE. Optional 50/50 draw.

Notice of the Annual General Meeting – Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 7 p.m.

All members of the Oak Ridges Trail Association are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Association to be held at Ballantrae Community Centre, 5592 Aurora Road, Stouffville on April 24. We look forward to seeing many supporters, hikers and friends on this occasion. If you will be putting forward a motion for consideration of the membership, please share with the Board before April 10, 2025, for inclusion to the agenda. Send to secretary@oakridgestrail.org .

Members please sign up here so we know to expect you. Non-members and guests can just show up, we will be happy to see you.

Agenda:

6:30 p.m. Refreshments (desserts, coffee, tea)

7 p.m. Business part of meeting

8 p.m. Guest speaker Scott Fowlds, ORTA member and Sergeant, Toronto Police Services.

ORTA Election of Directors – 2025-2026

We will once again put forth a slate of nominees to be elected to serve as Directors for a period of one year. We are seeking new ideas and perspectives and your input is welcomed. We meet about six times annually and hope that you will join us. To be eligible for election as a Director at the Annual General Meeting of Members, a person must:

1. Be a member in good standing
2. Have confirmed in writing their willingness to serve as a director

Award Nominations for 2024-2025

Each year the Oak Ridges Trail Association seeks to honour and say thanks to those members who have made significant contributions to our organization and the development of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail.

The award categories are Commendation Awards, Trail Builder Awards and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nominations are due by March 31st and can be sent to gayemas@rogers.com

For a description of each award category, please visit our previous award recipients posted on our website.

Discovery Night speaker – ORTA member Scott Fowlds will speak about police dogs

Following the AGM portion of the evening, ORTA member Scott Fowlds will speak about police dogs and cover some of the items noted below. Scott is a Sergeant with the Toronto Police Service.

• how and why the dogs are chosen and at what age they start their official training
• the different breeds that are trained
• the different aspects of detection that the dogs are trained for
• the process of the training from start to finish
• the difference between the training for different jobs the dogs will end up doing
• the fact that the training never ends and that a great team always stays on top of their game
• when and how the dog teams are tested
• what happens when the dogs are retired from their job

Location: Ballantrae Community Centre. 5592 Aurora Rd, Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON L4A 7X3
NO ENTRY FEE. Optional 50/50 draw.
What to Bring: Lug your own mug and bring a friend. Everyone is welcome. Open to members and the general public.
Time: 7-9pm