The Old Growth Conservancy Society invites you to it’s AGM via Zoom.

OLD GROWTH CONSERVANCY SOCIETY
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 7:00 PM

AGENDA:
Approval of Agenda
Adoption of Minutes of February 26, 2020 AGM
Directors’ and Treasurer’s Reports
Election of Directors
Presentations by Directors

The Zoom meeting will open 15 minutes early to allow time to admit people from the waiting room. When addressing the chair, remember to unmute yourself and state your name so membership can be verified. Voting in favour of motions will require no action. Voting opposed to a motion can be done by raising a hand or stating your name and “Opposed”. Please remember that only current members can vote.

To renew your membership, the $10 annual membership fee may be sent online from your financial institution website via Interac e-Transfer® to ogcs.wv@gmail.com. Please include your name(s) in the optional message field. Any amount over the membership fee will gratefully be accepted as a donation.

Alternatively, cheques may be mailed to:
   OGCS
   309 – 1550 Duchess Ave
   West Vancouver, BC V7V 1P5

Please email ogcs.wv@gmail.com if you have any questions about your membership status or to request a link to the Zoom meeting. Please do not post the Zoom link on social media.

OGCS 2020 AGM Draft Minutes

The OGCS Newsletter has a new look for 2020. Many thanks to Paul Hundal for all his work on this.

In recognition of the 30th anniversary of the 1990 Golf Course Referendum, the newsletter includes coverage of a special publication from Paul Hundal on the story behind the referendum. Paul was a key player in the opposition to the golf course and chronicles the actions that led to the protection and creation of the Old Growth Conservancy.

The newsletter also covers adapting the summer guided tours so they could safely be held during the pandemic and remembers a favourite OGCS Director, Hugh Hamilton, who passed away in April.

The newsletter is available for download here.

Just in time for the 30th anniversary, the story behind the 1990 Golf Course Referendum is now available in The Battle To Save Hollyburn’s Hidden Giants.

This is the story of a community battle to save a hidden grove of giant old-growth cedar trees up to 9 feet wide and close to a 1000 years old. The municipality that owned the land had not disclosed the existence of these trees on land they owned and tried to have them cleared for a semi-private golf course. The story reveals how the community won that battle from the personal perspective of one of the leaders of that campaign. These giants are now protected in the Old Growth Conservancy of West Vancouver and after you read this book I hope you will visit them. The book is a gift to the public that voted, in the hard fought referendum, to save these amazing natural wonders.

In light of the recent public health orders, the 30th Anniversary Celebration on Nov 22 is cancelled. Directors are monitoring the situation and will consider rescheduling the event in safer times.

The OGCS holding a Socially Distanced Celebration in recognition of the 30th Anniversary of the 1990 Golf Course Referendum.

Join us on Sunday, November 22 at 1 PM in Parking Lot #5 to reminisce with old friends, make some new ones and celebrate West Vancouver citizens rejecting a golf course in favour of protecting old growth.

During COVID times there haven’t been many opportunities to safely bring people together. We’re fortunate to have both a reason to celebrate and a large, outdoor area with plenty of room for social distancing.

RSVP Required

Please RSVP to ogcs.wv@gmail.com including a phone number for contact tracing.

During COVID-19 crowds must be kept below 50. The event is outdoors, reducing the risk of transmission, but extra efforts are needed to keep each other safe.

• People without an RSVP with a contact phone number cannot be accommodated.
• Do not attend if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever over 38 degrees, coughing or respiratory issues.
• Observe respiratory etiquette (cough or sneeze into tissue or elbow)
• Masks are optional, but social distancing is not. Maintain a physical distance of 2 metres from people not in your household.

With any luck, there will be snow, so dress warmly. There will be cupcakes, but no beverages, so please bring something to drink.

COVID-19 Update
The July tours have been cancelled.
The August and September tours are accepting reservations by email.

During the COVID-19 pandemic extra efforts are made to reduce the risk of transmission. Participants must be free of any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever over 38 degrees, cough or respiratory issues. Masks are optional, but participants will be required to maintain physical distancing of 2 metres from people not in their household and to follow respiratory etiquette (cough or sneeze into tissue or elbow).

The dates for the 2020 Guided Tours have been announced. There are 6 tours of the Old Growth Conservancy and 2 tours of old-growth areas outside the Conservancy. These tours are part of the Society educational program and are free to all participants.

• Sunday, July 5 – Lighthouse Park COVID-19 Cancellation
• Sunday, July 19 – Whyte Lake COVID-19 Cancellation
• Saturday, Aug 22 – OGC
• Wednesday, Aug 26 – OGC
• Saturday, Aug 29 – OGC
• Sunday, Sept 13 – OGC
• Thursday, Sept 17 – OGC
• Saturday, Sept 19 – OGC

See the full details at ogcs.ca/tours.

We have snow!

Mother Nature has been generous with the snow this year, so the OGCS is having a snowshoe hike through the Old Growth Conservancy on Sunday, February 2nd.

This is an excellent opportunity to see some of the better old-growth in the Conservancy without impacting the forest floor. We meet at Hi-View Lookout at 10 AM for car pooling or at 10:30 at Parking Lot #5.

The hike will last 2.5 to 3 hours. Bring some food and a beverage. Water-resistant outerwear over layered winter clothing is recommended, as are sturdy, water-resistant boots. On past hikes, footwear has varied from boots to snowshoes to crampons. Hiking or ski poles are advised.

Mountain Equipment Co-op rents snowshoes for $15/day. Reservations can be made at the North Vancouver store at 604-990-4417

Please let us know if you can join us by emailing us at ogcs.wv@gmail.com. We’ll send a update on conditions to everyone that’s registered.