{"id":1363,"date":"2019-03-27T20:48:32","date_gmt":"2019-03-27T20:48:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fivebridgestrust.ca\/wp\/?p=1363"},"modified":"2019-03-27T20:48:39","modified_gmt":"2019-03-27T20:48:39","slug":"agm-2019-news-and-trust-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivebridgestrust.ca\/wp\/?p=1363","title":{"rendered":"AGM 2019 \u2013 News and Trust Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 18th<\/sup> annual general meeting of the Trust was held at the Estabrooks Community Hall on Sunday, March 17 and offered attendees a chance to learn about the past year\u2019s accomplishments and future plans and focus.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Left: Board Member volunteers Imbert Allen, Bridget Adams, Harry Ward and Wayne Rogers hosted the AGM event showcasing the work of the Trust.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About 30 partners, members and supporters joined Board Members Harry Ward, Imbert Allen, Wayne Rogers and Bridget Adams as they reviewed the budget, grants program spending and events held to support and promote use of the Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area.\u00a0 Liberal MLA for Chester\/St. Margaret\u2019s Hugh MacKay was also in attendance, as well as Life Time Trust Members; Beth McGee, Geoff Le Boutilier, Jeff Parks and Gary Armsworthy.\u00a0 Two new volunteers were accepted on the Board of Trustees; Tammy Carew and Ken Donnelly, both will serve three-year terms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bay Treasure Chest<\/a> (BTC) partnership continues to be a wonderful financial support for the Trust.\u00a0 It was acknowledged and reported that with BTC funding, the Trust\u2019s Environmental Stewardship Grants Program has awarded $80,000 in the past two years to local community groups improving trails, bridges, training and access to wilderness experiences.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, the Trust suspended the Program and earmarked the funds for land purchases that would expand the wilderness area, especially at access points that currently are restricting for hikers \/ canoes or are deemed environmentally significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the business portion of the meeting, Raymond Plourde, wilderness coordinator at the Ecology Action Centre<\/a> shared a wonderful presentation focused on the state of Nova Scotia\u2019s forests.\u00a0 Plourde shared the alarming stats that clear cutting to provide local and European electricity plants, pulp mills and pellet production plants have significantly reduced the age classes, diversity and overall health of our forest ecosystems.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n