Information posted August 11, 2015
We hope everyone is enjoying these last few weeks of the summer and that you will all be ready to join us once again at our 2015/2016 Community Meetings which will begin in September. Our meetings will be held as usual in both Milton and Burlington. For this the first meeting of our new season we will have a very interesting and informative presentation. With one of Ontario’s real gems right here in our backyard we have invited Dr. David Galbraith, Head of the Science Department at Royal Botanical Gardens, who will be speaking about the renovation and rejuvenation of The Rock Garden.
The Rock Garden is sometimes called the “jewel in the crown” of Royal Botanical Gardens. This large and unique garden on the Burlington
Heights, between Hamilton and Burlington, has delighted generations with its naturalistic setting and spectacular plant material. Designed as part of a massive city beautification plan in the late 1920s, the Rock Garden was finished as a Depression-era relief project and opened to the public in 1932. It was folded into Royal Botanical Gardens shortly after it opened, as RBG itself was being developed. Today the Rock Garden is nearly all that remains of the grand vision of 1927 for the North West Entrance to Hamilton. In need of significant repairs and upgrades for some time, the Rock Garden was closed for its first real rejuvenation in 2013. This project, the largest ever undertaken by Royal Botanical Gardens, is nearing completion,
and is on schedule for a grand re-opening in May 2016. We will take a look at the fascinating story of this garden, from its origins as an abandoned gravel pit to the finishing touches now being put on the new Visitor Centre, and how you can help support this amazing legacy.
Our Speaker Dr. David Galbraith is Head of the Science Department at Royal Botanical Gardens. He is a native of southern Ontario, and is by training a wildlife biologist. His work at RBG includes helping visiting researchers undertake projects ranging from anthropology to zoology. He is an expert on the role of botanical gardens in plant conservation and biodiversity programs, and has contributed significantly to international policies and programs aimed at preventing the loss of vulnerable species. He has also become something of the informal staff historian at RBG, as he enjoys
digging into the cultural, historic, and biological context of this great institution.
With such an interesting and topical presentation we invite you all to come on out and get our new season off to a flying start.
Our Milton meeting will be held on Wednesday September 9th, 2015 at the Seniors Activity Centre, 500 Childs Drive, Milton
Our Burlington meeting will be held on Tuesday September 22nd at the Seniors Centre, 2285 New Street, Burlington.
Our meetings at both locations will be held in the evening. Doors will open at 6.30pm with the main meeting taking place between 7.00pm and 9.00pm. Coffee and tea will be available.
Please be aware that if room capacity limits are reached we may have to restrict entrance in order to comply with building safety code regulations. Typically there is more space available at Milton.
Both meetings will begin with a short welcoming address from our Chairperson, Tom Carrothers. Tom will also provide a brief update on your CARP Halton Chapter and CARP National activities.
This will be followed by our featured presentation.
As usual we have a number of sponsors for both meetings. We will be very pleased to welcome them and to thank them for their support. They will all have tables where you will be able to chat with their representatives and pick up additional information.
There will be a break at the midway point of the presentation which will allow time to socialize with fellow members and to spend more time visiting our sponsors.
Sponsors at both meetings:
Canadian Christian Tours: Canadian Christian Tours is a licensed Tico travel agency specializing in the 50+ generation. We organize day trips, multi-day trips, international trips and would love to help you book a flight, all-inclusive holiday, cruise, hotel, or transportation.
ListenUP Canada: providing individuals who have a hearing loss with the most professional, comprehensive and convenient hearing healthcare services
Royal Botanical Gardens will also have a display where you will be able find out more information of this excellent facility. And remember RBG is Chapter Partner offering CARP members 14 months of membership for the price of 12 months.
Both meetings will conclude with a few closing remarks from Tom and our 50/50 draw. We encourage you to support this draw as proceeds help defray the costs of putting on our meetings.
Our meetings are FREE. Please support your Chapter. We look forward to welcoming all members and their friends.
