Introducing the New "Evans Sisters’ Water Trail"
Photo: Andrew Gunn and Maddie King of Andrew Gunn Consulting Inc. and young & free press recently joined Elizabeth VanHooren, General Manager of Kettle Creek Conservation Authority, to announce a donation of $155,000 from the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell to establish the new “Evans Sisters’ Water Trail” at the Dalewood Conservation Area in St. Thomas, Ontario.
Throughout spring and summer 2020, our team at young & free press will be sharing a series of announcements to highlight many wonderful donations from the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell. We started the process on Tuesday, May 26th by revealing that the Estate has contributed $335,000 to the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority to build a new ‘sustainable stage’ at Springwater Forest near Aylmer in Elgin County. The venue will be named the “Evans’ Sisters Stage” in honour of Donna Bushell and her sisters, Doris Evans and Thelma Joiner.
In addition to our social media work, articles, and partnerships with private companies and government organizations, our team of teenagers at young & free often act as consultants alongside owner Andrew Gunn through his consulting firm, Andrew Gunn Consulting Inc. This cross-generational approach gives us the ability to develop some cool ideas for community projects!
Currently, we are serving as consultants on the Estate of Donna Bushell, who passed away in November, 2019, in her hundredth year. Andrew and our teenage staff member, Maddie King, will be taking the lead on announcing $2.5M in donations from the Estate to support lots of amazing projects in St. Thomas and Elgin County. This has been an interesting task in the midst of a global pandemic, but we are thrilled to be able to help support the community at this time. Here are the details on the next project:
Through a donation of $155,000 from the Bushell Estate, Kettle Creek Conservation Authority (KCCA) will be creating the first ‘water trail’ in Elgin County by allowing enhanced public access to the Dalewood Reservoir and Kettle Creek.
“It’s a privilege to work with the Bushell Estate to enhance the public’s ability to experience wilderness in their backyard,” says Elizabeth VanHooren, KCCA’s General Manager. “We had a vision to create Elgin’s first water trail – this donation will make it a reality.”
Dalewood Conservation Area is an urban conservation area, but maintains wilderness appeal. The site encompasses 25 hectares of provincially significant wetlands. Members of the public can see bald eagles, osprey, and some spectacular views – but only with access to the water. Therefore, KCCA will be enhancing trail access from Dalewood Road to a day-use area with a new canoe and kayak launch-point!
A 2.8-kilometre water trail will be marked to lead users through the Dalewood Reservoir and along Kettle Creek. To ensure that members of the public can access the trail, KCCA will utilize a portion of the donation to purchase canoes and kayaks that community members and visitors can rent through the summer months. Imagine lots of kayaks and canoes out on the water! (Photos below provided by KCCA)
Andrew Gunn, owner of Andrew Gunn Consulting and young & free press, summed up the project this way: “We are very excited to be able to work with the Kettle Creek Conservation Authority to establish the new Evans’ Sisters Water Trail. With the direct link between the urban area of the City of St. Thomas to the Dalewood Conservation Area, we believe that this is an excellent way to provide local residents and visitors the opportunity to come down to the water, rent a canoe or kayak, and go exploring. This kind of access to natural areas is important for everyone, and during the current pandemic, we know that individuals and families have been using local trails more and more. We look forward to the opening of the Water Trail!”
Work on the enhancements will begin this summer with the aim of having the new water trail, launch area, and rentals available in summer 2021.
In addition to the Evans Sisters’ Water Trail, the Conservation Authority will use portions of the donation to make improvements to bridges and boardwalks throughout the Dalewood Reservoir Hiking Trail, and sustain and develop a robust tree planting program in the Kettle Creek watershed.
Notes on the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell
Donna Vera Evans Bushell passed away November 9th, 2019, in her hundredth year, the last of her family. Donna’s passion was to plant trees and reminisce about her ancestors and friends while her sister, Doris Evans, taught music as a church organist. The older sister, Thelma Joiner, taught elementary school around Aylmer for forty-five years and researched local North Yarmouth history. All three sisters shared a love of their heritage as descendants of the pioneer Westlake, Penhale and Gilbert families who settled along the North Edgeware Road in Yarmouth. Their collected historical papers will eventually be deposited in the Elgin County Archives. The new “Evans Sisters’ Water Trail” will be a living testament to the three sisters, and a valued addition to the local community.
Notes on the Kettle Creek Conservation Authority
Kettle Creek Conservation Authority (KCCA) was established in 1965 with a mission to guide the conservation of ecosystems on a watershed basis. KCCA ensures the conservation, restoration and responsible management of water, land and natural habitats throughout the Kettle Creek watershed, benefitting seven municipalities (City of London, City of St. Thomas, Middlesex Centre, Thames Centre, Township of Southwold, Malahide Township, and the Municipality of Central Elgin). Website: www.kettlecreekconservation.on.ca
The Evans Sisters in 1999: Doris Evans (back left), Donna Bushell (back right), and Thelma Joiner (in front). Recently, the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell provided $155,000 to the Kettle Creek Conservation Authority to establish the new “Evans Sisters’ Water Trail” at the Dalewood Conservation Area in St. Thomas, as well as to improve the hiking trails in the area and plant trees in the Kettle Creek watershed.
