Lakeside Park Annual Cleanup and Potluck Lunch

11 April, 2026 

     Nestled in the heart of Kitchener, Ontario, surrounded on all sides by housing and urban development, lies Lakeside Park.

         This precious oasis of calm is cherished and loved by citizen and visitor alike, and is well used by naturalists, dog-walkers, hikers, cyclists, families, seniors, residents and visitors, by young and old, well-to-do and not so-well-to do, by all who seek momentary escape from the rigours of urban life. It is a place to recharge and reconnect, a haven of peace to wind down and breathe deeply. 

     The Friends of Lakeside Park have been exercising stewardship of this urban jewel for twenty-five years, with some people serving for that entire time. The commitment of these volunteers is both heart-warming and remarkable. They pledge their time with enthusiasm and dedication, a commitment to excellence, and each individual becomes an ambassador for the park.

     I do not live in Kitchener and I am not a member of the Friends of Lakeside Park, but some of their members are close friends, and very precious to me, and Miriam and I have spent many happy hours there.

     It was with gratitude, humility and no small measure of pleasure, that I participated in the 25th annual cleanup and potluck lunch.

      Kudos are first of all due to Marion Kelterborn, whose house is right next to the park, for hosting the event every year. If I were to go on about Marion's spirit of community, and concern for the welfare of the people she knows and loves (and even those she doesn't), you would be reading for a week!

     The day was pleasant, with bright sun at times and the temperature climbed to 8 degrees.

      All was in readiness, and people started to arrive.

     Mary Ann Vanden Elzen was there to greet them.

     Bob Williams was all about the business of the day, and was soon equipped with everything he needed to go and tackle the garbage.

     You will note that he has a black trash bag for garbage and a blue bag for recylables.

     I should also mention that Bob is a key member of Birds Friendly City, Kitchener, dedicated and relentless in his pursuit to safeguard nature.

     Kevin Dance is a well-known local environmentalist, and he was there with his family to help out, in the process teaching his children the all-important lesson that one should give back to the community that nurtures you.

     My good friend, Josh Shea, came to help with his son, Mason. 

     Everyone was getting their supplies and receiving appropriate instructions.

     Let me present the unrivalled "star of the show." This is my dear friend, Brenda Holvey, whose house abuts the park. In a few days Brenda will be ninety-seven years old, still living in her own home, with help from her grandson, Matthew, and from Marion Kelterborn who you have already met, who lives a couple of houses down the road.

      Brenda is as sharp, witty, au courant with world affairs and as charming as ever. She and her husband, Alan, who passed away just a few years ago, lived in many parts of the world in Alan's role as a senior executive in the textile industry, finally deciding to call Canada home. He would have reached a hundred years of age in February.

     If I remember well a male cardinal singing merrily attracted her attention. Matthew is on the right of the picture and Clayton Klaver is on the left.

     Heather Bagg left, ready for action.

     Later I caught up with her in the underbrush, reaching for every last piece of trash.

     Overall, I am happy to report, there was not a huge amount of garbage to be collected. The provision of bins appropriately located has no doubt helped, and could it be that people are becoming a little more responsible? I hope so!

     Denise Leschak was busy.

     I think that Mason was directing his dad rather than the other way around!

     This team had done well; I believe the boys are Wes and Trey, unfortunately I don't have their dad's name.

     Ken and Sheila Beckner were industrious.

     Morgan Regehr was dedicated and determined and didn't miss a thing.

     There was time to sit and chat.

     Megan Davis and her friend, Rachelle, claimed the title for the most recycling gathered up. Bravo, ladies!

     Hot coffee was welcomed by everyone when we returned to the house.

      The volume and variety of food was impressive and no one left hungry.

     Brenda's appetite has not waned with the years!

     Clayton is enjoying lunch.

     A few extra words are needed about this remarkable and noteworthy volunteer.

     Here are remarks supplied by Mary Ann -

     "We've had a recycling program at Lakeside Park since Sept. of 2018. The idea was to reduce the amount of litter in the park while promoting the idea of recycling, and stewardship of the park. To the best of my knowledge, aside from Victoria Park, it's the only city park with recycling bins. Supported by the Lakeside Working Group, Clayton did all the legwork and paperwork to secure a Love My Hood grant from the City of Kitchener. This money enabled us to purchase 3 large blue metal recycling bins. Each is located beside a large garbage bin at 3 different locations within the park.

     Clayton organizes the volunteers - currently, 13 individuals / families - into a schedule over an entire year to collect the recyclables from each of the 3 bins. These materials to be recycled are set out to the curb by Marion's house for pickup on the regular recycling pickup day. In the spring, summer and fall, when more people access the park, the park's blue recycling bins are emptied every 2 weeks. In the winter, only once a month. Each volunteer records how many items they have collected, the number of blue boxes filled, and the amount of volunteer time it took, onto a data sheet. 

Here are some figures as of January 1, 2026:

·         currently 13 dedicated volunteers

·         over 16,000 items collected

·         175 large blue bins filled, and

·         over 130 hours of volunteer time

     This must surely be the very definition of commitment, efficiency and love of community. I am in awe!

     To properly mark this auspicious anniversary we were delighted to have local politicians join us. Their presence enhanced the day and we appreciated their involvement.

     Here is Kitchener Mayor, Berry Vrbanovic, chatting with Heather. 

     Kitchener Ward 8 Councillor Margaret Johnston was a welcome official to join our commemoration.

     Matt Rodrigues, Regional Councillor, Kitchener also enlivened the gathering, seen here with Berry.

     One could be forgiven for wondering whether hair deprivation is a condition of public office!

     Certificates of appreciation were presented to the dedicated volunteers of The Friends of Lakeside Park, all richly deserved.

     Here are just a few of our solid citizens receiving due recognition for their service to the community.

     Mary Ann looked on with pride as other volunteers were honoured.

     Brenda didn't miss a thing.

     Actually, the best was saved till last. A certification of appreciation was presented to the Friends of Lakeside Park as an organization, and who better to receive it than Brenda, a stalwart since very early days and still a firm supporter. 

     It was a wonderful day, well organized, the weather cooperated, and many people turned out to help.

     I am indeed blessed to be part of the fellowship of naturalists. There are no better people anywhere.

     Now it's time to put this blog aside and head back down to the park. There are birds to be seen, after all!

     

Laurel Creek Conservation Area, Waterloo, ON

09 April, 2026 

     Our good friends Dave and Mary, who live close by, and also have an annual pass to the conservation areas managed by the Grand River Conservation Authority, picked us up for a pleasant stroll around Laurel Creek.

     It was a bright, sunny day, and the sun was warm in shaded areas, but a keen wind blew strongly across the reservoir.

     Most of the birds on the water were quite far out, close to the far shore in many instances, including this Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) about to disappear from view.

     Several Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) were visible, some approaching close enough for a picture.

     One male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) was equally obliging: what a splendid little chap he is!

     A pair of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) strolled along ahead of us.

     The highlight for the day turned out to be unrelated to birds. The ground was soggy, quite waterlogged in spots, and Miriam bushwhacked around a particularly wet area and discovered the emergence of Common Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) from a hibernaculum.

     Winter dormancy for snakes, called brumation, takes place about a metre underground, below the frost line, where the temperature is maintained above 0°C. In spring, in response to warming ambient temperatures the garter snakes emerge, with mating as first priority.

     Some hiburnacula have become renowned for the sheer number of snakes that emerge, and a tourist industry has developed around them. The small town of Narcisse, Manitoba, where it is estimated that around 70,000 snakes leave their underground quarters in late April or May, experiences a major economic boom thanks to the humble snake.

     It is difficult to say how many snakes we saw; at one point we were able to count seven, but it's quite possible that there were a dozen or more, since they were slithering in and out of dense vegetation.

     No matter the number, it was a great privilege to witness this event.

     Being in the right place at the right time assumed a whole new meaning!
     Many spring ephemerals are starting to poke up through the ground, and soon the woodlands will be a riot of colour. In the meantime, Colt's-Foot (Tussilago farfara) was the only flower we saw.

     What a brilliant, uplifting little flower it is.

     We saw our first Narrow-headed Marsh Fly (Helophilus fasciatus) of the season.

     This common species of hoverfly is a crucial wetland pollinator and was close to suitable habitat. It seemed a little lethargic, probably due to the relatively cool temperature.

     The etymology of the scientific name is a classic illustration of the sheer perfection of nomenclature - Greek helos - marsh, philus - loving, fasciatus - striped.

     As we moved on a passel of Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) reminded that we are birders first and foremost, and Mary had brought sunflower seeds to encourage them to visit.

     A male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was singing lustily in a determined effort to coax a female to his side.

     Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) are winter residents in southern Ontario, and we will not be seeing them much longer.

     We will look forward to welcoming them back in the fall.

     A second male cardinal appeared on the scene, crest erect, and we thought there might be trouble.

     Any hostility was settled without physical contact, however.

     Would that humans were so smart.

     We were only out for a couple of hours, but what a fine time we had. We'll have to do it again soon.