newsNov24 | PROBUS Blue Mountain

Next Meeting:November 21st

Collingwood Legion
Member's Guests are Welcome

November Speaker: Yvonne Hamlin - Collingwood Update

Membership 208 -- Have you paid your dues?

November 2024 Newsletter

President’s Message

November continues to be a time of great change not only in Canada, as the weather moves into the winter months, but also in the US with the results of the 2024 presidential election promising a massive change in every aspect of how that country is governed.

After being glued to our laptop screens and TV sets for months its time to accept reality and move onto winter activities and sports. Blue Mountain Probus has experienced a very successful summer season of activities including the always popular weekly cycling tours, hiking trips and paddling outings. While rain cancelled a few of these outdoor events, the activity leaders are starting to provide alternate rain dates to keep the activity going. The Luncheon Club had many warm patio days and the Breakfast Club continued to offer a great variety of interesting breakfast locations. Other well attended activities in 2024 included the monthly Investment Club, Kitchen Bridge, annual Car Rally and tours of local plants and facilities.

Moving towards the winter season Ski Legends is again offering an exciting season of weekly group skiing at Blue Mountain, private club ski days, terrific ski trips to Europe and western Canada and discounted shopping at a wine and cheese event at Skis and Bikes in Collingwood.

The annual Christmas lunch is scheduled for Thursday December 5th at the Legion featuring catering by the ever popular Burger Bob.

One area that concerns me greatly at the Club is the need for volunteers to take on roles on the Management Committee without which, we would not have a functioning club. In particular we are in need of a Vice President for the balance of the 24/25 season. I will continue to ask the membership at our monthly meeting for a volunteer for this interesting and rewarding role at BM Probus. Please let any current member of the Management Committee know if you wish to explore this opportunity.

Also we need to recruit new members and bringing a guest to our monthly meeting is the best way to introduce them to the Club. Looking forward to seeing you at the November meeting and hearing an update from our capable and hardworking mayor, Her Worship Yvonne Hamlin, Mayor of Collingwood

Michael Coward - President
michael.coward@gmail.com

Cell Phone Use

Out of respect for our members and our speaker, please ensure that your cell phone is silent during the meeting.

Speaker

Mayor Yvonne Hamlin, Town of Collingwood

Prior to being elected Mayor in 2022, Yvonne served her community as a Town Councillor (2018 to 2022), Chair of the Development and Operations Committee, and Vice-Chair of the Regional Physician Recruitment Committee.

Currently, she is also a member of the Council for the County of Simcoe, Vice- Chair of the Simcoe County Economic Development Committee, a member of the Police Services Board, Chair of Collingwood’s Economic Development Roundtable, Chair of the Arts Centre Steering Committee, a member of South Georgian Bay Regional Mayors and CAO’s Forum and a member of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.

Mayor Hamlin brings to her position almost 30 years of professional experience as a law partner in significant Canadian law firms (most recently Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Toronto) where she specialized in the fields of municipal and land development law, as well as property tax and assessment. She was invited frequently to speak at conferences and professional events to share her knowledge in these areas.

Mayor Hamlin was the Chair of the Canadian Property Tax Association in Ontario for many years. She has sat on the board of several non-profits and charities including the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts and the Institute of Southern Georgian Bay. She was also a Chair for several years on the Panel appointed by the Federal government to hear disputes between the government and municipalities on the evaluation of federal property for payment-in-lieu of property taxes.

Membership

Membership fees are now due! We have kept Annual Membership at $55.00

The News Letter speaks to the high level of activites and fun to be had, so please make sure to attend to your committmemt for the upcoming year.

Activities/Outings

Last Paddle

The last trip of the year was the Willow Creek expedition in early October to discover the Landing stage for Voyageur canoes from Fort Willow. The trip down the Willow showed us how very large the Minesing Wetlands are and after a 1 hour paddle and a wrong turn on one of the tributaries we had to return to our departure point without achieving our goal. However the paddle on this narrow river was very pretty and made us appreciate why the size of the Minesing wetlands are rated on a scale with the Florida Everglades.

Thanks to David Hambley for leading us on this trip.

Carl Wintermeyer

Hiking Group

Hi Hikers,

Here are some pics I took on the last hike. Lovely weather and great scenery. Thanks Dick

Cheers

Carl &Heather

Cycling

Cool but sunny fall day! The original Brew Tour was rained out, and this was the first replacement date we could maneuver. We dodged some isolated storm cells coming in from the west and arrived at our first destination (Collingwood Brewery) thirsty but dry. The timing of the ride coincided nicely with the Collingwood Craft Brewery Tour and we all got our passports stamped!

Ski Legends

PROBUS Ski Legends is running 2 trips to 2 destinations for 2025:

Sun Peaks BC (7 Nights), February 2-9
Banff/Lake Louise (7 nights), March 2-9

Sun Peaks

Why join this trip? Legends runs a ski trip to Sun Peaks every year, and there’s a reason why many members go back many times. It’s Canada’s second largest ski resort with 4270 acres of skiable terrain across three peaks, Mount Tod, Mount Morrissey and Sundance with lots of powder and excellent grooming. Located in the BC interior, Sun Peaks offers dry snow and fluffy powder with picturesque surroundings. It is a quaint small purpose-built ski town and the friendly village is traffic-free with many great restaurants. And new for 2025, the West Bowl chairlift is opening, serving even more awesome powder!

 Banff/Lake Louise

Why join this trip? Haven’t you always wanted to have a trip staying at the 2 iconic Rocky Mountain hotels, the Chateau Lake Louise and the Banff Springs? We first ran this trip in 2022 and everyone loved it! We will spend the first 4 nights at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, a 10-minute shuttle ride to Lake Louise ski area. And then on our 4th ski day while we are skiing, our luggage will be transferred to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel where we will stay the last 3 nights and get to also enjoy the town of Banff.  

Collingwood Blues Hockey

On Friday, October 25 eleven members attended our first venture of the 2024/2025 season.

We were treated to an exciting game watching the game from the warmth of the Founders’ Lounge or standing and sitting in the arena with a large crowd. Although Collingwood lost to the visiting Buffalo Junior Sabres 4-3 fans saw a fast paced, hard-hitting contest.

Plans are set already for our next game to attend on Friday, November 15. Cost of a ticket is $18 with access to the Founders’ Lounge. Typically we meet at a local restaurant before the game as a group to share camaraderie.

If you wish tickets for the November game or more information please contact Jake Johnston.

Email Distribution Sign Up

Organizer: Jake Johnson
Jakejohnston.jif@bell.net

705-445-8387 / 416-571-8322

$18 (Includes access to the Founders Club)

Pregame Dinner before at a restaurant to be selected

Lunch Group

Nine brave souls (two of us biked!) took their chances at match eatery in Wasaga beach. No gambling with the food! Sports bar or road house?

Kitchen Bridge Group

The Kitchen Bridge group continues to meet the first and third Thursday of each month at 1:00 p.m. at the legion. Great relaxed camaraderie.

We welcome all who have an interest in the game of bridge -- whether a beginner or expert.  Play commences at 1:00 pm but, if you cannot come until later, come anyway. We will fit you into a game throughout the afternoon.

George Powell georgegpowell@gmail.com

Investment Group

David Lindsay gave an informative and lucid Power Point Presentation describing how and why he picked four ETF’s as his only investments and the impressive returns they have produced over the past ten years compared to the TSE - with very little time and effort. Three of the ETF’s cover world markets, 30% in each and a gold bullion ETF makes up the remaining 10%. This balance is adjusted annually. Simple and effective! A lively discussion followed.

The Probus Blue Investment Group meets monthly from 10:30 to 12:30 on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Join us to learn and share your insights on the world around us through the lens of finance; a world central to our lives.

December’s meeting will establish the winner in the stock picking game and select topics for 2025.

To join us, contact rodinnes7@gmail.com.

Blue Mountain PROBUS Xmas 2024 Party

When: Thursday, December 5
Where: Legion
Who: Eddie Sokoloff
Limit of 104, Tables of 8
$65 per person

Make your Reservations with Eddie Sokoloff

We are 50% of our normal attendance at this time.

The tickets will be available at the November meeting and by e-transfer to Gene Peycha.

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