Peter and Karla’s shared love of the outdoors led them to exploring the Bruce Trail first as amateur nature and landscape photographers, and eventually as hikers.

In their early days as a couple when budget was a consideration, camping in Ontario and hiking new sections of the Trail offered accessible means to outdoor adventures. “When planning those early vacations, we enjoyed opening up Karla’s guidebook and looking for spots near the water,” said Peter. “Lion’s Head has become a favourite over the years. We both love the lighthouse, and the way the sun reflects on the Escarpment in that area is breathtaking.”

Shortly after Peter retired in 2015, he signed up as a member and a trail maintenance volunteer. “I started meeting some wonderful people, and learning more about the Bruce Trail’s work,” said Peter. “It’s also when I discovered that the Bruce Trail wasn’t fully protected. This was a shock, especially since we had grown to appreciate that the Bruce Trail is a magical place. It’s one of the few remaining destinations in a fairly urban environment where you can enjoy simple pleasures like taking pictures of wildflowers. This led us to making our first donation, and it influenced our decision later to include the Bruce Trail Conservancy in our wills.”

The importance of having wills was impressed upon Peter and Karla when they were supporting a family member through an illness. “We realized that having our estate plan in order early would give us peace of mind, and ensure our wishes would be met,” said Karla. “We both have charities we’re passionate about and setting them up as beneficiaries in our wills was a way to create continuity to our lifetime giving. We’ve also enjoyed and appreciated easy access to the Bruce Trail for years. If others get the chance to experience that too, then our gift will have made a difference.”

“We’re just ordinary people with a modest estate,” added Peter. “However, we feel strongly that together, as a community, we can do extraordinary things. Our gift is our contribution towards making sure the Bruce Trail is accessible forever.”