Over the past several months a number of volunteers have put in over 100 volunteer hours to construct a multipurpose shelter next to the nursery at the Van Kerkoerle Conservancy. The shelter can be used as an outdoor education area as well as a staging area for events such as picnics.
The project was initiated by the nursery volunteers to honour the legacy of the Anneke and Peter Van Kerkoerle who generously provided a piece of their property as a home for NALT’s Natural Abundance Native Plant Nursery many years ago as well as recently donating their beautiful 40 acre property to NALT as a conservancy.
In addition to volunteer labour, much of the materials used to construct the shelter were donated while the remaining expenses were covered by a grant from the nursery. Dave Johnson donated his tractor and time to dig out the foundation while Van-Isle Aggregates Ltd., owned by the Greenaway family, supplied the gravel base. Steve Stupich generously cut the beams and posts used in the construction. Finally Robbie Baker of Onpoint Roofing provided the metal roofing and labour to install it.
Project manager, David Cowling of Shining Knight Construction Inc. designed the structure and guided the volunteers in the construction process. Other volunteers included James Taylor, Denis Hughes, Wayne Morgan, Paul Chapman and Deryck Cowling.
The shelter will be formally opened and dedicated in the memory of the Van K’s at a date to be announced.
