“Look at things differently.”
For my interview with GaLTT’s 8th and current president, Hugh Skinner, we met for a ‘walk and talk,’ going from the end of James Way through to McConvey and the west side of Cox Park to Taylor Bay Road, finally finding our way back along an informal community trail to James Way.
Hugh wanted to take me on this walk because it gave him an opportunity to show me some of the things that he values about our beautiful island and GaLTT’s work. He began by pointing out the trail signs: on one side of James Way is a small brown marker with a hiking symbol and arrow; this, he explained, indicates an informal route through Government land—in this case, a pre-existing easement. On the other side is a green GaLTT trail marker that designates the path is covered by a “trail licence”—this being one of the first licences on the island, held by GaLTT’s third president Tom Cameron and his wife Charlotte. Hugh explained that over the years he has helped maintain this trail, in particular by adding some chip seal material in an effort to combat mud. He also pointed out some stacked wood on an adjacent property, which came from fallen trees on Tom and Charlotte’s land and which a GaLTT volunteer was able to mill, while another has turned some into trail benches. A key point for Hugh in sharing these observations is that GaLTT is an organisation that depends deeply and fundamentally on a web of people willing to share—whether it be land access or their time and expertise— to make all the things that happen, happen.
When we got to McConvey, Hugh expressed appreciation of the trees’ tunnel effect, created from the absence of hydro poles and overhanging wires, and he drew attention to a particular spot where, in spring, the calypso orchids bloom, sharing that prior to living on Gabriola, he wasn’t nearly as aware of such small wonders as he is now. While he and his wife Lou have always loved being outdoors, hiking and camping, living on Gabriola has broadened and deepened their love of nature and conservationist ethic.
Hugh and Lou had a recreational property on Gabriola for eight years prior to retiring here in 2016. They had been decades-long good friends of GaLTT’s fifth president, Norm Harburn and his wife Beth Vogel (at one time, Lou and Norm co-hosted a tv show at the Calgary Zoo—undoubtedly, these two would have some stories to tell!). When the Skinners moved to Gabriola, with Norm’s encouragement they both quickly became involved with GaLTT, Lou joining the board and Hugh the trail committee.
Hugh (third from right) with the walking group that takes to Gabriola’s trails every Wednesday.
Hugh shared with some pride that the Cox Park McConvey to Taylor Bay trail we were on was the first he had helped to build, under Rob Brockley’s guidance, along with many other volunteers. As we walked, he pointed out various things, including one of GaLTT’s benches and the small “borrow pits” evident in places, where the trail-builders had taken dirt to build up some tricky areas. Hugh stopped to take a photo of a fallen tree on the path, which he immediately emailed with a GPS pin to a member of the trail committee so that it would be cleared. When we got back to James Way, he said he had personally and over several years removed the scotch broom that was overtaking the verge, and his hope is that some of the wildflower seeds he planted will thrive.
Like each of GaLTT’s presidents (and other Board members), Hugh is clearly passionate not only about the recreational and community connectivity inherent to Gabriola’s trail system but also about the fundamental values of conserving natural spaces and species. He has continued to build on the work of his predecessors, in collaboration with all of those who do the important work of GaLTT. Most recently, of course, he was very pleased to be part of the negotiation to acquire Wilkinson Woods, making the original 707 now a whopping 1337 acres—an area larger than Vancouver’s Stanley Park.
For Hugh, the primary work of GaLTT—beyond the foundations of trail building, maintenance and land conservation—is “really fundamentally … education, and trying to inspire people to look at things differently.” He knows that GaLTT will continue to play this vital role in the community, inspiring us all to ‘conserve and connect’ with Gabriola’s nature, which, he believes, nourishes not only physical but also mental and spiritual well-being.
Many of GaLTT’s Past Presidents joined Hugh at our recent 20th Anniversary celebration at Gabriola Sands Provincial Park. L-R: Norm Harburn, Kerry Marcus, Dyan Dunsmoor-Farley, Hugh Skinner, Rob Brockley, Tom Cameron.
We have been celebrating our 20th Anniversary with a series of posts capturing the reflections and perspectives of GaLTT past presidents. This interview with Hugh finishes up the series. Thanks so much to Trish Matson for conducting the interviews and writing these articles!
