1977
The Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Hosteling Association (CHA), wanting to establish a Victoria chapter, holds a meeting in Victoria with slides of Nepal. Matthew Nicoll, who had recently returned from traveling, attends the meeting and is elected chairman of the new Victoria chapter of the CHA. The Pack and Boot Shops, an outdoor recreation equipment supply store sponsored by the CHA, is established in Victoria and becomes the local CHA information center.
1978
In January, Matthew Nicoll leads a small group on the first outdoor event: a cross-country ski trip to Whistler (this is prior to the development of the Whistler and Blackcomb Ski Complex). Monthly "general" meetings are held to announce up-coming events and to obtain feedback. Each meeting features a slide show on some aspect of traveling and/or the outdoors. Many outdoor events, including those to Whistler, take advantage of CHA shelters as a base camp. Dave Cotter emerges as the bicycle trip "specialist", Linda Priestley shows leadership in canoe trips, and Matthew becomes the ski trip "leader". The first executive is elected at the May 10th meeting and the first Annual General Meeting is held in December.
President: |
Matthew Nicoll |
|
Norm Tandberg |
|
Gill Tandberg |
|
Dave Cotter |
|
Felicity Page |
|
Eugene Evans (age 16) |
1979
The number of events expands to a day trip or a weekend trip just about every week. A collection of "regular" destinations and activities begins to emerge. They include Whistler, East Sooke Park, Strathcona Park, Long Beach, West Coast beaches, and Sooke area mountains. Emphasis is on backpacking trips with day hikes as "fill-in" activities. First annual Halloween Party held at Norm and Gill Tandberg's.
President: |
Matthew Nicoll |
|
Norm Tandberg |
|
Gill Tandberg |
|
Dave Cotter |
|
Felicity Page |
|
Eugene Evans |
1980
Bruce Archibald, an expert sailor, adds sailing trips as a new dimension to the club. First annual Christmas Party with "Santa" and gift-exchange is held at Linda Priestley's parents place. The Forbidden Plateau 'round-house' becomes a base camp for ski trips to Forbidden Plateau.
President: |
Norm Tandberg |
1981
Matthew leaves Victoria to travel in Africa. Norm Tandberg is president. Dave Cotter designs and produces a silk-screened CHA T-shirt which is sold to members. The Rossalan trail is built by the Outdoors Club of Victoria and they invite the CHA chapter to use it. The number of social events is expanded and includes evenings at Harpo's.
President | Norm Tandberg |
1982
Friday night "Sports Night" is established after a summer of softball. Organizers include the president, Linda Priestly, Bruce Archibald, Jeff Hawker, Dennis Haller, and Norm Tandberg. All are welcome at the Oaklands School gym for drop-in activities including volleyball, basketball, indoor soccer, and floor hockey. First ski trip to Mt. Washington organized by Bruce Archibald and Norm Tandberg. A condo is shared by 12 members. Jeff Hawker and Dennis Haller produce the first newsletter. It contains the event schedule, club news, book reviews, camping recipes, etc.
President | Linda Priestly |
1983
Each quarterly schedule contains about 10 events and is printed on one side of standard size paper. Approximately 80 percent of the events are outdoor activities. Members include: the president, Linda Priestley, Gary Norris, Norm and Gill Tandberg, Russ and Marjorie Raine, Rick Roberts, Sue Wilson, Bruce Archibald, Marilyn Simes, Dave Cotter, Nick Evans, Dennis Haller, Ron Armstrong, Bill Nicholson, Sarah Ebell, Felicity Page, Bill Bradley, Ray Hall. An effort was made to schedule a wider variety of activities and to make a commitment to completing events as planned. Car-pooling costs were set at the cost of gas plus 10%.
President: |
Linda Priestley |
1984
The quarterly activities schedule is expanded to include club news and is printed on both sides of legal size paper. Each schedule contains information about the new Victoria Hostel, the B.C. Federation of Mountain Clubs, outdoor recipes, and a book review. The number and title of positions in the executive changes throughout the year. The schedules contains between 13 and 18 events. Norm Tandberg and Dennis Haller represent the Club at the B.C. Federation of Mountain Clubs. The Federation is designed to liaise with government and private industry to establish a provincial policy on land use with special attention focused on Strathcona Park and Mt. Washington. Other participants include the Sierra Club and the Alpine Club. Discussions become heated as the government proposes mining and logging contracts for these areas. The Friends of Strathcona Park, a political advocacy group, is established. The Victoria Hostel is established.
President: |
Nick Evans |
Sec/Treasurer: |
Marjorie Raine |
Vice President: |
Rick Roberts |
Activities: |
Gary Norris |
Publicity: |
Ron Armstrong |
Prov. Delegate: |
Russ Raine |
|
Rick Roberts |
|
Gary Norris (alternate) |
Newsletter: |
Dennis Haller |
|
Jeff Hawker |
1985
A new executive structure is established. The schedules contain around 20 events. Newsletter-oriented "trip reports" begin to appear on the schedules. The recommendation to form an outdoors club, independent of the CHA, is met with an even split in votes.
President: |
Barbara Sickling |
Sec/Treasurer: |
Ann Tarves |
Publicity: |
Ron Armstrong |
Newsletter: |
Dennis Haller |
|
Jeff Hawker |
1986
Concerned about liability, the Canadian Hostel Association decide to sever relationships with the Victoria Outdoor Section in December. A group of VOS members decide to carry on in the following year as an independent group.
President: |
Barbara Sickling |
Sec/Treasurer: |
Ann Tarves |
Publicity: |
Ron Armstrong |
Newsletter: |
Dennis Haller |
1987
The new club is formed. Ron Armstrong coins the name "Club Tread" and Betty Walsh designs the boot-print logo for the newly founded club. Dues are charged for the first time - $8 per year. Buddy Bhandar offers his house in the hills of Shawnigan Lake as the site for the annual Halloween Party.
President: |
Ann Tarves |
Treasurer/Membership: |
Gary Norris |
Publicity: |
Ron Armstrong |
Newsletter: |
Betty Walsh |
Year end membership: 44
1988
The new Club Tread experiences significant growth. Dues are increased to $12 per year and the quarterly schedules contain between 26 and 43 events. The composition of the executive is expanded early in the year. The location of the departure point is changed from Mayfair or Tillicum malls to the Saanich Municipal Hall. "Official" Club Tread T-shirts are created and sold. Annual Christmas party is moved to the Norway House and a D.J. is hired. This continues to be a potluck event. Rob Denny takes over as a leader in sailing events with his 30' sail boat Waxwing.
President: |
John Lindeblom |
Treasurer/Membership: |
Dave Steffy |
Outdoor Events: |
Cass Laird |
|
Rob Rix |
|
Ray Hall |
Social Events: |
Shirley Turcotte |
Sports: |
Dennis Haller |
Publicity: |
Ron Armstrong |
Newsletter: |
Betty Walsh |
Year end membership: 60
1989
Founding members begin to leave the Club for a number of reasons including new-found family responsibilities and a feeling that the group has grown too big. Some begin to feel that the Club is evolving into a "singles" group and are discomforted by this. A small faction opposed to the proliferation of social events emerges. Two different schedules of activities are produced - one available to Club members and the general public containing only outdoor events, and the other for Club members only containing just social events. Dues are increased to $15 per year and the quarterly schedules contain between 25 and 41 events. New memberships are actively pursued.
President: |
Brad Watson |
Treasurer/Membership: |
Irena Jazwinski |
Outdoor Events: |
Cass Laird |
|
Russ Page |
|
Rob Denny |
Social Events: |
Phyllis Kynas |
Sports: |
Janet Peterson |
Publicity: |
Ron Armstrong |
Newsletter: |
Wendy Fischer |
Year end membership: 99
1990
Gord Warrenchuk champions the effort to have the Club registered as a non-profit society, complete with Constitution and By-laws. This comes about through much hard internal negotiation. The new constitution defines the composition of subsequent executive.
A dispute regarding "ownership" of the Sports Night emerges and the Club decides to release involvement with Sports Night making the Sports Coordinator position obsolete.
In addition to "Single", new membership categories of "Couple" and "Student" are introduced. The quarterly schedules contain between 31 and 43 events.
For the first time, the annual Christmas Party is catered and is held at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre.
The concept of two schedules, outdoor events and social, is scrapped and both events are again included in a single schedule.
The first annual Oktoberfest night at the Victoria Edelweiss Club is organized by Charlotte Bowie.
Year-end Membership: 136
President: Rob Denny
Treasurer/Membership: Gord Warrenchuk
Outdoor Events: Dave Steffy
Ray Hall
Elaine Lewis
Social Events: Cathy Edmunds
Sports: Cathy Quann
Publicity: Ross Boast
Newsletter: Phyllis Kynas
1991
The effort to establish the Club as a non-profit society results in the executive extending their term of office past the traditional calendar year-end. Election of the new executive occurs at the planning meeting in late February and the February planning meeting is thus established as the annual general meeting during which the new executive is elected.
Charlotte Bowie establishes the Swan Lake Nature Centre as the site of quarterly meetings. She is also responsible for introduction of Club membership cards.
As a non-profit society, the Club obtains liability insurance for the first time.
Bev Bacon volunteers to take responsibility for coordinating the Club ski trips thus relieving the Outdoor Event Coordinator from this task.
"Official" Club Tread badges are created through the efforts of Val Townsend and sold by the Club to members at cost.
As new memberships continue to grow steadily, it is felt that this growth will continue on its own and active pursuit of new members is suspended.
The annual Christmas Party is held at the Princess Mary and is fully catered. Charlotte Bowie manages to get a number of door prizes donated from various outdoor stores within the city. The event is not subsidized by the Club and makes a minimal profit.
After extensive debate in three different quarterly planning meetings, the Club adopts a uniform car-pooling policy of each passenger paying their driver 3-cents per kilometer.
The first official annual report is submitted to the registrar of non-profit societies.
The quarterly schedules contain between 41 and 53 events.
Year-end Membership: 149
President: Charlotte Bowie
Vice President: Vic Dove
Treasurer/Membership: Gord Warrenchuk
Secretary: Marie Vautier
Outdoor Events: Russ Page
Social Events: Lorraine Marchand / Charlotte Bowie
Publicity: Ross Boast
Newsletter: David Fisher
1992
A system for rating hikes based on the model developed by the Victoria Outdoor Club is established.
The checklist for event coordinators is expanded.
The quarterly schedules contain between 49 and 71 events. The number of scheduled ski trips doubles to 8.
Year-end Membership: 161
President: Paul Turcotte
Vice President: David Fisher
Treasurer/Membership: Gord Warrenchuk
Secretary: Betty Walsh
Outdoor Events: Don MacNeill
Social Events: Nicole Aube / Don MacNeill
Publicity: Mary Kingsley
Newsletter: Michael Motek
1993
Initiated by Steve Graham, the hike rating system is simplified to use boot-prints to indicate levels of endurance. The easiest hikes are rated with one boot-print and the most difficult are rated with four.
Audrey Stibbe creates a newsletter, called "Keeping Track", that is published quarterly and distributed with the schedule to members.
A paper describing outdoor etiquette is produced and distributed to all members in an effort to promote no-trace camping and hiking.
The Club plays an active role in the CRD Trail Coordinating Group and creates an interest in the establishment of a continuous protected area from Jordan River to Port Renfrew.
Kayaking trips, organized by Steve Graham, become popular. Michael Motek introduces caving trips. A number of one-boot walking events begin to appear on the schedule.
A contingency fund is established to ease financial impact on members affected by unfortunate property damage while participating in outdoor events.
A number of outdoor stores begin to give discounts to card-carrying members.
The checklist for event coordinators is enhanced.
The Club experiences a significant growth in membership. The quarterly schedules contain between 48 and 93 events.
Year-end Membership: 189
President: Gerald Person
Vice President: Anna Mears
Treasurer/Membership: Gord Warrenchuk
Secretary: Jackie Evans
Outdoor Events: Steve Graham
Social Events: Sheila Robertson
Publicity: Wynne Arden
Newsletter: Michael Motek
1994
The cost of car-pooling to each passenger is increased to 5-cents per kilometer on paved roads and 10-cents per kilometer on logging roads. Dues are increased to $17 per year.
“Official” Club Tread t-shirts are created through the efforts of Gerry Person and sold at cost to Club members. A local outdoor store also buys some for resale at profit.
After review by the membership, the contingency fund established in the previous year is dropped.
Attendance at the annual Christmas Party is down from previous years and the subsidy level is down accordingly.
Year-end Membership: 194
President: Gerald Person
Vice President: Anna Mears
Treasurer/Membership: Gord Warrenchuk
Secretary: Jackie Evans
Outdoor Events: Steve Graham
Social Events: Sheila Robertson
Publicity: Pat Doheny
Newsletter: Brian Latta
1995
Gord Warrenchuk submits the document A History of Victoria Club Tread for inclusion with the Club’s artifacts.
The timing for election of officers is changed from the Annual General Meeting to the last planning meeting of the year.
Year-end Membership: 183
President: Michael Motek
Vice President: Russ Page
Treasurer/Membership: Pat Brown
Secretary: Pam Corzatt
Outdoor Events: Michael Slaney
Social Events: Joyce Danby
Publicity: Johann Amering
Newsletter: Brian Latta
1996
The summer schedule is dominated by backpacking trips.
?
Year-end Membership: ?
President: Audrey Stibbe
Vice President: Russ Page
Treasurer/Membership: Pat Brown
Secretary: Pam Corzatt
Outdoor Events: Ray Potvin
Social Events: Joyce Danby
Publicity: Anne Watt
Newsletter: Steve Graham
1997
Pat Brown spearheads Club Tread's entry into a volunteer agreement with BC Parks to maintain the emergency shelter on the Juan de Fuca Trail.
?
Year-end Membership: 161
President: Steve Graham
Vice President: Ron Armstrong
Treasurer/Membership: Pat Brown
Secretary: Pam Renney
Outdoor Events: Brough Warren
Social Events: Alex Lopez
Publicity: Bob Crane
Newsletter: Michael Motek
1998
Club Tread rejoins the Federation of Mountain Clubs of British Columbia. To cover the increased dues for affiliation club dues rise to $26 per year. Couple and student membership categories are dropped.
A cross-country ski trip to Yellowstone National Park highlights the January to March schedule.
?
Year-end Membership: over 163 ?
President: Steve Graham
Vice President: Ron Armstrong
Treasurer: Pat Brown
Membership Jackie Hunt
Secretary: Pam Corzatt
Outdoor Events: Geoff Chiddell
Social Events: Judy Low
Publicity: Bob Crane
Newsletter: Diane Corner
1999
Michael Motek takes over duties as the webmaster for the club and the club's website is moved to the Crosswinds web server. The schedule becomes "active" with links to the trail descriptions and more frequent updating of the schedule to reflect additions and changes.
?
Year-end Membership: 164
President: Gerry Person
Vice President: Ron Armstrong
Treasurer: Pat Brown
Membership Jacquie Hunt
Secretary: Pam Corzatt
Outdoor Events: Geoff Chiddell
Social Events: Paula Yewchuck
Publicity: Bob Crane
Newsletter: Diane Corner
2000
Gas subsidy issues are raised at the September planning meeting. A formula is presented by Michael Motek to address the issue. This formula would see the subsidy rate pegged to the current price of gas.
Vic Wood leads a trip to Utah and the Grand Canyon.
Year-end Membership: 165
President: Paula Yewchuck
Vice President: Ron Armstrong
Treasurer: David Hoadley
Membership Jacquie Hunt
Secretary: Pam Corzatt
Outdoor Events: Kevin White
Social Events: Hazel Medlyn
Publicity: Bruce Dickey
Newsletter: Diane Corner
2001 - 2008: Missing - if any has this history please forward to the website coordinator
2009
President |
Gail Clarke |
Past President |
Tom Gore |
Vice President |
George Welsh |
Secretary |
Liz Williams |
Treasurer |
John Ward |
Outdoor Events: |
Don Ferster |
Membership |
Jacquie Hunt |
Webmaster |
Mike Motek |
Publicity | Judy Brown |
Schedule Editor | Sue Ward |
Newspaper Editor |
Barry Gaetz |
Social |
Dana Waite |
Social |
Liz Williams |
2010
President |
Gail Clarke |
Past President |
Tom Gore |
Vice President |
George Welsh |
Secretary |
Janine Silk |
Treasurer |
John Ward |
Outdoor Events: |
Don Ferster |
Membership |
Jacquie Hunt |
Webmaster |
Mike Motek |
Publicity | Judy Brown |
Schedule Editor | Sue Ward |
Newspaper Editor |
Barry Gaetz |
Social |
Dana Waite |
Social |
Liz Williams |
2011
President |
Gail Clarke |
Past President |
Tom Gore |
Vice President |
George Welsh |
Secretary |
Janine Silk |
Treasurer |
John Ward |
Outdoor Events: |
Donna White |
Membership |
Donna Medgyesi |
Webmaster |
Mike Motek |
Publicity | Carol Madsen |
Schedule Editor | Fred Trudell |
Newspaper Editor |
Barry Gaetz |
Social |
Sue Warren |
2012
President |
Gail Clarke |
Past President |
Tom Gore |
Vice President |
George Welsh |
Secretary |
Janine Silk |
Treasurer |
John Ward |
Outdoor Events: |
Donna White |
Membership |
Donna Medgyesi |
Webmaster |
Mike Motek |
Publicity | Carol Madsen |
Schedule Editor | Graham Hayes |
Newspaper Editor |
Barry Gaetz |
Social |
Sue Warren |
2013
President |
Barry Gaetz |
Vice President |
Henry Dembicki |
Secretary |
Veronica Allan |
Treasurer |
Judy Leonard |
Outdoor Events: |
Donna White |
Membership |
Donna Medgyesi |
Webmaster/Communications |
George Welsh |
2014
President |
Barry Gaetz |
Vice President |
Anne McCormack |
Secretary |
Christine O'Leary |
Treasurer |
Judy Leonard |
Outdoor Events: |
Donna White |
Membership |
Graham Hayes |
Webmaster/Communications |
George Welsh |
2015
President |
Donna White |
Vice President |
Anne McCormack |
Secretary |
Christine O'Leary |
Treasurer |
Sue Ward |
Outdoor Events: |
Wendy Keeping |
Membership |
Sheila Hunter |
Communications |
Penny Pattison |
Webmaster |
George Welsh |
2016
President |
Donna White |
Vice President |
Gail Clarke |
Secretary |
Jane Burford |
Treasurer |
Sue Ward |
Outdoor Events: |
Leanne Ihmel |
Membership |
Sheila Hunter |
Communications |
Penny Pattison |
Webmaster |
George Welsh |
2017
President |
Donna White |
Vice President |
Gail Clarke |
Secretary |
Jane Burford |
Treasurer |
Sue Ward |
Outdoor Events: |
Leanne Ihmel |
Membership |
Sheila Hunter |
Communications |
Penny Pattison |
Webmaster |
George Welsh |
2018
President |
Larry Pontus |
Vice President |
Pamela Smirk |
Secretary |
Jane Burford |
Treasurer |
Katherine O'Leary |
Outdoor Events: |
Donna White |
Membership |
Sheila Hunter |
Communications |
George Welsh |
Webmaster |
George Welsh |
2019
President |
Larry Pontus |
Vice President |
Pamela Smirk |
Secretary |
Jane Burford |
Treasurer |
Scott Sedman |
Outdoor Events: |
Donna White |
Membership |
Sheila Hunter |
Communications |
George Welsh |
Webmaster |
George Welsh |
2020
President |
Larry Pontus |
Vice President |
John Peebles |
Secretary |
Pamela Smirk |
Treasurer |
Scott Sedman |
Outdoor Events: |
Donna White |
Membership |
Tara Fenwick |
Communications |
George Welsh |
Webmaster |
George Welsh |
2021
President |
John Peebles |
Vice President |
Don Ferster |
Secretary |
Pamela Smirk |
Treasurer |
Donna Fleming |
Outdoor Events: |
Donna White |
Membership |
Tara Fenwick |
Communications |
George Welsh |
Webmaster |
George Welsh |
2022
President |
John Peebles |
Vice President |
Don Ferster |
Secretary |
Pamela Smirke |
Treasurer |
Donna Fleming |
Trip Leader Coordinator |
Saurabh Ray |
Membership |
Tara Fenwick |
Communications Director |
Eva Gnech |