This article also describes how the YFBTA
came into existence. We hope to feature the
history of each trail in our area in future
issues of this newsletter.
The genesis of the Leflay Trail lies within
the hearts and minds of the community in and
around Saltcoats. It required a desire on
the part of the Art Klause family (Art,
Dorothy, Blaine and Brent) to ensure that
the soil, vegetation, and wildlife would
continue to be revered in the way it had
under the stewardship of the previous
landowners, Jay and Minnie Leflay. It
required the vision and determination of Jim
and Shirley Jowsey who wanted to encourage
people to become more aware and more
interested in the natural world.
The Klause family and the Jowsey family
began to envision a trail through the strip
of protected land along the east side of
Anderson Lake in Saltcoats. With the
generous permission and encouragement of the
Klause family, who own the land, Jim and
Shirley began to formulate an inventory of
the plants, animals and birds which were
dependent on this remaining bit of
relatively undisturbed land. The Jowseys’
with some help of a relative with some
surveying skills began to survey and mark
out a trail.
Saltcoats sought and received some Federal
Government monies in 2000 as part of a
federal centennial program. Among other
projects some funds were allocated toward
signage for a possible trail on the Klause
land on the edge of Anderson Lake. Numerous
community volunteers including Scout groups
and Saltcoats School students worked
throughout the winter of 1999 to mark and
clear a trail which the Klause Family
requested be named the Leflay Trail.
|
The Leflay trail, including signage, was
officially opened July 1, 2000.
The trail was maintained through support
from the Town of Saltcoats and volunteer
labour from citizens of Saltcoats and the
surrounding area. The Leflay Trail was
managed in this manner until May of 2003.
In Febrauary of 2003 at Saltcoats, Ken
Kessler, Coordinator of The Provincial
Birding Trail spoke to 16 people
representing various communities along the
Yellowhead Highway (Carleton Trail,
Langenburg, Esterhazy, Churchbridge,
Saltcoats, Yorkton, Good Spirit Park). At
that time the Provincial Tourism Branch was
encouraging Saskatchewan communities who had
active birding groups to coalesce in an
effort to foster increased tourism in the
province. The people gathered decided that
there would be enough interest to warrant a
second meeting April 10, 2003. At this
meeting a decision to form a regional
Birding Trail Organization was taken.
At the April 10 meeting the Langenburg
office of the Regional Economic Development
Authority threw its support behind the
concept of a Regional Birding Trail
Association. A committee was formed and
charged with formulating plans for such an
organization. June 5, 2003 marked the
inception of the
Yellowhead
Flyway Birding Trail.
Since that time the YFBTA has continued to
meet on a monthly basis. The Leflay Trail
is one of a number of trails which is
supported, promoted and/or managed by the
YFBTA. The Leflay Trail receives strong
volunteer support from the community within
and near Saltcoats. The Leflay Trail
continues to be supported by the Langenburg
R.E.D.A. , the Klause family, and the Town
of Saltcoats.
The Leflay Trail sign on Yellowhead Hwy No.
16 is an invitation to visit the trail
which can be accessed at the Regional Park.
|
The development of
the Leflay Trail, which is one of many trails
in the Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail
Association, culminated in the formation of the
YFBTA.
The genesis of the Leflay Trail
lies within the hearts and minds of the
community in and around Saltcoats. It required
a desire on the part of the Art Klause family
(Art, Dorothy, Blaine and Brent) to ensure that
the soil, vegetation, and wildlife would
continue to be revered in the way it had under
the stewardship of the previous landowners, Jay
and Minnie Leflay. It required the vision and
determination of Jim and Shirley Jowsey who
wanted to encourage people to become more aware
and more interested in the natural world.
The Klause family and the Jowsey
family began to envision a trail through the
strip of
protected land along the east side of Anderson
Lake in Saltcoats. With the generous permission
and encouragement of the Klause family, who own
the land, Jim and Shirley began to formulate an
inventory of the plants, animals and birds which
were dependent on this remaining bit of
relatively undisturbed land. The Jowseys’ with
some help of a relative with some surveying
skills began to survey and mark out a trail.
Saltcoats sought and received
some Federal Government monies in 2000 as part
of a federal centennial program. Among other
projects some funds were allocated toward
signage for a possible trail on the Klause land
on the edge of Anderson Lake. Numerous
community volunteers including Scout groups and
Saltcoats School students worked throughout the
winter of 1999 to mark and clear a trail which
the Klause Family requested be named the Leflay
Trail.
The Leflay trail, including
signage, was officially opened July 1, 2000.
The trail was maintained through
support from the Town of Saltcoats and volunteer
labour from citizens of Saltcoats and the
surrounding area. The Leflay Trail was managed
in this manner until May of 2003.
In Febrauary of 2003 at Saltcoats,
Ken Kessler, Coordinator of The Provincial
Birding Trail spoke to 16 people representing
various communities along the Yellowhead Highway
(Carleton Trail, Langenburg, Esterhazy,
Churchbridge, Saltcoats, Yorkton, Good Spirit
Park). At that time the Provincial Tourism
Branch was encouraging Saskatchewan communities
who had active birding groups to coalesce in an
effort to foster increased tourism in the
province. The people gathered decided that
there would be enough interest to warrant a
second meeting April 10, 2003. At this meeting
a decision to form a regional Birding Trail
Organization was taken.
At the April 10 meeting the
Langenburg office of the Regional Economic
Development Authority threw its support behind
the concept of a Regional Birding Trail
Association. A committee was formed and charged
with formulating plans for such an
organization. June 5, 2003 marked the
inception of the
Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail.
Since that time the YFBTA has
continued to meet on a monthly basis. The
Leflay Trail is one of a number of trails which
is supported, promoted and/or managed by the
YFBTA. The Leflay Trail receives strong
volunteer support from the community within and
near Saltcoats. The Leflay Trail continues
to be supported by the Langenburg R.E.D.A. , the
Klause family, and the Town of Saltcoats.
The Leflay Trail sign on
Yellowhead Hwy No. 16 is an invitation to visit
the trail which can be accessed at the Regional
Park.