President's Message
Kirby Philp
As we kick off a new club year, I want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who participated in the AGM voting. We also saw a fantastic turnout at the Activity Fair—a huge thanks to our Activity Leaders for their engaging displays and sharing their passions with our members. Many of our programs are starting soon (or already underway), so I encourage you to log in to our website and secure your spot today. Don't forget, we're also launching our 25th Anniversary Celebration with a Pizza and Games Day on April 28! It promises to be a wonderful event, and we hope to see you there.
Membership
Brian Cromie / Pam Weaver
As the proverb says, “Nothing breeds success like success”. Maintaining our role as the largest (and best) Probus Club in the world, Beaver Valley proudly added 72 enthusiastic new members to its roster as of February 1, 2026, bringing our new membership total to 632. In addition, the waitlist for possible induction this summer already includes 36 hopeful applicants. The Membership team thanks Kathy Mercer for her years of service as she steps away from this role. Pam Weaver will continue and share the Coordinator role with Brian Cromie.
Please remember to wear your badge to all PROBUS events!
25th Anniversary Celebration— Pizza & Playtime
Pam Weaver
Join us for a fun afternoon with pizza and games!
Look for the invitation sent out on March 30! This celebration will take the place of our usual April meeting.
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 @1:00 PM
Location: Beaver Valley Community Centre
Cost: $5 (payment is online only during registration). No Walk-In's.
Social Events
Don Collins-Williams
In April, we will be going to the Collingwood Olive Oil Company in Collingwood for a "Tasting Party". This will include a talk about the making of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and a hands on creation of some oil and vinegar dishes.
In May, we will be heading to the Nottawasaga Model Railway, also in Collingwood. Both of these tours events can only accommodate a small number of guests, but we will look at having repeat events if there is a lot of interest, so if the registration limit has already been reached when you go to register, be sure to add your name to the waitlist for priority on repeat outings
SAVE THE DATE! Our annual summer picnic will be back at Stonetree this year, on Tuesday, July 7. We hope to see you all there.
Theatre Event - Nashville Music City - July 16, 2026
Vicki Kellar
We’ve never been disappointed in a King’s Wharf Theatre production, so join us for another fun musical production from Drayton Entertainment. This feel-good revue encompasses the musical evolution of Nashville becoming the uncontested home of country music. 'Nashville Music City' shines a neon light on the artists and songs that gave the city its name; the hits of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Shania Twain and Taylor Swift plus many others are featured in this toe tapping production.
With only 63 spots available for our Club, tickets will go fast!
Look for the invitation sent out on April 2 or register here!
Date: Thursday, July 16 @ 2:00 PM
Location: King's Wharf Theatre, Penetanguishene
Cost: 53.81 / per person (including HST)
Optional Dinner available.
Georgian PROBUS Travel Group
Gloria Thompson
We have several exciting trips planned for 2026 and some already in the works for 2027. Remember all members, friends and family are welcome to join.
Making future travel plans? Check the GPTG website first!
Upcoming Trips:
- Majestic Morocco Tour (Apr 10 - 24, 2026): *SOLD OUT!
- Ireland Tour (Jun 1 - 12, 2026): *SOLD OUT!
- Muskoka Cruise (July 7 - 8) *Filling up FAST! Muskoka day cruise from Port Carling with an optional overnight at a luxury resort. This cruise sold out quickly last year! You won't want to miss the views of "millionaires row" from the Peerless 2. See the Flyer for more information and how to book!
- Haida Gwaii (August 17 - 22, 2026): Due to low response, interested members should now book directly with the tour operator. See the Poster and Detailed Itinerary.
- Le Petit Train du Nord Bike Tour (Sept 13 - 20, 2026): *ONLY 6 spots left! 8-day scenic cycling tour along Quebec’s famous Petit Train du Nord, with charming villages, restaurants, microbreweries, and beaches along the way. E-bikes available to rent. Click to view Poster and Detailed itinerary.
- Japan Discovery Tour: (2027) is postponed. New dates TBA.
- A Scotland tour for May 2027 is currently being explored. Our Travel Team is also looking into several other exciting possibilities, including the Island Queen in Parry Sound, select destinations in Africa, and a Croatia bike-and-boat tour.
All Clubs Bonspiel
Cheryl Ross
On March 14, 2026, Beaver Valley Probus Club members took to the ice at Meaford Curling Club. Cheryl Ross organized the teams for this event. Everyone played two eight-end games and enjoyed a delicious lunch. There were prizes for all at the end of the All Clubs Bonspiel. Three full teams played on the early draw.
- Probus 1 Team - Nathan Litman, Bev Litman, Mary Jansen and Yvonne Zinn
- Probus 2 Team - Cheryl Ross, Kirby Philp, Marty Vissers and Sherry Vissers
- Probus 3 Team - Terry Running, Joanne Courchesne, Chris Pocock and Brian Courchesne
Activity Groups Update
Ilene Rushefsky Charland
Wow! We are so pleased at the success of our recent Activity Fair. The displays were entertaining, informative and showed the dedication that our volunteers have for their groups. Attendance was very good, with members asking lots of questions to the group leaders and chatting with others about the activities. Many members have already signed up for their favored activity groups, and in most cases, there is still space. If you haven’t already signed up for your choice activity there is still time to do so. Check the website for the new activities offered this year.
Here is a step-by-step video on "how to sign up" for Activity Groups. Click on the red arrow to view!
Casual Dining with Friends
Sallie Kedwell
We had an excellent turnout at the Activity Fair, with several inquiries about joining our dining group. If haven't registered yet, please sign up through our
Casual Dining with Friends activity page. We warmly welcome all interested members. Our next dinner will be on April 23 at 6:00 p.m.
Looking ahead to our summer picnics, we’re asking members with properties suitable for hosting an informal group of 40–45 people to consider volunteering as hosts for a potluck event. Last summer brought some disappointing weather, but we were fortunate to move our July gathering indoors into a combination of a lovely dining/living space, as well as a large garage. Unfortunately, the August picnic had to be cancelled due to limited indoor capacity. This year’s picnic dates are July 23 and August 27.
Dining Around Town
Hank Bouwman
Invitations for our April 15 dinner @ 5 PM at Copper Blues Bar & Grill in Blue Mountain Village were sent on April 1 to members who have signed up for Dining Around Town It’s not too late to join us—just go to the Dining Around Town Activity Group webpage and sign-up in order to receive the invitations!
Future Dining Dates:
- Wednesday, April 16 @ 5 PM Dinner - Copper Blues Bar & Grill, Blue Mountain Village
- Thursday, May 7 @ 5 PM Dinner - Walter Falls Inn
- Monday, September 14 @5 PM - Marilynne Restaurant, Markdale
- Monday, November 2 @ 12 Noon - The Mill Cafe
- Wednesday, November 4 @ 12 Noon - The Mill Cafe
- Monday, November 9 @ 12 Noon - The Mill Cafe
Euchre 1
Elaine & Hank Bouwman
Our next Euchre 1 monthly tournament will take place on Tuesday, April 14 @ 12:45 PM in the downstairs Great Hall at St. George’s Anglican Church. Invitations are sent out on the 1st of each month. To receive an invitation, you must already be registered online for the Euchre 1 Activity Group and have paid the $20 per person fee, which helps offset the cost of hall rental and euchre tables. This fee covers the period from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
High Score in March - Elaine B.
Bid Euchre
Mary Jansen
*New Activity Group. There was a lot of interest in this new group at the Activity Fair on March 24 and we had a number of people sign up for the "Learn to Play" at my home on April 12. Bid euchre is similar to a regular euchre game where you follow suit when playing your cards and trump cards. You just have to remember there are 2 decks (Jack to Ace) so there are double suited cards!
The activity starts on October 5 with a refresher game. See the Bid Euchre Activity Page for more information about How to Play Bid Euchre and to sign up for the Activity Group!
G.L.E.A.M.
Mary Ann Collins-Williams / Beth White
*New Activity Group. Thank you for the overwhelming support—we now have 84 ladies signed up for our new activity group: G.L.E.A.M.—Glamorous Ladies eating at Mid-day! Our first lunch is planned on Wednesday, April 8 at the Blue Mountain Golf & Country Club. The invitation with more details was sent on March 31—please be sure to register before April 4, if you plan to attend.
We look forward to seeing you there! It's not too late to join us—just navigate to the G.L.E.A.M Activity Page and click the Activity Group Sign-up button to receive the invitations.
Hiking
Vicki Kellar
A lot of interest at the Activity Fair translated into over 125 members (so far) signing up for the Hiking Group. But don’t worry, we never have everyone hiking at the same time! The hikes vary in length (normally up to 8 kms), duration, pace and difficulty which is described each week in the email invitation. If interested in attending a hike please Register to ensure you receive any updates or cancellations. You can still join by signing up via our Hiking Activity Page. We anticipate starting our weekly hiking schedule the first week of May, depending on the weather.
Special Hiking Announcement: We are thrilled to have a Guest Hike Leader in May. Beth Gilhespy, well known for her Bruce Trail Conservancy work and for her current role as CEO with the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, is an avid explorer and along with many other accomplishments has written books on 2 sections of the Bruce Trail, including our Beaver Valley area. We are certainly looking forward to Beth sharing some of her knowledge of the area and the geological strata.
Hiking - Down a Notch
Glen Downey / Ilene Rushefsky Charland
*New Activity Group. Hiking has become so popular that we’re excited to start up a second group. “Hiking—Down a Notch” is intended for those who prefer slightly shorter hikes (4–5 km), a moderate pace, and more frequent stops to rest, enjoy a drink, and take in the flora and fauna. The selected trails will have fewer hills, rocks, and other obstacles. Check out our Activity Page for more information!
Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange Table
Elaine Bouwman / Rita Melzer
Enjoy doing puzzles? We have started up a jigsaw puzzle exchange table at our monthly member speaker meetings. Bring 1 or 2 jigsaw puzzles and exchange them at the back of the room. Puzzles must be 100% complete with no missing pieces.
Ramblers
Nancy Dixon
Thanks to all my Ramblers who came out on Friday, braved the cold, and enjoyed a sunny walk at Lora Bay Golf Course! Our new season of Rambling is ahead of us and we will be revisiting old favourites like Creemore, Meaford, Collingwood and hopefully adding new Ramble in Owen Sound. I love to get my Ramblers to check out all of the old mansions, plus the Railway Museum and the Sheffield Park Black History & Cultural Museum in Clarksburg. Of course, we will also be walking along many sections of the Georgian Trail. So hang up your skis and snowshoes and bring out your sun hats sunglasses and good walking shoes—we will be set for a great season of Rambling! If any one is interested, we are looking for volunteers to help lead or assist with Activities, including Ramblers.
Recreational Cycling
Mary Ann Collins-Williams / Ilene Rushefsky Charland
Members of our cycling group enjoy the scenery of local trails and the comradeship of slower-paced cyclists on shorter routes. Depending on the weather, we are planning our first scheduled cycle on Monday, May 11 at 10:00 AM. After the ride, we will gather for coffee, tea, cold drinks and muffins followed by a short meeting to discuss our plans. Look for the invitation a week or so before the scheduled date.
R.O.M.E.O.
John White / Louis Charland
Our next lunch is scheduled for April 8 at noon at Fish & Sips in Collingwood. We have reserved space for 30 members, so please be sure to register by Monday, April 6 so we can confirm our numbers. If you would like to receive the invitations to our 'Retired Outstanding Men Eating Out' group, please sign-up on the R.O.M.E.O. Activity Page!
Ski Legends
Chris Mifflin
Now that the ski season in Ontario is almost over, we are busy planning our 2027 ski trips. We have one trip confirmed: Sun Peaks, BC ~ Sundays, March 7 - 14, 2027. We are still working on the Europe trip, but hope to have details on both trips very soon.
Legends trips go on sale this spring - watch your email for details! You must be a 2027 Legends member to sign up for the trips. 2027 memberships will open April 1st. https://probusskilegends.ca/membership/
New this year! Merit Travel is selling IKON passes at group prices for groups of 20 or more! Not only will you save on the cost, but with at least 22 passes sold, Merit will offer one free pass plus deduct $50 per person from Merit group trip Ikon destinations. Sun Peaks and our planned Europe trip are both Ikon destinations. Contact me for more details.
Humor Corner
Shared by Nancy Dixon
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
I am not lazy, I am just in energy-saving mode. Unknown
I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it. Bill Gates
My brain has too many tabs open. Unknown.
Photo Corner
Lucie Desjardins
May the vibrant colours of new blooms
serve as a gentle reminder
of nature's endless ability
to begin again.
Photo taken by Lucie D.
For other recent photos please check out our 2026 Slideshows!
The Master Gardener’s Corner
John Hethrington, Master Gardener Emeritus
Past President, Master Gardeners of Ontario
Click on the image to see what you need to be doing in your Garden in April.
Support Group
Lucie Desjardins / Mary Ann Collins-WilliamsM
Do you know of a BVPC member who is having a difficult time (health issue, accident, hospitalization, loss of partner, etc.) and would benefit from receiving a card or a call from our team? If so, please let us know. We will be happy to follow up and/or get in touch with them.
The Last Word
Shared by Nancy Dixon
Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn't have in your home.
David Frost
Beaver Valley Probus Club