The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

|Guelph Lake summer fun just a : short drive up the highway > 0 m X C 9 m 3 f elcome to Guelph Wl.ake Conservation Area. Just a fiveâ€" minute drive north of the city of Guelph, a 1,000â€"acre lake is nestled in the scenic countryside of Guelph Township. Although Guelph Lake is the newest of the Grand River Conservation Authority‘s parks, it is rapidly becoming one of the most popular, partly due to its ability to host a variety of large events. Guelph Lake has hosted two N.C.H.A. campvenâ€" tions, a Canadian Boy Scout â€" Jamboree, _ the Gueiph 93 Gir Guide campâ€"out and annually hosts _ last _ weekend‘s Hillside Festival â€" the largest event of its kind in Canada _ â€" _ Trisport Triathlons and the Rotary Clubs Dragon Boat Races. The large manâ€"made lake attracts events such as music festivals, dragon boat races, drag boat races, triathlory and large comâ€" pany picnics. The island at Guelph Lake and the newly develâ€" oped concert area are preâ€" pared to host your big event. PARK SERVICEs AND AMENITIES The park offers a wide variety of â€" recreational opportunities. Spectacular fishing leads the way, as well as swimming at one of the two beaches, windâ€" surfing, canoe rentals, picâ€" nicking and hiking. It is open from May 1 to Oct. 15 each year and reservations for camping â€" up to a year in advance â€" are available. CAMPING Camping at Guelph has become more popular over the past few years as a result of young trees maturing _ and _ many improvements to the facilâ€" ities. Guelph Lake has 104 serviced sites with electricâ€" ity and water and 190 unserviced sites as well as several seasonal sites. ra a e me s e es c e a mae o m e a aia n a n i e a menmerer m a mm o on i n ut m on t n n on i in m in o t rrart wicn in u)t is Ten group camping 527 King St. N. WATERLOO (519) 885â€"5090 click here www.bâ€"kmotors.com Come to Canada‘s Benchmark BMW Showroom sites are available by reserâ€" vation for large camping clubs, scouts, guides and organized youth groups. Showers are located in the Parkside _ Campground, adjacent to the washroom. Good quality firewood can be purchased at the gateâ€" house. Garbage for campers can be deposited in the large hoppers when you exit the park. There is a dumping station as you leave the serviced area for your convenience. FISHING Have you dreamed of catching a trophyâ€"sized northern pike or a five pound smallmouth bass. It‘s possible at Guelph The Guelph reservoir has these fish and many more to offer to the novice or proâ€"angler: largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, and carp. Guelph Lake has been an established fishery for years, _ but _ virtually unknown. The reservoir was established in 1976 when the dam was conâ€" structed for flood control and stream flow augmenâ€" tation. The Speed River then flooded the old fields, farm ruins and roads proâ€" viding excellent habitat and structure for the fish. The reservoir allows anglers to effectively fish along the shorelines or launch and fish from a boat. Only electric motors are â€" allowed, no gas engines. Hydrographic maps are available at the gatehouse for $10. SWIMMING Swimming in the conâ€" servation area is also a popular activity. There are two large sandy beaches located in the park for your convenience. WINDâ€"SURFING AND SAILING Windâ€"surfing and sailâ€" ing on the reservoir are two exciting pastimes. Whether you are a novice or a pro, Guelph Lake offers a variâ€" LIFESTYLE As there are no motorâ€" ized boats allowed, you can sail the entire lake in a quiet peaceful atmosâ€" phere. ety of wind currents. PICNICS Picnic tables are scatâ€" tered throughout the park for your use. Open fires are not petrâ€" mitted for safety reasons, but please bring along your own barbecue and make a day of it. For large company picâ€" nics or family gatherings, you may want to reserve one of the three sheiters in the conservation area. The shelters all offer an exceptional view of the lake. The larger of the three shelters will seat approxiâ€" mately 500 people and has an abundance of electriciâ€" ty and lights can be made available. HIKING The hiking trails at Guelph Lake are relatively new. There are, however, approximately five kilomeâ€" ters of trails which will take you through a wide variety of natural wooded areas as well as tall stands of reforâ€" estation. VISITOR SERVICES Upcoming events are posted at the gatehouse so that you may plan your activities around them. A few of the fun things to participate in include hay rides, movie nights, pancake breakfast and nature walks. There are always exciting â€" things going on for the children such as games, crafts, face painting, colouring conâ€" tests and scavenger hunts. GENERAL INQUIRIES Inquiries and reservaâ€" tions can be made yearâ€" round. From midâ€"June until Labour Day, call between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. For more information, call Kelli Stillman, superinâ€" tendent of Guelph Lake Conservation Area, at (519) 824â€"5061, Fax: (519) 824â€" 6510. The _ Grand _ River Conservation _ Authority and the Chronicle bring you Grand River Fun, a series depicting area parks to enjoy this summer. u.a’ ___ Ask for details WATERLOO NORTH NWorthfieid at the Partrway WPRTENEUE MEIIT ts Watasiaa lip‘"â€" 1 0.9 â€"ravb‘~1 746â€"1666 oâ€"itâ€"yourselfers who D purchased a tube of GE Silicone at their Home Hardware store durâ€" ing _ the _ months _ of September and October 2000 helped to raise $25,000 in support of the Trans Canada Trail. For each tube of silicone month period, 25 cents was raised for the Trans Canada Trail _ Foundation. The $25,000 donation, presented recently at a senic spot on the Trans Canada trail, will be used to further develop the Canadaâ€"wide nature and sharedâ€"use recreational trail. "Because Home Hardware dealers are comâ€" mitted to giving back to their communities, we look for opportunities to partner with our vendors in support of local charitable causes," said Ray Gabel, viseâ€"presiâ€" dent of merchandise and marketing _ for _ Home Hardware Stores Limited. "We‘re pleased to give our customers the opportunity to purchase high quality products, while supporting important initiatives like Trans Canada Trail at the same time." Home â€" Hardware â€" has donated more than $40,000 to the Trans Canada Trail Foundation to date through fundraising efforts supportâ€" ed by dealers, customers, vendors and employees. "We are very thankful for the efforts of Home Hardware and its partners," said John Bellini, president and CEO of the Trans Canada Trail Foundation. "Working together, we will build a legacy for future genâ€" erations of Canadians." %o Trans Canada Trail will make customers donate to Upon completion, the Continued on page 11 FINANCING Home