Daily Bulletin

Trans Canada Trail crosses UW

Symbolizing national unity, the water carriers -- who will rendezvous September 9 with relays from the Atlantic Ocean in Hull, Quebec -- will enter the North Campus via the Laurel Trail from Bearinger Road at about 11:30 a.m. From there, they'll cut over to the railroad tracks by Optometry and hike along the tracks to Waterloo Park.

Everyone on campus is invited to meet at 11:45 a.m. along the trail across from the Davis Centre near the red bridge to welcome the hikers.

"Launching the longest trail in the world is a very important event," says Tom Litwiller, a volunteer organizer for the trail opening party, which will be held at the Trans Canada Trail pavilion behind the Waterloo Memorial Arena at the corner of Caroline and Erb Streets.

He invites the UW community to join the trek to the pavilion in Waterloo Park, where a free lunch will be served, and the official ceremony to open the Waterloo leg of the trail will be held at 12:30 p.m.

Dollars for Scholars winner The winner of the August 16 Dollars for Scholars $1,000 draw was a retired staff member, Graham Connor. The next draw for a $1,000 cash prize in support of UW scholarship funds is scheduled for Wednesday, September 20.

Following the ceremony, the water carriers will head toward Kitchener as part of a community parade. "Bring your decorated bike, tricycle, wheelchair, walker, moped, scooter or just yourself," say Waterloo organizers.

A network of linked community trails across every province and territory, the Trans Canada Trail stretches some 16,000 km across the country, providing a recreational venue for hikers, cyclists, horseback riders, cross-country skiers, and in some areas, snowmobilers.

Marking time in the Davis Centre

On Thursday, September 14, at 4 p.m., clockmaker Brendan Reilly will officially present the university with an original, self-winding clock, handcrafted almost entirely from wood. The clock was designed and built for installation in the Great Hall of the Davis Centre, where the ceremony will be held.

Students attending classes in the Davis Centre will have no excuse to be late with the installation of an enormous, handcrafted clock in the Great Hall. Clockmaker Brendan Reilly will officially present the one-of-a-kind timepiece to the university in a ceremony there on Thursday, September 14, at 4 p.m.

Reilly graduated from UW in 1975 with an honours BSc in physics. His dad, Park Reilly, is a retired engineering faculty member. In addition to wanting to give something back to the university, the clockmaker is also interested in extending his craft. He's been making small clocks -- some 144 of them over the past 21 years -- and is interested in working on a larger scale. "I thought I'd like to make a big clock for a public space."

Designed specifically for its environment, the clock is mounted on a concrete column with the centre of the dial (which is four feet in diameter) about 25 feet above the floor. The bottom of the 14-foot pendulum reaches just above the floor of the second storey.

"The design (is) open, with no case, but rather a frame which exposes the works of the clock," explains Reilly. The works are crafted from laminated birch, with a frame of red oak and a dial of black walnut inlayed with boxwood markers. The hands are formed of African blackwood. Local potter, Patricia O'Connell created the cobalt blue ceramic pendulum bob.

Weight-driven and pendulum-regulated, the clock is wound every 14 hours by an electric motor, although the clock itself is not electric. The pendulum is kept in motion by the falling weight through the gear wheels and "a unique modified grasshopper escapement," named for its interesting movement. Unlike other clocks, the escapement does not tick, says Reilly, "so the clock will be almost totally silent."

Glads, and other ways to lend a hand

Another way to lend a hand in the community is by volunteering with local organizations. Opportunities are now available to help with the Moparfest on August 20 (to support the Sunshine Foundation); to lead cooking classes for people with disabilities (for Extend-A-Family); to serve as a board member or assist with special events (with Waterloo Regional Crime Stoppers); or to provide transportation for cancer patients and their caregivers (for R.A.I.S.E. Home Support).

To learn more about these and other volunteer positions, contact the Volunteer Action Centre at 742-8610.

Barbara Hallett
bhallett@uwaterloo.ca

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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