Wib Burnside and the Burnside Memorial Trail

When our ancestors John Culbert and Mary Ward settled in Canada in 1840, there were trees as far as the eye could see. Today, it's increasingly difficult to find green space in our urban environment. Thanks to John and Mary's great-great-great grandson, Wib Burnside, the Burnside Memorial Trail in Kincardine is available for the public to enjoy.

Wib Burnside (1936-2016)

Wilbert Francis Burnside (known as "Wib") was born 23 January 1936. His parents were John Francis Burnside (1911-1972) and his Culbert descendant wife, Margaret Hall (1914-1995) of Kincardine, Ontario, Canada. 

Wib and his mother are descended from John Culbert & Mary Ward's daughter, Elizabeth "Eliza" Culbert and her husband Richard Dagg who moved from Biddulph Township near Lucan, Ontario to Kincardine. Eliza (Culbert) Dagg (born 1829 in Ireland) was Wib's great-great-grandmother.
 

Kincardine, on the shores of Lake Huron

Distance from Lucan, Ontario in Biddulph Township to Kincardine. Wib Burnside's great-great-grandparents Eliza Culbert & Richard Dagg moved from Biddulph Township to Kincardine.

Wib Burnside died 25 July 2016 in Kincardine, age 80, and is buried in Kincardine Cemetery. Wib's memory lives on through the Burnside Memorial Trail. 

This picturesque trail property, consisting of about 15 acres on both sides of the Penetangore River had been in Wib's family for three generations. Wib's focus was to protect this natural wetland/woodland. According to his wishes, the property was donated to the Municipality of Kincardine in 2017. 

The Burnside Memorial Trail was dedicated to Wib's memory on 5 November 2018 with the unveiling of a plaque, and his widow, Helen Burnside in attendance. 

Kincardine Mayor Anne Eadie described the trail as one of the jewels in the Municipality of Kincardine. She said, “Our thanks to Helen and the Burnside family for donating this land for the enjoyment of all who use the trails.”

Thanks to Wib's generous gift, generations of Kincardine residents and visitors can enjoy this area of natural beauty forever. 

Map showing location of the Burnside Memorial Trail. Click here for more detail. Source: Kincardine Trails Association.

If you plan to walk the the Burnside Memorial Trail, you can use the entrance at the west end of Scott Street (near McGaw Drive) where there's parking available. For more information, email the Kincardine Trails Association at info@kincardinetrails.net or call the Kincardine Trails Association Chair, Brad McConnell at (519) 396-8028.

Notice the location of the lighthouse in the lower left corner of the map? It's not far from the trail so be sure to stop by the lighthouse to take a photo. The Kincardine Lighthouse was the home of lighthouse keeper and Culbert descendant Oran Westell and his family, for many years. If you missed my post about Oran Westell, click here.

The Kincardine Lighthouse, not far from the Burnside Memorial Trail. The lighthouse was once the home of lighthouse keeper, Oran Westell, the great-grandson of John Culbert and Mary Ward. Oran Westell was the 1st cousin, twice removed of Wib Burnside.

Wilbert Francis "Wib" Burnside's Family Tree:
Ancestors:
John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-great-great-grandparents)
Eliza Culbert & Richard Dagg (great-great-grandparents) 
Ann Jane Dagg & Charles Hall (great-grandparents)
Wilbert Westman Hall & Christina Graham (grandparents)
Margaret Hall & John Francis Burnside (parents)