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Preamble

Below is Ascent NB’s 2025 Annual Report. The purpose of the report is to give you a year in review that includes the most important items pertaining to Ascent NB and its members. 

1. Membership

• As of September 23 we have a grand total of 192 registered members. That is down from 215 at the same time last year. The drop in membership has been noticed at the crags this season. There seems to be a significant reduction in the amount of climber traffic to all crags, especially Cochrane Lane.
• As a reminder, children under the age of 16 don’t need a membership if climbing with their parent/guardian and their parent/guardian has a membership.

2. Elections

• This year the following positions were up for re-election:
  • Exec - President - held by Greg Hughes
  • Exec – Treasurer - held by Mike Delaney
  • Exec - Crag Stewardship Coordinator - held by Michel Martin
  • Board – Director - held by Dom Caron
  • Board – Director - held by Phillippe Ouellette. 
• The AGM notice was sent in August inviting candidates to come forward. 
• All incumbents reoffered. 
• The above individuals will hold their seats for another two year term. 

3. Resignation

• Alex Couette resigned his position as secretary and Denise Hamel was appointed by the executive to take his place. Denise will hold the position for the remainder of Alex's tenure. 

4. Access 

• The unusually dry summer created some access issues for Ascent and its members. After the provincial government closed crown land to recreation, all climbing areas were closed with the exception of Hampton Marsh (Roadside Wall).
• As the summer came to an end, things gradually reopened with the exception of CFB Gagetown Crags.
• Our NMU (non military usage) agreement with the base has expired and there has been a delay in having it renewed. We are doing everything we can to remedy the situation and hope to have a new agreement signed sometime in October.   

5. Development

• New route development continues at a similar pace to last year. Hampton Marsh, Cochrane Lane and Red Rock Mountain all saw new routes added throughout the season. Highlights included a new wall developed at Red Rock (Redacted Wall), many new routes at Hampton, along with a new area at Cochrane Lane (The Loft) with 7 new routes. 
• Please consider donating to the route development fund so we can reimburse the route developers for their hardware expenses. Also, so that we can continue to update anchors at all of our crags.
• Donations can be made by sending an email money transfer to ascentnbdevelopmentfund@gmail.com

6. Icefest 2024

• Icefest was held at the Hatchery Ice Crag located near Parlee Brook in February. This was the second year for the event and it was a big success. 
• Tom Cushnie graciously allowed us to use his land for the climbing and his home for the after party. 
• This year's event was covered by CBC news (radio and TV) with our event organizer Michel Martin as the spokesperson who did a fantastic job representing Ascent and explaining ice climbing to the public. Thank you Michel!
• By the way, there are still ice fest hats and t-shirts available for sale to anyone who wants one.

7. Red Rock Rendezvous

• The Red Rock Rendezvous was scheduled for Red Rock Mountain in April but the weather just would not cooperate this year and after rescheduling several times we had to cancel the event.
• We hope to resume the event next spring. 

8.  Adopt-A-Crag Program

• After achieving very limited success with this we have decided to completely restructure the program and will provide an update as soon as possible. 

10. Annual General Meeting Agenda

• Call meeting to order
• Recording of attendance
• Approval of the agenda
• President’s update
• Appointment of Ascent NB Board of Director and Executive positions
• Approval of 2025 Annual Report
• Treasurer’s Report
• Update on the new guidebook from Eric Sloan
• Update on NB Climbing app from Peter Adamson and it’s continued expansion
• Update on CNS from Will Sarty
• Questions and feedback from membership
• Adjournment