New Legislation Takes Action to Protect and Enhance Trails System

https://news.ontario.ca/mtc/en/2016/06/province-passes-act-to-support-ontarios-trails.html

Today, Ontario passed legislation that will sustain and improve the province’s trails system, helping to build a healthier and more prosperous Ontario. The Supporting Ontario’s Trails Act, 2016 will strengthen ‎Ontario’s extensive trails system. It will protect and enhance thousands of kilometres of the province’s urban, suburban, rural and remote land and water trails while also encouraging its expansion by:

• Providing the trails community with enhanced tools to effectively develop, operate and promote trails
• Removing barriers to help connect and expand trails across the province
• Increasing trail awareness and promoting local tourism by enabling the recognition of Ontario trails of distinction, supporting communities and jobs across Ontario
• Enabling the development of a classification system to help users find trails that match their interest and ability.
• The new legislation also makes amendments to existing legislation to address liability, trespassing and protection of property issues.

Protecting and improving Ontario trails is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

Quick Facts

• Ontario has the second-largest trails network in Canada, with about 2,500 trails spanning over 80,000 kilometres that support recreation, tourism and active transportation.
• From 2009 through 2015, the province invested approximately $130 million to support Ontario’s trails.
• Through Ontario’s 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games Legacy, Ontario has supported the completion of 254 kilometres of the Trans Canada Trail Ontarioresulting in a continuous route of over 2,000 kilometres, connecting communities from Ottawa to Windsor and Fort Erie to Huntsville.
• Ontario Parks protects and manages approximately 2,200 kilometres of trails and boardwalks.
• Thousands of kilometers of trails and roads are on provincial Crown land that are open for the public to use free of charge.
• In 2014, hiking expenditures by Ontarians added $559 million to Ontario’s GDP and created more than 18,000 jobs across the province with an annual economic benefit of nearly $1.4 billion.

Brad Bird, MinCom Plus Realty Inc. Brokerage – Lindsay

Love Your Trail Sponsor

People have said that Brad Bird may be the most recognized Realtor® in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Brad has built a favourable reputation based on his track record. His team has helped homeowners and homebuyers throughout the City of the Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough County, and Durham Region. Averaging more than (150) real estate transactions every year, for almost two decades, is an accomplishment in itself.

Here are more reasons to work with Team Brad Bird:

• Brad is a career real estate professional – you get experience
• Team members are full-time licensed Realtors® – you get support
• Honesty, integrity – you can trust us to be in your corner
• Personable, friendly service – we know how to lessens your stress
• Extended support is available to ensure your needs are met
• We have relationships with many “third party” suppliers that you can count on, like mortgage specialists, lawyers, insurers, contractors, plumbers, electricians and more

www.teambradbird.ca

Thank you Allison Smith for your recent post on Hey Country about the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail. We are glad you enjoyed it!

Read the blog post here.

Aaron Young, Bell World Lindsay

Love Your Trail Sponsor

Bell World Lindsay is located at 229 Kent Street close to downtown Lindsay and offers the following Bell services: Cellular phones, Satellite TV, Internet, Home phone, Mobility hardware upgrades, Fibre TV, Bell Trade-in program and Push-to-talk. Visit us to find the products and services that match your needs. Our team will be happy to help!

705-324-9000
Learn more at their website.

Heather Richardson, Staples & Swain Professional Corporation

Love Your Trail Sponsor

Founded in 1959 by Joseph Lexis Crawford Staples Q.C., the firm of Staples & Swain Professional Corporation offers legal services in a variety of areas to individuals, private businesses and public institutions within the City of Kawartha Lakes and surrounding communities.

Staples & Swain is a law firm committed to providing timely and practical advice. Lawyers Heather Richardson and Angus McNeil carry on the tradition, which commenced with Joe Staples, of demystifying the mysteries of the law for their clients, who are also their neighbours.

www.staplesswain.com

Optimist Club of Lindsay

Love Your Trail Sponsor

The Optimist Club of Lindsay, currently with a membership of over 50, has served the area for over 45 years. Founded in 1971 on principles created by Optimist International, the club promotes its credo, “A Friend of Youth”, by devoting all efforts, energies, and funds to and for the betterment of youth in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Members meet the first and third Thursdays from September to June.

The Club offers activities that support the youth of the City. During the fall and winter months, a recreational dodgeball evening for youth in grades 4 to 6 is offered on Tuesday nights for eight weeks. In May and June, a recreational soccer program is offered for eight weeks for youth of all ages under 19 years, a program that has grown from 50 participants in 1981 to over 600 participants in 2016.

In addition, the Club provides funding to support several programs offered for youth by other organizations in the City of Kawartha Lakes such as Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes, Kids Interactive Arts Program and secondary and post-secondary youth leadership scholarships. On request, the Club also assists youth who are pursuing opportunities at provincial and national levels in areas of arts, culture, and athletics.

The Club has made major donations over the years towards construction projects of the Recreation Complex, Ross Memorial Hospital, Lindsay Library, Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes and Wilson Fields. Most recently, the Trans Canada Trail maintenance program and the new walking oval at Kinsmen Park for the Queen Victoria Public School community.

The Club is particularly proud of the new Optimist Soccer Park (3 regulation sized fields) on the 13-acre site identified as Wilson Fields East located east of the tennis courts on St. Joseph Road and south of Colborne Street West . The park includes parking and pathways that community members have used extensively since the park opened in the summer of 2013. This exciting multigenerational park project is proving to be a wonderful resource for all citizens of Lindsay.

To support its contributions to the community, the Club sells Christmas trees throughout December, runs the youth dodgeball program,the youth soccer program and, most recently, held its first annual fundraising dodgeball tournament for adults.

www.lindsayoptimistclub.org

Mackey Funeral Home of Lindsay was the first business to commit financial support for maintenance and awareness of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail. Linden Mackey said, “We believe the trail speaks to the quality of life we all enjoy in our community and it’s worthy of our community’s support.” 

The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association launched their Love Your Trail Campaign on Tuesday, October 27, at the new Days Inn and Suites in Lindsay. The event attracted about 100 people to hear from the Association’s Chair, Al McPherson and their Campaign Chair, John Hagarty. The two Chairs addressed the status of the Trans Canada Trail and the accomplishments of their association. They also introduced components of their campaign, volunteer Trail Champions, and their first business sponsors.

“I use the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail because I enjoy running and I know that many other people walk or ride their bike on the trail,” said Mackey. He continued, “the trail is important to our community because it provides great outdoor, education, and heritage connections.”

The sponsor component of the campaign is intended to attract what are referred to as ‘Five. Five. Five.’ Sponsors. Those sponsors each agree to provide $1,000 to the association each year for five consecutive years commencing in 2016. Campaign Chair John Hagarty said, “our thinking is that we need to establish some assurance of continuity in support of the trail for the next five years.” It is believed these key sponsorships will come from five businesses, five service clubs, and five individuals. Additional, smaller donations are expected to help bolster the support offered from the major sponsors of which Mackey Funeral Home is one.

Other businesses have since come forward to support the trail association. Their campaign goal is $125,000, while their objective is to obtain $75,000 from business sponsors.

About Mackey Funeral Home

The Mackey Funeral Home is proud of its longstanding relationship with families in Lindsay, Ontario and surrounding communities. It is independently owned and operated by a third generation of caring Mackey family. The ‘Mackey’ quality of care is renowned throughout this region.

33 Peel Street, Lindsay, ON K9V 3L9
705-328-2721

www.mackeys.ca

By Marnie Callaghan

Two of the best things in life are working outside on a crisp fall day and sharing good food and wine with friends. That’s just what the residents of Reaboro did on a beautiful September day. About a dozen neighbors gathered with chainsaws and muscle power to remove Manitoba maple and dead elm along our five kilometre section of trail. We gathered in the evening for a hearty potluck meal.

The village no longer has a church or school, but we all share a love of this treasure in our back yards.

It’s the Trail that brings us together.

Dear Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Supporters,

It has been another year with lots of accomplishments thanks to our volunteers, managing partners and Board of Directors.

Here is a list of accomplishments for 2015:

1. Held, a very successful first annual Trail-a-thon in May with many volunteers and over 100 students from Mariposa Public School.
2. Hosted a Speakers Series. Welcomed Robin Esrock (global adventurer, travel writer, TV producer and international TV personality) in the spring; and Gary and Joanie McGuffin (renowned explorers, conservation photographers, writers and presenters) in the fall.
3. Completed and approved the KTCTA Business Plan and Fundraising Strategy.
4. Cut grass along the Trail in the spring and late summer. Experimented with a sickle mower. Special thank you to five volunteers and Callaghan Farm Equipment for supporting this initiative.
5. Completed new website with easy to use online donation option. www.ktct.ca
6. Conducted ~80 trail user surveys.
7. Sent out 41 adjacent landowner surveys. Posted report on website.
8. Added 20 new names to the Fred DeNure Donor Wall.
9. Launched new Five. Five. Five. fundraising strategy in October, with four sponsors signed on already.

Our volunteers continue to do many tasks to keep our trail safe and to maintain its quality, such as bridge decking replacement, grass cutting, painting, sign installation, tread repair, gate and barrier repairs, and the list goes on. Thank you.

If you are able to help out financially please use our new online website donation form. Remember tax receipts are issued for all donations of $20 and above. A donation also makes an excellent Christmas gift for someone who is hard to buy for.

Happy Holidays!
Al MacPherson
President, Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association (KTCTA)

Congratulations to Ted Abbot, the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association ‘2015 Volunteer of the Year’!

Pictured above is Ted Abbot being congratulated by KTCTA President Al MacPherson at the Annual General Meeting on November 25th, 2015.