Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association AGM
MEDIA RELEASE
LINDSAY, ONTARIO – November 24, 2016
Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association AGM
On November 23rd, the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association (KTCTA) hosted their Annual General Meeting at Fleming College. Volunteers were honoured for their support – they have contributed countless hours towards maintaining and enhancing the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail (KTCT) for the enjoyment of residents and visitors to the area.
“Volunteers built this trail and they keep on giving their time to maintain it. The KTCT is not supported by municipal funding so we rely on financial donations from individuals, businesses and organizations to help volunteers to carry out their work. Every financial contribution is applied to trail operations. Without regular financial support, trail maintenance and enhancements are jeopardized.” Al MacPherson, President
Donations have declined since the trail was completed and the KTCTA volunteer Board of Directors enlisted the services of Jacks Communications to develop a fundraising strategy.
“Our ‘Love Your Trail’ campaign is intended to attract sponsors and individual donors who agree to commit a donation to the association for five consecutive years. Sponsoring the KTCT provides us with some assurance of operational continuity, while providing sponsors with access to trail enthusiasts. You might be surprised to learn that KTCT users are not just Kawartha Lakes residents, they come from surrounding areas and the GTA as well.” John Hagarty, ‘Love Your Trail’ Campaign Chair
In fact, the Trail Studies Unit at Trent University completed a trail user survey for the KTCT which found that the largest group (44%) of trail users were visitors from Peterborough County.
Current ‘Love Your Trail’ sponsors include: Heather Richardson (Staples & Swain Professional Corporation), Brad Bird (Mincom Plus Realty Inc.), Linden Mackey (Mackey Funeral Home Inc.) , Aaron Young (Bell World Lindsay), Greg Dowdall (IPC Securities Corporation) and the Optimist Club of Lindsay.
ABOUT KAWARTHA TRANS CANADA TRAIL ASSOCIATION
The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association (KTCTA) was established in 2007, as a not for profit charitable organization. For more than a decade, the volunteer-run KTCTA developed the 54 kilometre abandoned rail corridor that travelled east (Peterborough) to west (Uxbridge) in the City of Kawartha Lakes into a quality, safe and vital link within the Trans Canada Trail nationally.
ABOUT TRANS CANADA TRAIL (NATIONAL)
It began as a bold dream in 1992; the idea of creating a trail from coast to coast to coast that would be a gift from Canadians to Canadians. This vision, the Trans Canada Trail – The Great Trail – continues to capture the imagination and support of people across the country. The world’s longest recreational trail winds its way across Canada’s magnificent greenways, waterways and roadways. Once fully connected, 24,000 kilometres will link over 15,000 communities.
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CONTACT
Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association
Al MacPherson, President / (705) 324-3222 / info@ktct.ca / www.ktct.ca
Province Passes Act to Support Ontario's Trails
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.