Blog (142)
Kawarthas Northumberland and Days Inn & Suites Lindsay Sponsorship
Kawarthas Northumberland and Days Inn & Suites Lindsay Announce Partnership for Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Sponsorship
January 31, 2017 (Peterborough ON) - Through the 2016-17 Partnership Allocation Program, Kawarthas Northumberland (Regional Tourism Organization 8) and Days Inn & Suites Lindsay have partnered to provide a “Love Your Trail Sponsorship” to the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail (KTCT).
The region has seen a surge in cycle tourism and is honoured to be home to this beautiful, 54-kilometre stretch of the Trans Canada Trail. The sponsorship not only provides funding to maintain and enhance the trail, but it also increases awareness of cycle-friendly businesses, like the Days Inn & Suites Lindsay, in order to promote longer stays, and increased visitors spending in the region.
Marie Lummiss, Operations Coordinator for Kawarthas Northumberland, says that she hopes to see more partnership applications like this when the next round of the Program launches in April. “This is a great partnership opportunity that delivers on both external marketing and wayfinding signage components. Not only does it support recreational tourism on the trail and provide our partner with exposure to a key visitor demographic, it also ensures that the trail is maintained so users will have exceptional experiences to speak of when they return home.”
As part of the sponsorship, Days Inn & Suites Lindsay and Kawarthas Northumberland will receive online promotion through logo and website link placement on the KTCT website. They will also be recognized on 8 gateway signs that are located on the trail throughout Kawartha Lakes. This will let potential travellers and trail visitors alike know that there is an option to stay and explore.
“Having the opportunity to work with the RTO8 in becoming a sponsor for the KTCT was an exciting one for us. As a bike friendly location with a bike pump and wash station available to anyone using the trail, this partnership was a perfect fit. The support from the RTO8 made it easy for the Days Inn & Suites Lindsay to become more involved with the KTCT,” says Candace Buckley, General Manager of Days Inn & Suites Lindsay. “We hope that this sponsorship will encourage more cyclists to use the trail and go greater distances on the trail knowing that there is a pit stop directly on the route.”
The KTCT offers year-round opportunities to enjoy the trail. From cycling and running in the spring and summer, to capturing photos of the autumn splendor from the Trestle Bridge, to taking to the snow on sled or ski, this is an outdoor adventurer’s haven. They KTCT is funded entirely by sponsorships, in-kind support and individual donations. To learn more about making a donation to the trail, please visit ktct.ca/donate.
Background:
The Kawarthas Northumberland Partnership Allocation Program was launched in April 2013 as an additional tool for Regional Tourism Organization 8 to encourage partnerships, strategic coordination and leveraging of regional resources. The Program provides up to 50% matched funding to help enhance tourism in our region through the development of new and innovative tourism experiences, marketing efforts, and enhancing the visitor experience.
The 2017-18 Program will launch in April, 2017. Program details and application forms will be posted on rto8.com/partnership/allocation/ in early March. To receive updates on the Partnership Program and other valuable industry news, sign up for the RTO8 industry newsletter here.
Contact:Marie Lummiss
Operations Coordinator RTO8
Kawarthas Northumberland
705-874-8505 x 103
admin@rto8.com
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
We Have Made Online Donations Easy For You
While the efforts of many people gave the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail life, the need for ongoing fundraising is real. The trail is not supported by municipal funding. It is managed by the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association, a volunteer-run charitable organization. Every financial contribution is applied to trail operations, maintenance & enhancements.
If you would like to make a donation online, we've made it easy for you, thanks to Canada Helps. Canada Helps is a safe and secure way to donate online. You decide how much to give, when to give, and how often, and your personal information is always protected. Through Canada Helps you also have the option to pay securely by Credit Card, Paypal, or Interac Online. When giving, please consider pledging a monthly amount. This continuous revenue stream is critical in providing long term sustainability and ongoing maintenance for the trail.
To donate to the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail online, click here: https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/8841 Your gift will make a difference for future generations. Please give generously. Thank you.
Managing Partners - Trail Monitoring
The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail has 12 Managing Partners who volunteer their time and effort to help maintain the trail. It is this type of community involvement that ensures the trail remains safe & enjoyable for residents and visitors to Kawartha Lakes. Thank you so very much to our our partners:
- Fleming College
- Abercrombie Brothers & Central Senior Public School
- O’Reilly Family
- Spokes for Folks
- Lunney Family
- Heart of Ontario Snowmobile Club
- Fowlers Corners District Lions Club
- Omemee District Lions Club & Scott Young Public School
- Village of Reaboro
- Kawartha Lakes Green Trails Alliance
- City of Kawartha Lakes Parks and Recreation Department
- Lindsay Lilac Committee
We have a Trail Monitoring Form online http://ktct.ca/contact/monitoring-form for members of these organizations to report on trail conditions.
Trail users can send an email to info@ktct.ca if you would like to report illegal use or trail conditions that require attention.
How To Report Illegal Use
We are still getting emails about illegal dirt bikes and ATVs on the trail despite clearly marked gates that show they are not allowed on the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail. Did you know that less than 2% of Trans Canada Trail routes in Ontario allow ATVs? Eventually this will be 0%. These routes receive no funding for trail maintenance or enhancements from Trans Canada Trail. The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail is a volunteer run, charitable organization - our 54 kilometre trail is one of the sections that make up the 24,000 kilometre Trans Canada Trail nationally. In 2017, the Trans Canada Trail will be connected from coast-to-coast-to-coast and will be the longest trail in the World.
To report illegal use by ATVs or dirt bikes please do the following:
- Avoid any confrontation. We do not want anyone hurt or insulted.
- Note time, date and location.
- Report the illegal use to the Lindsay Police if the location is in Lindsay or Ops Township, or to the OPP for all other locations of the trail.
- Send a description of the dirt bike or ATV to the “Contact Us” form: http://ktct.ca/contact
- If you are certain of the location where the trespasser lives, include this address in your email to us and we will send a letter to that address.
You can also send an email to info@ktct.ca
Our volunteers work hard to keep the trail safe and well maintained for the enjoyment of residents of, and visitors to, Kawartha Lakes.