More than 3,400 students from across the City of Kawartha Lakes celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday and the connecting of The Great Trail all along our very own Kawartha Trans Canada Trail!

With 54 km of trail travelling through woodland, farmland, wetlands and communities, the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail truly offers 4 seasons of exciting trail use!

Celebrations on The Great Trail

WHEN: Saturday, August 26, 2017 12 to 2 PM

WHERE: Reaboro Park, Peace Road, Kawartha Lakes

COST: Free

EVENT DETAILS:
The Trans Canada Trail with support from Canadian Heritage has a goal to connect The Great Trail and the country for a grand celebration on August 26, 2017. 200 communities across Canada will be celebrating the full connection of The Great Trail on the same date.

In Kawartha Lakes, we will be celebrating at Reaboro Park. This free event will feature food, games, entertainment and face painting. At 1 PM there will be a tree planting ceremony to mark our connection with the 24,000 km Great Trail.

For more information about all the events happening across Canada: thegreattrail.ca/celebrate

BACKGROUND:
Trans Canada Trail: It began as a bold dream in 1992: the idea of creating a trail that would be a gift from Canadians to Canadians. Since then, TCT – a not-for-profit organization – has been working with donors, partners, governments and volunteers to create The Great Trail; an epic trail of trails offering a wide range of outdoor experiences on both land and water routes. Every Canadian province and territory is home to its own stretch of The Great Trail, which is owned and operated at the local level. TCT’s goal is to have The Great Trail connected from coast to coast to coast in 2017, for Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation celebrations.

CONTACT:

• tonya@strexer.ca
• 705-875-5893

Three digital photography workshops are being offered free to Seniors (65+) to encourage Kawartha Trans Canada Trail use and enjoyment.

1. Ruth Tait presents “Your Photographer’s Eye on the Trail”
   – June 15 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Fleming Trail
2. Fred Thornhill presents “Panoramic Views on the Trail”
   – August 23 8:30 am – 11:30 am – Trestle Bridge, Omemee
3. Mark Ridout presents “Better Portraits on the Trail”
   – October 24 9:30 am – 11:30 am – Fleming Trail

With a professional photographer as your guide, discover how to improve your photography, using a camera, an iPad or a cell phone to capture the natural environment and special moments while on the Trail. Register for as many of the workshops as you would like. The workshop sessions include free refreshments, a free draw at each workshop, complimentary giveaway and complimentary group photo. All workshops begin and end at Fleming College (Frost Campus) Lindsay at the Outdoor Education Log Cabin. Each workshop moves onto the Trail and returns to the college for a complimentary social. Parking available. Register today as space is limited.

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.

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), 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.

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.

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:

1. Avoid any confrontation. We do not want anyone hurt or insulted.

2. Note time, date and location.

3. 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.

4. Send a description of the dirt bike or ATV to the “Contact Us” form: http://ktct.ca/contact

5. 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. 

500 DAYS IN THE WILD is Dianne Whelan’s new adventure film, an homage to forgotten spirits, an ecological pilgrimage and a modern day Canterbury Tales. A 23,000 km journey where story has no boundaries. In August, Dianne spent some time in Peterborough & Kawartha Lakes. She was interviewed by CHEX Daily on August 25th and shared some of her stories of her journey across Canada on the Trans Canada Trail.

Follow Dianne as she hikes, bikes and paddles the trans Canada trail: http://500daysinthewild.com/

Or follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannewhelan

In 2017, the Trans Canada Trail will celebrate its 25th birthday. Since its initiation in 1992, the TCT has been dedicated to connecting communities all across Canada and preserving the natural beauty of the place we call our home.

I have had the opportunity to work and volunteer with the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail for the past two years. During this time, I have taken part in the maintenance of the 53.8 kilometres of trail found within the Kawartha Lakes; cutting grass, painting gates, and surveying fellow trail users concerning their experiences on the trail and ways we could improve the experience. I have also attended meetings with the Board of Directors as well as various events organized by the KTCTA. Through these experiences I have gained a vast amount of knowledge about all aspects of the Trans Canada Trail. The trail users, from the first-timer to the daily visitor, have a great sense of appreciation and fulfillment, and the organizers of the trail are motivated by this enthusiasm. My experience with the trail has shown me that with the determination of a motivated group, we can change the lives of many people.

In 24 years, the TCT has succeeded in connecting the majority of Canada together. With the help of donations and countless dedicated volunteers, soon the entirety of this great nation will be connected via a natural, accessible trail that we can all enjoy.

Tommy Vaneyk