Trail Openings and EventsHealthy Hikes - May 1-31, 2013
Evergreen - Ride the Ravines
Pedal
your way to a greener city! Celebrate Bike Month on Sunday, June 16 on
our ride through Toronto’s ravines in partnership with Cycle Toronto and
support Evergreen’s work to green our city and promote active living!
Get started now. Online registration is
quick and easy. Space is limited so register now to ensure you get to
Ride the Ravines and support Evergreen’s work. Sign up as an individual
or a team and collect pledges for a chance to win amazing prizes!
Registration fee is $25 per rider, and all riders are encouraged to fundraise a minimum of $75 to ride. Be sure to stick around after the ride for refreshments and celebration, and to pick up any incentive prizes you may have won! Our lead community partner, Cycle Toronto, is offering its members a reduced registration rate of $20. Not a member of Cycle Toronto? Join today and register to ride for $40! Questions? Please contact Lauren North at lnorth@evergreen.ca or 416-596-1495 X 338.
Chatham Kent Trail Opening May 18th
Lang-Hastings Trail May 2, 2013
100's of trail stories posted each week!
Thousand Islands Trail ImprovementsGananoque, Ontario, Friday, April 26, 2013 – Representatives gathered in Gananoque today to announce funding for improvements to one of the region's most popular outdoor attractions, the Thousand Islands Recreational Trail.
Ontario Trails News - Spring MessageWATER - CHECK BEFORE YOU GO! At this time of Year - Please restrain Motorized and Equestrian use on Soft Soils. Thanks
Trail Questions1) Question: Hunting along rail trails. In the Game and Fish Act...Section18 (10) and no such patentee, owner or tenant shall prohibit any person from hunting or fishing on the railway lands. Definition (11) “railway lands” includes all lands set apart under any Act as a land subsidy or otherwise in aid of any railway or of any works in connection therewith or of any works to be established, maintained or carried on by any railway. R.S.O. 1990, c. G.1, s. 18 (10, 11). So if its a trail and not a railway this "free hunting access"doesn't apply? Please e-mail me with your interpretation or how you manage this on your rail trail. execdir@ontariotrails.ca Thanks
2) Question: Road Trail Intersection Improvements. OTC was contacted by Saugeen Rail Trail. They have been invited to present at more Ministry of Transportation meetings. They want to know - when two lane highways are re-developed, have any of you been able to secure trailhead improvements at the crossings, by way of the re-development? If so, what did you get? Please e-mail Jeff Hemming at jaycee@bmts.com
3) Deadline Extended! to May 31st, 2013 - Support a Great Lakes Guardian Fund Grant. Great Lakes Guardian Fund applications due tomorrow. Last year OTC supported a Town of Deseronto CIAF Grant Application and the town got an $80,000 grant to re-develop their waterfront park and the Waterfront trail. As an OTC Member, Regional partner, or trail stakeholder would you consider writing a letter in support. E-mail me for our letter template you can use! Also please consider putting our OTC logo or OTC website as a link on your website!
4) Capital Funding for Trails - Please take a minute to complete the capital funding section of our survey. A s many communities head into the budget cycle other communities want to get an idea of the relative and comparative amounts communities of similar size are investing in their trails. Please go to:
Trailhead Ontario - Updates
"Kawartha Northumberland"-Trail Stories
Spelunking here we come! The conservation area takes its name from a series of seven caves found in the park. The caves were formed thousands of years ago at the end of the last ice age by the rushing melt waters of a glacier that covered Ontario. All you need is a flashlight or a headlamp to enjoy this natural underground jungle gym.
More information? Go to - Trailhead Ontario Call Patrick at 1-877-668-7245 or Vanessa Twiddy at 905-373-8752 | www.rto8.com
Trails Education - Select a Program!We have updated the program and our 14 module program is here for the using. If you have staff to train, trails to manage or want a session in your area on a particular topic let us know. We'll coordinate a session or series on your behalf.
Trails Insurance Program AvailableOnce again, members of the trails community find themselves seeking alternative trails insurance. The volatility and unpredictability of your insurance plan keeping you hopping? Wondering what you are getting, curious if your agent or the underwriter understands trails?
If you want:
Further to our recent discussions, I wanted to let you know that we have investigated various markets to get a sense of the appetite that insurers have for coverage associated with trails. Our findings suggest that coverage is available - but from a very limited number of carriers and that the cost of insurance in this class is not heading down anytime soon. The reality is that there have been losses associated with trails in general and that the frequency and severity of claims is on the rise.
On the positive side of the issue, we have had several specific discussions of late with our current carriers at Lloyd's of London and we are (collectively) very interested in ramping up our work with OTC to connect with your associates who manage trails. We and the insurers we represent are firm in our commitment to work collaboratively with the OTC trail community to develop a comprehensive risk management strategy that makes sense - and insurance is just one part of that strategy.
As for what trail insurance products we have "in the box” right now:
a) Commercial General Liability coverage —premium costs start at $1,000.00 for $2,000,000 coverage.
In the near future OTC will be bundling these products as a part of membership services and products.
Performance Measures - Trail Counts!
Low
maintenance - Using weatherproof decals our methods allow users to
quickly and easily provide you with information you need to assess,
improve, direct, re-direct, or provide information to the user - while
on the trail. Our proprietary method has been developed by over 140
trail users and with the input of The City of Thunder Bay and Norfolk
County Trail Managers.
Packages - OTC Member? - Take $25.00 off each package!
Evergreen - Ride the Ravines
Pedal
your way to a greener city! Celebrate Bike Month on Sunday, June 16 on
our ride through Toronto’s ravines in partnership with Cycle Toronto and
support Evergreen’s work to green our city and promote active living!
Get started now. Online registration is
quick and easy. Space is limited so register now to ensure you get to
Ride the Ravines and support Evergreen’s work. Sign up as an individual
or a team and collect pledges for a chance to win amazing prizes!Registration fee is $25 per rider, and all riders are encouraged to fundraise a minimum of $75 to ride. Be sure to stick around after the ride for refreshments and celebration, and to pick up any incentive prizes you may have won! Our lead community partner, Cycle Toronto, is offering its members a reduced registration rate of $20. Not a member of Cycle Toronto? Join today and register to ride for $40! Questions? Please contact Lauren North at lnorth@evergreen.ca or 416-596-1495 X 338.
Chatham Kent Trail Opening May 18th
Lang-Hastings Trail May 2, 2013
100's of trail stories posted each week!
Thousand Islands Trail ImprovementsGananoque, Ontario, Friday, April 26, 2013 – Representatives gathered in Gananoque today to announce funding for improvements to one of the region's most popular outdoor attractions, the Thousand Islands Recreational Trail.
"Tourism in this region is a driving force for economic growth and job creation, and this initiative will ensure that the Thousand Islands remain a place people want to visit year after year,"said Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
"The Government of Canada is proud to invest in these improvements that will enhance the visitor experience while preserving this key outdoor attraction and tourist destination."
"The new Ontario government is proud to provide access to safe spaces to our visitors and citizens that allow them to enjoy the natural beauty that is synonymous with Ontario,"said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
"Our investment in the Thousand Islands Recreational Trail supports active, healthy living and provides one more great reason to visit eastern Ontario. I encourage cyclists and pedestrians alike to visit the Thousand Islands Recreational Trail this summer to explore and experience the beautiful St. Lawrence River."https://www.facebook.com/ontariocyclingtrails?ref=hl
Ontario Trails News - Spring MessageWATER - CHECK BEFORE YOU GO! At this time of Year - Please restrain Motorized and Equestrian use on Soft Soils. Thanks
Trail Questions1) Question: Hunting along rail trails. In the Game and Fish Act...Section18 (10) and no such patentee, owner or tenant shall prohibit any person from hunting or fishing on the railway lands. Definition (11) “railway lands” includes all lands set apart under any Act as a land subsidy or otherwise in aid of any railway or of any works in connection therewith or of any works to be established, maintained or carried on by any railway. R.S.O. 1990, c. G.1, s. 18 (10, 11). So if its a trail and not a railway this "free hunting access"doesn't apply? Please e-mail me with your interpretation or how you manage this on your rail trail. execdir@ontariotrails.ca Thanks
2) Question: Road Trail Intersection Improvements. OTC was contacted by Saugeen Rail Trail. They have been invited to present at more Ministry of Transportation meetings. They want to know - when two lane highways are re-developed, have any of you been able to secure trailhead improvements at the crossings, by way of the re-development? If so, what did you get? Please e-mail Jeff Hemming at jaycee@bmts.com
3) Deadline Extended! to May 31st, 2013 - Support a Great Lakes Guardian Fund Grant. Great Lakes Guardian Fund applications due tomorrow. Last year OTC supported a Town of Deseronto CIAF Grant Application and the town got an $80,000 grant to re-develop their waterfront park and the Waterfront trail. As an OTC Member, Regional partner, or trail stakeholder would you consider writing a letter in support. E-mail me for our letter template you can use! Also please consider putting our OTC logo or OTC website as a link on your website!
4) Capital Funding for Trails - Please take a minute to complete the capital funding section of our survey. A s many communities head into the budget cycle other communities want to get an idea of the relative and comparative amounts communities of similar size are investing in their trails. Please go to:
Trailhead Ontario - Updates
Join trail advocates, organizations, speakers, builders, use
groups, volunteers, planners and regulators as we discuss, learn and
improve Ontario's Trails We are working with the full support
of Our Favorite Place (RTO8), Peterborough and the Kawartha’s Tourism
and a number of local trails groups to bring you the best Trailhead
Ontario yet!. There are a lot of new trails and trail tourism
partnerships in RTO8. The Ontario Trails “Trailhead Ontario 2013″
Committee is is pleased to announce the Holiday Inn Waterfront Peterborough as the location of our conferencing. Site locations for our trail education program are being determined now.
General Membership AGM!
The Ontario Trails Council is providing notice to membership and guests that the OTC Annual General Meeting is at Noon June 10, 2013. In accordance with the OTC By-Laws, Notice of Nominations for the Board of Directors is hereby served. Download the nomination letter and forms here.
General Membership AGM!
The Ontario Trails Council is providing notice to membership and guests that the OTC Annual General Meeting is at Noon June 10, 2013. In accordance with the OTC By-Laws, Notice of Nominations for the Board of Directors is hereby served. Download the nomination letter and forms here.
Program Snapshotclick image for all
Time Limited?Select 1, 2, 3 or 4 Day Participation options
"Kawartha Northumberland"-Trail Stories
Spelunking here we come! The conservation area takes its name from a series of seven caves found in the park. The caves were formed thousands of years ago at the end of the last ice age by the rushing melt waters of a glacier that covered Ontario. All you need is a flashlight or a headlamp to enjoy this natural underground jungle gym.
More information? Go to - Trailhead Ontario Call Patrick at 1-877-668-7245 or Vanessa Twiddy at 905-373-8752 | www.rto8.com
Trails Education - Select a Program!We have updated the program and our 14 module program is here for the using. If you have staff to train, trails to manage or want a session in your area on a particular topic let us know. We'll coordinate a session or series on your behalf.
| DESCRIPTION | |
| COURSE TITLE | |
| Volunteer Management | View PDF |
| Business Planning and Budgetting | View PDF |
| Regulation and Legislation | View PDF |
| Ecosystem and Natural Heritage | View PDF |
| Wilderness First Aid | View PDF |
| Food and Nutrition | View PDF |
| Marketing and Promotion | View PDF |
| Health and Safety | View PDF |
| Technology for Trails - Level 1 | View PDF |
| Trail Design (2 days) | View PDF |
| Trail Risk Management | View PDF |
| Trail Committee Development | Manual |
| Trail Steward- On Line Learning | Program |
| Trail Planning - On Line | Program |
Trails Insurance Program AvailableOnce again, members of the trails community find themselves seeking alternative trails insurance. The volatility and unpredictability of your insurance plan keeping you hopping? Wondering what you are getting, curious if your agent or the underwriter understands trails?
If you want:
- cost stability
- product assurance
- insurance perseverance
- a broker that understands trails
Further to our recent discussions, I wanted to let you know that we have investigated various markets to get a sense of the appetite that insurers have for coverage associated with trails. Our findings suggest that coverage is available - but from a very limited number of carriers and that the cost of insurance in this class is not heading down anytime soon. The reality is that there have been losses associated with trails in general and that the frequency and severity of claims is on the rise.
On the positive side of the issue, we have had several specific discussions of late with our current carriers at Lloyd's of London and we are (collectively) very interested in ramping up our work with OTC to connect with your associates who manage trails. We and the insurers we represent are firm in our commitment to work collaboratively with the OTC trail community to develop a comprehensive risk management strategy that makes sense - and insurance is just one part of that strategy.
As for what trail insurance products we have "in the box” right now:
a) Commercial General Liability coverage —premium costs start at $1,000.00 for $2,000,000 coverage.
b) Directors and Officers liability coverage — premium costs
start at $200.00 for $I,000,000 coverage. We find that even the smallest
community group is seeing the importance of acquiring D and O coverage.
c) Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage - premiums start
at $250. 00 to cover the Officers, Directors, employees, members. The
limit of coverage is $100,000.In the near future OTC will be bundling these products as a part of membership services and products.
Performance Measures - Trail Counts!
Low
maintenance - Using weatherproof decals our methods allow users to
quickly and easily provide you with information you need to assess,
improve, direct, re-direct, or provide information to the user - while
on the trail. Our proprietary method has been developed by over 140
trail users and with the input of The City of Thunder Bay and Norfolk
County Trail Managers.Packages - OTC Member? - Take $25.00 off each package!
-
Blue - 4-10 trails: $300.00 plus HST and registration fees
- Maximum 20 sheets of decals
-
Green - 10-20 trails: $500.00 plus HST and registration fees
- Maximum 40 sheets of decals
-
Gold - 20 or more trails: Starting at $1,000 plus HST and registration fees
- TBD
Go to Trail Counts! to purchase. Thanks
Ontario Trails - Your Data Wanted
Since
2007 the Ontario Trails Council has collected trails data, and turned
that data into our award winning website, as mandated by the desires of
the trails community reflected in the Ontario Trails Strategy. Nearly
1,000,000 people a year turn to this information in order to find you
and your trails.
At this time we are working on the feasibility of collecting more trail data for the MNR. This project money sustains the OTC, but the money is only derived if there is data collected. This is where we need your help. We need you and your trail to opt in before we start collecting because the MNR wants to know which trails we are going to collect data from. Is your trail one we can collect? The characteristics we are looking for are:
1. Measurements
5. Trail Hazards (Poison Ivy, Steep Slopes)
6. Trail Fees (Day Pass, Donation, Parking etc.)
7. Seasons/Dates of Operation
8. Trail Amenities (Visitor Centre, Beach, Boat Launch etc.)
9. Trail Enforcement
10. Trail Permits
11. Trail Speed Limit
12. Trail Signage
13. Trail Environmental Concerns
14. Trail Permitted Use (Dogs on Leash)
Ontario Trails - Your Data Wanted
Since
2007 the Ontario Trails Council has collected trails data, and turned
that data into our award winning website, as mandated by the desires of
the trails community reflected in the Ontario Trails Strategy. Nearly
1,000,000 people a year turn to this information in order to find you
and your trails.At this time we are working on the feasibility of collecting more trail data for the MNR. This project money sustains the OTC, but the money is only derived if there is data collected. This is where we need your help. We need you and your trail to opt in before we start collecting because the MNR wants to know which trails we are going to collect data from. Is your trail one we can collect? The characteristics we are looking for are:
1. Measurements
- Trailhead Longitude
- Trailhead Latitude
- Completion Time (hours)
- Elevation Change (m)
- Trailhead Elevation (m)
- Maximum Elevation (m)
- Cross Slope Average (%)
- Cross Slope Maximum (%)
- Minimum Trail Width (m)
- Average Trail Width (m)
- Maximum Grade (%)
- Average Grade (%)
- Trail Surface
- Trail Classification (Trail Group/Local Classification/Difficulty/ Rating eg: OFSC Trail Classes)
5. Trail Hazards (Poison Ivy, Steep Slopes)
6. Trail Fees (Day Pass, Donation, Parking etc.)
7. Seasons/Dates of Operation
8. Trail Amenities (Visitor Centre, Beach, Boat Launch etc.)
9. Trail Enforcement
10. Trail Permits
11. Trail Speed Limit
12. Trail Signage
13. Trail Environmental Concerns
14. Trail Permitted Use (Dogs on Leash)
- Date of Collection
- Data Collector
- Trail sensitivity (high /low)
Ontario Trails MembershipOn behalf of OTC we thank you for your support. If there is a group you know that is not a member contact us and we'll send them a note on membership benefits. This past week we received a renewal from the Park to Park Trail Association. Thank you very much for your support!
THANKS! MERCI!
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