Trail Wise - opinions on ALTO High Speed Rail, Trail Projects, Trail Funding and More Noews from Ontario's Trails

 

Ontario Trails Council - a provincial charity working for the development, use, management and preservation of trails and trail based activity. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

ONTARIO TRAILS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER - April 6, 2026 • National Trail Summit - Go Fund Us - • Provincial Budget Affects Recreation • • Seasonal Activity on Ontario Trails • Trail Projects • Updates • Member Services • Ontario Trails Council is a charity, led by a volunteer board of directors, that promotes the use, management, development, and preservation of trails and trail-based activities in Ontario.  Please consider supporting us through a donation or a membership. Thanks.   TOP TRAIL NEWS   Federal Government Funds Conservation Efforts Michael McDonaldMichael McDonald • CEO at Bruce Trail Conservancy Grateful to Prime Minister Mark Carney , Minister Julie Dabrusin and Secretary of State Nathalie Provost for today's announcement to invest in nature. Bruce Trail Conservancy is proud to partner with you to deliver impactful near urban nature conservation projects, that will allow for biodiversity to thrive, and for people to responsibly connect with nature through our iconic Bruce Trail conservation corridor. Special thanks to the MPs in government along the Bruce Trail - who have always supported our work. Karina Gould, Adam van Koeverden, Lisa Hepfner, MCM, Aslam Rana and JP Danko and Chris Bittle - a great day for nature. Bruce Trail ConservancyBruce Trail Conservancy  The Bruce Trail Conservancy applauds the federal government on the launch of "A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature" announced this morning. This initiative will see an investment of $3.8 billion to protect and restore critical habitats, ensure industrial strategies complement conservation efforts, and mobilise new capital for nature. The protection of our natural heritage in the face of habitat fragmentation, pollution, and climate change is critical to the survival of species that rely on our stewardship and integral to our identity as Canadians. We look forward to seeing the impact of this investment as strategy becomes practice.   Read the announcement: https://lnkd.in/epK5CkMQ Canada Unveils $3.8B Nature Strategy to protect lands and waters - Chamber of Shipping Chamber of Shipping The strategy also integrates environmental data and planning tools to align development with conservation goals. Additionally, the government will ...   Carney leans on private money, alternative approaches in nature strategy. Will it work? CBC The new approaches could provide an important boost to conservation in Canada and reduce the burden on Ottawa to do the work alone, ...   Audubon Applauds Canada's Commitment to Protect Nature National Audubon Society The plan also provides significant investments in Indigenous-led conservation work across Canada including support to expand Indigenous Guardians ...   Indigenous Guardians program to benefit from increased funding - APTN News APTN News Tags: climate crisis, conservation, Elizabeth May, Government of Canada ... Do you think lasting reform of the child welfare system is possible? Yes; No.   A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature Canada.ca The Government of Canada will achieve the 30x30 conservation target using traditional methods of conservation, such as National Parks and protected ...   Provincial Budget Supports Recreation and Trails The 2026 Ontario budget impacts recreational trails by investing $300 million over six years into the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund to repair, upgrade, and build new facilities. This funding boosts local tourism, improves safety, and helps municipalities expand trail networks for public use.  Key Impacts on Recreational Trails: Increased Infrastructure Funding: The Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund total is raised to $500 million to support community sport and recreation facility improvements, which includes trails.   Northern Ontario Support: The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) provides specific funding to improve trails, such as recent investments in snowmobile trail systems.   Safety and Maintenance: Funding supports the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) in maintaining and upgrading thousands of kilometres of trails, ensuring safe and reliable access for users.   Tourism Development: Investments are linked to strengthening tourism infrastructure, encouraging visitors to enjoy outdoor activities in both rural and Northern Ontario.   Accessibility: The funding aims to improve access to nature and keep residents active, bolstering local economies and promoting healthy lifestyles.  Improving accessible built environment standards — 2025 final recommendations report Ontario.ca ... Ontario. The design of public spaces standards lays out accessibility requirements for both recreational trails and beach access routes. The ... Oregon has a plan - Canada X, Ontario X Final state recreational trails plan approved | News | thenewsguard.com The News Guard The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission has approved the final 2026 Oregon Recreational Trails Plan, which outlines trends and issues, ...   Conservation authorities protect communities - The Hamilton Spectator The Hamilton Spectator Conservation authorities were established in the 1940s as a direct ... 100% Canadian Owned. © Copyright 2026 Metroland Media Group Ltd. All ...   Can Ford seize control of Toronto like it wants with Durham? Durham Post ... Ontario. There have been charges of lack of transparency as evidenced by the Ontario greenbelt scandal, and the lack of accountability over multi ...   Ontario Rural Groups Compete for Growing Home Awards - Farms.com Farms.com The Ontario finalists are: First Beamsville Scouting focuses on youth development by offering outdoor activities such as hiking and camping.     East Algoma OPP – 13 year old MSV Operator Charged No licence – Drive upon public trail. Wawa-news.com On Friday, March 27, 2026, at approximately 6:45 p.m., the East Algoma Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a ... Ontario Chamber backs high speed rail, calls for discipline and follow-through | OCC Ontario Chamber of Commerce Campaign Trail & Advocacy Updates – 2025 Federal Election · Ontario ... “The Ontario Chamber is proud to support this project and looks forward ...   OPP reminds residents about safe dirt bike and ATV use - PTBO Today PTBO Today As warmer weather approaches, the City of Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are reminding residen...   ATV, snowmobile clubs ask counties for help with Alto planning - The Review Newspaper The Review Newspaper ... project happens, that the route does not disrupt the trail system ... “Our goal is to prevent permanent gaps in the Eastern Ontario ATV and/or ...   Mayor's Walks - 2026   Many communities will hold walks on Provincial/International Trails Day. We provide links to walks and trail celebrations that take place June 6, as well as throughout the year. The Ontario Trails "Mayor's Walk" events are open to OTC member organizations to act as hosts for a walk in 2026.  Tell us when you are having an event in 2026 Event Notification Sheet. With trails in 100's of Ontario Communities this is a great way to showcase your local support while enabling all the Mayor's and their trail friends to get out for a celebration of trails.Send us details about your Trail Day Celebration!  Did you Know? Please search 'Trails Day' on Facebook, Ontario Trails provided 80% of Canadian messaging content about trails day.         Ask for the Mayor's Walk event planning tool, email us at execdir@ontariotrails.ca     ONTARIO TRAIL PROJECTS AND FUNDING   Finishing touches put on Burlington's new Tyendinaga Trail - PressReader PressReader ... trail linking the municipal golf course to the Niagara Escarpment at City View Park. ... Ontario Tourism Growth Program contribution is done. “However, ...   Burlington's Tyandaga sells out 2026 golf memberships in 70 minutes - Inside Halton Inside Halton Burlington's Tyandaga sells out 2026 golf memberships in 70 minutes; finishing up 2 km path to Bruce Trail ... Ontario Tourism Growth Program ...   Ontario Streams' General Manager Doug Forder to be guest speaker at HVHTA AGM in Bolton Just Sayin' Caledon The first portion of the meeting will focus on the work of the HVHTA, a review of its finances, an update on upcoming trail building projects, and the ...   Local alpine club wants to make sport more accessible to more people - TBNewsWatch.com TBNewsWatch.com “An easy example would be some of the Indigenous communities and the population, which is a large population of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario, ...   Bike, pedestrian path to be toll-free on Gordie Howe International Bridge | The Manchester Mirror The Manchester Mirror The path will connect to trails in Windsor, including the Trans Canada Trail, and to other paths on the Michigan side, including on West Jefferson ...   Dear Patrick, Thank you for your support of the G2G Rail Trail. We are pleased to invite you to our 2026 Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 11, at Cowbell Brewery in Blyth. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. Location: Cowbell Brewery, 40035 Blyth Road Arrival time: Please arrive by 12:30 p.m. for registration Meeting start: 1:00 p.m. We look forward to sharing updates, celebrating the progress we’ve made together, and looking ahead to what’s next for the trail. If you haven’t done so already, please register using the link below. Warmly, Willow Hall Executive Director G2G Rail Trail    Kitchener Trail Improvements Industry Name: Leisure/Parks/Recreation Trade Name: Hike/Bike Trails Project Street: Various/Multiple Project City: Kitchener Detail Of Services: The City is looking to partner with a qualified Contractor to complete trail improvements, including the reconstruction of multi-use trails, upgrades to trail entrances, installation of wayfinding signage, and construction of a new boulevard trail and raised crossings. Questions Contact: Questions related to this report are to be submitted to the Project Representative through the Bidding System by clicking on the Submit a Question button associated with this opportunity.   Ontario's Trails Are Rural Recreation in 85% of Ontario. Patrick Connor Writes - "I'm Proud to be a Board Member with Kim Goodman on this initiative." https://www.facebook.com/ruralrecreationassociation/