Ontario Trails News - despite negative media - we are forging ahead with our conferences to enlighten and educate the public!

Trailhead Ontario - Renfrew 2016

Trailhead Ontario Itinerary - June 20, 21, 22, 2016 ( we are adding a third day for Eastern Canada Trails Training the only federally sponsored trail training in Eastern Canada this year - provided by IMBA Canada)

Monday
8:30-9:00AM	Registration	Coffee Served
9:00-9:15AM	Welcome remarks	Dignitaries
9:15-10:00AM	Presentation	Ontario Landowners Association (Invited)
10:00-10:30AM	Presentation	Ontario's Highlands Tourism Organization
10:30-10:45AM	Break	Coffee Break
10:45-11:15AM	Presentation	Petawawa - the development of our Regional Trail Association
11:15-11:45AM	Presentation	Adirondack to Algonquin Trail Development
11:45-12:15PM	Presentation	Parks of the St. Lawrence
12:15-1:00 PM	Lunch
1:00-2:00PM	Presentation	Updates on the Trails Act and the Ontario Trails Strategy with the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport
2:00-2:30PM	Presentation	City of Ottawa Trails
2:30-2:45PM	Break	Coffee Break
2:45-3:15PM	Presentation	Trans Canada Trail Ontario
3:15-3:45PM	Presentation	National Capital Commission
3:45-4:15PM	Presentation	Ontario Federation of Agriculture (Invited)
4:15-4:45PM	Presentation	Understanding and Preventing Lyme Disease
4:45-5:15PM	Presentation	Sentiers Prescott Russell and Glengarry Trails
5:15-6PM	Networking	Cash Bar
6PM - 9PM	Dinner & Keynote Speaker	Federal Climate Change Initiatives and Trails
Tuesday
8:30 – 9:00AM	Registration	Coffee Served
9:00-9:15 AM	Welcome remarks	Dignitaries - Madawaska Valley
9:15-9:45AM	Presentation	Madawaska Valley and Township Trail Developments
10:00-10:30AM	Plenary Session	Principles of Trail Risk Management
10:30-10:45AM	Coffee Break
10:45-11:30AM	Plenary Session	Trails Risk Management - How to Say Yes to Trails
Noon-1PM	Lunch	Networking Lunch
1:00-2:00PM	Plenary Session	Water Trails - Developing trails for Use
2:00-2:45PM	Plenary Session	Ottawa River-Keeper - programs and plans for development
2:45-3:00PM	Break
3:00-3:30PM	Plenary Session	Hunting and Fishing Trail Use of MNRF Lands
3:30-4:00PM	Plenary Session	Mattawa Trail Development
4:00-4:30PM	Plenary Session	First Nation Tourism and Trails
4:30PM	Wrap-up and Next Steps	Trailhead Canada 2017!

https://trailheadontario2016.com

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Trailhead North - Marathon

 

Trailhead North Symposium Itinerary - April 20, 21, 2016

Event Outdoor Hike with Pic River First Nation - REGISTER

Wednesday			Presenters
8:30 - 9:00AM	Registration
9:00-9:30AM	Welcome remarks	Coffee Served	Mayor Dumas and Chief Michano
9:30-10:30AM	Marathon, Pic River and our Northern Trails	Sponsor	Bob Hancherow, and Chief Duncan Michano Pic River FN
10:30-10:45AM	Break
10:45-12:30AM	Presentation	Parks Experiences - Pukaskwa National Park and Neys Provincial	Roel Teunissen, Park Planning, Ontario Parks. Sharon Hayes, Pukaskwa National Park.
	Presentation	Group of Seven Trail	Kirsten Spence, Quercwood Consulting
	Presentation	Northern Ontario Experiences	Carole Caputo and Paul Pepe, Director of Tourism Thunder Bay
12:30-1:00 PM	Lunch
1:00 - 1:30PM	Presentation	Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport	Jim Antler and Carol Oitment
1:30 - 2:00PM	Presentation	Trans Canada Trail	Mike Goodyear, Trail Director Trans Canada Trail
2:00-2:30PM	Presentation	Path of the Paddle and Trail Auditing	Carrie Nolan, Executive Director POPA
2:30-2:45PM	Break	Trans Canada Trail Ontario - Sponsor
2:45-3:15PM	Presentation	Importance of Trails for Northern Ontario Tourism	David McLaughlan and Susan Forrest, NOT
3:15-3:45PM	Presentation	World Class Cross Country - Destination Marathon	Marathon X-Country Ski, Dr. David Juliano
3:45-4:15PM	Presentation	Northern Snowmobile Trails	Dennis Burns with Craig Colbourne
4:15-4:45 PM	Presentation	OAC - Ontario Access Coalition - Places to Climb	Jana Wells
	Break
5:30-6PM	Networking	Cash Bar
6:00PM - 9:00PM	Dinner & Keynote Speaker	Trails, Travels and Experiences, A personal perspective	Michael Haynes, Trails Ambassador and Author
	Silent Auction
Thursday
8:30 - 9AM	Registration	Coffee Served
9:00-9:15 AM	Welcome remarks		Kirsten Spence, Patrick Connor
9:15-10AM	Presentation	Funding for Trails with NOHFC, FedNor and Ontario Trillium Foundation	Maureen Brophy OTF,  Sean Irwin NOHFC, and Jamie Taylor FedNor
10:00-10:15AM	Break	Coffee Break
10:15-11:15 AM	Presentation	Aboriginal Tourism Ontario Summit Report	Kevin Eshkawkogan, Aboriginal Tourism Summit
11:15-Noon	Presentation	Hunting and Fishing Trail Use of MNRF Lands	Greg Farrant, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters with Greg Rivard
Noon-1PM	Lunch	Networking Lunch
1:00-2:00PM	Presentation	Outfitters and Tripping - How to Get North	Steve Bruno, Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership
2:00-3:00PM	Presentation	Voyageur Trail - Developments along the Trail	Carole Blacquiere, President VTA
3:00-3:45PM	Presentation	Outdoor Recreation - the Tourism Experience	Dr. Harvey Lemelin, Lakehead University
3:45-$:00PM	Wrap-up and Next Steps		Kirsten Spence, Patrick Connor

As at 11/2/2016 Program content subject to change based on availability.

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Trailhead Georgian Bay

May 11th, Killarney Park Lodge.

Wednesday			Presenters
8:30 - 9:00AM	Registration
9:00-9:30AM	Welcome remarks	Coffee Served	Kirsten Spence, Patrick Connor
9:30-10:30AM	About The Georgian Bay Coast Trail	Sponsor	GBCT Board
10:30-10:45AM	Break
10:45-12:15AM	Presentation	Killarney Provincial Park - A Lead Partner in Development	Killarney Provincial Park
	Presentation	Friends of Killarney	Friends of Killarney
	Presentation	Trail Experiences - Explorer's Edge	James Murphy, RTO12
	Presentation	Auditing and Planning our Route	Niall Lobely
12:15-1:00 PM	Lunch
1:00 - 2:00PM	Presentation	Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport	Carol Oitment
	Presentation	Indigenous Peoples Economic Development	Local First Nations
2:00-2:30PM	Presentation	Trail Inventories Georgian Bay Partners	Kirsten Spence
2:30-2:45PM	Break	Trans Canada Trail Ontario - Sponsor	Al McPherson
2:45-3:15PM	Presentation	Importance of Variety of Trails	GBBR and GBCR
3:15-3:45PM	Presentation	Great Lakes Guardian Plant and Trail Inventory	Henvy Inlet and Ontario Trails
3:45-4:15PM	Presentation	Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry	Local MNRF
4:15-4:45 PM	Presentation	Relations with Local Landowners	Georgian Bay Landowners Association
4:45 - 5:15	Wrap-up	Thanks	GBCT

As at 11/2/2016 Program content subject to change based on availability.

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Trails Talk

Join us every other Tuesday at 1pm EST for a lively half hour discussion on trail issues of importance to the trails community. We are pleased to have added an additional topic to the Agenda - see January 12th.

We will be using our Google Hangout to facilitate our Trail Talks. So make sure you have a gmail account and the hangout app added to your gplus account.

How to Join a Hangout

Invited presenters include:

February 16th, 2016 - Explorer's Edge - all about the great trails in RTO 12 with James Murphy of Explorer's Edge. Register on Eventbrite

March 1, 2016 - The Georgian Bay Coast Trail - who supports it, what is happening and all about our spring community meeting in Killarney. With Luke Wassegijig and Kirsten Spence. Register on Eventbrite

March 15, 2016 - Trans Canada Trail - with Jane Murphy and Al McPherson. You've heard about it, how is it progressing? How can you support it? Register on Eventbrite

March 29, 2016 - Hiking, what is it? Who does it? What you need to know about community programs, and trail leadership programs - with Bill Mungall Register on Eventbrite

April 12th, 2016 - Trail Building - are you interested? What is trail building all about? Who does it and the skills you need, with stories from trail builder Zane Davies. Register on Eventbrite

Ontario Trails News - from Trailwise - join today and support Ontario's trails!

Ontario Trail Running Group

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Toronto Cycling Plan - Comment Today

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Toronto Paddling Destination!

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Ride for a Reason

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Goderich to Guelph RT MPP Announcement

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Iron Horse Trail News

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Rainbow Routes - New Trail Map

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Canoe Canada!

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Northern Ontario Photography

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Noxious Leaf Guide from History.ca

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Support the Kinghorn Trail Development

Last fall we started an audit of the rail corridor. This audit captures the good, the bad and the ugly. Using the latest trail auditing software, we are able to capture all the issues that need to be fixed prior to opening the trail. We will finish the audit in the spring for the full length of the line.

Please support us in building this legacy trail along Lake Superior. Even a small donation adds up and supports the capital required to upgrade the corridor for Northwestern Ontario's only rail trail!

We have plans to upgrade the railbed surface to accommodate trail users like cyclists, hikers, summer motorized use and snowmobiles in the winter months. As a full multi-use trail, we will be able to keep the trail in the public domain for future generations to enjoy.

The rail line doesn't stop at Nipigon but then turns north towards Greenstone. There has been some interest in discussing this as an option but conversations need to occur.  Please support this legacy project as we create an amazing trail alongside Lake Superior - the great inland sea.

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Ontario Trails Education

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Healthy Hikes Program!

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40+ Ontario Trail Builds Underway!


 

Ontario Trails News - Trailwise - all about trails, all the time. Over 1000 subscribers - sign up today!

Find your favorite!

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THUNDER BAY, ON, June 19, 2015 /CNW/ - The Trans Canada Trail is thrilled to announce it has received a $2 million joint gift from TD Bank Group and the Ontario Trillium Foundation – funds that have been matched by the Government of Canada with another $1 million grant, for a total of $3 million in Trail development funding.

These funds will help the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) to enhance and complete its route in Northern Ontario, between the City of North Bay and the City of Thunder Bay. The Trail sections under development include water and land routes, connecting 44 municipalities and aboriginal communities.

"We are grateful for the generous donation from TD Bank Group and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and to our federal government for matching that $2 million gift with an additional $1 million grant," says Valerie Pringle, Co-Chair of the Trans Canada Trail Foundation. "It's a testament to our vision and passion when three major funders collaborate to help us reach our bold goal of a fully connected Trail, from Atlantic to Pacific to Arctic coasts, byCanada's 150^th birthday in 2017."

50 Trail development projects are currently in progress as part of the TCT's goal to connect the Trail from coast to coast to coast by 2017. Currently, the Trail is more than 17,000 kilometres long and is 75 per cent connected. Once complete, the Trans Canada Trail will stretch almost 24,000 kilometres and will include urban, rural and wilderness trails in every province and territory.

Connecting Trail sections and communities in Northern Ontario

The $3 million donation will be used to help complete or enhance three TCT routes in northern Ontario.

1. The North Bay to Sudbury Cycling Route, a 207-km road cycling route.
2. The Lake Huron North Channel Waterfront Cycling Trail (LHNC), a 370-km road cycling route from Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie.
3. The Lake Superior Water Trail (LSWT), a 989-km paddling route from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay, currently part of the TCT network, will see the enhancement of 15 access points with amenities for paddlers.

Connecting these three routes to the TCT depends on multiple community partnerships and volunteers. The leadership efforts of aboriginal communities, regional municipalities, and the Trail Group Collaborative – comprised of the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy, the Waterfront Regeneration Trust, and Tourism Northern Ontario – will drive the project to completion.

The TCT is a multi-purpose recreational trail that promotes six preferred activities: walking/hiking, paddling, cycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

As sections of TCT, the North Bay to Sudbury Cycling Route, the Lake Huron North Channel Waterfront Cycling Trail, and the Lake Superior Water Trail all evoke the rich history and culture of Canada's people. By recalling the heritage of our aboriginal people, to early European trading and settlement, the growth of resource industries, the transcontinental railway, revolutionary Group of Seven paintings, and more – the TCT celebrates our proud Canadian journey.

Comment on our Comments! - by June 27th

As Presented Publicly at Trailhead Ontario June 8, 2015




















In summary - the Ontario Trails Council will be making comment, #1-12 on the last slide above on the Environmental Registry. 

The Ontario Trails welcomes any additions or comment to this list and we encourage you to e-mail the OTC at execdir@ontariotrails.ca if you have an item to discuss for addition.

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Tweet the Act

This should help secure land for trails, control trespass, change crown land processes. Please share these suggested tweets - 

Ontario Trails Act? What is it? What does it do? How does it secure trails? Does it impact me? Answers at http://trailheadontario.com

New - Ontario Trails Act - NEW - learn more - hear from government and sector on impacts and expectations http://trailheadontario.com

Giving feedback to trails act on EBR? Are you commenting on the Ontario Trails Act? use us -#‎craftyourbestanswer 

Ontario Trail News - cyclist killed while road cycling and cycle tourism workshop in Lambton and more from Ontario Trails

Clarington cyclist killed Easter Sunday after colliding with car

Cyclist accident 2

Dave Parsons

CLARINGTON -- Members of the Durham Regional Police Traffic Services Branch conduct an investigation after a 60-year-old cyclist was killed when he was hit by a car at Bloor Street and Solina Road Sunday, April 5 about 10:55 a.m. April 5, 2015.

nextplay/pausepre3/4

Clarington This Week

By Mike Johnston 

CLARINGTON - A 60-year-old Clarington man is dead after he turned his bike in front of a car as it attempted to pass a group of cyclists on Bloor Street Easter Sunday, April 5, report Durham Regional Police.

According to police, seven cyclists were biking westbound on Bloor Street at 10:55 a.m. about to turn left onto Solina Road. Police said a red Pontiac Vibe was also westbound and attempted to pass the cyclists in the eastbound lane. The cyclist turned in front of the car and was hit.

The victim died at the scene, said police. The driver of the car, a 21-year-old Clarington woman, was taken to hospital with minor injuries and released. Police are not releasing the name of the victim.

Full article.....

Cycle tourism workshop planned for April 16 at Lambton College

By Tyler Kula, Sarnia Observer

Monday, April 6, 2015 2:53:56 EDT PM

(Tribune file photo)

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Dedicated bike lanes could be cropping up on Colborne Road and Cathcart Boulevard this year, with the community's OK.

A proposal in the city's transportation master plan, approved by council last year, said city development manager Mike Berkvens, calls for bike lanes on those streets to make traversing Sarnia's cityscape on two wheels easier.

“The cheapest way and the biggest bang for our buck is using the existing road and just doing line painting,” said Berkvens, noting council has set aside $250,000 this year for bike trail development and sidewalk improvements.

Full article.....