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Join us in Killarney May 11th to talk Georgian Bay Trails! |
Ontario boasts over 80,000 km in trails. Whether you're in downtown Toronto or North of Superior, we have a trail for you. The Ontario Trails Council is a registered charity, led by volunteers who promote the development, management, use and conservation of Ontario's trails. You'll find everything from gentle walking trails to rock faces for climbing and water routes to canoe and kayak.
Showing posts with label Georgian Bay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Georgian Bay. Show all posts
Friday, January 8, 2016
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Ontario Trails News - find your favorite dog-sledding trail and new map to draw cyclists to Simcoe
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Find your favorite dog-sledding trail here! |
New maps expected to draw cycling tourists to north Simcoe
Local municipalities support Cycle Simcoe initiative
Midland Mirror
MIDLAND – A new map of north Simcoe’s cycling routes will launch next week with hopes of attracting droves of tourists from the Greater Toronto Area.
Midland is the last local municipality to jump on board after Brendan Matheson, cycling strategy co-ordinator for Cycle Simcoe, a Barrie/Simcoe Cycling Club initiative, requested $3,000 each from Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay for maps and online development.
Midland council will officially vote on the funding request as part of the town’s upcoming budget meetings.
“This is going to be the start of a great partnership,” Mayor Gord McKay said during Monday’s council meeting.
As part of the request, Matheson also asked the town to help Cycle Simcoe by installing safety signage, improving cycling infrastructure and distributing safety education information.
The “Heart of Georgian Bay” cycling map, which is scheduled to launch at the Toronto International Bicycle ShowMarch 6, will feature seven routes, said Matheson.
They range from eight kilometres in length along the Midland Rotary Waterfront Trail, to 95 kilometres on quiet roads and trails through all four municipalities, he said, adding they will include three trails and four road-based routes.
At the bike show, Cycle Simcoe also plans to launch cycling maps for the Oro-Medonte, Severn and Ramara areas and for the Wasaga Beach, Collingwood and Blue Mountain areas.
“We’re finding most of the cyclists that come up here are from the GTA,” he said.
A Ministry of Tourism survey found two million people took part in cycle tourism in Ontario in 2010, spending $391 million. Compared to 2009, this was a 25 per cent increase in cycle tourists and an 18 per cent boost in spending.
Cycle tourism refers to someone who travels at least 40 kilometres to go cycling, according to Matheson.
He said he hopes cyclists will take advantage of Cycle Simcoe’s interactive online maps by, for example, taking photos of and marking the location of potholes.
The organization, which began in 2012, can then contact municipalities about any problems for quick fixes.
Coun. George MacDonald, an avid cyclist, spoke in support of the maps and confirmed with Matheson air pumping stations will be available along the routes.
“I’m not volunteering because my air is all hot air,” MacDonald quipped.
Coun. Cody Oschefski offered to help Cycle Simcoe with spreading its message on social media.
“There’s a misconception in Midland for young families that there’s nothing to do here,” he said.
Coun. Glen Canning added one of the biggest complaints he hears from cyclists visiting the town is a lack of route maps – “besides the lack of bicycle racks downtown.”
Friday, September 5, 2014
Ontario Trails Council News - Members and Edcuation Information
Projects Updates - National Trails Coalition (ON)
This program was announced at the end of June. In total the OTC had 93 enquiries for funding. Snowmobile had 89 projects come forward and ORV 19, for a total of 201 expressions of interest.
This led to 59 applications being received by non-motorized. 13 of these are mixed use, either non-motorized/snowmobile, snowmobile/ORV, non-motorized/ORV, or all 3.
The total value of work on these 59 projects (without single snowmobile, or single ORV) is over $21,000,000. The project costs alone are $17,600,000. The dollars raised by the communities applying is over $10,000,000 of this and the NTC contribution is of course maxed at $2.1 million.
The Ontario Review Committee has met on one occasion to reconcile receipt and acknowledgements. We are working towards September approvals and communications.
The NTC also hired a National Program Facilitator - his name is Roger Pelletier. He can be reached by email at: rogpel@videotron.ca
In the same time frame as we are working on all this we got an acknowledgement that the Ontario Government is not going to support the OTC.
Membership Growth - Join Today.
Ontario Trails Council Membership is now over 220 member organizations. In 2003 we had 33. In the past year we have:
Member Profile - New Members
Perth County Trails
Trails News
North of Superior Trails
This program was announced at the end of June. In total the OTC had 93 enquiries for funding. Snowmobile had 89 projects come forward and ORV 19, for a total of 201 expressions of interest.
This led to 59 applications being received by non-motorized. 13 of these are mixed use, either non-motorized/snowmobile, snowmobile/ORV, non-motorized/ORV, or all 3.
The total value of work on these 59 projects (without single snowmobile, or single ORV) is over $21,000,000. The project costs alone are $17,600,000. The dollars raised by the communities applying is over $10,000,000 of this and the NTC contribution is of course maxed at $2.1 million.
The Ontario Review Committee has met on one occasion to reconcile receipt and acknowledgements. We are working towards September approvals and communications.
The NTC also hired a National Program Facilitator - his name is Roger Pelletier. He can be reached by email at: rogpel@videotron.ca
In the same time frame as we are working on all this we got an acknowledgement that the Ontario Government is not going to support the OTC.
Membership Growth - Join Today.
Ontario Trails Council Membership is now over 220 member organizations. In 2003 we had 33. In the past year we have:
- Audited land for new trail development
- Opened or secured trails in Niagara, Georgian Bay and other places
- Completed the curriculum for our on-line Trails Skills Course at Algonquin College
- Signed onto the Green Infrastructure, and renewed our commitment to the "No Child Left Behind" initiatives
- Secured $2.1M in federal funds for trails in Ontario through 2016
- Defended the Pan Am Games and Pan Am Path
- Increased our membership to over 180 organizations - Members
- Represented your trail on our Award winning website
- Funded 6 youth trail programs
- Secured policy developments from the province for trail management and use.
Your support helps us keep staff, service trails and other charitable obligations. Membership Pages
Member Profile - New Members
Perth County Trails
Trails News
North of Superior Trails
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Ontario Trails Council - national trails program looking for coordinator, trails an election item in Ontario
Ontario Trails asks Leaders and Candidates to Respond
As we head into the Ontario Provincial election we are often asked by our membership to make sure trail issues are valued by candidates. This year we crafted 9 questions that you may use with your own candidates.
As you receive local responses please send your answers to the OTC and we'll keep a record of who said what. We did receive one response thus far - from Premier Kathleen Wynne. See her response here - http://goo.gl/eWmibs
Also at OTC we are party neutral, these questions have been provided to all candidates and the leaders of the 4 main political parties.
We Value Our Members - Mr. Jack De Wit, OTC President
Dear Members - I often get questioned what are the benefits of an OTC Membership? Your financial support enables us to assist trail groups and do many more things in support of trails.
Next week the Ontario Trails Council will be a full participant in meetings of the Canadian Trails Federation in Ottawa. Our involvement there has resulted in much work with the National Trails Coalition, and in the direct securing of funding that we used to make trails in Ontario.
For example because your membership supports our involvement at that level I am pleased to provide you with the Job Ads for the position of National Coordinator for the Project.
As you can see your financial support may not return directly to your community, but with it, by keeping the OTC viable, we are able to preserve or develop trails somewhere in Ontario.
Sincerely, Jack De Wit, President.
As we head into the Ontario Provincial election we are often asked by our membership to make sure trail issues are valued by candidates. This year we crafted 9 questions that you may use with your own candidates.
OUTDOORS - There are over 80,000 km of trails in Ontario in 430 communities, these communities may not have an arena, a pool, a library or a church, but they have a trail. If elected, what types of improvements would your government continue to make in the outdoor development sector?
• ACTIVE LIVING - Active living is an issue, in both the health benefits from activity and the negative effects of inactivity. Ontario has over 2600 useable active living trails. How would you and your government work with the Ontario Trails Council to promote trail use?
• ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION - Ontario has gone to great lengths to develop the GTA Greenbelt, UNESCO Biospheres, the CyclingON Strategy, promote transportation alternatives through funding of increased GO and other mass transportation supports. Would you and your government work with the Ontario Trails Council to develop a layer of inter-connected trails to rails, trails to bus, trails to trains as advocated by individual trail uses, at the provincial level so that all Ontarians would value know of this inter-connectivity?
• PROVINCIAL MATCHING FUNDING - Ontario Trails Council Membership is made up of land management groups th
at work with volunteer groups to make trails, access to funds for trail development is sometimes difficult and programs often change. The Ontario Trails Council did this in 2009-10, and will again in 2014-16 with the federal announcement of funds in the last budget for the National Trails Coalition. Would your government create a dedicated trail infrastructure development fund that could be managed by voluntary sector leaders?
• POLICY COORDINATION - Since 2005 Ontario has had an Ontario Trails Strategy. With this came a planning process called the Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee. This partnership won the Province's highest award for intergovernmental cooperation "The Amethyst Award" and developments, these developments include, trail safety by managing user conflict (motorized and nonmotorized harmony); a legislation review, and an award winning website for trails. If elected would you and your lead Ministry for trails make a commitment to ensure that the OTCC meets monthly to manage the affairs of trails?
• BUSINESS COSTS - There are issues with liability and operational costs for land owners, or groups that own or operate a trail. The costs of litigation and the process of litigation fail to bring case resolution since often cases are settled out of court. Would your government consider a fund to support the costs or trail litigation, (as they have in Nova Scotia), or the tort (such as the 2009 National Trails Act in the USA) – for trail groups, trail operators and land managers that promote the public good through trail activity?
• TRAIL JOBS - Nearly 1 million individuals use the Ontario Trail Website to plan or find a trail. We estimate trails to be a value between $2.5 - $4 billion dollars to the economy each year. We believe that this number is low. Many Regional Tourism Organizations promote outdoor activity, but have not defined the product range for trails. Would your government work with the OTC to ensure that each RTO promotes trails through a joint trail promotion program so that this trail economy could be expanded and developed throughout the whole of Ontario?
• PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT - Waterfront development is of value to all. The OTC works with communities in Northern Ontario, Georgian Bay, promoted the development of the Windsor Riverfront Trail, Carolinian Canada, Waterfront Trail Rides, and the Trans Canada Trail. Recently we offered comment to the Ontario Place Revitalization plans. There are 100's of significant destinations and experiences people can enjoy on trails in Ontario. How would your government work to ensure the OTMPC and other government department’s engaged Ontario Trail leaders in developing destination marketing with world-class trail tourism products as a result?
• WORLD CLASS EVENTS - The Pan-Am Games are coming to Ontario in 2015. The Ontario Trails Council has worked with Hamilton, McMaster, the Trans Canada Trail, and other communities such as Thunder Bay, and the Pan-Am Path in Toronto to make the games a reality on trails. There are many benefits to communities through world-class events. At the OTC we often hear from Centurion, X-terra, Tough Mudder etc. but there is not enough variety for these event planners to use Ontario. - Do you see an opportunity going forward to promote more trail events in more places through OTC/Ontario/Private sector partnerships?
As you receive local responses please send your answers to the OTC and we'll keep a record of who said what. We did receive one response thus far - from Premier Kathleen Wynne. See her response here - http://goo.gl/eWmibs
Also at OTC we are party neutral, these questions have been provided to all candidates and the leaders of the 4 main political parties.
We Value Our Members - Mr. Jack De Wit, OTC President
Dear Members - I often get questioned what are the benefits of an OTC Membership? Your financial support enables us to assist trail groups and do many more things in support of trails.
Next week the Ontario Trails Council will be a full participant in meetings of the Canadian Trails Federation in Ottawa. Our involvement there has resulted in much work with the National Trails Coalition, and in the direct securing of funding that we used to make trails in Ontario.
For example because your membership supports our involvement at that level I am pleased to provide you with the Job Ads for the position of National Coordinator for the Project.
As you can see your financial support may not return directly to your community, but with it, by keeping the OTC viable, we are able to preserve or develop trails somewhere in Ontario.
Sincerely, Jack De Wit, President.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Ontario Trails News - news and activity, hiking, waking, biking, camping - information from all over Ontario's 2600 trails!
Ontario Trails asks Leaders and Candidates to Respond
As we head into the Ontario Provincial election we are often asked by our membership to make sure trail issues are valued by candidates. This year we crafted 9 questions that you may use with your own candidates.
We have forwarded these to the leaders of the 4 major parties.
• PROVINCIAL MATCHING FUNDING - Ontario Trails Council Membership is made up of land management groups that work with volunteer groups to make trails, access to funds for trail development is sometimes difficult and programs often change. The Ontario Trails Council did this in 2009-10, and will again in 2014-16 with the federal announcement of funds in the last budget for the National Trails Coalition. Would your government create a dedicated trail infrastructure development fund that could be managed by voluntary sector leaders?
As we head into the Ontario Provincial election we are often asked by our membership to make sure trail issues are valued by candidates. This year we crafted 9 questions that you may use with your own candidates.
We have forwarded these to the leaders of the 4 major parties.
OUTDOORS - There are over 80,000 km of trails in Ontario in 430 communities, these communities may not have an arena, a pool, a library or a church, but they have a trail. If elected, what types of improvements would your government continue to make in the outdoor development sector?
• ACTIVE LIVING - Active living is an issue, in both the health benefits from activity and the negative effects of inactivity. Ontario has over 2600 useable active living trails. How would you and your government work with the Ontario Trails Council to promote trail use?
• ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION - Ontario has gone to great lengths to develop the GTA Greenbelt, UNESCO Biospheres, the CyclingON Strategy, promote transportation alternatives through funding of increased GO and other mass transportation supports. Would you and your government work with the Ontario Trails Council to develop a layer of inter-connected trails to rails, trails to bus, trails to trains as advocated by individual trail uses, at the provincial level so that all Ontarians would value know of this inter-connectivity?
• PROVINCIAL MATCHING FUNDING - Ontario Trails Council Membership is made up of land management groups that work with volunteer groups to make trails, access to funds for trail development is sometimes difficult and programs often change. The Ontario Trails Council did this in 2009-10, and will again in 2014-16 with the federal announcement of funds in the last budget for the National Trails Coalition. Would your government create a dedicated trail infrastructure development fund that could be managed by voluntary sector leaders?
• POLICY COORDINATION - Since 2005 Ontario has had an Ontario Trails Strategy. With this came a planning process called the Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee. This partnership won the Province's highest award for intergovernmental cooperation "The Amethyst Award" and developments, these developments include, trail safety by managing user conflict (motorized and nonmotorized harmony); a legislation review, and an award winning website for trails. If elected would you and your lead Ministry for trails make a commitment to ensure that the OTCC meets monthly to manage the affairs of trails?
• BUSINESS COSTS - There are issues with liability and operational costs for land owners, or groups that own or operate a trail. The costs of litigation and the process of litigation fail to bring case resolution since often cases are settled out of court. Would your government consider a fund to support the costs or trail litigation, (as they have in Nova Scotia), or the tort (such as the 2009 National Trails Act in the USA) – for trail groups, trail operators and land managers that promote the public good through trail activity?
• TRAIL JOBS - Nearly 1 million individuals use the Ontario Trail Website to plan or find a trail. We estimate trails to be a value between $2.5 - $4 billion dollars to the economy each year. We believe that this number is low. Many Regional Tourism Organizations promote outdoor activity, but have not defined the product range for trails. Would your government work with the OTC to ensure that each RTO promotes trails through a joint trail promotion program so that this trail economy could be expanded and developed throughout the whole of Ontario?
• PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT - Waterfront development is of value to all. The OTC works with communities in Northern Ontario, Georgian Bay, promoted the development of the Windsor Riverfront Trail, Carolinian Canada, Waterfront Trail Rides, and the Trans Canada Trail. Recently we offered comment to the Ontario Place Revitalization plans. There are 100's of significant destinations and experiences people can enjoy on trails in Ontario. How would your government work to ensure the OTMPC and other government department’s engaged Ontario Trail leaders in developing destination marketing with world-class trail tourism products as a result?
• WORLD CLASS EVENTS - The Pan-Am Games are coming to Ontario in 2015. The Ontario Trails Council has worked with Hamilton, McMaster, the Trans Canada Trail, and other communities such as Thunder Bay, and the Pan-Am Path in Toronto to make the games a reality on trails. There are many benefits to communities through world-class events. At the OTC we often hear from Centurion, X-terra, Tough Mudder etc. but there is not enough variety for these event planners to use Ontario. - Do you see an opportunity going forward to promote more trail events in more places through OTC/Ontario/Private sector partnerships?
As you receive local responses please send your answers to the OTC and we'll keep a record of who said what.
As you receive local responses please send your answers to the OTC and we'll keep a record of who said what.
Your Health -- Kids under 16? No ATVs.
Below are some ATV-related facts compiled and adapted from the Eastern OntarioHealth Unit, Safe Kids Canada and the Canadian Pediatric Society.
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No condos on Toronto's Ontario Place site, create 'urban park' if re-elected: Wynne
The redeveloped site would include bike and walking trails, an urban park completed in time for the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, ...
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Premier Announces Ontario Place Revitalization
The Premier explained the Liberals would create an waterfront community and urban park, complete with playing fields, parks and hiking trails.
 |  |  | Flag as irrelevant |
ONTARIO TRAILS MOBILE one of 12 MUST HAVE APPS
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Ontario Trail News - walking, cycling, biking, equestrian, mountain biking - news from all over Ontario's trails
Ontario Trails fully involved in Trail Projects
From the North Shore of Lake Superior to the rolling hills of Haliburton to the St. Lawrence Seaway, through the nation's biggest cities over 430 communities in Ontario have trails that are Yours to Explore.
This article is going to tell you about a few of the projects that we have underway in several parts of Ontario. When communities turned to the OTC they ask us to help them manage, develop, properly use, and conserve their trails
This article is going to tell you about a few of the projects that we have underway in several parts of Ontario. When communities turned to the OTC they ask us to help them manage, develop, properly use, and conserve their trails
Georgian Bay Coast Trail – Central Ontario
People like to walk, it also like to hike. Many of Ontario's trails are along rivers or along waterfronts. The Georgian Bay coast trail is being planned as rugged natural experience trail alongside the East Coast of Georgian Bay.
This trail is going to stretch from Bayfield Inlet to Point Grondine. In this case this trail is not a rail trail the rugged beauty of Georgian Bay will be your guide. Rocks, pine forests, and wilderness await on this trail trek.
Trails are about communities in this project brings many unique communities together through the trail. This is why the Ontario trails Council is pleased to be devoting time and resources to working with first Nations peoples, the board of the Georgian Bay coast trail and other regional partners in bringing this trail to this region.
Heritage is the key word on this trail. First Nations peoples appreciated the healing powers of native plants and respected the beauty of the land. Today through this partnership we are working to ensure that aboriginal heritage and natural appreciation is preserved for the wilderness hiker.
There are many places to stay in the area, the hearty fare will energize you for your next 30K, and whether in Britt, or Parry Sound, to Magnetawan, as this trail opens over the next year the local people are ready to welcome you to their unique part of Ontario.
People like to walk, it also like to hike. Many of Ontario's trails are along rivers or along waterfronts. The Georgian Bay coast trail is being planned as rugged natural experience trail alongside the East Coast of Georgian Bay.
This trail is going to stretch from Bayfield Inlet to Point Grondine. In this case this trail is not a rail trail the rugged beauty of Georgian Bay will be your guide. Rocks, pine forests, and wilderness await on this trail trek.
Trails are about communities in this project brings many unique communities together through the trail. This is why the Ontario trails Council is pleased to be devoting time and resources to working with first Nations peoples, the board of the Georgian Bay coast trail and other regional partners in bringing this trail to this region.
Heritage is the key word on this trail. First Nations peoples appreciated the healing powers of native plants and respected the beauty of the land. Today through this partnership we are working to ensure that aboriginal heritage and natural appreciation is preserved for the wilderness hiker.
There are many places to stay in the area, the hearty fare will energize you for your next 30K, and whether in Britt, or Parry Sound, to Magnetawan, as this trail opens over the next year the local people are ready to welcome you to their unique part of Ontario.
| SC Johnson Working with Nature Conservancy of Canada, Demonstrating Commitment to People ...
SC Johnson is working with the NCC to help protect Ontario's natural ... environment for generations to come through essential conservation efforts.
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| A few bad cyclists shouldn't stop us from building bike lanes
Ontario's Chief Coroner has called all pedestrian deaths preventable. The undue attention to cyclingconduct diverts attention from the far greater ...
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ONTARIO TRAILS MOBILE one of 12 MUST HAVE APPS
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Ontario Trails News - hiking, waking, biking, camping - information from Ontario's 2600 trails!
Norfolk County - Trails #1
This is our opinion too! All over Ontario. OTC was lucky enough to be asked to say a few words at the ribbon cutting opening of this trail in 2011. I beleive we also gave the local folks some funding to complete the project.
Congrats Terry, and Frank and all the great folks in Norfolk - the Waterford Heritage Trail and Norfolk County are both supporting members of the Ontario Trails Council. Thanks and congratulations
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Georgian Bay Coast Trail and INAC Support OTC Consultation Work
On Sunday April 27th, David Raithby, Chair of GBCT, Jessie Metelka of GBCT and Patrick Connor from Ontario Trails, met the Chief Wayne McQuabbie and Members of Band Council of Henvey Inlet First Nation, as well as the Lands Committee of HIFN.
Our working group has been meeting regularly for a few months and we attended this meeting of Council to apprise them on project progress and next steps. The Ontario Trails Council is pleased to be working with the Georgian Bay Coast trail and all the First Nation Partners in the project.
For more information on htie 200km rugged hiking trail see: http://www.gbcoasttrail.com/
We Value Our Members - Mr. Jack De Wit, OTC President
Dear Members - I often get questioned what are the benefits of an OTC Membership? Your financial support enables us to assist trail groups like:
I am pleased to provide a copy of a letter we recently received from the Brant Waterways Foundation regarding the OTC. We thank them for their support.
On April 30th the OTC Board passed a Motion suggesting that all members write this type of letter to their MPP's and MP's.
As you can see your financial support may not return directly to your community, but with it, by keeping the OTC viable, we are able to preserve or develop trails somewhere in Ontario. And our members think we do this very well.
Sincerely, Jack De Wit, President.
This is our opinion too! All over Ontario. OTC was lucky enough to be asked to say a few words at the ribbon cutting opening of this trail in 2011. I beleive we also gave the local folks some funding to complete the project.
Congrats Terry, and Frank and all the great folks in Norfolk - the Waterford Heritage Trail and Norfolk County are both supporting members of the Ontario Trails Council. Thanks and congratulations
!Georgian Bay Coast Trail and INAC Support OTC Consultation Work
On Sunday April 27th, David Raithby, Chair of GBCT, Jessie Metelka of GBCT and Patrick Connor from Ontario Trails, met the Chief Wayne McQuabbie and Members of Band Council of Henvey Inlet First Nation, as well as the Lands Committee of HIFN.
Our working group has been meeting regularly for a few months and we attended this meeting of Council to apprise them on project progress and next steps. The Ontario Trails Council is pleased to be working with the Georgian Bay Coast trail and all the First Nation Partners in the project.
For more information on htie 200km rugged hiking trail see: http://www.gbcoasttrail.com/
We Value Our Members - Mr. Jack De Wit, OTC President
Dear Members - I often get questioned what are the benefits of an OTC Membership? Your financial support enables us to assist trail groups like:
- Niagara Trails Committee, led by Quad Niagara and Niagara Region;
- Georgian Bay Coast Trail, with our partners Georgian Bay BIosphere and a variety of First Nations peoples as well;
I am pleased to provide a copy of a letter we recently received from the Brant Waterways Foundation regarding the OTC. We thank
them for their support.On April 30th the OTC Board passed a Motion suggesting that all members write this type of letter to their MPP's and MP's.
As you can see your financial support may not return directly to your community
, but with it, by keeping the OTC viable, we are able to preserve or develop trails somewhere in Ontario. And our members think we do this very well.Sincerely, Jack De Wit, President.
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Media Advisory: OFAH/OPG Travelling TackleShare is Coming to Fergus This Weekend
... fishing instruction and lessons on aquatic habitat and conservation. ... Travelling TackleShare is an initiative of the Ontario Federation of Anglers ...
| | | Flag as irrelevant |
ONTARIO TRAILS MOBILE one of 12 MUST HAVE APPS
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