Ontario Trail News - a viewpoint on the CycleON Strategy

Healthy Kids Welcomes CycleON Strategy Funding 

Good Afternoon,
 
I am writing to share some exciting information that supports our commitment to health promotion and demonstrates the ongoing collaboration between several ministries.
 
This week the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) released #CycleON Action Plan 1.0, the first of ongoing series of multi-year action plans for implementing Ontario's Cycling Strategy. You may know that in September 2013, MTO released #CycleON: Ontario’s Cycling Strategy to outline the government’s 20-year vision for cycling in the province. Both Ontario’s Cycling Strategy and the associated Action Plan 1.0 were developed after extensive consultations, which I know some of you had the opportunity to participate in.
 
The Cycling Strategy’s Action Plan features MOHLTC initiatives including the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, the Healthy Communities Fund and the ongoing work of Public Health Units. The Action Plan is now posted on the MTO website and can be accessed by clicking here. As part of the Action Plan 1.0, the MTO also announced, subject to the Budget being passed, funding over three years that will help municipalities expand their local cycling routes and support connections for a future provincial cycling network. More details can be accessed here.
 
We are very supportive of the work of MTO, and the ongoing collaboration between over twelve ministries and agencies as it aligns with our health promotion and chronic disease prevention objectives, and the government’s commitment to provide the people of Ontario with safe, healthy, active transportation choices.
 
Thank you,
 
Kate Manson-Smith
Assistant Deputy Minister
Health Promotion Division
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
 

Ontario Trails News - Trails part of infrastructure being developed for Pan-Am Games!

News Release Ontario to Stage a World-Class Pan Am and Parapan Am Games in 2015 August 28, 2013 Province Launches Strategy to Create a Lasting Pan Am and Parapan Am Games Legacy Ontario is launching its Pan Am and Parapan Am Games Promotion, Celebration and Legacy Strategy to increase the economic benefits and support them in becoming the People's Games. The Games and Games-related investments will create more than 26,000 jobs - a boost of 11,000 jobs from an earlier assessment, and grow Ontario's real GDP by $3.7 billion from 2009 to 2017. A key part of the strategy is a plan to celebrate and showcase Ontario talent from the stage to the stadium in local communities. The strategy will also create a lasting legacy for people across Ontario by: Enhancing support for live music, celebrations and festivals, adding to Ontario's reputation as a live music destination Helping kids stay active and healthy Encouraging families to get outside and enjoy Ontario's trails Strengthening business development opportunities in the Pan Americas for Ontario's companies Promoting volunteerism during the Games by organizing and training up to 20,000 municipal and TO2015 volunteers Supporting athlete and sport development at all levels - from amateur to high-performance athletes Showcasing Ontario's diverse communities, including Aboriginal, Francophone and LGBT communities. Supporting a memorable and successful 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games is part of the Ontario government's plan to showcase the province, while creating jobs and positioning Ontario as a sport tourism destination for years to come. QUICK FACTS The 2015 Games will be the largest international sport event ever held in Canada and will be seen by hundreds of millions of people across the Americas and the Caribbean. The Games will attract as many as a quarter million visitors who will stay in local hotels, see great shows and attractions, dine in restaurants and shop in the province’s stores. Ontario will invest $42 million over three years in the Promotion, Celebration and Legacy Strategy for the Games. The Pan American Sport Organization (PASO) will host its next Annual General Assembly in Toronto October 7-10, 2013 – showcasing our province pre-Games. The province will make appropriate and necessary investments to ensure Ontarians and visitors can enjoy the Games in a secure and safe environment, traffic disruptions are minimized and public health is protected. LEARN MORE What People Are Saying About Ontario's Promotion, Celebration, and Legacy Strategy for the Games Ontario’s Role in the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games QUOTES "The 2015 Games will serve as an enduring expression of Ontario pride – as we welcome the world to celebrate the creativity, diversity and hospitality that is synonymous with Ontario. Comparable to similar Games, we are already ahead in the planning stages and will make these Games enjoyable for all."  — Michael Chan, Minister Responsible for the Pan/Parapan American Games "As we prepare to field the largest-ever Pan American team in Canadian history for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games, we are confident that this inspiring display of athletic excellence will enhance the experience of sport and culture for Ontario residents, enrich trade for the province’s local businesses and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come."  — Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee "Ontario’s continued investment in sport is creating opportunities for the next generation of athletes with a disability. Many young Canadians will experience the TORONTO 2015 Parapan American Games and will be inspired to become champions, on and off the field of play."  — Gaétan Tardif, Canadian Paralympic Committee "By making these key investments, Ontario is ensuring it fully exploits and maximizes the potential of hosting the People’s Games in the summer of 2015 and as a legacy for future generations. We don’t get opportunities like this very often – we’re delighted that the Province of Ontario wants to make the most of it!"  — Roger Garland, Chairman, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) CONTACTS Christina Cindric Minister’s Office 416-327-4365 Denelle Balfour Communications Branch 416-212-3928 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Secretariat http://www.ontario.ca/panam2015

Ontario Trails asks the federal government for funds for Ontario Trails.

Ottawa Canada June 2010 — Nepean Point Views 2 (Photo credit: dugspr — Home for Good)

Today I sent off 72 letters to Ontario members of parliament in Ottawa asking for federal support for trails in Ontario. As Ontario spends more and more on health and education (both of which utilize trails in prevention, recovery, maintenance and in better student health) ironically, the pressure for service delivery and the cost of products related to health and education leave even less money for a quality of life, and preventative measures such as trails, recreation and parks where kids can play.

So we are asking the federal government to assist.

Ontario Trails - Trailwise Newsletter

Weekly E-Bulletin of the Ontario Trails Council. The provincial trails association in Ontario. Week of January 31, 2013

• Education • News • Updates • Sharing •  Requests • Meetings • Activity

Ontario Grant Program(s) 1) The Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund (OSRCF) is a grant program that supports a vision of getting and keeping Ontarians active in community sport, recreation and physical activity. Application deadline for both Provincial and Local/Regional projects is March 19, 2013 by 12:00 noon EST. Information here 2) Ministry of Community and Social Services has just launched this the 2012-13 EnAbling Change Program.  One of the two funding priorities this year are “Healthy Living, Leisure and Recreation – increasing access and awareness of healthy living, leisure and recreation opportunities for people with disabilities.” Information here On-Line Education Program! Class starts February 1 Starting this February, Algonquin College, in partnership with the Ontario Trails Council is offering two new online courses in trails management. In just four hours, you can complete the Trail Steward introductory course on how to become an active member of a trail management crew. Follow this up with the second course to learn the groundwork of organizing and planning sustainable trails. Hurry! These online courses start soon. For details and to register, visit: OAD3000 – Trail Steward  (February 1 - March 1, 2013) OAD3001 – Trail Planning  (March 1 - June 7, 2013) Ontario Trails and Cycle Toronto - working together Ontario Cycling Summit Ontario Snowshoe Trails _________________________________________________________ Ontario Cross Country Trails  _______________________________________________________ Ontario Dog Sled Trails   _____________________________________________________________ Ontario Snowmobile Trails ____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ OnSnowTrails Daily postings about Ontario Snow Trails, cross country, snowshoeing, dog-sledding, snowmobiling, trail locations and activities on Ontario Snow trails. Ontario Parks Updates Many folks like to ski or snowshoe in Ontario Parks. Be sure to follow this page for regular updates on open and closed parks in the winter, and, which parks are open or closed for your favorite winter activity. {Get} 12 Apps Essential for Rural Ontario Living Ontario Trail Council Membership Membership renewals for 2013 started going out December 1st, 2012. Thanks to the 33+ organizations that have renewed so far! This past week we had renewals from - Lanark County . Thanks! THANKS! MERCI!  Local Trails News Algonquin Park: Haliburton: Horses: Nor'wester Ontario: Temagami: _________________________________________________________ Trail Education - On-Line Courses Start Feb 1 Trailhead Ontario 2013 TRAIL PROFILE ________________________________________________ More Information Join us at Trailhead Ontario - June 9-11, 2013 as we discuss "Ontario Trails - From Recreation to Tourism." Supported by Regional Tourism Organization 8 - Our Favorite Place. Did you Know? First Nations had been in the Kawartha area since before 1000 A.D. and there are two notable sites surviving from this era – Petroglyphs Provincial Park and Serpent Mounds.  We’ll share more on these intriguing sites later. The Curve Lake First Nation is Mississauga Ojibway First Nation located in just north of the City of Peterborough.  Here they play host to the Cultural Centre that allows you to step into history and surround yourself in the culture and history of Curve Lake First Nation, with artifacts and unique exhibits we will take you into a world of storytelling, Art, History and ceremony. ______________________________________________________ Trailhead Ontario Website Trailhead Ontario Registration - Early Bird Ends April 1, 2013 Our Plan for 2013 – "From Recreation to Tourism" 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. Become a Trailhead Ontario Presenter - tell us about yourself! Sign Up for Trailwise Be sure to sign up for the weekly OTC Newsletter "Trailwise" you can sign up at the link through the picture link. Or if you prefer download a recent copy from the OTC Website - Here Trail Management Guides Ontario Trails Council - Regional Trail Development Guide: developed in partnership with the Trans Canada Trail, this guide helps communities develop trail stakeholder committees. Once formed these committees help to: Mitigate Trail Use Conflict Seek Funds Encourage Use Work to reduce Trespass Want a copy or a seminar? Contact OTC - 877-668-7245 Ontario Trails Council - Safe Trails Guide:developed with the support of the Ministry of Health Promotion, this guide includes recommended best practices on: Code of Conduct Permits Trail Maintenance/Development Qualifications to Develop Trail Reporting Trail Audits Forms Waivers/Assumption of Risk Want a copy or a seminar? Contact OTC - 877-668-7245  Ontario Trails Council - Event Planning Guide -perfect for the trail group planning to develop trail or hold a fund raising event to support an activity or a trail project. Content includes: Event Ideas Attracting Volunteers Promotion Critical Path to the Event (6 month step by step, from idea to event!) Want a copy or a seminar? Contact OTC - 877-668-7245 Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter Forward to a Friend Trail Heroes Know somebody that works hard on trails? If so nominate them to be an Ontario Trails "Trail Hero!" We'd be happy to review your recommendations and acknowledge in a small way their contribution to trails in your community. Trail Blog Every day trails are news! Every day we blog about trails. In communities all over Ontario trails are big news, for cyclists, runners, canoe or horses, every day we capture in one spot all the trail news - local, provincial or national! Join today! Trail Leaders! Become a trail development leader. Join Ontario's first ever series of 14 trail education courses in the development and management of trails. Designed for both volunteers and professionals.  Register today - registration is open 24/7 until the morning of each training event.  Join OTC The Ontario Trails Council is a non-profit charitable organization, established in 1988, that promotes the development, preservation, management and use of recreational trails. With over 130 organizational members and 15 individual supporters the OTC has influence! Support trails in Ontario - Join the OTC Learn an Activity Our website contains information on over 2,600 trails, and a description for nearly 2,000. Learn about the places where you can bike, cross country ski, climb or any of another 15 activities. We are linked to over 130 organizations and a variety of provincial groups that can help you learn an activity or become better at one you already love! Add Your Event We post trail or outdoor events on trail specific facebook pages, the main OTC facebook page, and the event section of the OTC website. You can send us your event and we'll post it to these extensive networks. Each week we reach over 20,000 people, so if you want your event known, a bit better, send us the information. Member Requests 1) Capital Budgets - link to google doc shared - please share your trail budget we'd like to know who is getting what around the province. Thanks! 2) Executive approves pilot to program trail use counter and QR code methods. Watch for roll out. 3) OTC/Cycle Toronto Beltline commentary ratified by Toronto City Council Jan 30. 4) OTC working with Norfolk County on Feb 27 on horse trails! 5) OTC wrote letter to City of Welland asking for reversal of lease cessation on East Side Canal Trail 6) OTC consulting with MNR on land permit applications, approvals and processes 7) OTC wrote City of Toronto on Beltline trail development 8) OTC exploring FedNor grant in support of Kinghorn trail 9) OTC Algonquin program on-line by Feb 1, 2013. 10) Do you have a winter trail maintenance policy? Please forward to Ontario Trails execdir@ontariotrails.ca 11) What is your liability exposure on a complete, but NOT yet opened trail? Please forward your information to Tom Beeton tomb@chatham-kent.ca 12) How do you support donors on your trail signage? Please send examples to OTC. 13) Please renew your OTC Membership - TODAY"New trails are still to be developed in Ontario. Existing trails need to be maintained and expanded. Trail organizations in Ontario need one common voice to advocate for them. We need a central source to promote funding opportunities and act as a communications link between trail groups." Ray Gilbert Bruce Trails Network 14) Next OTC Board Meeting Mar 18, 2013. Using JoinMe internet meeting service. 15) Liability Survey Arising from our meeting with the ADM and staffs October 1, 2012 Short Form Long Form Please complete ASAP 16) Hamilton Conservation discount passes - Additional rewards :-) 17) Anybody aware of any sanctioned "free run" dog trails? Came up at Toronto Beltline Trail Meeting. Please call OTC Office with information 18) Credit Valley Conservation looking for support from Shell Fuelling Change Project 19) OTC Mobile App - for iProducts and Windows 20) Jeff Muzzi wants information on forestry and trails master plans, as well as comprehensive trails plans so that he can help his county work with all facets of trail development, tourism, active transportation, health and land management. Contact Jeff at Manager, Forestry Services, Renfrew County 613-633-9683 JMuzzi@countyofrenfrew.on.ca 21) Petawawa Parks and Recreation Department is looking for a few volunteers to start a trails club/committee. Are you interested in making Petawawa a great place to walk, hike and bike on trails through out the Town. Want to find out more give us a call at 687-5678 22) Anne Wier with Economic Development, Leeds and Grenville Counties wishes to have more information from communities that have successfully used gas tax or gas tax surplus funds to build trail. Please contact Anne at:http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ann-weir/16/a28/719 23) Check out the latest trail opening here. 24) Thanks to The Great Waterwayfor their support. Contact Graham Burke if your RTO wants to do the same! 25) Millennium Trail PEC Blog - often looking for volunteers 26) Each week 100 folks talk about us and we reach over 21,000 on facebook alone. Check us out 27) Membership section of OTC website updated - get your loginand password today! 28) Director section of the OTC website updated - get your loginand password today! New content added - Guideline for Interpreting Financial statements and Past Meeting Minutes. 29) CPRA Looking for Infrastructure and Parks Volunteer e-mail John Lohuis at Niagara Parks   30) Add your trail 31) Add your event 32) Prescott-Russell look for links on website for Masterplan 33) The Toronto Bruce Trail public bus hikes 34) Follow the Education Program on Facebook 35) Follow the Education Program Updates on Twitter 36) Post Photos to Pinterest 37) OTC on Foursquare 38) Winter Hikes with Rainbow Routes 39) OTC Education Partner 40) Snowshoe program at Wye Marsh 41) Hot Chocolate better in Orange Mug 42) OTC Youtube Channel 43) Trail Priorities Survey 44)Trail Reform Now Survey 45) Trail Projects 2012 46) Ontario Trails Maps 47) Enabling Change Program 48) OTC Board 2012-13 Jack De Wit - PRESIDENT Ontario Equestrian Federation 905-655-4666 cndhrsman@bellnet.ca Ron Purchase - Treasurer Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs 705-739-7669 rpurchase@ofsc.on.ca Dan Andrews - Secretary TrailADE Consulting 705-927-8648 trailadecanada@gmail.com Lorrie Mackness East Gwillimbury Trails Committee 905-478-8733 lmackness@sympatico.ca Paul Ronan Ontario Parks Association 647-991-9444 paulronan@rogers.com Frieda Baldwin Huronia Trails and Greenways 705-245-1005 frieda.baldwin@rogers.com Wayne Daub Oxford Trails Committee 519-500-3715 w-daub@rogers.com Alan Medcalf Frontenac Arch - Cycling 613-865-8214 alan@brocknet.ca Igor Hoogendoorn International Mountain Biking Association 855-255-4094 ext.108 igor.hoogendoorn@imba.com Patrick Connor Ex-officio - Executive Director Kingston 613-484-1140 execdir@ontariotrails.ca Bill Goulding Professional Trail Builders Association 905-213-0466 BillGoulding@sustainabletrails.comJeff Muzzi Manager, Forestry Services, Renfrew County 613-633-9683 JMuzzi@countyofrenfrew.on.ca Bonnie Simpson Recording Secretary 705-438-5752 otcdocumentwranglet@hotmailcom Ontario Trails Council appreciates Ontario Trillium Foundation Financial Support Disclaimer The ideas, opinions, re-posting of news, editorials and content contained in this newsletter are not necessarily the ideas or opinions of the OTC Board or staff. This news is intended for informational purposes only.