Canadian Trails Federation (and Ontario Trails) want to know about your International Trails Day Event!
International Trails Day is an annual celebration of trails, trail development and the healthy lifestyle they encourage. It is celebrated each year on the first Saturday in June.
Started by the American Hiking Society in 1992, trails Day has spread to encompass all forms of recreational trail usage in more than a dozen countries worldwide.
- It promotes public awareness of and appreciation for trails and the people who build and maintain them.
- Builds partnerships among trail groups, businesses, and public land managers.
- Encourages cooperative efforts among different trail users, including hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, walkers, runners.
International Trails Day brings together trails enthusiasts, to participate in educational exhibits, trail dedications, gear demonstrations, and instructional workshops and trail work projects.
At both Canadian Trails and Ontario Trails we are interested in knowing who is hosting an event as part of this celebration of trails.
You only have to log it in once on the national site, OTC monitors this site as part of its voluntary contribution to the national organization so we'll copy it to our inventory if it's based in Ontario!
List Your Canadian Event Here
The public is encouraged to join in the celebration by attending one of the community events listed at
www.internationaltrailsday.com.
With content from
Leisure Information Network
We need your help!
In 2015 we secured 101 respondents to our "The Value of Trails - Measuring the Economic Impact of Trails Survey."
We've added 12 more to the 2017 updates.
We have a ways to go.
Below you will see the OTC is presenting to the Canadian Parks and Recreation Conference March 10, and to Parks and Recreation Ontario March 28. On both occasions we are speaking to trails tourism and the economic impact of trails.
Click through the screen capture below to access the survey.
There are many metrics to measure in determining the economic impact of trails, and tourism in just one factor. In order to accurately represent a closer economic impact of trails we are requesting your speedy response to our Call to Action for Your Input to our Value of Trails 2017 survey.
With your help we will make an even stronger case for trails and the supports you require to provide a top notch experience at each of your trail destinations.
We are also accepting new responses!
Many Thanks!
We encourage you to complete our Trails Tourism Survey
We continue to work on gathering information in order provide Regional Tourism Organizations with an action plan for integration of trails, tourism, and marketing products, including changes to our award winning OTC Website.
In order to make recommendations we need your input. To date we have reached out to over 115 RTO/DMO/DMP partners. Please get back to us. We are trying to complete our analysis and we want your input as opposed to a gap, unfortunately gaps will be noted.
Contact Patrick at
execdir@ontariotrails.ca or call him 613-484-1140, thanks.
Trailhead Hastings - the Dialogue Continues!
As requested when we met with MP Mike Bossio Ontario Trails Council through its various inter-linkages have provided MP Bossio with a briefing note on Trailhead Canada as well as a short fact sheet on Canadian Trails.
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There are trails in each Canadian province and territory. Trails are managed or unmanaged. There are 360,521 trails in total. 278,576 are managed.
These are made for:
- 104,783km of snowmobile
- 32,334km of ATV/ORM
- 39,272km Hiking/Running
- 16,700km Cross Country Skiing
- 9278km Mountain Biking
- 5099km Cycling Touring
- 16,291 Walking Cycling Shared
- 6788 Equestrian Shared
- 20,496 Snowmobile Shared
- 27,536 ATV Shared
Trails are single use, mixed or shared use. Single use means one activity, mixed means motorized (M) with non-motorized (NM), and shared use means shared by a group of M or NM activities.
Canadian Trail activities include:
all-terrain vehicle, off road motorized vehicle, hiking, walking, motorcycle (dirt bike), road cycling, mountain biking, assisted electric vehicle, e-bike, snowmobiling, sight-seeing, bird-watching, snow-shoeing, climbing, bouldering, ice climbing, cross country skiing, dog sledding, skijoring, equestrian, carriage, active transportation (bike or walking), running, canoe, kayaking, geo-caching.
There are trails in urban, suburban, town and country, remote and wilderness areas.
- Trails are managed by parks, municipalities, conservation areas, heritage sites, tourism offices, economic development, private lands, first nations, recreation departments, crown land managers, and use groups.
- 13,290km of trails are in urban areas, focused largely on non-motorized use.
- Over 347,231km of trail are in sub-urban, rural and wilderness areas.
- For every dollar invested in trails, trails return a $1: $9 from tourism
- For every dollar invested in trails, trails return a $1: $4 from healthcare savings.
Please join us at Trailhead Canada, so we can develop policies and best practices at the national level to support trails in your riding. Thank-you.
Trailhead North Nipigon!Join us in Nipigon as we present another symposium with enriched and regional content geared to the north!
2017 Program
| Wednesday | Topic |
| 8:30 – 9:00 AM | Coffee Served |
| 9:00-9:30 AM | Welcome |
| 9:30-10:15 AM | Trails Act & What it means for Northern Regional Trails |
| 10:15-10:30 AM | Break |
| 10:30-11:15 AM | Parks Canada’s Trails Program & Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area |
| 11:15-11:45 PM | Implementing the Parks Canada Trail Classification on Local Trails |
| 11:45-12:00 PM | Implementing Trail Education Program With North Shore Network |
| 12:00-1:00 PM | Luncheon |
| 1:00 – 2:30 PM | First Nation’s Trail Development |
| 1:00 – 2:30 PM | First Nation’s Eco Tourism – Lac Seul |
| 2:30-2:45 PM | Break |
| 2:45-3:15 PM | First Nation’s Employment Training |
| 3:15-3:45 PM | Implementing Trail Training Program |
| 3:45-4:15 PM | Future Trail Research |
| 4:15-4:30 PM | Networking |
| 5:00-6:00 PM | Cash Bar |
| 6:00 – 9:00 PM | Trails, the Outdoors & Climate Change (7:30 PM) |
| Auction | development! |
| Thursday | |
| 8:30 – 9:00 AM | Coffee Served |
| 9:00-9:15 AM | Welcome |
| 9:15-9:45 AM | Nipigon’s Trails |
| 9:45-10:15 AM | Lessons Learned – Setting Up A Guiding Business |
| 10:15-10:45 AM | A Guide To Northwestern Ontario’s Best Kept Secret |
| 9:45-10:45 AM | Tourism Excellence North Program |
| 10:45-11:00 AM | Sponsored by Lakehead University |
| 11:00-Noon | Fat Bikes & Winter Trails |
| Noon-1:00 PM | Luncheon |
| 1:00-1:45 PM | Canadian Trails Federation & Trailhead Canada |
| 1:45-2:30 PM | Trails Tourism Strategies – Lessons Learned from Central Counties |
| 2:30-3:00 PM | Implementing The Lighthouse Trail – Connecting 4 Light stations on Lake Superior |
| 3:00-4:00 PM | North of Superior Trails – Getting Organized |
| 4:00-5:00 PM | Rob Swainson, Hike Leader |
As at 3/8/2017 Program content subject to change based on availability.
Trailhead Headwaters May 10, 2017!
Since the New Year OTC has been working with Shirley Boxem of Headwaters in Action to bring forward Trailhead Headwaters!
We are well into the planning process for the Trails Summit and striving to form an optimum agenda.
We appreciate the Town of Mono who have secured have secured Monora Park for the day as a donation from the Town of Mono!
OTC has been working with the community members of the CHATT, Headwaters Communities in Action’s Citizens of Headwaters for Active Transportation Team in planning the event.
Yesterday Dufferin County came on board with funding support for the symposium. Thanks to Scott Burns P.Eng. for his support and kind remarks!
Preliminary topic list includes:
- Rail Trail Development
- Dufferin County Trails Master-plan
- Regional Trail Committee Discussion
- Economic Impact of Trail Development
- Developing Interpretive Signage
- Headwaters Trails Connectivity
We will post all links to sites and registration as they go live. For now keep May 10 open as if you are in the area you may want to present or participate!
Thanks
Trailhead Mountain Bike - in development!
Ontario Trails E.D. Presenting at PRO Conference
PRO Educational Forum and Trade Show
March 28 - 31, 2017
SPONSORSHIP, ADVERTISING & EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES
Parks and Recreation Ontario is delighted to invite sponsors, advertisers and trade show exhibitors to the PRO Educational Forum and Trade Show at Deerhurst Conference Centre from March 28 - 31, 2017. Come to introduce your product/service, increase visibility for your brand, and engage with more than 600 parks and recreation professionals from across Ontario and beyond.
Please complete our Value of Trails 2017 Survey by March 1 - your input will shape our CPRA and PRO Presentations
Trailhead Canada - Topics Listed On-Line!Below you'll see page 3 of topics open for discussion at the event. Click through to the main website to find 7 pages of topics we are planning to explore over the event. Check the site for presenter applications you can download or complete on-line. Thanks.
Be sure to check out the 7 pages of topics up for presentation.
https://trailheadcanada.com/topics/
Remember to Donate!
Membership Renewals - Thank-you for your Support!We wish to thank the organizations that have already completed their membership for 2017. We couldn't do our work without your continued support. Many thanks!
"The OTC provides us with the ability to communicate and collaborate with industry stakeholders, professionals and advocates. It also provides us with the tools to develop our own capacities, skills and networks. As well, it is important to back to the OTC and trail communities in our province. Being an OTC member allows us to benefit from the knowledge of other members through education and professional development opportunities such as the Trailhead Ontario conference, and through professional networking. The OTC is
the influential body that will help guide and shape the political, professional and physical landscape of trails in Ontario. Joining the OTC provides an opportunity to be part of this process: to both contribute and gain knowledge in a community of passionate, like-minded individuals and organizations."
- Damian Bradley, Cycling advocate and Developer Guelph Regional Trails Council
Membership Benefits
INFORMATION AND FUNDING
- OTC Trails and Event page representation
- Representation on OTC trails maps
- Social Media represents you to 60,000+ people
- Fund Development through grant writing, grant support
ACCESS AND INFLUENCE
- Connectivity to the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport
- Leadership at the Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee
- Office services and networking support
BEST PRACTICES
- Partnership Support and Knowledge exchange
- Access to Professional Development sessions
- Tourism Practices, Trails Tort Reform, Trail Workshops
TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS
- Access to Trail Insurance Broker
- Option on registration in Trillium Trail Network
- Local, regional or provincial User conflict resolution
2017 MEMBERSHIP FORM - PDF 2017 MEMBERSHIP FORM - WORD DOC
CATEGORIES
Become a "Friend of Trails"
- Savings on conference/seminar registration
- Monthly e-bulletins
- Access to OTC trails database
- Great gift price!
- Savings on trail literature/maps
$26.52 + $3.45 = $29.97 (includes 13% HST)
Benefits to Student
- Editions of the OTC newsletter Trailwise
- Access to OTC trails information
- Conference and selected literature savings
- * must provide student verification
$21.21 + $2.75 = $23.96 (includes 13% HST)
Our members include municipalities, conservation authorities, parks,
trail management groups, trail clubs, trail user groups, health units
and other trail-related supporting organizations.
| Base | HST | Total |
Small Non-profit,
Small Organizations | $109.27 | $14.20 | $123.47 |
Conservation Authorities,
Medium Municipalities,
Counties, Regional
Tourism Organizations | $273.18 | $35.51 | $308.69 |
Municipalities,
Provincial Level
Organizations
>5000 users | $819.54 | $106.54 | $926.0 |
