Ontario Trail News - Trailwise

Thousand Islands Trail ImprovementsGananoque, Ontario, Friday, April 26, 2013 – Representatives gathered in Gananoque today to announce funding for improvements to one of the region's most popular outdoor attractions, the Thousand Islands Recreational Trail.
"Tourism in this region is a driving force for economic growth and job creation, and this initiative will ensure that the Thousand Islands remain a place people want to visit year after year," said Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. "The Government of Canada is proud to invest in these improvements that will enhance the visitor experience while preserving this key outdoor attraction and tourist destination."


"The new Ontario government is proud to provide access to safe spaces to our visitors and citizens that allow them to enjoy the natural beauty that is synonymous with Ontario," said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. "Our investment in the Thousand Islands Recreational Trail supports active, healthy living and provides one more great reason to visit eastern Ontario. I encourage cyclists and pedestrians alike to visit the Thousand Islands Recreational Trail this summer to explore and experience the beautiful St. Lawrence River."
"This important project will strongly enhance tourism initiatives in the area and bolster the iconic quality of the 1000 Islands region" said Darren Dalgleish, General Manager & CEO of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission.
The 37-kilometre Thousand Islands Recreational Trail is a multi-use trail open to cyclists, pedestrians and in-line skaters, and is located along the Thousand Islands Parkway from Gananoque to west of Brockville. Along the path, users can find a number of lookout points, a public beach, historical sites, campgrounds, and lodging. Improvements will include replacing up to one-half of the path to ensure visitor safety and support tourism in the region.
Through the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund, Canada and Ontario will provide up to $999,000 in joint funding to make improvements to the Thousand Islands Recreational Trail. https://www.facebook.com/ontariocyclingtrails?ref=hl

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Ontario Trails News - Spring MessageWATER - CHECK BEFORE YOU GO! At this time of Year - Please restrain Motorized and Equestrian use on Soft Soils. Thanks

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Trail Questions1) Question: Hunting along rail trails. In the Game and Fish Act...Section18 (10) and no such patentee, owner or tenant shall prohibit any person from hunting or fishing on the railway lands. Definition (11) “railway lands” includes all lands set apart under any Act as a land subsidy or otherwise in aid of any railway or of any works in connection therewith or of any works to be established, maintained or carried on by any railway. R.S.O. 1990, c. G.1, s. 18 (10, 11). So if its a trail and not a railway this "free hunting access"doesn't apply? Please e-mail me with your interpretation or how you manage this on your rail trail. execdir@ontariotrails.ca Thanks



2) Question: Road Trail Intersection Improvements. OTC was contacted by Saugeen Rail Trail. They have been invited to present at more Ministry of Transportation meetings. They want to know - when two lane highways are re-developed, have any of you been able to secure trailhead improvements at the crossings, by way of the re-development? If so, what did you get? Please e-mail Jeff Hemming at jaycee@bmts.com


3) Deadline Extended! to May 31st, 2013 - Support a Great Lakes Guardian Fund Grant. Great Lakes Guardian Fund applications due tomorrow. Last year OTC supported a Town of Deseronto CIAF Grant Application and the town got an $80,000 grant to re-develop their waterfront park and the Waterfront trail. As an OTC Member, Regional partner, or trail stakeholder would you consider writing a letter in support. E-mail me for our letter template you can use! Also please consider putting our OTC logo or OTC website as a link on your website!



4) Capital Funding for Trails - Please take a minute to complete the capital funding section of our survey. A s many communities head into the budget cycle other communities want to get an idea of the relative and comparitive amounts communities of similar size are investing in their trails. Please go to:

Ontario Trails News - check out all the trails in Ontario - http://ontariotrails.on.ca

Performance Measures - Trail Counts!

Low maintenance - Using weatherproof decals our methods allow users to quickly and easily provide you with information you need to assess, improve, direct, re-direct, or provide information to the user - while on the trail. Our proprietary method has been developed by over 140 trail users and with the input of The City of Thunder Bay and Norfolk County Trail Managers.

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Packages - OTC Member? - Take $25.00 off each package!

• Blue - 4-10 trails:  $300.00 plus HST and registration fees
  • Maximum 20 sheets of decals
• Green - 10-20 trails: $500.00 plus HST and registration fees
  • Maximum 40 sheets of decals
• Gold - 20 or more trails: Starting at $1,000 plus HST and registration fees
  • TBD

Go to Trail Counts! to purchase. Thanks

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2013 Call for Applications Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund
Ontario is providing grants to help communities take action to protect and restore their corner of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin.
This is the second call for applications under the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund. Grants are available for projects that take place in Ontario within the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin. The basin includes: Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Superior, the St. Lawrence River, the Ottawa River, their connecting channels, and their watersheds. Examples of projects that could qualify include:

• Planting trees to restore stream banks
• Protecting and restoring sensitive and degraded natural habitats by managing the flow of storm water runoff
• Protecting traditional harvesting areas from invasive species by using traditional ecological knowledge

You can receive a grant of up to $25,000 grant for your project. Smaller projects are also encouraged. Applications for funding will be accepted until April 26, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. Information on the fund, including the application guide, form, frequently asked questions and 2012 grant recipients, is available at ontario.ca/GreatLakesFund.

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Trailhead Ontario - Updates

June 9-12, 2013 - Peterborough

Early Bird Special on Now!
 

Join trail advocates, organizations, speakers, builders, use groups, volunteers, planners and regulators as we discuss, learn and improve Ontario's Trails

 

We are working with the full support of  Our Favorite Place (RTO8), Peterborough and the Kawartha’s Tourism and a number of local trails groups to bring you the best Trailhead Ontario yet!. 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.

General Membership AGM!

The Ontario Trails Council is providing notice to membership and guests that the OTC Annual General Meeting is at Noon June 10, 2013. In accordance with the OTC By-Laws, Notice of Nominations for the Board of Directors is hereby served. Download the nomination letter and forms here.

Check the list of Presenters!

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Program Snapshotclick image for all

Ontario Trails Council - check out the countries best trails website - http://ontariotrails.on.ca

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Performance Measures - Trail Counts!

Low maintenance - Using weatherproof decals our methods allow users to quickly and easily provide you with information you need to assess, improve, direct, re-direct, or provide information to the user - while on the trail. Our proprietary method has been developed by over 140 trail users and with the input of The City of Thunder Bay and Norfolk County Trail Managers.

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Packages - OTC Member? - Take $25.00 off each package!

• Blue - 4-10 trails:  $300.00 plus HST and registration fees
  • Maximum 20 sheets of decals
• Green - 10-20 trails: $500.00 plus HST and registration fees
  • Maximum 40 sheets of decals
• Gold - 20 or more trails: Starting at $1,000 plus HST and registration fees
  • TBD

Go to Trail Counts! to purchase. Thanks

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2013 Call for Applications Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund
Ontario is providing grants to help communities take action to protect and restore their corner of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin.
This is the second call for applications under the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund. Grants are available for projects that take place in Ontario within the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin. The basin includes: Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Superior, the St. Lawrence River, the Ottawa River, their connecting channels, and their watersheds. Examples of projects that could qualify include:

• Planting trees to restore stream banks
• Protecting and restoring sensitive and degraded natural habitats by managing the flow of storm water runoff
• Protecting traditional harvesting areas from invasive species by using traditional ecological knowledge

You can receive a grant of up to $25,000 grant for your project. Smaller projects are also encouraged. Applications for funding will be accepted until April 26, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. Information on the fund, including the application guide, form, frequently asked questions and 2012 grant recipients, is available at ontario.ca/GreatLakesFund.

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Trailhead Ontario - Updates

June 9-12, 2013 - Peterborough

Early Bird Special on Now!
 

Join trail advocates, organizations, speakers, builders, use groups, volunteers, planners and regulators as we discuss, learn and improve Ontario's Trails

 

We are working with the full support of  Our Favorite Place (RTO8), Peterborough and the Kawartha’s Tourism and a number of local trails groups to bring you the best Trailhead Ontario yet!. 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.

General Membership AGM!

The Ontario Trails Council is providing notice to membership and guests that the OTC Annual General Meeting is at Noon June 10, 2013. In accordance with the OTC By-Laws, Notice of Nominations for the Board of Directors is hereby served. Download the nomination letter and forms here.

Check the list of Presenters!

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Program Snapshotclick image for all

Ontario Trails Council News - check out http://ontariotrails.on.ca

Ontario Trails NewsTrails Insurance Program AvailableOnce again, members of the trails community find themselves seeking alternative trails insurance. The volatility and unpredictability of your insurance plan keeping you hopping? Wondering what you are getting, curious if your agent or the underwriter understands trails?

If you want:

• cost stability
• product assurance
• insurance perseverance
• a broker that understands trails

At OTC our mission is "trail preservation." See the note from Intercity Insurance, Mike King, below.

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 Further to our recent discussions, I wanted to let you know that we have investigated various markets to get a sense of the appetite that insurers have for coverage associated with trails.

Our findings suggest that coverage is available - but from a very limited number of carriers and that the cost of insurance in this class is not heading down anytime soon. The reality is that there have been losses associated with trails in general and that the frequency and severity of claims is on the rise.

On the positive side of the issue, we have had several specific discussions of late with our current carriers at Lloyd's of London and we are (collectively) very interested in ramping up our work with OTC to connect with your associates who manage trails. We and the insurers we represent are firm in our commitment to work collaboratively with the OTC trail community to develop a comprehensive risk management strategy that makes sense - and insurance is just one part of that strategy.

As for what trail insurance products we have "in the box” right now:

a)       Commercial General Liability coverage —premium costs start at $1,000.00 for $2,000,000 coverage.

b)      Directors and Officers liability coverage — premium costs start at $200.00 for $I,000,000 coverage. We find that even the smallest community group is seeing the importance of acquiring D and O coverage.

c)       Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage - premiums start at $250. 00 to cover the Officers, Directors, employees, members. The limit of coverage is $100,000.

In the near future OTC will be bundling these products as a part of membership services and products.

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Congratulations to OTC Member - Headwaters Communities in Action

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2013 Call for Applications Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund
Ontario is providing grants to help communities take action to protect and restore their corner of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin.
This is the second call for applications under the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund. Grants are available for projects that take place in Ontario within the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin. The basin includes: Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Superior, the St. Lawrence River, the Ottawa River, their connecting channels, and their watersheds. Examples of projects that could qualify include:

• Planting trees to restore stream banks
• Protecting and restoring sensitive and degraded natural habitats by managing the flow of storm water runoff
• Protecting traditional harvesting areas from invasive species by using traditional ecological knowledge

You can receive a grant of up to $25,000 grant for your project. Smaller projects are also encouraged. Applications for funding will be accepted until April 26, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. Information on the fund, including the application guide, form, frequently asked questions and 2012 grant recipients, is available at ontario.ca/GreatLakesFund.

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Trailhead Ontario - Updates

June 9-12, 2013 - Peterborough

Early Bird Special on Now!
 

Join trail advocates, organizations, speakers, builders, use groups, volunteers, planners and regulators as we discuss, learn and improve Ontario's Trails

 

We are working with the full support of  Our Favorite Place (RTO8), Peterborough and the Kawartha’s Tourism and a number of local trails groups to bring you the best Trailhead Ontario yet!. 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.

General Membership AGM!

The Ontario Trails Council is providing notice to membership and guests that the OTC Annual General Meeting is at Noon June 10, 2013. In accordance with the OTC By-Laws, Notice of Nominations for the Board of Directors is hereby served. Download the nomination letter and forms here.

NEW for 2013!

Regional Tourism development includes trails. Trail packages, trail experiences, trail destinations. This takes a blending of major destinations, natural topographies, parks, conservation, county forest and up to 18 different trail activities. What’s in your “Trail Mix”? What’s our plan for marketing this unique matrix of dynamic outdoor experiences so that the world can find the world’s best range of trail fun right here at home.

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Program Snapshotclick image for all

Ontario Trails Council Trail News - Trail Insurance Program

If you want:

• cost stability
• product assurance
• insurance perseverance
• a broker that understands trails

At OTC our mission is "trail preservation." See the note from Intercity Insurance, Mike King, below.

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 Further to our recent discussions, I wanted to let you know that we have investigated various markets to get a sense of the appetite that insurers have for coverage associated with trails.

Our findings suggest that coverage is available - but from a very limited number of carriers and that the cost of insurance in this class is not heading down anytime soon. The reality is that there have been losses associated with trails in general and that the frequency and severity of claims is on the rise.

On the positive side of the issue, we have had several specific discussions of late with our current carriers at Lloyd's of London and we are (collectively) very interested in ramping up our work with OTC to connect with your associates who manage trails. We and the insurers we represent are firm in our commitment to work collaboratively with the OTC trail community to develop a comprehensive risk management strategy that makes sense - and insurance is just one part of that strategy.

As for what trail insurance products we have "in the box” right now:

a)       Commercial General Liability coverage —premium costs start at $1,000.00 for $2,000,000 coverage.

b)      Directors and Officers liability coverage — premium costs start at $200.00 for $I,000,000 coverage. We find that even the smallest community group is seeing the importance of acquiring D and O coverage.

c)       Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage - premiums start at $250. 00 to cover the Officers, Directors, employees, members. The limit of coverage is $100,000.

In the near future OTC will be bundling these products as a part of membership services and products.

---

Congratulations to OTC Member - Headwaters Communities in Action

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2013 Call for Applications Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund
Ontario is providing grants to help communities take action to protect and restore their corner of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin.
This is the second call for applications under the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund. Grants are available for projects that take place in Ontario within the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin. The basin includes: Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Superior, the St. Lawrence River, the Ottawa River, their connecting channels, and their watersheds. Examples of projects that could qualify include:

• Planting trees to restore stream banks
• Protecting and restoring sensitive and degraded natural habitats by managing the flow of storm water runoff
• Protecting traditional harvesting areas from invasive species by using traditional ecological knowledge

You can receive a grant of up to $25,000 grant for your project. Smaller projects are also encouraged. Applications for funding will be accepted until April 26, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. Information on the fund, including the application guide, form, frequently asked questions and 2012 grant recipients, is available at ontario.ca/GreatLakesFund.

Ontario Trail News, from all over Ontario, all about Ontairo Trails!

Ontario Trails NewsMarch Break offers Trail Entertainment






Make sure you get out on an Ontario Trail this March Break!
More information on activities at Ontario Trails Events

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2013 Call for Applications
Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund Ontario is providing grants to help communities take action to protect and restore their corner of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin.
This is the second call for applications under the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund. Grants are available for projects that take place in Ontario within the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin. The basin includes: Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Superior, the St. Lawrence River, the Ottawa River, their connecting channels, and their watersheds. Examples of projects that could qualify include:

• Planting trees to restore stream banks
• Protecting and restoring sensitive and degraded natural habitats by managing the flow of storm water runoff
• Protecting traditional harvesting areas from invasive species by using traditional ecological knowledge

You can receive a grant of up to $25,000 grant for your project. Smaller projects are also encouraged. Applications for funding will be accepted until April 26, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. Information on the fund, including the application guide, form, frequently asked questions and 2012 grant recipients, is available at ontario.ca/GreatLakesFund.

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Ontario Trails Builds New PartnershipThe Ontario Trails Council, through letter and direct representation has worked on the trails risk management and liability file since 2002. Our efforts have not gone unnoticed. Recent efforts by the OTC to reach out to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) are appreciated by AMO.

"since 2007, liability premiums have increased by 22.2% and are among the fastest growing municipal costs.  Total 2011 Ontario municipal insurance costs are $155.2 million. Liability premiums make up the majority of these expenses at $85.5 million.  Property taxpayers are paying this price." AMO Insurance Study 2011

Since 2007 the OTC has written joint letters of support with AMO, the Federation of Municipalities of Northern Ontario (FONOM) and Rural Ontario Municipalities Association (ROMA).

"The heavy insurance burden and legal environment is unsustainable for Ontario’s communities. Despite enormous improvements to safety, including new standards for playgrounds, pool safety, (trails), and better risk management practices, municipal insurance premiums and liability claims continue to increase."

We will continue to support AMO efforts and are currently looking into offering a trail insurance program because over 80% of OTC Membership is municipally based, and municipalities represent at least half of the liability for Ontario's trail inventory of 88,000km. Tort reform is needed and Ontario lags behind North American trends in legal system reform.

"Various forms of proportionate liability have been enacted by all of Ontario’s competing Great Lakes states and in 38 other states south of the border.  Many other common law jurisdictions are also pursuing reform. It is time for Ontario to do the same."

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Performance Measures - Trail Counts!

Low maintenance - Using weatherproof decals our methods allow users to quickly and easily provide you with information you need to assess, improve, direct, re-direct, or provide information to the user - while on the trail. Our proprietary method has been developed by over 140 trail users and with the input of The City of Thunder Bay and Norfolk County Trail Managers.

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Packages - OTC Member? - Take $25.00 off each package!

• Blue - 4-10 trails:  $300.00 plus HST and registration fees
  • Maximum 20 sheets of decals
• Green - 10-20 trails: $500.00 plus HST and registration fees
  • Maximum 40 sheets of decals
• Gold - 20 or more trails: Starting at $1,000 plus HST and registration fees
  • TBD

Go to Trail Counts! to purchase. Thanks

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Trailhead Ontario - Updates

Join us for three days of trail discussion and trail development. We welcome a new list of speakers to Trailhead Ontario  this year, please come to Peterborough to meet:

• Brent Feldman ED of Minnesota Parks And Trails Council - our NW friend in trails, hear how they do trails!
• Nancy Krupiarz ED of Michigan Trails and Greenways Association - our St. Clair River friend in trails, learn about their cross border initiatives!
• Fontasy Signs - new techniques prolong sign life, interpretive signs serve tourists, learn the latest!
• John Hobbs - Ontario Geocachers Association - we search, we spend - we'd like to do it near you!
• Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport - updates on their strategy for trails.
• Trail Education - at least three modules in development - including Universal Trail Assessment Process - learn how to build trails for AODA compliance.

Watch the program space for more detail. Early Bird closes May 1, 2013

The Lang-Hastings Trans Canada Trail is one of the newest additions to the trail network in Peterborough County. The trail extends from Keene Rd. to the old bridge in Hastings. This trail connects the south-eastern corner of the county to all the communities and into the City of Peterborough. With the designation as a section of the Trans Canada Trail, this trail is perfect for the average walker, cyclist or horseback rider. It is 33km in length and formed from packed limestone, creating a solid base enjoyable for a leisurely stroll. The trail leads you by many streams, around Drumlins and hugs the Trent-Severn Waterway for a few kilometers, allowing you to take in a variety of scenery along the route. The trail links to the Trans Canada Trail continuing east past Hastings and through Campbellford, allowing for extended trips throughout the countryside of Ontario.

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Cross Country Trails

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Dog Sled Trails

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Snowmobile Trails

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Snow-shoeing Trails

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Ontario Trails MembershipOn behalf of OTC we thank you for your support. If there is a group you know that is not a member contact us and we'll send them a note on membership benefits.

Thanks to NEW Member Huron County for taking out a membership, and to Ontario Federation of Trail Riders and the National Capital Commission for renewing this week.

THANKS! MERCI!

 

 

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Local Trails NewsAlbion Hills Conservation Authority:


New Course:
Trail Risk Management with Direct Bearing - April 9, 10, 2013 - Albion Hills Conservation

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Algonquin College:

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ATV:

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Gananoque:

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Haliburton Highlands:

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Humber Arboretum:

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Lake Erie:

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Lanark County:

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Port Loring:

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Southwestern Ontario:

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Trail Management Guides

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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

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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 

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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