Ontario Trails News - Trailwise - February 16, 2017

• Trail Management • Trailhead Events • Membership Drive    • Donate to Trails Today • Member News • Activity Updates

We need your survey responses! In 2015 we secured 111 respondents to our "The Value of Trails - Measuring the Economic Impact of Trails Survey." 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! Trailhead Hastings! Trailhead North Nipigon!Join us in Nipigon as we present another symposium with enriched and regional content geared to the north! Ontario Trails E.D. and OTC Board Member Paul Ronan Presenting at CPRA Conference 2017 Canadian Parks Conference: Parks, Protected Areas, Open Spaces and Public Places March 8-11, 2017 The Banff Centre Banff, Alberta The Conference Brochure has just been released! Click here to see details on our engaging keynotes, educational break-out sessions and exciting social events! ARPA is excited to announce that we will be hosting a national parks conference in 2017! This networking, professional development and social event will inspire and challenge contemporary thinking about parks, protected areas, open spaces and public places. The conference will include six keynote speakers, over 45 breakout session, and pre-conference workshops and tours. The 2017 Canadian Parks Conference will build off of the momentum and outcomes of the 2016 Canadian Parks Summit, and include speakers and topics of interest on themes, opportunities and issues discussed at the Summit. Join us in our country's first-ever national park to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday and renew a vision for Canada's parks! 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 - Save the date! Rembmer to Donate! Membership Renewals - Thank-you for your Support!We wish to thank the following organizations that have already completed their membership for 2017. We couldn't do our work without your continued support. Many thanks!  Renew Today! Guelph to Goderich Rail Trail Trans Canada Trail OntarioWelcome! Trans Canada Trail Ontario (TCTO) is a provincial organization that represents the TCT in Ontario. TCTO is a non-profit organization mandated to complete connection of the Trans Canada Trail in Ontario by 2017. TCTO works with local partners – trail owner/operators – to plan and support development of trail across Ontario. TCTO operates largely on support provided by TCT, complimented by regionally and provincially awarded grants. The TCT is also supported by the many committed trail building and committee leading volunteers on-the-ground! Progress toward connection of the Trans Canada Trail in Ontario   This chart shows how much of the Trans Canada Trail network is registered as operational in Ontario as of December 31, 2016.The Trans Canada Trail (TCT) in Ontario connects approximately 150 communities through a collection of linked multi use trails; giving preference to human-powered trail use. In Ontario many of the trails are greenway routes reserved for walking, hiking, running, and skiing; with cycling routes, paddling routes, and trail connections making up Ontario’s section of the coast to coast to coast trail network.  The TCT in Ontario goes from the Manitoba border across to North Bay, down to Hamilton and from Windsor to Ottawa. Explore the Trail here. Want information on where to use the trails? Click on one of the logos below               Town of Gravenhurst Trails Kolapore Wilderness Trail Association Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve "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