Friday, September 28, 2012

Ontario Trails - Lot's of events, projects, activity and fall colours on Ontario Trails!



For immediate release: September 28, 2012


Contact:  Patrick Connor Executive Director
Ontario Trails Council
1-877-668-7245  execdir@ontariotrails.ca


Norfolk County piloting Ontario Trails Activity Project
Ever wonder how many people use your trails?

The Norfolk County Trails has initiated a trail use survey on 4 of its trails. The Sunrise, Waterford, Delhi, Lynn Valley trails all have been incorporated into a larger province wide pilot project.

Designed to be easy to use off of any iPhone or mobile device, the application simply directs you through QR code to an on-line survey. The survey asks 10 easy to answer questions about the trail, how far you travelled to use the trail and improvements you’d like to see on the trail, etc.

“This represents a great opportunity for Norfolk County to use available technology, in a very low cost way to assess the use of its trails,” said Mark Boerkamp, Trail Development/Business Marketing Coordinator. “Collecting data in this way is cheaper than laser trail counters and gives users the chance to tell us more about their trail trip, especially in rural areas.”

Current trails being surveyed include:
www.ontariotrails.on.ca/sunrise              Norfolk Sunrise Trail survey
www.ontariotrails.on.ca/delhi                 Delhi Rail Trail survey
www.ontariotrails.on.ca/waterford          The Waterford Heritage Trail survey
www.ontariotrails.on.ca/lynnvalley         The Lynn Valley Trail survey

“Ontario Trails Council is pleased to support the desire of Norfolk County to know more about how it’s trails are used so that it can strategically improve trails for use; by local residents, cycling tourists or other groups,” affirmed Patrick Connor, Executive Director, Ontario Trails Council.

As regional tourism organizations promote trail tourism, and as local communities use trails to increase resident health, knowing the level of use will assist planners in developing trails that make a difference.

Look for the following decal on your favorite Norfolk Trails:









For more information please contact
Mark Boerkamp, Trail Development/
Business Marketing Coordinator
Community Services Department
519-426-5999 Ext: 2215
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 Trail Management Aides

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 fundraising 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
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Camping cutbacks in Ontario
Sault Star
“People will still have access to them for hiking and fishing and picnicking but there will no longer be the overnight camping that will be available and washroom facilities,” Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle said in an interview. The park ...
See all stories on this topic »

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Hike Ontario (HikeOntario) on Twitter
Hike Ontario. @HikeOntario. The provincial voice for the hikers and walkers of Ontario. Join us. Hike. Walk. Ramble. Just Get Outside. A trail waits for you.
https://fr.twitter.com/HikeOntario

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TRAIL BUILDING - OCTOBER 3-4, 2012

The Ontario Trails Council and the Ontario Trails Education Program, in conjunction withInternational Mountain Bicycling Association (ON) are pleased to announce the decison to offer the highly recognized and nationally respected IMBA Trailbuilding Program, as part of its Trail Education Course offerings in Ontario. We are currently working to hold our first course on October 3-4. Please save the date.

ontario trails edcuation courses

Daniel Scott from IMBA writes, "Students will come away with a firm understanding of the fundamentals of trail design for both hard surface and naturally surfaced trails of various user types. A working knowledge of the design process from the planning phase to ground proofing trail alignments will be both discussed and experienced with examples and a field exercise which will include using field measurement equipment and flagging a trail alignment for construction."


Program elements include:

IMBA will provide for a two day workshop educating on the following elements
• Sustainable Trail Design – Making sure it lasts using various techniques:
• 5 Elements of Sustainable Design - Micro trail design - the fundamentals for bench cut
• Bench cut Trail vs. Raised Tread Trail - when is each appropriate
• 13 Steps to Trail Planning - Macro trail design - how one trail fits within a larger system
• Art of Trail Design - User psychology and design theory in the natural landscape
• Trail Closure & Rehabilitation - Mitigating reroutes & closures through design & signage
• Advanced Design & Construction Techniques – Building in challenging locations:
• Wooden Structures - intro to various techniques and how to design for users types
• Rock Armouring - intro to various techniques and how to design for users types
• Technical Trail Features - Designing trail features specific to various user groups
• Turns - Climbing, In sloped & Switchback - which turns is appropriate for who & where?

Or contact: Graham Burke, Ontario Trails Council
course@ontariotrails.ca
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Ontario Trails Mobile App
__________________________________________________________________
ONTARIO TRAILS COUNCIL E-NEWS - Every Friday

    • Local Trail News 

    • Trail Education Program

    • Trail Heros

    • Trailhead Ontario

    • Activity and User Updates

     View it Here
___________________________________________________________
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Sunday September 30
Bruce Trail Day is an annual event celebrating Canada's oldest and longest footpath, hosted by the Bruce Trail Conservancy and each of its nine Bruce Trail Clubs. Click here for the complete list of  Bruce Trail Events along The Bruce Trail.

Limehouse (Halton Hills, Ontario)

Hosted by: Toronto Bruce Trail Club, Halton Hills Chapter
Date & Time: Sunday September 30, 10:00 am
Description:
Join hikers of the Halton Hills Chapter of the for a picnic hike to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Bruce Trail Conservancy and the Toronto Bruce Trail Club and all the work done by volunteers. There will be displays and information on the Bruce Trail. We'll hike in the Limehouse Conservation area and then enjoy a picnic in the Millenium Garden, next to the parking lot. Bring food to share for our picnic lunch after the hike. All ages are welcome but children but must be accompanied by an adult.
Hike Leader: Heinz Rusche
Meeting Point:
Limehouse Public School, parking lot, Sideroad 22 & 5th Line, Halton Hills
Find on Google Maps here >>

OR

Terra Cotta Conservation Area (FREE shuttle bus from Toronto)
Hosted by: Toronto Bruce Trail Club
Date & Time: Sunday September 30, 2012; 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Description:
Explore the variety of life and beautiful fall colours in one of the most scenic sections of the Bruce Trail. Start by warming up at the Watershed Learning Centre and meeting some of your local Bruce Trail volunteers. Then join Credit Valley Conservation staff for a fun-and-fact filled guided hike at 10:00 am or at 1:00 pm.
Free parking at Terra Cotta Conservation Area for Bruce Trail Day participants.
(Thank you to our partner, Credit Valley Conservation)
Bus from Toronto available (see details in Directions below).
______________________________________________________________

MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE EVENT CALENDAR

Trail Education
Our event calendar shows weekly adjustments to our course offerings. This week we have added another date for Volunteer Management with Diana Smyth and adjusted out two courses from this current week.

In addition, we have added the new Trail Design Course detailed below. We have also taken calls from some folks wishing to take the Trails Marketing Course in Kingston October 18, 2012. Those seats were block purchased by RTO 9, what we could do is work with you to get another RTO 1-or 4- or 7? to purchase a block of seats so that folks can attend in those areas. Sorry for any confusion this may cause. Thank you.

Be sure to use our array of press or other flyers to circulate to your local papers or possible attendees. All available for use - call - 877-668-7245 or 519-941-8911, or 1-866-560-7783
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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Ontario Trails - More to Learn About on Ontario Trails

Ontario Hiking and Walking Trail Locations
Leisurely Sunset Walk on the Toronto Islands - Canada Outdoor ...Leisurely walk on the Islands tomorrow. It looks like the weather will be nice, and my cold is nearly finished, so let's walk in the park. We will meet at the ferry ...
www.meetup.com/Canada-Outdoor-World/events/84108192/
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September is a busy month, and about 30 new news items for Active Transportation have been posted on the Active Transportation-Canada Website recently. Among the items included in these new articles:
A complete list of all articles posted since the Websites creation may be found in the "Blog Archive" box, located on the right margin of the Website. There are now almost 1,600 items posted on Active Transportation - Canada, with links available to dozens of studies and hundreds of news items from communities across Canada and around the world.
Active Transportation Canada URL: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com A "Search" function is available on the site. You will find this at the bottom of the page.
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Residents Asked For Input On Bike Sharing System
Logo: City of Kingston, Ontario, Canada City logo for print display ... "Cycling is an efficient, active and environmentally-friendly way to get around Kingston.
www.cityofkingston.ca/cityhall/press/release.asp?mode...id...
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Bruce Trail hikers cheered on by 300 students
Hamilton Spectator
and then each hiker helped pass out Eco School certificates to students representing each school. Every one of the city's 57 Catholic schools has earned that qualification, making its board the second in Ontario to have all of its schools so designated.
See all stories on this topic »
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Sarabeau riders collect Trillium ribbons
The Morrisburg Leader
... of her six riders who represented her stable at the Ontario Trillium Championship at the CaledonEquestrian Park at Palgrave, Ontario, September 5-9.
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Check out all our regional listings


__________________________________________________________

Ontario Trails Mobile App

__________________________________________________________________
ONTARIO TRAILS COUNCIL E-NEWS - Every Friday

    • Local Trail News 

    • Trail Education Program

    • Trail Heros

    • Trailhead Ontario

    • Activity and User Updates

     View it Here
_____________________________________________________________________________________________








___________________________________________________________

MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE EVENT CALENDAR

Trail Education
Our event calendar shows weekly adjustments to our course offerings. This week we have added another date for Volunteer Management with Diana Smyth and adjusted out two courses from this current week.

In addition, we have added the new Trail Design Course detailed below. We have also taken calls from some folks wishing to take the Trails Marketing Course in Kingston October 18, 2012. Those seats were block purchased by RTO 9, what we could do is work with you to get another RTO 1-or 4- or 7? to purchase a block of seats so that folks can attend in those areas. Sorry for any confusion this may cause. Thank you.

Be sure to use our array of press or other flyers to circulate to your local papers or possible attendees. All available for use - call - 877-668-7245 or 519-941-8911, or 1-866-560-7783
Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Ontario Trails - Lot's of Fall Activity on Ontario Trails

Ontario Hiking and Walking Trails
Walkable neighborhoods tied to lower diabetes risk
Chicago Tribune
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People living in communities that lend themselves to walking had a significantly lower risk of developing diabetes than those living in the least walkable neighborhoods in a large new study from Canada. "If you have fewer ...
See all stories on this topic »

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Ontario Canoe and Kayak Trails
Capital To Capital Canoe Expedition Presentation
Westchester.com
Meet the 10 intrepid Canadian and American canoeists who are paddling over 1,000 miles from Ottawa, Ontario, to Washington, DC, in a 36-foot voyageur canoe. They'll be joined by a rotating shift of locals along the way: Lenore Person, a Dobbs Ferry ...
See all stories on this topic »


'It's been a marvelous experience'
Baudetteregion
Don Brown (left) and Bob Evans pose near Willie Walleye Park after reaching Baudette on their way to Kenora, Ontario, on a canoe trip that started on Lake Superior at Grand Portage. Posted: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 9:52 am | Updated: 9:56 am, ...
See all stories on this topic »

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Sherbourne bike lanes nearly finished
Toronto Sun
Local Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam said she expects there will be some discussions about the future of Jarvis in the next few weeks. “What I'm hearing is there is a change of appetite (from councillors),” Wong-Tam said. Cycle Toronto spokesman Jared ...
See all stories on this topic »



Ontario Cycling Roads and Paths
Q&A: Denzil Minnan-Wong talks about the importance of separated bike lanes
National Post
One small section of Toronto's first separated bike lane is complete, prompting Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong to give it a test ride Tuesday, sans helmet. A low concrete curb now separates cyclists from car traffic on Sherbourne between Carlton Street ...
See all stories on this topic »


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Sunday September 30

Bruce Trail Day is an annual event celebrating Canada's oldest and longest footpath, hosted by the Bruce Trail Conservancy and each of its nine Bruce Trail Clubs. Click here for the complete list of  Bruce Trail Events along The Bruce Trail.

Limehouse (Halton Hills, Ontario)

Hosted by: Toronto Bruce Trail Club, Halton Hills Chapter
Date & Time: Sunday September 30, 10:00 am
Description:
Join hikers of the Halton Hills Chapter of the for a picnic hike to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Bruce Trail Conservancy and the Toronto Bruce Trail Club and all the work done by volunteers. There will be displays and information on the Bruce Trail. We'll hike in the Limehouse Conservation area and then enjoy a picnic in the Millenium Garden, next to the parking lot. Bring food to share for our picnic lunch after the hike. All ages are welcome but children but must be accompanied by an adult.
Hike Leader: Heinz Rusche
Meeting Point:
Limehouse Public School, parking lot, Sideroad 22 & 5th Line, Halton Hills
Find on Google Maps here >>

OR

Terra Cotta Conservation Area (FREE shuttle bus from Toronto)
Hosted by: Toronto Bruce Trail Club
Date & Time: Sunday September 30, 2012; 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Description:
Explore the variety of life and beautiful fall colours in one of the most scenic sections of the Bruce Trail. Start by warming up at the Watershed Learning Centre and meeting some of your local Bruce Trail volunteers. Then join Credit Valley Conservation staff for a fun-and-fact filled guided hike at 10:00 am or at 1:00 pm.
Free parking at Terra Cotta Conservation Area for Bruce Trail Day participants.
(Thank you to our partner, Credit Valley Conservation)
Bus from Toronto available (see details in Directions below).

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Union Gas helps with trail improvements in Sudbury
Equities.com
The grant will assist the Nickel District Conservation Authority with planned major trail improvements in the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area. Don Beauchamp, Union Gas district manager for Northeast Ontario, presented the cheque to Lin Gibson, ...
See all stories on this topic »
__________________________________________________________

Check out all our regional listings


__________________________________________________________

Ontario Trails Mobile App

__________________________________________________________________
ONTARIO TRAILS COUNCIL E-NEWS - Every Friday

    • Local Trail News 

    • Trail Education Program

    • Trail Heros

    • Trailhead Ontario

    • Activity and User Updates

     View it Here
_____________________________________________________________________________________________








___________________________________________________________

MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE EVENT CALENDAR

Trail Education
Our event calendar shows weekly adjustments to our course offerings. This week we have added another date for Volunteer Management with Diana Smyth and adjusted out two courses from this current week.

In addition, we have added the new Trail Design Course detailed below. We have also taken calls from some folks wishing to take the Trails Marketing Course in Kingston October 18, 2012. Those seats were block purchased by RTO 9, what we could do is work with you to get another RTO 1-or 4- or 7? to purchase a block of seats so that folks can attend in those areas. Sorry for any confusion this may cause. Thank you.

Be sure to use our array of press or other flyers to circulate to your local papers or possible attendees. All available for use - call - 877-668-7245 or 519-941-8911, or 1-866-560-7783
Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Ontario Trail Education - take a course improve trails!


MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE EVENT CALENDAR

Trail Education
Our event calendar shows weekly adjustments to our course offerings. This week we have added another date for Volunteer Management with Diana Smyth and adjusted out two courses from this current week.

In addition, we have added the new Trail Design Course detailed below. We have also taken calls from some folks wishing to take the Trails Marketing Course in Kingston October 18, 2012. Those seats were block purchased by RTO 9, what we could do is work with you to get another RTO 1-or 4- or 7? to purchase a block of seats so that folks can attend in those areas. Sorry for any confusion this may cause. Thank you.

Be sure to use our array of press or other flyers to circulate to your local papers or possible attendees. All available for use - call - 877-668-7245 or 519-941-8911, or 1-866-560-7783
__________________________________________________________

Windsor cops join remembrance ride
Windsor Star (blog)
Heather McPhee, an avid cyclist, said she has an extra motivation for enduring the long journey. Four years ago her sister, Meredith McPhee, a police dispatcher, was killed while riding her bike near Tobermory, Ont. “Riding is a huge passion of mine ...
See all stories on this topic »

2nd Annual Tour de King September 30th, 2012 | Ontario Cycling ...
By Greg
2nd Annual Tour de King September 30th, 2012. Reversed Route, Great Food and Live Entertainment. September 21, 2012 – Chico Racing is once again hosting the Tour de King, Ontario'sfall classic point-to-point event, Sunday September ...
Ontario Cycling Association

Faceoff: McMahon vs. Cluley
Post City
The recent Ontario Coroner's report on cycling deaths says the point of purchase is a good opportunity for dissemination of cycling safety and education information. Simply generating revenue for the city — instead of boosting cycling programs — is ...


A Costly Mistake - Write Your Councillor Now to Save the Jarvis St. Bike Lanes


 separated bike lanes
Time's running out to save the Jarvis St bike lanes. In early September, we were notified by the Province of Ontario that our request for an Environmental Assessment on Jarvis St had been denied. It's now up to City Council to reverse their decision on Jarvis St. With 7 weeks until their scheduled removal, we need you to act now to save the Jarvis St bike lanes. That will only happen if all of us who have a say in what goes on in our city demand it. There are only 2 council sessions left between now and the bike lanes' scheduled date for removal.

Contact your City Councillor now  and tell them to protect the Jarvis Street bike lanes! Need help with wording your letter? Click here for all the reasons to save the Jarvis St. lanes.
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Path of the Paddle seeks to form trails group here
Atikokan Progress
Each RTC should reflect the region and the project's stakeholders, including anyone willing to maintain a section of trail or portage (service groups, Ontario Rangers, high school students looking for volunteer hours, and trail users) as needed, said Kurz.
See all stories on this topic »
_________________________________________________________________________

Check out all our regional listings


__________________________________________________________

Ontario Trails Mobile App

__________________________________________________________________
ONTARIO TRAILS COUNCIL E-NEWS - Every Friday

    • Local Trail News 

    • Trail Education Program

    • Trail Heros

    • Trailhead Ontario

    • Activity and User Updates

     View it Here
_____________________________________________________________________________________________


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