Seasonal Best Wishes and Our Thanks
It's that time of year where we should reflect a bit and give thanks to all the folks that have helped the OTC over the last year. to those who have helped who are not mentioned - my apologies and regret at the forget.
The President Jack de Wit, the Old and New Board - they all work hard, participated in many important meetings, networked and took hundreds of calls from the office, while working on behalf of all trails.
The Members - thanks we can't do this work without you!
The Trailhead Ontario support team - Wayne, Wayne, Alexa, Carli, Krupesh, the McMaster University Staffs - a fantastic job - thanks - and to the Hamilton Burlington Trails Council, RTO3-Hamilton-Halton-Brant, for their community support and ongoing partnership.
Our Ontario Government partners - from Minister Coteau, to Carol, Anna, Stephen, Craig, Steve, Gillian and the whole team - thanks for all your support, the OTCC, Bill 100 and 31 - and an implementation plan
To The Niagara Trails Committee and Tracey-Lynn for persevering, and to all the Niagara area communities that we talk to regularly about trails and trail issues, SHCC, UCHA, OFTR, QuadN, Niagara Falls, Thorold, Welland, St. Kitts and 'Port'; as well as all the other Trails Councils and leaders in Oxford, Haldimand, Selwyn, York, Vaughan and Clarington.
To Simcoe for their most generous donation of a HETAP Unit to the OTC so we can audit and assist in the auditing of trails! And all our SMBA pals.
To All at Fontasy Signs, Edge Auditor, Get Out There, Context Creative, Simplicate Interactive, Web2Studio, HWL Fine Art, PODesign, your timely advice and professional guidance keep us showcasing trails.
To The staff at Ministry of Economic Development, Infrastructure and Employment for all the work they put into making Ontario more accessible and helping us do the same for trails.
To the National Trails Coalition and Canadian Trails Federation for working together and making Canada better through collaboration and cooperation - and to INFC and Gov. of Canada for funding trails.
To the Georgian Bay Coast Trail for bringing people together, through trails to support a great vision and new opportunity, with P2P, Explorer's Edge, Muskoka Trails Council and the towns we love up there!
The Trails Education Program and Partners - our faculty, Paul Ronan, Shelley with Ontario Parks Association, Graham Burke, Zane, Matt, Jeff, Algonquin College - thanks for bringing trails knowledge to folks, in Ontario and coast to coast, the folks that helped with the education posters and Trails Talk - + Kate and Robert at Orland Conservation - thanks.
Our Trailhead North partners in Thunder Bay and now Marathon - your places are "Canada wild and free" and we are glad to assist in putting new ideas in play, with you the VTA, Nipigon, Thunder Bay, Path of the Paddle and more.
To Joanna Milarczek, who must love trails more than anyone because for 5 years she's regularly and voluntarily posted new content to the OTC FB page.
To our new friends and supporters, Irena, Jana, Jennifer, and Bob + Bob's team, King Township Horsemen with LSRCA and TRCA, Rare, Gamiing and Ontario Nature.
To my family and friends for their constant support, free overnights at homes on the road, Barry, Kirsten, Steve, Dave, Bonnie, Jack, Wayne and everybody else that makes OTC work -
Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday and a prosperous 2016!
Ontario Trails Council forwards message from MTCS on Trails StrategyHello Members of the OTCC
I am pleased to attach the Trails Action Plan for the Ontario Trails Strategy, which is being released today to trail stakeholders.
I wish to thank the members of the OTCC that contributed to the development of the Trails Action Plan through consultations, other engagement sessions, written submissions and many other forums. Your input helped inform its priorities.
The Trails Action Plan will be implemented collaboratively in a consensus-seeking approach with stakeholders, with whom we will continue to engage. A number of Action Items are well underway and others will be scoped in early 2016. Progress will be reported on through the OTCC. Ministry staff will be rolling up a summary for your review at three key points:
i) Summary of Trails Action Plan Year One Action Items by Scope, Key Milestone Tasks and Target Dates
ii) Summary of Trails Action Plan Year One Action Item Interim Progress Reports; and
iii) Summary of Trails Action Plan Year One Action Item Year-End Progress Reports.
You are invited to participate, to the extent of your interest, in scoping and implementing Action Items. Please let Julie Mayorov know of your interests no later than
January 8, 2016. Julie may be reached at
Julie.Mayorov@ontario.ca or by phone at
416 327-0398.
If you have inquiries about specific Action Items please contact Carol Oitment at
carol.oitment@ontario.ca or by phone at
416-314-7205.
Finally, we are consolidating the results of the Review of the OTCC that was undertaken at the facilitated session in October and will be reporting back with our recommendations at the next meeting. More information on meeting dates for 2016 will be forthcoming in the New Year.
I wish you a happy holiday season!
Steve Harlow
Assistant Deputy Minister
Sport, Recreation and Community Programs Division
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Click the image for links to reports
Trail User Survey 2014
OTC Supports Communities Developing Trails!
Sandbanks Provincial Park - Trail Development
Sandbanks Provincial Park currently has five separate trails with a combined length of fifteen kilometers. Through the project eleven of these kilometres was interconnected and improved and three new kilometers of trails was be added. All of the trails are surfaced to a standard to support cycling, strollers and wheel-chairs.
Trail signage for direction and education, was installed to assist trail users. Because of the interconnections and surface upgrades the network will now begin to function as a safer alternative travel option away from the heavily travelled vehicle-based roads.
Through this project different trail segments underwent different improvements. Some segments need signs, gates and benches, others segments had sub-surface and surface improvements, some required short linkages and marking while other segments were completely renewed.
Lakeview Trail - 2.5 kilometers along the shore of Lake Ontario.
This trail was rough constructed as a walking trail with funds provided by the Friends of Sandbanks in 2013 and 2014. It is now surfaced to a cycling standard with gates, signs, and benches.
Woodlands Trail - 6 kilometers through hardwood forest and former farm field.
This trail is narrow with a soil and gravel substrate. It is suited for walking and cycling with a wide-tire bicycle. It is too narrow to conveniently allow passing of two way traffic. Through this project the trail was widened and surfaced.
Spruce woods Trail -3.5 kilometers through mixed conifer forest on stable sand dunes
Half of this trail is a former bush road. The surface is loose sand and pine needles. Most of the remaining sections use campground roads and paths with some short sections of new trail needed to create network links. This trail has the most elevation change and would be popular with cross-country skiers. It provides a trail connection between two of the park’s main beaches. The work here required both sub surface and surface rebuilding, as well as short segments of new links.
Prairie Trail -2 kms through rehabilitated grassland.
This trail segment is entirely new and is essential to creating a network loop. The trail crosses through farm fields that began the process of conversion from corn field to native prairie in 2015. Through this project the trail segment was designed and the subsurface gravel installed in late fall. Once the trail subsurface gravel settles over the winter the fine surfacing will be completed with park resources for use in the summer of 2016. The Prairie Grassland Rehabilitation Project will take a decade to achieve and interpretive signage along this trail will give trail users a window on the unfolding restored habitat.
OTC Ramping Up Regional Trail Symposiums
Trailhead Ontario - Renfrew 2016
Planning has begun for Trailhead Ontario 2016. Our hosts are Renfrew County and Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO). Both are long time Ontario Trails Council supporters, and Jason Davies from Renfrew sits on the OTC Board of Directors.
The OHTO is one of 13 regional tourism organizations (RTO) in place to attract visitation to Ontario. The region is one of the largest in the Province and is located just south of Algonquin Park. They have been promoting opportunities for visitors to disconnect from the stress of a busy life, throw away the schedule and wander into the breathtaking scenery of the region.
As an organization they have acknowledged that having well established and properly maintained trails throughout their region enables visitors to wander Ontario’s Highlands in a variety of ways.
Whether you wander to experience the speed and excitement of ATVing and Snowmobiling or to take in the tranquil surroundings by foot or bike, Ontario’s Highlands has the trail systems to accommodate.
All Sessions at
Calabogie Peaks Resorthttps://trailheadontario2016.wordpress.com/
| Monday | | |
| 8:30-9:00AM | Registration | Coffee Served |
| 9:00-9:15AM | Welcome remarks | Dignitaries |
| 9:15-10:00AM | Presentation | Renfrew County's Eastern Ontario Trails |
| 10:00-10:30AM | Presentation | Ontario's Highlands Tourism Organization |
| 10:30-10:45AM | Break | Coffee Break |
| 10:45-11:15AM | Presentation | Petawawa - the development of our Regional Trail Association |
| 11:15-11:45AM | Presentation | Ottawa Valley Outdoor Experiences |
| 11:45-12:15PM | Presentation | Parks of the St. Lawrence |
| 12:15-1:00 PM | Lunch | |
| 1:00-2:00PM | Presentation | Updates on the Trails Act and the Ontario Trails Strategy with the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport |
| 2:00-2:30PM | Presentation | City of Ottawa Trails |
| 2:30-2:45PM | Break | Coffee Break |
| 2:45-3:15PM | Presentation | Trans Canada Trail Ontario |
| 3:15-3:45PM | Presentation | National Capital Commission |
| 3:45-4:15PM | Presentation | CycleON - Updates and Progress |
| 4:15-4:45PM | Presentation | Understanding and Preventing Lyme Disease |
| 4:45-5:15PM | Presentation | Sentiers Prescott Russell and Glengarry Trails |
| 5:15-6PM | Networking | Cash Bar |
| 6PM - 9PM | Dinner & Keynote Speaker | Federal Climate Change Initiatives and Trails |
| | | |
| Tuesday | | |
| 8:30 – 9:00AM | Registration | Coffee Served |
| 9:00-9:15 AM | Welcome remarks | Dignitaries |
| 9:15-10AM | Presentation | Trails Risk Management - Principles |
| 10:00-10:15AM | Break | Coffee Break |
| 10:15-11:15AM | Plenary Session | Trails Risk Management - How to Say Yes to Trails |
| 11:15-12:00AM | Plenary Session | Paramedic Wilderness Rescue |
| Noon-1PM | Lunch | Networking Lunch |
| 1:00-2:00PM | Plenary Session | Water Trails - Developing trails for Use |
| 2:00-2:45PM | Plenary Session | Ottawa River-Keeper - programs and plans for development |
| 2:45-3:00PM | Break | |
| 3:00-3:30PM | Plenary Session | Hunting and Fishing Trail Use of MNRF Lands |
| 3:30-4:00PM | Plenary Session | Mattawa Trail Development |
| 4:00-4:30PM | Plenary Session | First Nation Tourism and Trails |
| 4:30PM | Wrap-up and Next Steps | Trailhead Canada 2017! |
(subject to change)
Program Outline
April 13, 14, 2016
| Wednesday | | |
| 8:30 – 9:00AM | Registration | |
| 9:00-9:30AM | Welcome remarks | Coffee Served |
| 9:30-10:30AM | Presentation | Marathon, Pic River and our Northern Trails |
| 10:30-10:45AM | Break | |
| 10:45-12:30AM | Presentation | Parks Experiences – Pukaskwa National Park and Neys Provincial |
| | Presentation | Group of Seven Trail |
| | Presentation | Northern Ontario Experiences |
| | Presentation | Northern Ontario Tourism Organization |
| 12:30-1:00 PM | Lunch | |
| 1:00 – 2:00PM | Presentation | Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport |
| | Presentation | French River Trail Development |
| 2:00-2:30PM | Presentation | Path of the Paddle and Trail Auditing |
| 2:30-2:45PM | Break | Trans Canada Trail Ontario – Sponsor |
| 2:45-3:15PM | Presentation | Importance of Trails for Northern Ontario Tourism |
| 3:15-3:45PM | Presentation | World Class Cross Country – Destination Marathon |
| 3:45-4:15PM | Presentation | OFSC/CCSO and Snowmobile Trails |
| 4:15-4:45 PM | Presentation | OAC – Ontario Access Coalition – Places to Climb |
| 5:30-6PM | Networking | Cash Bar |
| 6PM – 9PM | Dinner & Keynote Speaker | My Experience in the Outdoors. |
| | Silent Auction | |
| | | |
| Thursday | | |
| 8:30–9:00AM | Registration | Coffee Served |
| 9:00-9:15 AM | Welcome remarks | |
| 9:15-10AM | Presentation | Fundraising for Trails and Non-Profits |
| 10:00-10:15AM | Break | Coffee Break |
| 10:15-11:15 AM | Plenary Session | Hunting and Fishing Trail Use of MNRF Lands |
| 11:15-Noon | Plenary Session | Presentation: Timiskaming and Nastawgan Trails |
| Noon-1PM | Lunch | Networking Lunch |
| 1:00-2:00PM | Plenary Session | Outfitters and Tripping – How to Get North |
| 2:00-3:00PM | Plenary Session | Voyageur Trail – Developments along the Trail |
| 3:00-3:30PM | Wrap-up and Next Steps | |
(subject to change)
Trailhead Georgian Bay - with GBCT!
May 11, 2016
| Wednesday | | |
| 8:30 - 9:00AM | Registration | |
| 9:00-9:30AM | Welcome remarks | Coffee Served |
| 9:30-10:30AM | About The Georgian Bay Coast Trail | Sponsor |
| 10:30-10:45AM | Break | |
| 10:45-12:15AM | Presentation | Killarney Provincial Park - A Lead Partner in Development |
| | Presentation | Friends of Killarney |
| | Presentation | Trail Experiences - Explorer's Edge |
| | Presentation | Auditing and Planning our Route |
| 12:15-1:00 PM | Lunch | |
| 1:00 - 2:00PM | Presentation | Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport |
| | Presentation | Indigenous Peoples Economic Development |
| 2:00-2:30PM | Presentation | Trail Inventories Georgian Bay Partners |
| 2:30-2:45PM | Break | Trans Canada Trail Ontario - Sponsor |
| 2:45-3:15PM | Presentation | Importance of Variety of Trails |
| 3:15-3:45PM | Presentation | Great Lakes Guardian Plant and Trail Inventory |
| 3:45-4:15PM | Presentation | Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry |
| 4:15-4:45 PM | Presentation | Relations with Local Landowners |
| 4:45 - 5:15 | Wrap-up | Thanks |
(subject to change)
Trails Talk
Join us every other Tuesday at 1pm EST for a lively half hour discussion on trail issues of importance to the trails community. We are pleased to have added an additional topic to the Agenda - see January 12th.
We will be using our Google Hangout to facilitate our Trail Talks.
So make sure you have a gmail account and the hangout app added to your gplus account.
Invited presenters include:
January 5th, 2016 -
Kinghorn Trail Association - all about the development of this important northern trail with Kirsten Spence.
NEW - January 12th - Land Use Planning - all about securing land for trails, when, how to, and potential pitfalls and problems - with Kate Potter and Robert Orland from
Orland Conservation.
January 19th, 2016 -
Fundraising for Non-Profit Organizations - with Thomas Allgoewer - a half hour discussion about how to facilitate your organization goals and objectives through fundraising efforts.
February 2nd, 2016 -
Edge Auditor - the program that helps you know and log in all the facts about your trail, with Niall Lobely.
February 16th, 2016 -
Explorer's Edge - all about the great trails in RTO 12 with James Murphy of Explorer's Edge.
March 1, 2016 -
The Georgian Bay Coast Trail - who supports it, what is happening and all about our spring community meeting in Killarney. With Luke Wassegijig and Kirsten Spence.
March 15, 2016 -
Trans Canada Trail - with Jane Murphy and Al McPherson. You've heard about it, how is it progressing? How can you support it?
March 29, 2016 -
Hiking, what is it? Who does it? What you need to know about community programs, and trail leadership programs - with Bill Mungall
April 12th, 2016 -
Trail Building - are you interested? What is trail building all about? Who does it and the skills you need, with stories from trail builder Zane Davies.
2016 Membership Renewal Notices Out!
Thanks to these folks for their paid renewals:
Haldimand County
This past year the OTC Membership grew beyond 240 members, with over 220 being organizational supporters.
Your support of our work helps us to:
- travel to communities
- update the website
- answer the phone
- seek other funds for special projects
- write grants for members
- mitigate conflict
- guide users with a where to turn
- update the youtube, and other social media
- engage with government
- promote the design, use and management of trails
- coordinate meetings
- manage the education program(s)
Please consider supporting our work
Everyday, somewhere in Ontario we educate, support a group, lead or assist a community improving its quality of life through trails.
