Major donation from The Sobey Foundation to develop The Great Trail in Nova Scotia
(L-R): Sally O’Neill, Coordinator with Active Pictou County; Frank Sobey, Chair of The Sobey Foundation; Valerie Pringle, TCT Foundation Co-Chair; Deborah Apps, TCT President & CEO.
Trans Canada Trail (TCT) is thrilled to announce a $500,000 gift from The Sobey Foundation, for development of The Great Trail in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. The Foundation originally donated $400,000 to TCT, celebrated at a community event in July. Just recently, it confirmed an additional $100,000 as an in-kind gift, making The Sobey Foundation TCT’s newest Chapter 15o campaign member.
“We are so grateful to The Sobey Foundation for their generous investment in The Great Trail, and, by extension, its commitment to improving the lives of Pictou County residents and visitors, including Sobeys employees and their families who live and work near the Trail in the area,” said Deborah Apps, TCT President & CEO.
“Getting the Trail connected in this area also brings us closer to our goal of fully connecting The Great Trail in time for Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.”
The Sobey Foundation’s contribution is funding important Trail projects in Pictou County, including connecting sections of the Trail in the Towns of Pictou, Trenton, New Glasgow, Stellarton and Westville, linking existing trails, recreation facilities and amenities along the way. These sections of The Great Trail provide residents and tourists with wonderful opportunities to participate in safe, healthy, affordable recreation while enjoying the natural beauty of Pictou County. The Sobey Foundation’s gift will result in nearly 150 kilometres of Trail connection through the area.
“The Sobey Foundation is pleased to support the connection of The Great Trail across Pictou County, Nova Scotia,” said Frank Sobey, Chair of The Sobey Foundation. “The value of the Trail to our community will be felt by generations of people who live and work in this County and we’re delighted to assist in supporting an initiative that will create an important vehicle for their ongoing enjoyment and wellness.”
The Sobey Foundation’s substantial donation comes at a crucial time for The Great Trail in Nova Scotia, with local Trail groups hard at work to ensure full connection of the province’s section of the Trail by 2017.
Since 1992, the TCT has been working with all levels of government as well as its 13 provincial and territorial partners, who collaborate with local Trail groups in the development of The Great Trail, which is owned and operated at the local level. Active Pictou County is a local cooperative partnership amongst the six municipalities in Pictou County. Its mission is to educate residents to increase their daily physical activity in an effort to create a happier, healthier and more active community. Active Pictou County has been a crucial partner in the realization of Trail projects in the area.
“We’re seeing volunteers of all ages take part in building and taking care of trails in Pictou County,” said Sally O’Neill, Coordinator at Active Pictou County. “The Great Trail means so much to our local communities, to be part of such a grand thing.”
The Great Trail in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia’s portion of The Great Trail will be 1,014-km long when fully connected in 2017. Of this total, just over 600 km are currently connected across the province, with 400 km under development. Nova Scotia’s section of The Great Trail is currently 61% connected.
Trans Canada Trail: connecting The Great Trail in 2017
Trans Canada Trail is a not-for-profit organization created in 1992. TCT is working with donors, partners and volunteers to create The Great Trail of Canada – an epic trail of trails offering a wide range of activities. By Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, The Great Trail will be the longest and grandest recreational trail in the world and will wind its way through a variety of landscapes – urban, rural and wilderness – along greenway, waterway and roadway. It will span 24,000 kilometres, link our three oceans and connect over 15,000 communities.
The Government of Canada is supporting Trans Canada Trail in its mission to connect The Great Trail, through a matching grant of one federal dollar for every two dollars raised, up to $25 million.
For more information on the TCT, please visit thegreattrail.ca, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
About The Sobey Foundation
The Sobey Foundation was founded in 1982 by Frank H. Sobey and his three sons: Bill, David and Donald. The Foundation’s giving is rooted in the Sobey family’s continued commitment to improving the lives of individuals through investments in health, education and community. Although we work with organizations across Canada, the Sobey Foundation primarily supports organizations whose activities make a difference in Atlantic Canada.
