5 Holiday Gifts That Help Build a Canadian Dream

The Great Trail is a national legacy. Across 24,000 kilometres of interconnected trails, it grants millions of Canadians access to the vast landscapes that make our country so incredible. By its very nature, the Trail fosters connectedness — it is a symbolic gift from Canadians to Canadians. But The Great Trail can also provide an opportunity for a more literal gift.

With the holiday season upon us, many of us search for meaningful gifts to offer our loved ones. By donating to Trans Canada Trail (the non-profit organization that leads the development of The Great Trail), you give an enduring present to a parent, spouse or friend. Plus, you ensure the Trail exists for future generations of Canadians. It’s a gift that gives twice.

Here are five concrete ways your financial gift helps to connect and develop the longest recreational trail in the world.

You help build a bridge.

In Saskatchewan, The Great Trail was recently fully connected! The Canadian Forces 38 Combat Engineer Regiment reservists helped build the Wakamow Bridge, which was the final piece needed to link the Trail in the land of living skies. While the CF were instrumental in their donation of labour, Trans Canada Trail needed to purchase resources — wood, suspension cable, etc. — to ensure the project was completed. We have more bridges to build across Canada, so we still need your support.

You help develop a world-class waterway.

When it comes to creating a world-class paddling route on Lake Superior, fully equipped access points are essential. Trans Canada Trail is working with our partners to create a series of fourteen access points complete with accessible docks, picnic tables, compostable toilets, bear-proof containers and information signage to help paddlers get the most out of their experience on the Lake Superior Water Trail. It’s thanks to the support of donors like you that projects like this become a reality!

You give someone a reason to live — literally.

Trevor Hodgson says cycling The Great Trail in British Columbia gave him a reason to keep living. As someone who copes with bipolar disorder, Trevor uses the Trail to stay physically fit, to manage his weight and to combat depression. “When I travel The Great Trail, I experience a connection to this land that opens me up and fills me with a certain life-affirming energy,” he states. Trevor’s inspiring story.



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You make it easier and safer to navigate a winter wonderland.

On Baffin Island, the Itijjagiaq Trail follows a traditional pathway from Iqaluit to Kimmirut and is the most remote section of The Great Trail. While this historic trail has been in existence for generations, its remoteness has made it difficult for those wishing to explore this isolated region. Thanks to our donors, TCT was able to help incease the safety of Trail users by posting navigation signage on warming huts along the route. These enhancements come in handy for outdoor adventurers like Whitehorse-based writer Karen McColl, who skied a 70-kilometre leg of the Trail in Nunavut in May of 2012.

You can honour a loved one in a lasting way.

Canadians have the unique opportunity to have their contributions recognized in a celebratory pavilion in Ottawa. Until December 31, 2017, a donation of $1,000 or more will ensure that your name – or the name of a loved one – will be listed on the pavilion panel corresponding to your gift level. It’s a meaningful way to honour a loved one, while ensuring the future of Canada’s national Trail. Become a steward of the trail!


It’s easy to make a donation to the Trans Canada Trail! You can make a one-time gift or sign up on our website to give monthly, or to donate stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other securities, which can be a tax effective way for you to support TCT’s mission and work. By remembering Trans Canada Trail in your estate plans, you’ll help ensure that future generations can also enjoy all the Trail has to offer.

And, don’t forget that Trans Canada Trail is a registered charitable organization — meaning that donations are tax deductible! (Income tax receipts are automatically provided for all donations of $10 or more.) Plus, until March 31, 2017, the Government of Canada will match 50 cents of every dollar you donate!
In other words, the holiday season is truly the perfect time to give.

Still have questions? To learn more about supporting the world’s greatest trail, visit https://thegreattrail.ca/give/, or call us at 1-800-465-3636.