Trail Care Event:
Galloping Goose Regional Trail
Trail Care Day on the Galloping Goose
On June 1, Trail Care Day, staff from Trans Canada Trail and the Capital Regional District came together at the south side of the Selkirk Trestle along the Galloping Goose Regional Trail for a trail cleanup and celebration.
Volunteers of all ages came out to the well-used section of the Trail to help collect litter, remove invasive plant species, and learn more about the local trail system.
The event drew strong representation from the Capital Regional District and Trans Canada Trail, including Mathieu Roy, Chief Executive Officer, Trans Canada Trail, and Judy Brownoff, Vice Chair of the CRD Regional Parks Committee, City Councillor for the District of Saanich and Chair of their Natural Areas, Parks and Trails Advisory Committee.
Cleaning up the Trail and removing invasive species
Thanks to Trail Care funds, volunteers were provided with garbage bags, gloves and trash pickers, and CRD staff helped them find and remove invasive species along the Trail.
“The Trail Care program showcases the incredible work volunteers do to keep the Trail safe and accessible,” says Mathieu. “We are fortunate to work with dedicated local trail organizations across the country. I was thrilled to celebrate Trail Care Day with some of these volunteers. Thank you to all who help care for trails year-round.”
A self-guided Indigenous interpretive experience and more
In addition to Trail cleanup activities, participants were invited to follow a self-guided Indigenous interpretive trail walk. Attendees followed informational signs posted along the trail to learn how local Indigenous communities, past and present, care for and experience the land.
In Victoria, the Galloping Goose section of the Trans Canada Trail is a long, multi-use trail, which acts a transportation corridor for many cyclists and e-bike users, who share the trail with walkers, dogs and even horses. On Trail Care Day, Park Rangers from the Capital Regional District passed out bike-oriented swag, like lights and bells. The rangers promoted safe trail etiquette for people along this popular, multi-use trail.
Raising awareness about trails around the Capital Regional District
Nadine Collison, Coordinator of Volunteers with the Capital Regional District, notes that the Trail Care event brought awareness to the Trans Canada Trail — and trails in general — in and around Victoria. “The Trail Care event exposed our volunteer program to the public in a new way and allowed us to promote volunteer activities to a new audience,” she says. “The funds also helped us to invest in tools and equipment which will support our year-round restoration activities,” she adds.
Thank you to the community and to Trail Care’s generous sponsors
Trail Care events like this one were made possible through the generous support of Columbia Sportswear and Toyota Canada. And of course, thanks to all those at the Capital Regional District and volunteers for your dedication and support.
VOLUNTEER/ORGANIZER SPOTLIGHT
Nadine Collison is with the Capital Regional District. She has held this role for one year.
This event in Victoria is a testament to the impact of dedicated volunteers across Canada who come together to enhance trails for their community. Tens of thousands of volunteers pitch in annually to maintain and improve their local trails, and we are so grateful for their support.
