Trail Care Event: Rossburn Subdivision Trail
Trail cleanup, barbecue and celebration along the Rossburn Subdivision Trail
On May 14 and June 1, 2024, members of the Rossburn Subdivision Trail Association and volunteers from the community held two Trail Care events. The first was a Trail cleanup day on May 14. Fifteen high school students from Rossburn Collegiate picked up garbage and cleared debris from a 4.5-kilometre section of the Trail in Erickson, Manitoba, despite inclement weather. The group celebrated with a well-deserved pizza meal after the cleanup.
Two weeks later, on June 1, Trail Care Day, the group held a second event to celebrate their new storybook trail installation and the official opening of the Erickson Water Tower Rest Stop.
Inaugural walk and ribbon-cutting to celebrate new storybook trail
The new storybook trail project celebrates Canadian children’s authors and encourages kids and their families – and anyone who loves reading and nature – to get outside and enjoy stories along the Trans Canada Trail. The first book to be featured is The Water Walker by Indigenous author Joanne Robertson.
The Rossburn Subdivision Trail Association led a walk that followed the storybook panels and concluded at the Erickson Water Tower Rest Stop – a recent addition to the Trail! A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed, and several guests spoke at the event: Melisa Stefaniw from Trans Canada Trail; and Dave Walker and Lawrence Bertram, who spearheaded the rest stop project. Event organizers read messages from Tim Coffin, Executive Director of Trails Manitoba, and from Aaron McKay with Rolling River First Nation.
Participants also enjoyed a celebratory barbecue – and cake!
Great feedback from the community
Several people commented that they enjoyed the trail walk and planned to return soon. Trail Care Day organizers also saw an enthusiastic response to the new storybook trail. “One person said they would be walking the next day again to make sure to read every page of the story properly,” says Ilse Ketelsen from the Rossburn Subdivision Trail Association. The event welcomed participants of all ages, from kids to seniors. Several cyclists also joined the group of walkers.
Ilse adds that the Trail Care event brought people together. “Volunteers stepped up, and people came to walk and celebrate, being active and socializing for the good for their mental health.”
Trail Care made possible thanks to generous sponsors
Trail Care is supported by generous sponsors Columbia Sportswear and Toyota Canada. In addition, to encourage trail users to visit more sections of the Trail, VIA Rail and Trans Canada Trail held a giveaway contest at the event. Two lucky winners each received a $250 travel voucher for VIA Rail. The Assiniboine North Parent Child Coalition also provided a grant towards the storybook trail set-up, and the Municipality of Clanwilliam-Erickson donated the labour to set up the storybook signs.
Part of ParticipACTION challenge in region
The Trail Care event was included in a month-long ParticipACTION Community Challenge in the region. Other ParticipACTION events took place along the Trail throughout the month of June, helping to raise awareness about the Trail section and support active living.
VOLUNTEER/ORGANIZER SPOTLIGHT
Ilse Ketelsen has been a volunteer with the Rossburn Subdivision Trail Association since 2006. She extends her thanks to students from Erickson Collegiate and all the other dedicated volunteers who helped make this event a success. She adds that she very much enjoyed seeing members of the community embracing the Trans Canada Trail and what it represents.
