Trans Canada Trail Welcomes New Members to its Corporate and Foundation Boards of Directors

Montreal, December 13, 2021 – Trans Canada Trail is pleased to announce new board appointments to its corporate Board of Directors and to the Trans Canada Trail Foundation (TCTF) Board, including a new TCTF Board chair.

Trans Canada Trail extends a warm welcome to corporate Board members Judith Kasiama, Margaux McDonald and Tony Pringle, and to incoming Foundation Board Chair Jane Pepino, in addition to Foundation Board members Bob Richardson and Nicole German.

Trans Canada Trail Board of Directors

The TCT Board of Directors provides essential oversight and guidance needed in support of the continued development and enhancement of Canada’s national trail.

The Board of Directors is pleased to welcome three new members, each of whom brings a fresh perspective and diverse voice to the Board, along with extensive and very relevant experience.

The new Directors, appointed in October 2021, are:

• Judith Kasiama: The founder of Colour the Trails, an organization based in Western Canada that advocates for inclusive representation in outdoor spaces, Judith is a strong believer that nature should be a place for everyone. She is passionate about and has worked to change the narrative that people of colour are not active participants in the outdoors. Learn more.
• Margaux McDonald: Margaux McDonald is a Canadian diplomat, international trade and investment specialist, and avid adventurist. She recently served as Canada’s Senior Trade Commissioner to Pakistan. Upon returning to Ottawa she took a position with Global Affairs Canada. Learn more.
• Tony Pringle: Tony is co-founder and principal of Quinn & Partners, a leading management consultancy specializing in corporate sustainability, sustainable finance and responsible investment practices. Based in Toronto, Tony is a recipient of a 2018 Canada Clean 50 award for contributions to clean investing. Learn more.

Trans Canada Trail extends its sincere thanks to departing board members Graham Green, Robyn Seetal and Gillian Winckler for their commitment and valued contributions.

Trans Canada Trail Foundation (TCTF) Board 

The TCTF is responsible for supporting the philanthropic endeavours that contribute to the Trail’s viability and sustainability. The new members of the Foundation Board are:

• Jane Pepino: Jane was appointed to the TCT Foundation Board as its new Chair in October 2021. A senior partner with the firm of Aird & Berlis, and founder and member of the firm’s Municipal and Land Use Planning Group, Jane is one of Canada’s leading lawyers in the areas of property development and real estate. In her volunteer work, Jane has been widely recognized for her contributions to healthcare, governance, policy and equity in the broader community. As Chair of the TCTF Board, Jane is also a member of the TCT Board. Learn more.
• Nicole German: Appointed to the TCTF Board in May 2021, Nicole German is Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for Tangerine Bank. She previously worked as Global Enterprise Head & Vice President of Digital Marketing & Sales, Scotiabank, where she was a pivotal contributor to Scotiabank’s overall digital transformation. Nicole has substantial experience as an active philanthropist for a variety of organizations in the Toronto area. Learn more.
• Bob Richardson: Bob is the President of Devon Group. He has more than 25 years of public affairs experience, with expertise in federal, provincial and municipal government; issues and crisis management; and stakeholder engagement and profile building for a wide variety of clients. Bob has been active in the community for several years, and in recognition of his community service, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Bob was appointed to the TCTF Board in May 2021. Learn more.

A special thank you to Valerie Pringle

October 2021 marked the departure of one of Trans Canada Trail’s longest serving and most dedicated volunteers – Valerie Pringle. Valerie joined the TCT Board in 2001, and when the TCTF was created in 2011, Valerie became its first Chair.  She served on both Boards for 20 years.

Valerie has been instrumental in the development and promotion of the Trail and has been one of its strongest champions. She played a pivotal role in the connection of the Trail in 2017, and in building strong philanthropic relationships that have contributed to the long-term financial sustainability of the organization. She has worked alongside other valued Trans Canada Trail members, Indigenous leaders, government and community leaders across Canada in support of the Trail. Passionate and generous with her time, Valerie attended countless local trail openings around the country, each time expressing her tremendous passion and enthusiasm for the Trail, and instilling great pride in the volunteers who worked so hard to build and maintain the Trail in their community.

Valerie cites her experiences on the Board as some of her best memories. “I served 20 years on the Trans Canada Trail Board; 5 as Chair and 10 as Foundation Chair. I learned and saw so much. There were incredibly difficult times and thrilling ones, especially when we achieved connection in 2017,” she recalls.

“Apart from my family, I am most proud of being part of connecting Canada with this iconic Trail. To know that we can use the Trail to connect with nature, one another and ourselves at human speed is priceless. It gives me such joy and satisfaction to know that future generations can follow in our footsteps, and that, once the Trail is on the ground, it is sacred.”

“Words cannot adequately express my gratitude to Valerie Pringle,” says Michael Lindsay, Chair of the TCT Board. “Throughout her tenure on both of our boards, she has demonstrated a tireless commitment and an infectious passion for this organization. Through her work, this fragile line that has been blazed through 15,000 communities to link three oceans has become known and embraced by all Canadians. She literally put the Trans Canada Trail on the map, and in our hearts and minds. For this we are deeply thankful.”

“I also take this opportunity to sincerely thank our other departing Board members for their valued time, energy and passion,” he adds. “And to our new members, including Jane Pepino, the new Chair of our TCT Foundation Board, I extend to you all a very warm welcome, and look forward to the expertise and leadership you will bring to Trans Canada Trail as we undertake a new strategy that will guide us into the future.”

“We are extremely fortunate to be supported by such an able and dedicated group of volunteers on both Boards of Directors. We welcome our new Board members and are grateful to them for their contributions of time and talent,” says Eleanor McMahon, President & CEO of Trans Canada Trail.

“As we welcome new Directors we thank those whose tenure has come to an end, for their tireless support of the Trail. In a special way we are incredibly grateful to Valerie Pringle whose contributions to Trans Canada Trail can never be truly measured. Over the past two decades, Valerie’s passion and dedication to ensuring the Trail’s success has been truly awe-inspiring, and I’m so thankful for her service. We wish her all the best in her next adventures and look forward to crossing paths with Valerie, along the Trail,” McMahon added.

About Trans Canada Trail

The Trans Canada Trail is the world’s longest network of multi-use recreational trails. The Trail stretches more than 28,000 km – and continues to grow – across every province and territory.  It’s a showcase of Canada’s diverse landscapes and cultures, and a sustainable national asset that fosters unity, collaboration and connectedness.  Our national trail is managed by local trail groups and partners who work in conjunction with Trans Canada Trail, a registered charity. tctrail.ca