9 November, 2026

Community Comes Together to Care for the Thunder Bay Waterfront Trail

A group of helmeted children and adults ride bicycles along a closed city street, weaving past orange traffic cones in a safe, lively cycling event.

On International Trails Day, 250 volunteers gathered in Thunder Bay to care for a local section of the Trans Canada Trail and celebrate the recreational, environmental, cultural and historical value of trails. 

Hosted by the Waterfront Trail Rotary Community Action Team (WTRCAT), the June 6, 2026, event focused on the clean-up and remediation of a two-kilometre section of the Thunder Bay Waterfront Trail. Participants could also take part in a Roll and Stroll activity that showcased the beauty and benefits of this section of the Trans Canada Trail.  

The event received funding from Trans Canada Trail’s Trail Care Grant Program, which provides funding for projects that improve sections of the Trans Canada Trail. 

For WTRCAT, the event was an opportunity to improve the trail while raising awareness of the Trans Canada Trail, introducing the community to the organization’s objectives and encouraging broader volunteer involvement.

A peaceful waterfront path hosts walkers and a person with a dog, while a safety-vested worker stands nearby and orange cones mark the route.

Photo credit: Michael Hull

Caring for the trail and its waterfront surroundings 

Together, participants contributed 368 volunteer hours to this trail clean-up and remediation event. They removed litter along the trail and its surroundings, collecting 12 bags of trash. Volunteers also removed vehicle tires and other industrial debris from the immediate waterfront area. 

WTRCAT reported that the Trail Care grant had a significant impact on the trail section and made it possible to complete work that otherwise would not have taken place. 

Trail Care funding in action

Trail Care funding played an essential role in creating a safe and accessible environment for volunteers and participants. 

The funding allowed organizers to hire off-duty City of Thunder Bay police officers to manage the required road closures, and to arrange emergency first aid coverage from the Canadian Ski Patrol. It also helped provide an accessible portable toilet at the North Water Street Overlook, the endpoint of the Roll and Stroll trail section. 

Volunteers and members of the public received free water and cookies, and Thunder Bay Transit encouraged participation by offering a free downloadable transit pass to volunteers and people taking part in Roll and Stroll. 

The event brought together people from across the community, including students, trail users, seniors, volunteers and contractors. Event partners included the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment, the Rotary Club of Thunder Bay (Port Arthur), Rotaract Club Thunder Bay, GenNext, EcoSuperior and Tbaytel. 

A focused athlete in an orange helmet and neon green shirt roller-skis along a gravel path beside a pond, using poles for balance and momentum.

Photo credit: Michael Hull

Indigenous culture, trail history and hands-on discovery

The day offered participants several ways to learn more about the trail and the surrounding area. 

• The Sisters of Turtle Island Drum Group delivered ceremonial presentations highlighting environmental, cultural and reconciliation themes.  

• The Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society provided QR-coded interpretive signs, placed along the route to direct participants to online images and information about the history of the trail section. 

• Children were invited to take part in a scavenger hunt focused on the area’s recreational, natural and cultural features. Participants received native wildflower seedlings provided by the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority. 

Nine women in ribbon skirts stand in a row outdoors, holding instruments, against a cloudy sky and rural silos; the mood is celebratory.

Photo credit: Michael Hull

Connecting trails, transportation and the waterfront

The event also included an open house in the Baggage Building at Marina Park. Community members could learn about and discuss trails, active transportation, public transit and waterfront development. 

Participating organizations included WTRCAT, City of Thunder Bay Active Transportation, Thunder Bay Transit, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, Thunder Bay Museum, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, the Northwestern Ontario Recreational Trails Association and the Transportation Museum of Thunder Bay. 

By combining hands-on trail care with cultural activities, community information and opportunities for conversation, the event helped WTRCAT introduce more people to this section of the Trans Canada Trail and demonstrate what can be accomplished when volunteers and community organizations work together. 

This year’s Trail Care Grant Program was generously supported by Athletic Brewing Co., Columbia Sportswear, Eldorado Gold, TC Energy, Tom’s of Maine and Toyota Canada.

Learn more about Trans Canada Trail’s Trail Care Grant program.

Feature photo credit: Michael Hull