Clearing and Enhancing Trans Canada Trail Sections Across Canada
Stories from our Trail Care grant program
Earlier this year, trail groups across Canada came together in their respective communities to help prepare their Trail sections for the upcoming season, as part of the Trail Care grant program.
Over 200 groups were awarded funding this year, and we’re in awe of the work they’ve undertaken. The spring Trail Care events highlights how dedicated volunteers clear trail sections, plant trees, engage their community and much more. Below is a look at some incredible community-led projects along the Trans Canada Trail.
Photo credit: Fundy Hiking Trail Association
Clearing 10 kilometres of trail in one day
This past April, along the Centennial Trail in Manitoba, the Centennial Trail Association held a trail cleanup day in the area from Telford Pond to Bear Lake. “We had a wonderful day on the Trail, with great friendship, great weather and amazing work being done over 5 hours of trail time, which covered over 10 kilometres of the trail,” says Cindy Bell, a member of the trail group. Cindy explains that the trail group is a small organization with no funds available to show their appreciation to volunteers, but that “this grant was much appreciated by all our volunteers. The Centennial Trail continues to be well used by the general public. As such, it has been designated by Manitoba Parks for foot traffic only with a small section shared with mountain bikes due to the rugged nature of the terrain and the delicate forest floor. We received many positive comments and thanks from the users we met while working on the trail.”
Over in Alberta, the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation held a two-day event for volunteers. Participants trimmed trees and shrubs that were encroaching on the Trail in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. The group cleared lines of sight and overhanging branches, improving access and safety along the Trail. By removing excess shrubbery, they also opened up more space for grassland plants.
Photo credit: Centennial Trail Association
Readying the Trail for summer
In New Brunswick, the Fundy Trail Hiking Association brought together 25 volunteers to ready the trail for the summer. Volunteers – including Trans Canada Trail Foundation Board member Ron Marcolin – were treated to lunch at a nearby wilderness lodge before heading out on the Trail to clear downed trees and debris, refresh blazes and clear areas around a campsite.
Photo credit: Discovery Trails Association
Boardwalks, building techniques and more
In Manitoba, a small but mighty trio from the volunteer Stanley Trail Association Board of Directors were involved in the assessment, design, and construction of a section of boardwalk at the Minnewasta Trail section of the Stanley Trail. “This work improves the trail surface for recreational users and reduces impact on local habitat that would otherwise occur due to trail widening and erosion,” Doug Kelso with the trail association explains. The group installed two-thirds of the planned boardwalk section, with more work completed this fall, for a total of 124 feet (38 metres) of boardwalk constructed!
In Northern Ontario, the Discovery Routes organization, in partnership with the North Bay Mountain Bike Association, hosted several volunteer trail days in June, demonstrating sustainable trail-building techniques and how to identify hazards along the Trail.
Photo credit: Stanley Trail Association
Enhance Trail sections across Canada through the Trail Care grant program
The projects highlighted above demonstrate some of the impactful projects undertaken by trail groups from across the country as part of our Trail Care grant program. We’re so grateful for the dedicated volunteers who enhance the Trail, restore and improve wildlife habitat, and much more.
Trail Care is generously supported by Athletic Brewing, Columbia Sportswear Canada and Toyota Canada.
Learn more about our Trail Care grant program and other funding opportunities through the Trail Catalyst Fund.
Main photo credit: Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation
