Moving Together for Better Health
How Manulife and the Great Canadian Hike are helping connect people with movement, nature and one another
Our health can be shaped by many things: from the care we receive; the places where we live, work and spend time outside; our connections with others; and much more. This September, the Great Canadian Hike invited people across Canada to get outside to walk, bike, paddle and roll — to spend time in nature in support of Trans Canada Trail.
Photo credit: David Himbert
A shared commitment to healthier communities
The Great Canadian Hike is generously supported by Manulife, Trans Canada Trail‘s National Trails for Health Partner. Manulife is focused on helping people live longer, healthier, better lives by supporting initiatives that make healthy choices more accessible. This commitment is reflected in the work of the Manulife Longevity Institute, a global platform for research, thought leadership, innovation, advocacy, and community focused on advancing the conversation around longevity and healthy aging. The partnership with Trans Canada Trail reflects a shared belief that access to nature, opportunities for movement, and strong community connections can help people build healthier habits and improve well-being, both today and for years to come.
An accessible challenge for all
With Manulife’s support, the Great Canadian Hike is designed to be a low-barrier-to-entry challenge that meets people where they’re at: it’s flexible, free, and open to those looking to begin consistent physical activity with a safe and supportive team to longtime outdoors enthusiasts looking to achieve personal bests.
Funds raised support work across the Trans Canada Trail, including trail maintenance, accessibility improvements, greenway development and climate resilience — investments that help more people benefit from safe and welcoming outdoor spaces over the long term.
“The Great Canadian Hike brings people together around something we all share: the opportunity to get moving, spend time in nature and connect with one another,” says Meghan Reddick, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at Trans Canada Trail. “With Manulife’s generous support, we’re helping make these experiences more accessible while strengthening a national trail network that connects communities from coast to coast to coast across awe-inspiring Canadian landscapes.”
The health impact of trails
Research shows that access to trails and nature has a real-life impact on Canadians. According to the 2023 Benefits of Connecting Canadians study, more than 2.6 million people use the Trail for physical activity annually. What’s more, the Trail contributes to $1.7 billion in healthcare savings annually.
This connection between access to nature and improved health outcomes can also be seen beyond the trail sector. Through innovative initiatives like the PaRx program, in which health practitioners across Canada prescribe active time in nature to their patients.
Photo credit: Jillian Faulkner
An active month
By the end of the 2026 edition of the Great Canadian Hike, 1702 participants collectively logged 108,003 kilometres on trails from coast to coast to coast. People across Canada came together to get active, connect with nature and help support trails and public spaces.
Learn more about how Trans Canada and Manulife partner to reduce barriers, promote access to nature, and advance national conversations about the role of trails in supporting healthy lives.
Feature photo credit: Marc Johnson
