Author: Ontario Trails

The Ontario Trails Council (OTC) - Conseil des Sentiers de l'Ontario – is a charity that promotes the development, preservation, management and use of recreational trails in Ontario. http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/

Say Hello to Your New Trans Canada Trail!

June 8, 2021

Old name, new look

You may have noticed that things look a little different these days on our website, social media pages, and maybe even trail signs. As of June 1, 2021, the name of The Great Trail of Canada has changed back to its original name, and is once again known as the iconic Trans Canada Trail.

The background

Back in 2016, we decided to separate the name of our organization (Trans Canada Trail) from the name of the physical trail (The Great Trail), as a way to celebrate and highlight the significant milestone of connection in 2017.

Charting our course for the future

Post-connection, we began the process of charting a course for our future. In order to build on this historic achievement, we undertook significant consultation and research with our partners, donors, funders and stakeholders to secure their input on our future direction.

Part of this outreach included focus groups and research into the name change. As good stewards of our brand, understanding how our name and our work resonate is valued feedback. We were also looking to respond to lingering concerns and confusion about the name change.  To address this, we conducted extensive polling and focus group research to find out exactly what Canadians know about us, and what they think of our name.

What we heard

The research showed that the Trans Canada Trail name was the preferred option. Almost all participants told us that they favoured the original name for the physical trail. And, the majority (70%) supported returning to the original name.

When we asked them why, the reasons included an emotional connection to the name and a strong sense of pride in a name that identifies the Trail as uniquely Canadian.  The other piece of information that the research yielded was the low level of awareness of The Great Trail name. The Trans Canada Trail name surpassed that of The Great Trail by a factor of 10:1.

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Speeding cyclists warned to slow down on Moncton trail

June 8, 2021

New sign on Riverfront Trail flashes speed if cyclist is travelling faster than 15 km/h

Kate Letterick · CBC News · Posted: Jun 07, 2021 5:00 AM AT | Last Updated: June 7

A new sign near La Bikery on Riverfront Trail in Moncton encourages speeding cyclists to slow down. (Kate Letterick/CBC News )

The city of Moncton has a new tool to remind some cyclists on the Riverfront Trail to slow down.

A school zone style traffic sign has been installed on the trail, behind La Bikery.

It will light up and show speeding cyclists how fast they’re going, if they exceed the 15 km/h limit.

Austin Henderson is the manager of strategic communications for the City of Moncton.

“This will give them a reminder that there is a limit on speed and that our trails are intended to be enjoyed by everyone and they are for everyone, so this part of our approach to educating residents.” he said.

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Pandemic hiking resurgence identifies knowledge gap between new and experienced scramblers

June 8, 2021

BY JOHN ACKERMANN

Posted Jun 6, 2021 11:46 am PDT

Last Updated Jun 6, 2021 at 11:53 am PDTDestination Hikes cover (Courtesy: Greystone Books)SUMMARY

The author of a new wilderness guide has noticed one of the byproducts of the pandemic has been more of us getting back

But he warns there is a knowledge gap between experienced scramblers and those new to the pastime

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – With the pandemic driving more of us outdoors, it’s fair to say hiking has seen something of a resurgence. However, one expert warns there is something of a knowledge gap between experienced scramblers and those new to the pastime.

Stephen Hui has been hiking BC’s Coast Mountains for more than 25 years and has definitely noticed an influx of people in the great outdoors since the start of COVID-19. “The popular trails are just mobbed, there is a lot of parking problems, and the lesser known or quiet trails, places where I could walk two hours without seeing someone before, you might see seven parties heading up to an obscure North Shore peak where you would normally not see that many people.”

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RCMP revs up covert ops ahead of May 24 start of ATV season

May 21, 2021

Since 2018, 38 people have died in ATV crashes in N.L.

CBC News · Posted: May 20, 2021 4:55 PM NT | Last Updated: May 204 comments

The RCMP launched Phase 2 of their ATV safety campaign in Newfoundland and Labrador on Thursday. (Jeremy Eaton/CBC)

There has been one death this year involving an ATV in Newfoundland and Labrador, compared with four at the same point last year, according to the RCMP, which launched the second phase of its ATV safety campaign on Thursday. 

With the Victoria Day long weekend ahead, the RCMP picked Thursday to reiterate the importance of ATV safety with an expected increase in ATV activity over the weekend and through the rest of the summer.

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Safe Boating Awarness Week – Coast to Coast

May 21, 2021

TORONTO, May 20, 2021 /CNW/ – North American Safe Boating Awareness Week will take place across Canada from May 22nd to May 28th, 2021. The purpose of this initiative, managed by the CSBC (Canadian Safe Boating Council) and its partners, is to promote safe and responsible boating practices

SBAW 2021 - From powerboats, to sailboats, to paddle craft, we know Canada’s waterways will be busy. Learn how to stay safe this summer. (CNW Group/Canadian Safe Boating Council)
SBAW 2021 – From powerboats, to sailboats, to paddle craft, we know Canada’s waterways will be busy. Learn how to stay safe this summer. (CNW Group/Canadian Safe Boating Council)

In Canada, 16 million people enjoy recreational boating.  That number is going up, some say by large double-digit percentage increases (20, 30 even 40 %), driven the past and this coming year by Covid-19.  Social distancing and restricted travel have been keeping people closer to home.  Marine dealers across North America have reported empty shelves of boating safety gear and exhausted inventories of new and used boats as many people new to boating have made purchases and are taking to the water for the first time.

Although this ‘new’ to boating group has made boating safety information more critical than ever before, prior to COVID, boating safety was still an important communication by boating safety educators and advocates to make boaters more aware of their roles and responsibilities to themselves, their passengers, other boaters and those on shore.

There are five key boating safety messages directed towards the most common boating related accidents.  They include:

  1. Wear a lifejacket
  2. Boat sober.  
  3. Be prepared.  Both you and your boat.
  4. Take a boating course
  5. Be aware of cold water risks.

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Eastern Divide Trail Route Nears Completion

May 21, 2021

May 18, 2021by Alicia Leggett   Followhttps://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?

After several years of planning, the 5,000+ mile Eastern Divide Trail is nearing completion. The off-road-centric bikepacking route will start in Newfoundland, Canada, and end in Key West, Florida, connecting the grand vistas and ecosystems of the eastern mountains via gravel, dirt roads, bike paths, quiet backroads, and singletrack. The route will be divided into eight carefully designed segments that can be ridden sequentially or independently.

Background

Back in 2015, the Eastern Divide Trail (EDT) was conceived to link the two great Eastern Continental Divides and create a bikepacking-specific route akin to the legendary long-distance hiking trail in the same region, the Appalachian Trail (AT). Similar to the AT, the EDT will connect the scenic eastern mountains and their seemingly infinite ecosystems via the historical and cultural landmarks, natural wonders, and beautiful backcountry that thread through some of the oldest mountains in the world. What this region lacks in oxygen-deprived, high-altitude passes, it makes up for with boundless folded mountain vistas, bristling clear streams, lush forested vegetation, ever-changing ecosystems, and layers of history. Indeed, traversing these landscapes can provide an experience that rivals the one many bike packers seek out on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.

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Yukon considers easing COVID gathering restrictions to up to 100 people outdoors

May 21, 2021

Author of the article:The Canadian Press

The Canadian PressPublishing date:May 19, 2021  •  1 day ago  •  1 minute read  •   Join the conversation

Article content

WHITEHORSE — Yukon officials are looking at further easing restrictions on both indoor and outdoor social gatherings, allowing people to get together for cultural events as well as weddings and funerals.

Premier Sandy Silver told a news conference Wednesday that officials may soon allow up to 20 people to gather indoors and as many as 100 outside with physical distancing and masks.

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Shimano is donating 100 trail building kits across Canada – Cycling Magazine

May 20, 2021

Supporting the volunteers and organizations that make riding better for everyone

Shimano Trail Building KitPhoto by: Sterling Lorence

TERRY MCKALL MAY 18, 20211

Shimano is celebrating its 100th anniversary by giving back. Specifically, Shimano Canada is taking the opportunity to highlight the tireless work of our those building trail and advocating for access across the country.

100 trail building took kits will be donated to cycling clubs and qualifying organizations nationwide. So much of mountain biking in Canada is run by grassroots advocacy organizations, from volunteers to builders to ambassadors, all making sure Canadians have excellent places to ride. This work requires proper trail tools.

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Alberta abruptly cancels request for drone surveillance to watch campers on public land – CBC News

May 20, 2021

Minister of parks and environment says no one in his office approved the request for proposals

Michelle Bellefontaine · CBC News · Posted: May 18, 2021 12:02 PM MT | Last Updated: May 18

Parks across Alberta are seeing an influx of users, leaving more garbage and concerns about trespassing. (Wallis Snowdon/CBC)

The Alberta government on Tuesday abruptly cancelled a request for proposals seeking a contractor to provide long-range drones to help with enforcement of camping on public lands this summer.

Posted on Friday, the RFP suggested Alberta Environment and Parks planned to use drones to take photos and video of “designated areas” of public lands over four weekends this summer and fall.

“ISR (Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance) collection will take place within designated areas in Alberta between July 1–4, 2021, July 31- August 3, 2021, September 4-7, 2021 and October 9-12, 2021 … to include detection of campfires, off-highway vehicles operating in restricted areas, gatherings of ten (10) or more individuals, and officer safety support,” the bid document stated.

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VIDEO: ATVs on Coal Town Trail cause a rift with some residents of Cape Breton community – Saltwire

May 20, 2021

Jessica Smith · Journalist · Posted: a day ago | Updated: 20 hours ago | 11 Min ReadAnimosity on the Coal Town Train in Cape Breton,

DOMINION — A local trail is causing a rift between some residents of Dominion and the all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts who use it.

The Coal Town Trail, which is roughly 13 kilometres long and stretches from Gardiner Mines through Dominion and Glace Bay to Tower Road, is a former rail line that has been repurposed to be a multi-use trail.

It was originally owned by the federal government but is now managed by the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

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