Friday December 15, 2006
The
Oak Ridges Trail Association, in partnership with the City of Pickering and the
Toronto & Region Conservation Authority, has launched a project to create a
management plan for the popular Seaton Hiking Trail in Pickering. A further
component of the project will be to establish The Friends of the Seaton Hiking
Trail. The Ontario Trillium Foundation recently awarded a grant to ORTA for the
project.
Despite the
Seaton Trail's popularity, it has not been balanced by protection and care from
a community volunteer group. The goal of our project is to put a plan in place
for a safe trail constructed to accepted standards, with committed volunteers
taking responsibility for ongoing trail maintenance, public use and
environmental protection.
Public
meetings and other events will be announced later in 2007, but if you would
like to be kept informed and join the Friends of the Seaton Hiking Trail,
please e-mail Oak Ridges Trail Association Executive Director, Harold Sellers,
at execdir@oakridgestrail.org .
You may also telephone the ORTA office at 905-833-6600 or toll free
1-877-319-0285.
http://www.oakridgestrail.org/news.htm
Grand Valley Trails
Association releases its first Strategic Plan 2007-2011
December 2006
The Plan’s top priority is
care and improvement of the Grand Valley Trail, a community asset which is our
reason for being. Major items in the Plan include:
The creation of local trail clubs
should strengthen the GVTA overall, especially in our ability to improve the
trail in the north and south ends of the valley. The entire Plan is available
at http://www.gvta.on.ca/strategicplan.html.
Grand Valley Trails
Association receives grant from Union Gas
November 2006
Thanks to a
“Union Gas Volunteer Grant Program Nonprofit Project”
the GVTA applied for and received a grant. Some of this grant was used to
purchase 8-foot steel T-bars. Such bars are needed to support blaze-boards in
some “open” locations.
In addition to the grant, seven
Union Gas volunteers met at Snyder’s Flats on Sunday, November 5th, 2006
to help install 19 T-bars with various blaze-boards. This task would have taken
the two trail captains about two days. With the help of these seven Union Gas
volunteers the job was done in two hours. The balance of the grant is being
used to purchase a quality gas-powered brush cutter that will be well used next
season.
http://www.gvta.on.ca/UnionGas/UnionGas01.html
“More Greenspace Protected in Greater Golden Horseshoe”
Winter 2006, press release from the
Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal
Community support helped brighten the
two rainy days when events were held to announce the protection of over 800
acres of natural heritage in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
On October 23, Minister David Caplan
was on hand to officially transfer the Eramosa Karst to the Hamilton Conservation Authority. The over
180-acre limestone geological formation was designated by the Ministry of
Natural Resources as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. It is believed
to contain the largest number of karst features in
the most compact area in the province. Karsts are geological formations,
including underground drainage, caves and passages, caused by dissolving rock
found in limestone formations.
“This land transfer supports our
government’s plan to increase parkland and protected natural areas across
the province,” said Caplan. “This
property is particularly important because its unique geological features are
considered provincially significant – caves, dry valleys, sinking streams
and overflow sinks – not found in any other parkland areas in
Ontario.”
The Eramosa Karst is a key element of the Hamilton East-end Open Space
Replacement Strategy, developed by the Hamilton Conservation Authority in
partnership with the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s a distinct pleasure for us to have the opportunity to include
the Eramosa Karst in our
conservation plans for the region,” said Chris Firth-Eagland,
chair of the conservation authority. “Along with the educational
opportunities offered by the karst, we’re
developing even more new parklands and trail systems to link it with the Mount
Albion and Felker’s Falls
conservation areas.”
A few days earlier, Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn represented
Minister Caplan at an event where 650 acres of
ecologically significant lands in the Town of Oakville were delivered into the
care of Conservation Halton.
This new conservation area will form part of an east–west corridor
linking the Niagara Escarpment and the Greater Golden Horseshoe Greenbelt. It
will protect numerous small wetlands, the headwaters of several local streams,
and significant natural heritage features associated with the Trafalgar Moraine
and the Sixteen Mile Creek valley. “We believe Conservation Halton is the best steward for preserving this natural park
space and vital watershed for our expanding community,” said Flynn.
Protecting environmentally sensitive land in the
province is central to the government’s Growth Plan for the Greater
Golden Horseshoe – one of the fastest growing areas in North America. The
plan fosters more complete communities by developing a strategic mix of parks,
business, housing and better transportation. “An important part in
deciding where to grow is deciding where not to grow so we can protect greenspaces for Ontario’s families now and for
generations to come,” said Caplan.
http://www.pir.gov.on.ca/english/aboutpir/pirnetnews/2006/winter/story5.html
Voyageur Trail
Association Annual General Meeting
October 14, 2006
The meeting was held in Wawa. For proceedings see http://www.voyageurtrail.ca/pdfs/Winter07.pdf.
SDHSA
Presents $500 to Stittsville Foodbank
October 4, 2006
Outstanding year of giving to Bruce Trail
supports Ontario’s environment and heritage
September
25, 2006
Hamilton –September 16, 2006 the Bruce Trail Association held its
Annual General Meeting and announced an outstanding year of success for the
Bruce Trail.
“This has been an incredible year for
the Bruce Trail Association,” says Bruce Trail Association President
Ernie Kuechmeister. “The commitment of
Ontario’s landowners to secure the Bruce Trail and conserve the Niagara
Escarpment has never been as evident as during our 2005/06 fiscal year.
It’s not only good for the Bruce Trail but for Ontario’s
environment and heritage as well.”
“Through public and private funds the
Association raised over $1 million in cash donations and a further $1.3 million
in land donations,” remarked Association Executive Director, Beth Kümmling, “In 1960 Bruce Trail founders had a vision
of a secured conservation corridor for the Bruce Trail, from Niagara to Tobermory, for future generations to enjoy. This
year’s progress puts the Bruce Trail Association well on the way to making
their vision a reality.”
Roughly 400 km (47%) of the Bruce Trail is on
secured land and more than 2,300 hectares of Escarpment land is managed by the
Association’s 800 volunteers. In
the 2005/6 fiscal year Trail work volunteers alone provided more than 15,500
hours of volunteer support to maintain and improve the Bruce Trail.
“With momentum from a fantastic 2005/06
fiscal year, I feel very confident in the Bruce Trail Association’s
ability to sustain this success and achieve its goal of a secure conservation
corridor for the Bruce Trail for everyone to enjoy. The Bruce Trail is
something all Canadians can feel proud of,” remarked Robert Ellison,
incoming President, Bruce Trail Association.
For more information about the Bruce Trail
Association and to review the 2005/06 annual report visit
www.brucetrail.org.
The Bruce Trail Association is a charitable
organization committed to establishing a conservation corridor containing a
public footpath along the Niagara Escarpment, in order to protect its natural
ecosystems and to promote environmentally responsible public access to this
UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
Official Opening of
Rahmani Tract
September 6 ,
2006
The official opening of the newest section of the Oak
Ridges Trail, through the Rahmani Tract of Central
Lake Ontario Conservation, took place on September 6. http://www.oakridgestrail.org/NewsDocuments/NewsRelease-Rahmani.pdf
The COMMUNITIES IN ACTION FUND of
the Minsitry of Health Promotion helps foster
physical activity in numerous communities
News releases
for summer 2006: http://www.mhp.gov.on.ca/english/sportandrec/ciaf/news_releases/default.asp
2006 Ontario Trail
Improvement Grants awarded
July 18, 2006
Thanks to a partnership between the Ontario Cycling Association (OCA) and
the International Mountain Bicycling Association's (IMBA) Canadian office,
three Ontario mountain bike clubs will receive $500 grants to improve local
trails.
The program supports the creation and enhancement of trails for mountain
bike racing and training, and encourages clubs to take a stewardship role in
their local trail communities. A percentage of every full OCA membership sold
this year was used to fund the program.
IMBA Canada is pleased to announce the 2006 winners:
North Bay Cycling Club
The North Bay Cycling Club will use the funding to buy tools and supplies for
the improvement of their Wednesday night mountain bike race series at the North
Bay Nordic Ski Club. Their primary goal is to develop more singletrack
- increasing the course length to 5km this season, and 10km next year.
Hardwood Hills Mountain
Bike Center/Team Hardwood Cycling Club
Hosting more than 20 races each year, Hardwood Hills
is one of the most heavily used mountain bike trail systems in Southern
Ontario. Hardwood will use this year's grant to purchase materials to build new
wooden structures and bridges, and improve the trails for daily riding and
racing.
Chico Racing
Chico Racing will use the grant to host volunteer workdays at Albion Hills
Conservation Area. Three McLeods and three Pulaskis will be purchased, along with rock for armoring, with the goal of improving the flow and
sustainability of Albion's singletrack.
Your club can also apply. Grant details
can be found online.
http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/07_06/07_18_ontario_grants.html
Canadian themes
emerge from international gathering of mountain bicyclists
June 28, 2006
This
release is available in French
The IMBA Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference, held in Whistler, BC,
June 20-23, drew more than 400 delegates from 17 nations for three days of
seminars and discussions. "This was the first time that the Summit has
been held outside of the United States," notes IMBA Canada's Mark Schmidt.
"Canada was very well represented, with a strong presence from Canadian
clubs, bike industry and members of provincial and federal government on hand
to discuss the opportunities we see to promote the healthy growth of mountain
biking. And you couldn't ask for a better place to hold this gathering than
Whistler, one of the best places in the world to ride a mountain bike."
Eight staffers from Parks Canada
attended the Summit/Conference, including Frances Gertsch,
National Recreational Activities Analyst. "Parks Canada is really
fortunate to be developing a strong working relationship with IMBA
Canada," says Gertsch. "IMBA's
expertise is going to be extremely valuable in helping us provide opportunities
for mountain biking, in ways that will ensure that our national parks meet our
mandate. By working together, both organizations will achieve their
goals."
IMBA Canada has been working with Parks Canada on a number of
initiatives, including a Recreational Trails and Mountain Biking workshop that
took place in May in Jasper (Alberta), and an eight-day sustainable trails
workshop in Kouchibouguac National Park (New
Brunswick).
James Brown, a dedicated bike advocate and the president of the South
Island Mountain Bike Society (SIMBS), received a FOX/IMBA
Hero award at the Summit Conference. Brown's remarkable record of
volunteerism includes countless hours editing the SIMBS bi-monthly newsletter,
planning and building the innovative South Ridge Skinny project, and obtaining
more than $15,000 in donations for SIMBS.
"I am honoured to receive this award," said Brown, who happily
received a FOX shock onstage. Brown told the crowd, "The FOX/IMBA Heroes
program adds credibility to the hard work of those who are out on the front
lines creating better mountain bicycling recreation." He also commented on
the "positive environment and opportunities for sharing knowledge" at
the Summit, and wrapped it up by saying, "I'm having a blast in
Whistler."
Canadian bicycle companies showed up in force at Whistler to discuss
ways to promote bike access at home and around the world. Leading supporters of
IMBA Canada, including Bicycle
Trade Association of Canada, Kona Bicycles, NORCO,
and Rocky Mountain Bicycles, sent
representatives who participated in seminars and led discussions of how to
strengthen the bike industry's commitment to the sport.
http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/06_06/06_28_canadian_themes.html
Oak Ridges Trail
Second Pond Section pilot test
June 27, 2006
Successful
“pilot testing” of the Secord Pond
section of the Oak Ridges Trail took place June 22 and June 25. Two enthusiastic
trail users with disabilities test the new Secord
Pond Side Trail.
http://www.oakridgestrail.org/NewsDocuments/News%20releaseSecord.pdf
Official Opening of
the Purple Woods Trail
June 23, 2006
The official opening our our
trail route through the Purple Woods Conservation Area took place on Friday,
June 23rd. http://www.oakridgestrail.org/news.htm
Clarification on Mountain Bike
Access in Ontario Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves
June 15, 2006
IMBA Canada's June 13 press release, titled "IMBA
Canada Monitoring Bicycle Access in Ontario Parks and Reserves",
inspired significant attention from Ontario media and other groups. The release
accurately stated that Bill 11, currently scheduled for a final vote in Ontario
government, contains language that has the potential to limit mountain bike
access in "wilderness class" provincial parks and conservation
reserves.
Happily, last minute amendments to the Bill authorize the Minister to
make exceptions that will allow limited low-impact access - including mountain
biking - to continue at the Minister's discretion. Some media reports about
Bill 11 did not emphasize this important fact.
Subsequent to IMBA Canada's release, the Bicycle Trade Association of
Canada (BTAC) issued a release titled "Government of Ontario To Ban Bicycles from Provincial Parks". The BTAC
release did not distinguish between wilderness class parks and other provincial
park designations - important because the most popular mountain biking venues
in Ontario are not in wilderness parks or conservation reserves.
In fact, only eight of Ontario's 319 provincial parks fall under the
"wilderness class" designation, and none of these are currently
popular riding destinations. While there may not be any threat of an overnight
ban on mountain biking in Ontario's most popular riding areas, IMBA is
monitoring the progress on a Bill that has precedent-setting implications for
mountain biking nationwide.
Because there is no official forum for public comment at this time, IMBA
asks those concerned to send their comments to IMBA Canada.
IMBA Canada, BTAC and other groups monitoring Bill 11 and its potential
affects on Ontario mountain biking, strive to bring
reliable information to the public. We hope this clarification will help
Ontario cyclists understand the issue at hand. Please continue to log your
comments on this matter with IMBA Canada by writing to lora@imba.com .
IMBA Canada Monitoring Bicycle
Access in Ontario Parks and Reserves
June 13, 2006
The Ontario government has been fast tracking Bill 11 through Committee
and is prepared to proceed to third reading and a final vote this week. The
legislation affects recreational uses on millions of acres of wilderness parks
and over 300 conservation reserves, including trails used by Ontario mountain
bikers. Several special interest groups proposed amendment word changes to
status quo provisions that have been adopted and which would only permit travel
in wilderness class parks by non-mechanized means - effectively prohibiting
mountain bikes, wheelchairs and canoe portage carts. Bill 11's rapid progress
created a critical situation and a significant precedent in Canada for mountain
bike access to public lands.
Thanks to a timely and collaborative effort between the Ontario
Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Shimano Canada Ltd. and the Shimano law firm
of Lang Michener, additional last-minute changes were made to the Bill which authorize the Minister to make exceptions with respect
to travel by a mechanized means and allow existing uses to continue. While not
perfect, these changes allow low-impact recreational uses - including mountain
biking - to continue in Ontario Provincial Parks, at the discretion of the
Minister.
IMBA Canada is involved in monitoring the progress of Bill 11 and will
continue to work with groups that seek to preserve access to Ontario's Parks
and Conservation Reserves, and to work actively with the government to ensure
that mountain biking continues as a sustainable use of public lands.
IMBA Canada wants to record your comments on bicycle access in Ontario.
Please send your comments to lora@imba.com with
the subject heading ONTARIO BICYCLE ACCESS.
Shimano
Canada's Letter to the Members of the Standing Committee
Lang
Michener Legal Opinion Letter
http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/06_06/06_13_ontario_parks.html
New Tecumseth Trail opening
June 3, 2006
The New Tecumseth
Trail will be a side trail, connecting the main route of the Oak Ridges Trail,
south of Highway 9, to the community of Tottenham.
The New Tecumseth Trail follows the original route of
the Hamilton and Northwestern Railway, which opened 1877 to facilitate the
trade in stone, brick, wool, timber, coal, pulp wood, cattle, grain, and
potatoes.
The Town of New Tecumseth becomes the 12th municipality and Tottenham the 12th community directly connected to
the Oak Ridges Trail.
The new trailhead in the Tottenham Conservation Area will offer hikers an
opportunity to camp at a trail access point. They may also visit the village,
with its famous steam-operated train.
http://www.oakridgestrail.org/NewsDocuments/NewTecNewsRelease.pdf
Northumberland County does not ban
motorized use of trails
April 28, 2006
The following
is a letter from the Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Trail
Riders, a.k.a. “The Voice of Off Road
Motorcyclists in Ontario”:
Northumberland Trail Ride
Proposed Moratorium on Motorized Vehicles
Warren Thaxter
had an issue arise on Monday morning regarding the NTR Trail Ride scheduled for
May 21.
NTR had submitted an application for
a permit to hold the Northumberland Trail Ride and received a report
from the staff of Northumberland County that proposed a moratorium on
motorized vehicles rather than the
approval they were seeking. It was a very strong attempt by
staff to use the political process to sneak in a ban on
motorized use.
Experiences with council meetings in
others areas allowed the OFTR to provide some suggestions as to how to
approach the Northumberland County Council.
Warren was invited to speak to
council and presented a very strong case against the moratorium. He was
successful is getting the motion deferred. I think the councilors were wise to the strategy of the staff and
almost
said “Shame on you” to the staff. The motion was almost
completely defeated!
The councilors
in Northumberland are pro-stewardship and responsible use. They seem to have a
better
understanding than other politicians.
The second problem was the permit was
not on the agenda so I passed a note to one of the mayors reminding
them to propose a motion to approve the permits. They probably would have
figured it out but I thought a little
reminder would not hurt.
The issue made the front page of Cobourg Daily Star yesterday. Here is the last
paragraph:
"In the end, the motion,
prepared by Mr. Macmillian and Brighton Mayor
Christine
Herrington and passed unanimously, called for events
to go ahead, and for a forest
master plan to be completed by Dec. 31, 2007.
For those of you that are not aware,
Warren is a founding member of the OFTR and his signature is on the
OFTR incorporation documents from 1992. His personal
efforts have paid off after 14 years!
Ken Hoeverman
Executive Director
http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/Trail%20News/release_april28.pdf
ORTA News Release
April 3, 2006
A major
project has been launched on the Oak Ridges Moraine to encourage landowner
participation in conservation efforts. The ‘Caring for the Moraine’
Project, created by 23 conservation and environmental organizations working
together, has been launched in selected areas of the Oak Ridges Moraine to
provide co-coordinated conservation services. http://www.oakridgestrail.org/NewsDocuments/CMP_NewRelease_Apr2006.pdf
Farmers protest isolates trails
despite trail groups’ support of farmers
Saturday
February 18, 2006
“Farmers
ready to cut off land” article published in the Ottawa Sun, written by
Jon Willing. Details on how Ontario farmers are threatening to ban recreational
activities on their land if the government doesn’t heed their pleas for
financial help.
By Christopher Dunagan, cdunagan@kitsapsun.com
October 5, 2005
The popular Second Beach
Trail near LaPush has been closed indefinitely by the
Quileute Tribal Council as a 40-year-old land dispute
reaches a boiling point.
The parking area for the
trail lies within the Quileute Reservation near the
reservation’s southern boundary. Visitors hike a short distance on tribal
land before reaching Olympic National Park and continuing on to the ocean
beach.
The dispute is over the
reservation’s northern boundary. The tribe contends that Olympic National
Park staked its boundary line within the reservation near Rialto Beach, another
popular destination. To resolve the dispute over Rialto Beach, park officials
have proposed substituting land elsewhere to expand the reservation.
"The tribe has been
negotiating in good faith to resolve the boundary dispute," said Kyle
Taylor Lucas, the tribe’s executive director. "We have been
discussing lands (in the park) as potentially available. It recently came to
our attention that those lands are in a designated wilderness area."
A formal letter from the Solicitor General’s Office
states that those wilderness areas are not available for a land exchange with
the tribe. The letter came as a stunning blow to tribal officials, who believe
they have been acting as "good neighbors" by allowing park visitors
to use reservation lands, Lucas said.
Tribal Chairman Russell Woodruff Sr. said he understands why park officials
want to continue the use of Rialto Beach, one of the most visited and scenic
areas in Olympic National Park. But that’s no reason to ignore tribal
ownership and continue to use reservation lands without fair compensation. The
tribe was never consulted in the 1988 wilderness designation, he said.
Another reason the issue
has come to a head is the increased urgency resulting from the Asian tsunami,
which killed more than 200,000 people in December of last year. Because the Quileute school and many homes are
at low elevation near the ocean, the tribe has proposed moving the village to
higher ground to reduce the tsunami risk.
Land south of the
reservation could meet that need, said Lucas, but the wilderness designation
seems to quash those plans. It may be necessary to move the school to an area
near the Second Beach Trail.
The only land the park
seems to be offering, she said, are wetlands or
property not suitable for development.
"Regrettably," said Olympic National Park Superintendent Bill Laitner, "the tribal council has chosen to close
access across their lands. We are working to continue discussions and are
hopeful that visitors will once again have access to Second Beach."
U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks,
D-Belfair, who had been involved in the negotiations, said he will continue to
work on a solution.
The Third Beach Trail, also
near LaPush, remains open. For information about
coastal hiking, check www.nps.gov/Olym or call (360)
565-3100.
Taken from:
http://www.kitsapsun.com/bsun/home/article/0,2403,BSUN_19081_4133793,00.html
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Updated by Peter Kowalski –
October 11th, 2007