Kawartha Trans Canada Trail

The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail is a 44 kms linear trail that travels east to west between Peterborough County and Region of Durham. This unique four season route of historic and cultural heritage links communities, parkland, farmland and the natural environment by providing opportunities for nature appreciation and interpretation, hiking, walking, cycling, horseback riding and snowmobiling, and preserves the corridor for present and future generations.

Five Ontario Stewardship Rangers installed hand railings on the Reaboro Bridge on August 18th as well they removed the long grass along side of the trans canada trail section in the village of Omemee

Members of the Unity Church of Lindsay gather to erect their Managing Partner sign at Angeline Street Lindsay. Members from the Church have adopted a section of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail from Angeline Street - west along the trail. They are one of eleven managing partners who help manage the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail. 

Thank you to Dave Saunders and his students from the Community Based Construction Program at St.Thomas Aquinas High School Lindsay. Shelter is located next to KTCT by PickSeed - Eldon Rd Oakwood.  for the construction of a beautiful Sun Shelter along the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail near Eldon Road (Pic Seed).

June 14, 2010- 21 volunteers representing 8 out of the 11 managing partners attended an information session at Fleming College about KTCT.

Photo shows free parking for Kawartha Trans Canada Trail users who visit Fleming College. Parking is available directly north of the Student Residences on Auk Drive.

In memory of Marg Fevang the family requested funds to be donated to the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail. Ron, Jeff and Mark Fevang agreed that a stone inukshuk would be an appropriate reminder of their wife and mother and she would be very honoured to have such a trail marker erected in her memory. On May 15, 2010 the Stone Inukshuk was dedicated in her memory with over 75 people attending.

On Saturday May 15, 2010 the official unveiling of the Fred DeNure Donation Wall for the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail happen. The cloudy, cool day did not stop over 125 people from attending. Those who donate over $50 will be given a tax receipt and their name on the donation wall that is located next to the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail on the campus of Fleming College. Anyone interested in donating please email us and we will send you a donation form.

Students, teachers, Victoria Stewardship Council and Kawartha Trans Canada Trail planted 120 wildlife shrubs along the Trans Canada Trail in their effort to improve wildlife habitat.

Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Wall Map was presented to the Green Team and Students of Mariposa Public School for their continuous support in the improvement of wildlife habitat along the Trans Canada Trail by Trans Canada Director Bill Elliott.

With the asistances from the Victoria Stewardship Council and Kawartha Trans Canada Trail volunteers students from Jack Callaghan enhance the beauty of the Trans Canada Trail by planting over 150 trees and shrubs within their Environmental School Zone.

Lady Eaton Public School in Omemee invited Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Managing Partner Omemee Lions Club members Brian Brown and John Jones, President of KTCT Al MacPherson and KTCT volunteer Ron Fevang to help plant trees in the school yard and to pick up litter along the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail. Photo above is Brian Brown with two of the schools Green Team students helping plant a tree.

April 22, 2010

Over the last few weeks due to the nice weather we have had and increase in illegal use of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail by ATVs and Dirt Bikes. They are trespassing. The Police have been notified for assistance in dealing with this illegal use. If you notice this type of use while on the trail please record licence number, description of the  ATV and Dirt Bike and rider and time and date and email us with this information. DO NOT confront the individuals.

Funding and time were concerns by the Kawartha Board of Directors in preparing for a July 17th special event. A financial grant has been applied for but the decision if it is successful  will not be known in time for this year's event. Please keep checking this blog site as updates about the Kawartha Amazing Challenge will be posted.

February, 2010

 

New sculpture marks Trans Canada Trail in CKL

 

OMEMEE – A sculpture has been added to the Trans Canada Trail in Omemee where the trail borders the City of Kawartha Lakes with Peterborough County.

An inukshuk in the shape of a ‘K’ now welcomes trail users and passing cars on Emily Park Road, about half a kilometre north of Highway 7.

The artwork by Creemore-based blacksmith and sculptor Rene Petitjean was commissioned by the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association using an $8,000 grant from the provincial National Trans Canada Trail Foundation.

KTCT Association president Al MacPherson, his wife Barb MacPherson and Petitjean began designing the sculpture in August of 2009. The construction started in November and was completed this month. 

Members of the Lions clubs in Omemee and Fowlers Corners were on hand with MacPherson this month to mark the completion of the project. The Lions clubs work with the KTCT Association to maintain the portion of the trail that passes through Omemee.

 

 

Facts:

 

The sculpture is made of steel that was hammered to look like stone. It sits on a limestone base. ‘Trans Canada Trail’ and its logo are written on the base. The sculpture is designed to require no upkeep.

 

Rene Petitjean has been sculpting since 1972 and teaches at the Haliburton School for the Arts in sculpting and blacksmithing. His work can be found in public and private collections across North America, including with private collectors in the City of Kawartha Lakes.

 

 

Quotes:

 

“The sculpture lets people on Emily Park Road know we have a trail. It’s like a little billboard.”       - KTCT Association president Al MacPherson

 

“It was fun to make but the guys who work for me are upset because their arms hurt. There were 80 hours of banging.”      - Sculptor Rene Petitjean

 

 

Photo information (2 photos submitted):

 

(left to right) Jack Murphy, director (and Omemee Lions Club member) Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association; Al MacPherson, president Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association; Dave Birch, president Fowlers Corners Lions Club; Bill Hawman, president Omemee and District Lions Club; Sam Pittman, secretary and past president, Omemee and District Lions Club.

 

 

The Board of Directors for Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association would like to thank all the managing partners and volunteers for their effort and time in 2009. Without your assistance we would not be able to manage the Kawartha Trans Canada.

Students from IE Weldon Construction Trades Course build and install a boardwalk from Jack Callaghan Public School to Kawartha Trans Canada Trail to provide access for students to the trail including some students who are physically disabled. 

Students and Staff at Mariposa School carry replica Olympic Torch along section of Trans Canada Trail by their school in a warm up to the arrival of the Torch Dec 16th in Lindsay

Students and Staff at Jack Callaghan School practice carrying the replica Olympic Torch along a section of the Trans Canada Trail. The "real thing" arrives Dec. 16th, 2009 in Lindsay.

Lilac Park- located corner of Lindsay Street South and  Logie Street in Lindsay has had a new trail constructed through the park as part of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail route.  The trail will be a welcomed addition to the annual Lilac Festival held each year in May.Funds for the trail construction were provided from the National Trails Coalition.

Al MacPherson, Volunteer of the Year

The Trans Canada Trail is one of the largest volunteer projects ever under taken in Canada. Each year we honour a Volunteer of the Year who has made an exceptional contribution to the Trail.

At the AGM, Valerie Pringle announced this year’s Volunteer of the Year –Al Macpherson of Lindsay,ON.

Al has been involved with the Trail since its early years when, as adirector of the Ontario Trail Council, he attended the founding conference ofthe Trans Canada Trail in Banff and helped chart the Trail’s route acrossOntario. Today, he is a member of the Trans Canada Trail Ontario board and adriving force behind a 44-km section of the Trail in the Kawartha Lakes area insouthern Ontario. 

Al has a wealth of knowledge about recreational trails and he is committed to volunteerism and community involvement, which has driven the success of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail. It has developed an innovative model for community partners to”adopt” sections of the trail.  By involving service and church groups,municipalities and college and schools as “managing partners”, it has close to200 active volunteers and powerful links in the community.

Al is a trail visionary. He believes trails can be much more than physical routes on the ground. : With four primary schools, two secondary schools and Fleming College backing on the Trail, Al is working hard to make the Trail a resource for learning. He has played a pivotal role in the development of primary school curriculum that gets students out on the Trail for physical education, geography and biology classes.