Kawartha Trans Canada Trail

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.

Jim Paterson left and Bill Elliott right were recognized by the Board of Directors of the KTCTA at the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association AGM October 20/09 for their outstanding efforts in the construction of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail. Al MacPherson President of KTCTA presents a small token of everyone's appreciation for their contribution.

Kawartha Trans Canada Trail is pleased to have received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Trans Canada Trail Foundation, Eastern Ontario Development Fund and the National Trails Coalition.

Although more signs and barriers need to be installed along the west section of the Kawartha Trans Canada trail with the assistance of the Unity Church and Al Bambra all the gates have new signs installed.

Outdoor Adventure Program Students of Fleming College, Fleming Campus working on the KTCT in cooperation with the Heavy Equipment students.

The Board of Directors Invites You To Join Us For The 1st Annual General Meeting of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association Tuesday, October 20, 2009 6:30-7:00 pm Room #158 Sir Sandford Fleming College 200 Albert Street South, Lindsay Refreshments to be provided Please RSVP to Willy Campbell, 705-324-9144 WCAMPBEL@flemingc.on.ca

The construction of the trail from the hwy 7 overpass west to Simcoe St. is now complete and the trail bed is topped with limestone and graded making for a great trail surface. This section is still technically under construction and will not be open for public use until the gates are installed and the bridge over the Mariposa Brook is repaired and decked.  The bridge decking over Mariposa Brook should be completed by the end of the week, September 18th.

The extension of the trail east of hwy 7 overpass to Angeline St. is complete, however this section is not open to the public until the gates are installed.

 The new trail across the campus property of Fleming College was completed on August 28^th.  The trail will not be opened however, until the bridges over the ditch areas adjacent to the roads are built and road crossings are properly controlled and posted with signs.  This work will be done by the college students this fall as part of the Recreation Trails Program.

 The new gates will be installed starting the week of September 14th.  Once the gates are installed the new signs will be posted to identify the trail as part of the Trans Canada Trail and to indentify unauthorized uses.

 To further control unauthorized uses we will be fencing the trail entrances at a number of the road crossings, specifically Station Road and Eldon Road.  This fencing will be contracted out and completed this fall.

 

The construction of the trail from the hwy 7 overpass west to Simcoe St. is now complete and the trail bed is topped with limestone and graded making for a great trail surface. This section is still under construction and will not be open for public use until the gates are installed and the bridge over the Mariposa Brook is repaired and decked.  The new gates will be installed starting this week.  The bridge repairs and decking over Mariposa Brook should be completed by the end of the week, September 11.

 The extension of the trail east of hwy 7 overpass to Angeline St. is almost complete and should be topped and graded by the end of the week, September 4^th. Again, this section is not open to the public until the gates are installed.

 The new trail across the campus property of Fleming College was completed on August 28^th.  The trail will not be opened however, until the bridges over the ditch areas adjacent to the roads are built.  This work will be done by the college students this fall as part of the Recreation Trails Program. Expected to be completed by mid October, 2009.

 

The winner of the I Pod Draw is:

Janice Jones-Skinner Lindsay

Secondary prizes of a pedometer were won by:

Barb Boyd- Lindsay

Stacy Meenan- Lindsay

Thank you to all who submitted a ballot and remember to check this web site regularly and keep using the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail.

Work has started on sections of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail on Sir Sandford Fleming College property. It is expected that the trail will be completed on their property by end of August.

Barry Devolin MP for City of Kawartha Lakes gathers with trail volunteers on the KTCT near Mariposa Public School to officially annouce funding for the construction of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail in the amount of $75,450.00

FOR YOUR FREE TRANS CANADA TRAIL INTERPRETATIVE PODCAST VISIT OUR HOSTING SITE FOR THIS PODCAST: www.greentrailsalliance.ca

EMAIL US TO LET US KNOW HOW YOU LIKE THE PODCAST.

“New” Special Event Policy

 

 

The Board of Directors for the KTCTA would like to encourage special events to occur along the trail such as fund raising events. In order to ensure there are no trail use conflicts refer to the Special Event Policy and Application process by clicking on Laws and Policy section in the menu.

Trail Information Spring 2009

 

 

The snow has gone and thoughts are now about cycling, walking, hiking and horseback riding. Generally, the trail is in good shape with some small areas that needs to be repaired due to some illegal use. This winter there was a significant increase in snowmobile use, snowshoeing and cross country skiing along the trail. The tread surface is soft and we encourage users to wait until it dries out - three or four days of continuous sun would make it better for travel.

 

There are plans to install more signs and barriers this spring. New directional signs will be erected near the Highway 36 Bridge connecting to downtown Lindsay. A new map for the East KTCT has been produced and is available at tourism offices in Lindsay and Peterborough, as well as some local businesses. A brochure about the entire trail is available. The three public schools along the east section of the trail have adopted sections of the trail as their environmental school zone and will soon be planting wildlife shrubs and installing blue bird nesting boxes.

 

Four managing partners have signed an agreement to help manage the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail – Eastern section. These partners are: Fowler’s Corner Lions Club, Omemee Lions Club, Village of Reaboro Residents and Kawartha Lakes Green Trails Alliance. The trail has been divided into managing zones and each of these partners will help maintain their section.

 

Funding Grants have been submitted for upgrading the west section of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail that connects to Durham Region- Uxbridge. We are optimistic the grant submissions will be successful and we will have another 20 km of high quality trail constructed by September, 2009.

 

We are always looking for volunteers check out the volunteer section of the blog for more information.

 

Check the Blog regularly for updates as to what is happen.

The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association, Director Doug Baker and President of Heart of Ontario Snowmobile Club is pleased to announce that the WEST section of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail is open for snowmobiling. The west section stretches from Highway #7 by Lindsay to Durham Road #2 (Simcoe Street) and beyond. There are a number of interconnecting Ontario Federation Snowmobile Clubs(OFSC) trail routes off this main corridor check out their web site: www.heartofontario.ca

The Trail is an official OFSC sanctioned trail and requires a trail permit that can be purchased at outlets listed on their web web site. The East section of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail is not officially open. Efforts are being made to have this section manged by an OFSC Club.

For more information contact: Doug Baker by email- use email address listed on web site or check out the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club web site: www.ofsc.com

 

Interested in becoming a volunteer with the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association? Please see the attached Volunteer Package for more information.

A map of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail was presented to former Director Blane Harvey on December 12th, 2008 for his commitment to the efforts of the Association. Blane has stepped down as a director due to a recent promotion to Vice President of Sir Sandford Fleming College. We wish Blane all the best.

Check out the "Projects" page for a NEW link to the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Outdoor Classroom Lesson Plans commissioned by the Kawartha Lakes Green Trails Alliance.

Township of Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield - A potential hazard on a section of the Trans Canada Trail east of Hwy 7 has been brought to our attention. There is a deep depression on the trail (sinkhole) just North of Lily Lake Road.  The trail actually crosses Lily Lake Road at Stockdale. The Township has graciously erected a couple of barriers at this location in order to limit the potential for serious injury. Although this is not a section of trail managed by the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association, we want to make trail users aware of the potential hazard.

      On October 16th the Lindsay Post reported that over the Thanksgiving  weekend a police ATV patrol conducted a check in the former Emily Township that resulted in five ATV-related charges.
     What wasn't mentioned in that report is that the charges were laid against ATVs that were on the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail. 
    Our Association has worked hard to prevent ATV use on the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail: there are signs at each access point, bollards to prevent entry, and rocks strategically placed to stop ATVs from ducking around the bollards.
     We--and the many trail users concerned about ATV use--appreciate the efforts of the police to monitor ATV use.
   
    For a detailed explanation of and rationale for our policy on motorized use of the Trail, refer to the FAQ section of the blog.

With the Official Opening just a week away,  the Trail surface in fine shape, and some signage in place, the Operations Committee, under the direction of Jim Paterson, continues to make improvements.  Jim sent in this report:

 This next phase includes the placement of rocks adjacent to each of the sets of bollards at various intersection locations between Lindsay and Omemee. This will further restrict access to the trail by motorized vehicles such as ATV’s.  In addition, there are existing drainage problems on each side of the section of the trail just east of the Slanted Road. We are having some ditching work done on this section and also having a culvert installed to move the water away from this area of the trail.  Once the ditching and culvert work is done we will have the trail re-graded.   

You can check out photos taken by Bill Elliott in a gallery.  One photo shows the old bridge just west of the hamlet of Reaboro. This bridge did not have any decking on it and was recently covered by our KTCT volunteer from Reaboro, Denis Grignon. Thanks Denis! 

No fewer than four elementary schools have schoolyards adjacent to  the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail.

On August 28th, staff at three of these schools were presented with a set of ten lesson plans.  These lessons, intended for grade 4-6 classes and linked to Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum expectations, were commissioned by the Kawartha Lakes Green Trails Alliance with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health.
 Promotion.

In the photo you see Green Trails Directors Ellen Woodward and Marg Fevang turning over the binder and a knapsack packed with field guides, magnifiers, and bug boxes to Jack Callaghan principal Kathy Spaeth. 

The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Alliance has been able to arrange assistance from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources' Stewardship Rangers Program to do trail maintenance on Monday, July 28th, and Tuesday, July 29th, along the section of the Trans Canada Trail from the Pigeon River bridge in Omemee eastwards towards Fowler's Corners.  They will be picking up litter and removing brush that overhangs the trail.

Please note that the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail is not fully operational. Sections of the trail will be under construction late summer/early fall to improve conditions and offer the user a more enjoyable trail experience. Thank you for your patience.

  

     On Tuesday, October 7th, with the Lindsay to Omemee section completed, we celebrated the official opening.  In the afternoon, under blue skies, Valerie Pringle, TCT Chair, cut the ribbon in Omemee as the 500 schoolchildren thronging the trail cheered. At 7:00, in Fleming College's Crombie Theatre, a crowd heard from KTCT President Al MacPherson and Valerie Pringle, enjoyed a slide show presented by Dan Andrews, head of the Ontario Trans Canada Association, and heard singer David Archibald singing a song composed for the event. 

Here's how Jeanne Pengelly, Communications Officer for the Trillium Lakeland Board of Education, described the Omemee event:

   "The only thing bigger than their smiles, were their hurrahs. As students from Lady Eaton Elementary School and Scott Young Public School in Omemee formed an audience to the east and west, national television personality Valerie Pringle cut the red ribbon to officially open the newest section of the TransCanada Trail. The section, from Omemee to Lindsay, was completed this summer. The trail runs behind both Omemee schools.
    To celebrate the event, entertainers, dignitaries, neighbours, teachers, principals, cyclists, walkers, and even a horseback rider joined the students in the yard of Lady Eaton Elementary School. "This is spectacular, wonderful country," said Pringle, who is also chairperson of the Trans Canada Trail. "You and this trail right here connect you like a thread to all of Canada. It is a magnificent dream, and it's yours."
     The longest trail in the world is being completed section by section, by local volunteers and donations. Karen Cook, co-ordinator of Community Relations for the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association, told students they would be the "guardians of the Earth in the future."
    "I almost get teary," Cook said as she prepared for the event. "To me it's about preserving the environment and giving future generations a place where they can enjoy it. What better place to hold this event than here at the schools, where we can open a window for those future generations."
    Lady Eaton Elementary School Principal B.J. Mailloux-Brown urged students to look to their own backyards. "Leave the computers, the cell phone, the electronic games," she said. "Put on your sneakers or your skis or your snow shoes. It's all about connecting with nature and connecting with each other. It's very exciting that this is right here in our back yard."
    Scott Young Public School Principal David Sornberger said the event is exciting for students, who already use the path for science classes, Terry Fox Runs, bike trips, and phys ed classes."

Pictures of both events will be posted in a gallery shortly.  We will also be posting David Archibald's song as an audio file. 

About The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail

The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail will be 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.

 

The upgrade of the tread surface of our Trail from Lindsay to Omemee was made possible by a grant from The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario and one of Canada’s leading grantmaking foundations. In awarding this $75,000 Community Program Grant to the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail c/o Kawartha Lakes Green Trails Alliance, the OTF noted that the Trail-work “will improve its use and create opportunities for recreational activities for residents and visitors.”

The Trail upgrade is now underway and will be completed by September.