Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail News

An Ezine Produced by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust

CIBC* COIP*The Lake Ontario waterfront municipalities, conservation authorities and community groups*The Eastern Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Waterfront Working Group MapArt* Niagara Freewheelers Bicycle Touring Club* Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee St. Lawrence Cement* Tilley Endurables

February 2005

In this issue:

• Response to the Proposed Drinking Water Source Protection Act
• Waterfront Trailhead Signage Program Underway
• Join us at the Toronto International Bike Show, March 4th-6th
• Waterfront Trail Brochures, Order Yours
• Comment on the Ontario Trails Strategy
• Waterfront Trail Updates
• Volunteer Opportunities with Friends of Second Marsh, March Break, and Name Our Golf Tournament Contest

Response to the Proposed Drinking Water Source Protection Act

In response to the Provincial government’s call for comments on its two committee reports dealing with the proposed Drinking Water Source Protection Act, CELA has prepared a comprehensive report.
Many of you will know that CELA has played an influential role in the development of this landmark legislation and was instrumental in pushing the government to commit to creating a strategy to protect our drinking water.

In their recent work on this critical subject, CELA reviews a number of issues that must be addressed if the legislation is to succeed . For the full-text of CELA’s letter visit: www.cela.ca/publications/cardfile.shtml?x=2134 or www.thewaterhole.ca

Waterfront Trailhead Signage Program Underway

Since printing the Waterfront Trail Mapbook in 1999 there have been several changes to the alignment of the Trail including the eastern extension from Belleville to the Quebec border. The Trust would like to reflect these new changes in updated trailhead signs of the Trail. In cooperation with DunMap and our waterfront partners, draft artwork has been developed for the new trailhead signs. In order to meet our goal to install the signs this year we will be conducting meetings with our waterfront partners in the month of March to finalize the artwork and identify locations for installing the signs.

Join Us at the Toronto International Bike Show, March 4th-6th

The Trust is pleased to be participating again at the Bike Show. We’ll be promoting our redesigned website and webmaps as well as giving out our new brochure that highlights six weekend trip itineraries on the Waterfront Trail. Hope to see you there!

For more information on the Bike Show visit www.bicycleshowtoronto.com.

Waterfront Trail Brochures—Order Yours

We have replenished our stock of Waterfront Trail brochures and would be happy to fill your order. Just give us a call at 416-943-8080 or email us at nr@wrtrust.com with delivery information and quantity of your order.

Comment on the Ontario Trails Strategy

In last month’s ezine we told you about the Minister’s Advisory Committee on Trails recently created by the Ontario government to help develop an Ontario Trails Strategy. The committee will advise the Minister on trail issues such as:

• economic sustainability;
• landowner concerns;
• safety;
• road rights-of-way;
• active living;
• environmental and cultural heritage impacts; and
• tourism development.

Based on input from the Committee, the Ministry has been holding a series of Stakeholder Consultations throughout January and February. A summary of the information collected during these meetings is now available for review on the Environmental Registry and the MTR website. This is the trail community’s opportunity to provide comments on the information received.

To view the highlights from the workshops go to:
http://www.tourism.gov.on.ca/english/sportdiv/rec/stakeholder-slides.pdf.

Written submissions may be made between February 18, 2005 and March 20, 2005. Comments should be directed to:
Kathy Mott - Project Coordinator
Sport and Recreation Branch
4th Floor, 400 University Ave
Toronto, Ontario, M7A 2R9
PHONE: (416) 314-7187 FAX: (416) 314-7458

Waterfront Trail Update

Dock Expansion - Port Whitby Marina
Bob Short from the Town of Whitby provided us with the following update on Whitby’s Waterfront Trail section. The Port Whitby Marina, operated by Whitby's Community and Marketing Services Department, recently opened its new Marina Club House to serve marina boaters, community needs and the users of the Waterfront Trail. The marina contains 400 seasonal slips for vessels up to 70 feet in length and visitor dockage for vessels up to 125 feet in length. Whitby Council has now approved funding for the construction of a new pier to accommodate 15 new seasonal slips and an additional 5 visitor slips.

Bicycles are available to the registered boaters to access the waterfront trail or to ride into Whitby's historic downtown area. For more information contact the Whitby Marina at 905-668-1900 or go to www.whitby.ca.

Volunteer Opportunities with Friends of Second Marsh

Friends of Second Marsh is getting ready for some March Break fun, and are looking for dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who are interested in working with children.
Volunteers are needed for the following days:

• Monday, March 14, 2005 - Signs of Spring at Ontario Power Generation Darlington Nuclear, 9am to 3 pm
  Volunteers will be working outdoors assisting children with crafts and activities. Hot dogs and hot chocolate will be available for the volunteers and the public.
• Tuesday, March 15, 2005 and Thursday, March 17, 2005 - Windreach Farms, 9 am - 2 pm
  Volunteers will be assisting children with crafts.

For more information contact Wioletta Walanick at ww.secondmarsh@rogers.com.

Friends of Second Marsh’s Name Our Golf Tournament Contest

Friends of Second Marsh is holding its first ever golf tournament on Wednesday, September 21st at Lakeridge Links (Funds raised will go towards the Great Lakes Wetlands Centre) and the tournament needs a name! Second Marsh will be collecting suggestions until March 5th. If your idea is selected you could win a 4 person tent with Pullman Cooler, a $275 value.
Submit your ideas by March 5th to:
Chris Conti, Executive Director, Friends of Second Marsh,
206 King Street East, P.O. Box 26066, R.P.O. King Street, Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 8R4
Fax: (905) 723-4762 , e-mail to cc.secondmarsh@rogers.com

Cheers!
Vicki Barron, Executive Director;
Marlaine Koehler, Program Director;
and Nikki Rendle, Editor Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail News

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust
372 Richmond Street West, Suite 308
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 1X6
Tel: 416-943-8080
Fax: 416-943-8068
Email: nr@wrtrust.com
www.waterfronttrail.org

Purchase your copy of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail Mapbook at Mountain Equipment Co-op (400 King Street West) and Sporting Life Stores in Toronto (1-877-772-2262 to find a store location near you).

Thank You to our Supporters!:

• CIBC
• The Lake Ontario waterfront municipalities, conservation authorities and community groups
• The Eastern Lake Ontario­St.Lawrence Waterfront Working Group
• MapArt
• Niagara Freewheelers Bicycle Touring Club
• Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee
• St. Lawrence Cement
• Tilley Endurables
• The Trust would also like to thank the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program (COIP) for its generous support of the 51 projects that comprise the Lake Ontario Waterfront Investment Program.