Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail News

An Ezine Produced by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust

March 2004

In this issue:

• Torontonians Love Their Waterfront
• Presentation to the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association (ORFA)
• Bike Show Success
• Urban Trails and Trail Tourism Conference
• Managing Our Waters Conference: Great Lakes /St. Lawrence River Ecosystem
• Upcoming Spring Events:
  • Rattray Marsh Annual Spring Clean-up
  • Thicksons Woods 4th Annual Pancake Breakfast
  • The George Hostick Ride
  • Events at the Brighton Barn Theatre
  • Forever Plaid at the Northumberland Players

Torontonians Love Their Waterfront

Between January 17th and 24th the City of Toronto held public consultation sessions to find out what residents value about Toronto. More than 1,000 people turned out to attend the workshops. Nikki Rendle from our office attended one of the workshops and found that several people highlighted the importance of having access to the Toronto waterfront. Its evident that many other Torontonians share this view as in the final report presented to the budget advisory committee and the policy and finance committee, the majority of participants stated that they felt being situated on the shoreline of Lake Ontario makes the city unique. The recreational opportunities of Lake Ontario∂s waterfront were also highlighted as being a valuable characteristic of Toronto. Participants also felt that cycling and walking trails in Toronto give people access to reconnect with nature. Also mentioned by participants in the report is the potential of this natural environment to attract visitors to the city.

To view the rest of the report and other information on the workshop sessions go to www.toronto.ca/listeningtotoronto/.

Presentation to the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association (ORFA)

The ORFA is a provincially recognized nonprofit association with member representation from municipalities, government agencies and community recreation facilities. The Association provides a variety of services to its members including professional development activities, networking, regional information workshops and formal accreditation through a registration program. Many of members of the ORFA are involved in building and maintaining the Waterfront Trail.

This past February the ORFA held a regional information session for their members where Vicki gave a presentation on the Waterfront Trail highlighting the collaborative efforts with waterfront municipal and community partners. Vicki emphasized to the representatives from the waterfront communities their important role as trail ambassadors, especially for those trail users that are exploring the trail routes between communities. She stressed the importance of good trail directional signage to the positive experience of the trail user.

For more information on the ORFA visit their website at www.orfa.com

Bike Show Success

Earlier this month the staff members of the Trust and some of our End-to-Enders Peter and Alex Reimer and Kathlene Willing were on hand at the Toronto International Bike Show to generate awareness about the Waterfront Trail. The show was a great success. The show organizers report that attendance numbers were up from last year∂s event and the Trust received lots of positive feedback about the Trail, selling over 140 Mapbooks and distributing over 1,000 brochures. As cyclists are one of our key target audiences the show provided a great venue to emphasize the recreational opportunities of the Trail. Thanks to our End-to-Enders for all your help at the show!

Urban Trails and Trail Tourism Conference

The Ontario Trails Council in conjunction with the City of Peterborough and their conference planning partners will be hosting a conference and general meeting from Friday April 30 to Sunday May 2, 2004. Workshops will examine the positive impacts that urban trails have for municipal residents as well as looking at ways to promote trails through recreational tourism.

For more information and to register go to www.ontariotrails.on.ca.

Managing our Waters Conference: The Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River Ecosystem

The St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences (SLRIES) in partnership with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne will be hosting its 11th Annual International Conference on the St. Lawrence River Ecosystem. This year∂s conference will highlight research that addresses the challenges of managing water levels and explores the various impacts on the system resulting from water level changes. The theme also highlights the inherent connectivity between the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Many of the sessions are being lead by co-chairs of the Technical Working Groups of the Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Water levels study. Much of the research is the final results of a three-year study by eminent scientists in their fields.

For more information visit http://www.losl.org/twg/techboards-e.html

Upcoming Spring Events:

Rattray Marsh Spring Clean-Up

The Rattray Marsh Protection Association is calling for volunteers to lend a hand as they undertake a number of projects to improve the Rattray Marsh Conservation Area.

Join them on Saturday April 17th from 9am to noon to participate in the annual spring clean-up of the marsh. This summer volunteers are also needed to help with a range of projects such as boardwalk and sign maintenance and vegetation management.

For more information on Rattray Marsh activities contact the Rattray Marsh Protection Association at 905-823-1572 or Jim Hastings at Credit Valley Conservation at 905-670-1615 ext. 243.

Thicksons Woods 4th Annual Pancake Breakfast

On Saturday May 8th join the Thicksons Wood Land Trust from 9am to noon for a pancake breakfast/bake sale to raise funds to help pay off the mortgage on The Meadow. The purchase of the meadow by the land trust has provided a route for the Waterfront Trail to pass through the heart of the Thicksons Woods Nature Reserve.
Coming in September - the third annual Nature Festival at Thicksons Woods. This is a family event with many exciting activities for kids and adults.

For more information on Thicksons Woods, visit their website at www. thicksonswoods.com

The George Hostick Ride

On Saturday May 8th the Lions Clubs of St. Catharines will host the Journey for Sight, a 40 km bike ride around St. Catharines (part of the ride is along a pretty section of the Waterfront Trail!). Proceeds will go to supporting sight handicapped citizens in the area. Anyone able to ride is invited to take part in this annual community event. Pledge forms are available at Avondale Stores throughout the Niagara region.

For more information contact Lion Ron Brenneman 905-935-9707 or Lion George Hostick 905-938-8457.

Events at the Brighton Barn Theatre

From April 21st to May 8th 2004, 8 PM, Wednesday through Saturday the Barn presents Barefoot In The Park by Neil Simon. Tickets go on sale beginning Monday, March 22nd. All seats $12.00.

Friday, June 11th and Saturday, June 12th 8 PM, a new local Black Light Theatre Group called ∏The Light Magicals present A Little Light Magic a show for ALL ages. All seats $12.00.

July 1, 2004, Canada Day celebrations. Opens at 10 AM. A full day of entertainment presented on the Barns outside stage by Save Our Heritage Organization. Free admission. Bring a lawn chair, an appetite and be prepared for some of the areas best entertainers all day!

For more information on these and other upcoming events visit www.brightonbarntheatre.ca or call 613-475-2144

Forever Plaid at the Northumberland Players

The Northumberland Players will be performing the musical Forever Plaid in the stunningly restored Victoria Hall in Cobourg from July 29 to August 15, 2004. Ticket prices range from $32 to $20. Call the Concert Hall Box Office 905-372-2210.

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 Canadian Ontario Infrastructure Program (COIP) for its generous support of the 51 projects that comprise the Lake Ontario Waterfront Investment Program.