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

May 2006

In this issue:

• Hamilton Officially Launches the new Trail between Pier 4 and Pier 8
• Cobourg boardwalk opening
• Thickson's Woods pays off meadow mortgage
• Pickering taking steps to improve water quality
• Toronto Central Waterfront Innovative Design Competition
• Bicycle Friendly Business Awards
• Velo Quebec releases new map/guidebook

Upcoming conferences and community events:

• Third Annual Port Credit Cruise for a Cause
  

Hamilton Officially Launches the new Trail between Pier 4 and Pier 8

On Saturday, May 27th, 2006, the Hamilton Waterfront Trust and the City of Hamilton hosted the official opening of the Hamilton Waterfront Trail Extension. The 675 metre extension to the Trail runs from Pier 4 to Pier 8 along Hamilton Harbour. Also being celebrated was the expansion of the Williams Coffee Pub at Pier 8 and the unveiling of the Hamilton Waterfront Trolley.

These new additions and improvements will make the waterfront a more enjoyable destination for local residents and visitors alike and are expected to benefit tourism in the area. The trail extension is one of the 52 projects that comprise the Trust’s Lake Ontario Waterfront Investment Program. Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program will contribute $9.2 million towards the 52 projects, which will be complete by March 2007.

Cobourg boardwalk opening

On May 25th, the Town of Cobourg celebrated the opening of a new addition to the Waterfront Trail, a scenic new stretch of boardwalk running along Cobourg’s West Beach. Members of the Waterfront Trust attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, which was a memorable event, complete with town crier and speeches from Cobourg Mayor Peter Delanty and former Toronto mayor and Waterfront Trust board member David Crombie.

The newly constructed boardwalk runs west from the foot of Hibernia St. to Ontario St. along Cobourg’s West Beach, bringing trail users right to the lake and allowing them to experience the beauty of Cobourg’s natural beach. Information plaques have been installed at various points along the boardwalk, containing descriptions of local wildlife and the geography of Cobourg’s waterfront. There is a short break of 45 m in the trail, which will remain until approval can be secured from a local landowner. For the time being, trail users can reconnect with the boardwalk to the west by following Durham St. to Sydenham St. to Bagot St. or they can walk along the very water’s edge.

Congratulations to the Town of Cobourg for creating a great addition to the Trail that brings Waterfront Trail users even closer to the Lake. The West Beach Project is one of 52 projects that comprise the Trust’s Lake Ontario Waterfront Investment Program.

Thickson's Woods pays off meadow mortgage

Congratulations to the Thickson's Woods Land Trust for recently paying off the mortgage on 8.5 acres of newly acquired meadow, which was otherwise slated for industrial use. The securing of this land for the Thickson's Woods Nature Reserve means continued protection for the Reserve from car fumes and noise and ensures the preservation of a natural habitat and an important migration rest stop for birds. It also means that Waterfront Trail users will continue to be treated to natural beauty on both sides of the Trail, which runs through the Reserve, separating the stunning16+ acre woods on the south, dominated by massive white pines reaching heights of more that one hundred feet, from the newly acquired meadow on the north.

The funds used to pay off the mortgage came entirely from the generous donations of the Reserve’s numerous supporters. Brian Steele writes in the Thickson's Woods Newsletter, “The continuing support we have received over the past four and one-half years has been overwhelming.” Congratulations to Thickson's Woods and its supporters for their mission accomplished!

To find out more about Thickson's Woods visit www.thicksonswoods.com.

Pickering taking steps to improve water quality

In response to a comprehensive environmental report created by the University of Toronto at Scarborough Environmental Science department, the City of Pickering has started looking at ways to improve the water quality in all creeks and streams that lead into Frenchman’s Bay.

A contract has been issued to Marshall Macklin Monaghan, who will be working with the University of Toronto at Scarborough and the TRCA to find methods to deal with sediment run-off from the transportation corridor and hard service areas in Pickering, which have had a damaging effect on local water quality. They will also be looking into sediment removal in Frenchman’s Bay and how to improve the wetlands with members of McMaster University.

A five-year implementation plan is expected to be complete by November 2006, with regular community meetings taking place to inform the public and gather input from community members.

Thanks to David Steele, chair of the Pickering Waterfront Task Force, for kindly providing us with this information. For more information, contact David Steele at dj.steele@sympatico.ca.

Toronto Central Waterfront Innovative Design Competition

The designs are in for the Central Toronto Waterfront Design Competition, an international competition sponsored by the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC). Five design teams from around the world have submitted proposals outlining their vision for a new Toronto waterfront. The area to be redesigned is a 3.5 km stretch of waterfront running between Bathurst St and Parliament St. As part of the competition requirements, all proposals have been designed to incorporate a continuous public promenade and the completion of the Waterfront Trail through that stretch. This is good news for Trail users as it involves the closing of the current gap between Spadina Ave and Yonge St. on Queen’s Quay, one of the few remaining gaps in Toronto’s Waterfront Trail!

After a public exhibition of the designs and several consultations with an advisory committee chaired by Vicki Barron, executive director of the Waterfront Trust, the jury has begun deliberations. The final decision will be announced on June 1st and the winning proposal will move directly into design development with the first phase of construction scheduled to begin in the fall.

More information can be found on the TWRC’s website at www.towaterfront.ca under “Current Projects.”

Bicycle Friendly Business Awards

The Bicycle Friendly Business Awards are awarded annually by the City of Toronto in recognition of businesses that encourage and promote and cycling by employees and/or customers. As any Toronto resident can tell you, congestion and pollution caused by high volumes of cars are a serious problem in the city. The Bicycle Friendly Business Awards reward businesses that help The City of Toronto to achieve its goal of doubling the number of bicycle trips made in the city between 2001 and 2011, as outlined in the Toronto Bike Plan. The following are signs of a bicycle-friendly business:

• A significant percentage of employees cycle to work
• Cyclist-friendly dress code
• Secure/monitored bicycle parking
• On-site shower and change facilities
• Support for community cycling functions

If you would like to nominate your business for a Bicycle Friendly Business Award, you can download a nomination form at www.toronto.ca/cycling/bfba/index.htm or request one by calling (416) 392-2577.

To learn more about the Toronto Bike Plan, visit www.toronto.ca/cycling/bikeplan/index.htm.

Velo Quebec releases new map/guidebook

Last month, our friends at Velo Quebec released the fourth edition of their official guide to the Route Verte (Quebec’s network of bikeways) called “Cycling in Quebec,” The newest edition of their cycling map/guidebook contains 118 new maps, covering over 3,600 km of bicycle paths and roadway routes called La Route Verte. It also provides all the addresses and contact information required for route planning (tourist associations, trail organizations, etc.) as well as 205 accommodations listings. It is a must have for Waterfront Trail users looking to extend their trip into the Province of Quebec. The Waterfront Trail connects to La Route Verte route number 5.Congratulations Velo Quebec for a great-looking and very helpful cycling resource.

The guide is available at bookstores, the Maison des cyclistes in Montreal or at www.velomag.com for CAD$19.95.

To learn more about the Route Verte or Velo Quebec, visit www.routeverte.com/ang/.

Upcoming Conferences and Community Events:

Third Annual Port Credit Cruise for a Cause

CharterAbility is hosting their third annual fundraising/ awareness cruise out of Port Credit on June 1st, 2006 to raise money for accessible boating. The funds will go towards building a boat that is fully accessible for groups of people with disabilities. The ticket cost is a $60 donation per person, which includes complementary hors d’oeuvres on the pier prior to departure, dinner, and a 4-hour cruise featuring music by Juno-nominated artist Chuck Jackson.

The cruise departs from Credit Village Marina at the Lighthouse in Downtown Port Credit. Arrive at 5:30 for a 6:30 departure. For more information, call (905) 844-7208 or visit www.charterability.com.

Cheers!

Vicki Barron, Executive Director;
Marlaine Koehler, Program Director;
Nikki Rendle, Project Manager;
and David Arcus, 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

Visit www.waterfronttrail.org to download 90 online colour maps of the Waterfront Trail, from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Brockville!

Thank You to our Supporters!:

• CIBC
• The Lake Ontario waterfront municipalities, conservation authorities and community groups
• The Eastern Lake Ontario St.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.