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Waterfront Trail and Greenway News
An Ezine Produced by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust
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COIP*The waterfront municipalities of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, conservation authorities and community groups* MapArt* Dun-Map*Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee* The MMM Group* Heart and Strok Foundation* Mountain Equipment Co-op* Toronto Cyclists Union
November 2008
In this issue:
- Great Waterfront Trail Adventure – What’s New
- Please Send Us Your Map Updates
- Waterfront Investment Program - Phase II
- Ontario Cycle Tourism Forum 2009 – Register Now for Early Bird Discount
- New Waterfront Trail through Rhododendron Gardens in Mississauga
- Waterfront Trail Improvements at Ontario Place
GREAT WATERFRONT TRAIL ADVENTURE – WHAT’S NEW
New Package for Families
The Trust is pleased to announce the introduction of a new package to
the 2009 tour, which is specially designed for families who want to take
part in a shorter adventure. This year we are offering a One Night Adventure
(2 days, 1 night, July 5th & 6th) at a discounted rate of $250 for
the whole family (2 youth/2 adults,10 and under free). The package includes
an overnight at Fort York, free entrance to Ontario Place and 2 days of
fully supported riding. The GWTA truly is for families!
Ontario Place On Board for 2009
The Trust is pleased to announce that Ontario Place will be partnering
with us on the 2nd Annual GWTA, providing free passes to participants.
Riders arriving in Fort York on Day 2 will have the opportunity to drop
their gear and walk the short distance to Ontario Place to enjoy all great
activities the park has to offer.
Website Updates
We’ve just completed a full update of the GWTA website for 2009,
including itineraries, training sessions and an all-new photo gallery.
Check out pictures from the 2008 tour at http://www.waterfronttrail.org/gwta_web/photo_gallery.htm.
The next step for the website involves a complete French translation of
the GWTA site with support from the Ministry of Health Promotion. The
translated site will be launched in mid-December.
Survey Results
The Trust has now completed 3 phases of surveys of GWTA participants.
The surveys have yielded some extremely encouraging results about the
long-term benefits of the GWTA.
Some findings from the Survey:
- The GWTA succeeded in appealing to a broad base of people beyond the cycling enthusiasts. We had 30 kids (aged 17 and under). Over 1⁄2 of the people came with families and friends, had never ridden in a multi-day cycling tour and rated themselves as only “somewhat” fit in the pre-trip survey. 75% said they felt more fit after the ride (no surprise there!). 40 people have signed up for next year already.
- In terms of trail use, the GWTA led people to use the Trail more often and 56% said they were more likely to use the Trail to commute having been on the GWTA!
- 83% said they’d visit the communities again and we’ve heard from at least two groups who did.
- The third piece of the survey is complete. 40% of participants indicated that they have increased their use of the Trail since the GWTA.
For more survey results, please contact David Arcus at da@wrtrust.com.
PLEASE SEND US YOUR MAP UPDATES
The Ministry of Natural Resources is collecting mapping data on behalf
of the Ministry of Health Promotion for the Ontario Trails Strategy. Thanks
to our partnership with DunMap, the WRT is able to supply MNR with GIS
information required. All the trail mapping data will be used to produce
a Provincial Trails Map.
With this in mind, we are asking our partners to please take a moment
to check the Waterfront Trail maps on our website (http://www.waterfronttrail.org/trail.html)
and inform us of any changes/inaccuracies.
The updates you send us will also be incorporated into the next edition
of the Waterfront Trail and Greenway Mapbook to be released
early next year as well as in the digital webmaps available on the Trust
site.
Please send updates to David Arcus at da@wrtrust.com.
WATERFRONT INVESTMENT PROGRAM – PHASE II
Thanks to all our partners who submitted projects for the Trust’s
Waterfront Investment Program - Phase II. We have received a wide range
of exciting projects, all contributing substantially to completing and
enhancing Ontario’s Waterfront Trail. We have been busy compiling
the projects into our proposal, which we will soon begin marketing to
the federal and provincial staff and politicians.
The proposal involves:
- 25 projects
- 14 partners (municipalities, community groups and conservation authorities)
- Total estimated budget for all projects $12.5 million
Investment will result in:
- Closure of 2 major gaps in the Waterfront Trail including the most contentious and dangerous one between Whitby and Ajax.
- 14 project move the Trail closer to the water’s edge
- over 15 km of new Waterfront Trail and trail linkages
- 4 new waterfront parks
- 3 bridges
- Improvements to 12 parks
- Interpretation of 7 waterfront habitats
- 2 habitat restoration projects
We’ll be sure to keep you posted as things move forward.
Note: If you have a project to submit and have not yet contacted us, please
contact David Arcus immediately at da@wrtrust.com
or (416) 943-8080.
ONTARIO CYCLE TOURISM FORUM 2009 –REGISTER NOW FOR EARLY
BIRD DISCOUNT
Mark your calendars! The Ontario Cycle Tourism Forum,
is taking place on January 23, 2009 at the Fairmont Royal
York Hotel in Toronto. The Trust is partnering on this innovative event
and we encourage our partners to attend.
Early Bird Registration is now available at www.ontariocycletourismforum.ca.
The Ontario Cycle Tourism Forum will bring together leading cycle tourism
stakeholders to discuss business development opportunities and challenges
of this growing tourism market segment in Ontario.
Confirmed special guest speakers include:
- The Honourable Monique Smith, Ontario Minister of Tourism
- Jean-François Pronovost, Executive Director, Vélo Québec Association
- Lukas Stadtherr, Co-director, Velobüro/SwitzerlandMobility
- Eric Nijland, Director, Dutch National Cycling Platform
- Richard Bonds, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Tourism Office
Interactive panel discussions will include:
- Bill Allen, President, Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
- Councillor Brian Baty, Chair, Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee
- Leslie Bruce, Chief Marketing Officer, Butterfield and Robinson Inc.
- Jean Charbonneau, Manager, Lands, National Capital Commission
- Daniel Egan, Manager, Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure, City of Toronto
- Anne Marie Forcier, Executive Director, Rideau Heritage Route
- Marlaine Koehler, Executive Director, Waterfront Regeneration Trust
- Michael Lawley, Executive Director, Muskoka Tourism
- Pat Macdonald, General Manager and CEO, St. Lawrence Parks Commission
- Burkhard Mausberg, President, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation
- Janice Thomson, Executive Director, Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau
Visit www.ontariocycletourismforum.ca
to see the full agenda.
The forum will feature presentations from world-leading cycle tourism
organizations and provide market profiles of specific regions, successful
tourist product and marketing examples, business development case studies,
best practices in infrastructure and signage, and evaluation of regional
growth opportunities.
Over 150 delegates are expected to attend from across Ontario representing
destination marketing organizations, municipal and provincial government,
non-profit organizations, tour operators and established cycling associations.
The forum will be critical for anyone wanting to learn why cycle tourism
is growing in Ontario, how to develop your own local market, and what
will be the next steps for establishing Ontario as a leading cycle tourism
destination in North America.
We look forward to seeing you there!
NEW WATERFRONT TRAIL THROUGH RHODODENDRON GARDENS IN MISSISSAUGA
The City of Mississauga has recently completed a great new stretch of
paved Waterfront Trail through the Rhododendron Gardens. The trail moves
people through gardens along a winding and wooded path between Lakeshore
Rd and Ben Machree Park. Congrats to the City on this great addition to
the Mississauga Waterfront Trail.
WATERFRONT TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS AT ONTARIO PLACE
From: Waterfront Toronto
Construction has started on trail reconstruction of the Martin Goodman
Trail at Ontario Place. The existing trail, which runs along the water’s
edge, will continue to be open without disruption during the construction.
The transformation of the newly aligned trail includes extending the trail
from Marilyn Bell Park to the existing trail within Coronation Park at
Strachan Avenue. Planned for completion in summer 2009, the trail will
be bordered by trees and plants, and will run parallel to Lake Shore Boulevard
on the south side to accommodate a variety of uses.
Cheers!
Marlaine Koehler, Executive Director;
Vicki Barron, Director of Administration and Special Projects;
Petrina Tulissi, Manager of Promotions and Events;
Ian Lobb, Tour Director, Great Waterfront Trail Adventure
Tour; and
and David Arcus, Project Coordinator, 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: info@wrtrust.com
Visit http://www.waterfronttrail.org
to download 77 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 Ontario Trillium Foundation
- The Heart and Stroke Foundation
- The Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion
- MapArt
- Dunmap
- Niagara Freewheelers Bicycle Touring Club
- Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee
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