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

November 2004

In this issue:

• Minutes of the 2004 Annual Waterfront Partners’ Meeting
• Velo Quebec Conference
• New Kijimba Kind Sculpture Unveiled in Pickering
• Waterfront Trail Update from Whitby
• David Crombie Becomes a Member of the Order of Canada
• Upcoming Waterfront Events: Friends of Second Marsh’s Wetland Stomp, February 4th, 2005

Minutes of the 2004 Annual Waterfront Partners’ Meeting

The Trust convened its annual partners meeting on November 5th, 2004. Glen Dobbin, General Manager of Ontario Place generously hosted the meeting and welcomed approximately 40 partners.

1. Launch of the Trans Canada Trail Ontario Economic Impact Study

Earl Williams of Price Waterhouse Coopers, presented a summary of the results of the economic impact study. The study examined the potential regional and province-wide economic impacts of the entire Ontario portion of the Trans Canada Trail based on Ontario’s 12 Travel Regions.
Earl highlighted how the outcome of the economic impact study indicates that all users' recurrent non-durable good and durable good expenditures, as well as trail maintenance expenditures on an annual basis will result in the following impacts:

• A total of $1.97 billion in value added (income) in the province will be sustained each year in total by all Trail users’ non-durable good expenditures;
• The local governments in the study region are expected to collect over $0.3 million per year as a result of ongoing trail maintenance;
• Total recurrent tax collections will add to about $1.04 billion annually for all levels of government, of which nearly $140.7 million per year will remain with local governments in Ontario.

The study also highlights the importance of marketing and promotion efforts to achieve significant economic impacts. It is imperative that communities work together to encourage the development of the infrastructure, businesses and services to support trail users.

Valerie Pringle of the Trans Canada Trail was on hand to facilitate the question and answer period during which some of our partners expressed an interest in more information on the health benefits of trails to further promote trails as an active part of living.

To download a copy of the Trans Canada Trail Economic Impact Study: www.tctrail.ca/index.php?section_id=7&lang=en&text_id=5946&

2. Launch of the Waterfront Trail Website

Marlaine Koehler, Program Director for the Trust, officially launched the updated website by outlining how trip planning is now even easier for cyclists, hikers and tourists.
Marlaine detailed how the website received over one million visits during a 5-month period in 2004. A key feature of the site are the web maps of the Trail based on information provided by MapArt, a long-time supporter of the Trail. There are about 90 full colour maps covering 740kms of Trail available to be downloaded and printed for free. The maps will be used to create the Trailhead signs that will be installed in 31 municipalities connected by the Waterfront Trail.

Nikki Rendle, Project Coordinator, gave a demonstration of the site. She highlighted the easy navigation of the site contents including the webmaps. Also shown was the updated information on what to see and where to stay along the Trail in the community profiles.

3. The Business of Attracting Trails Tourism

Ian Lobb, Sales and Marketing Director for Steve Bauer Bike Tours and Mike Lalonde, Executive Manager, Cornwall and Seaway Valley gave presentations on how communities and businesses benefit from Trail development.

Although located in Niagara, Steve Bauer Bike Tours offers a variety of trips to bikers of every age and ability, through some of the most beautiful landscapes the world has to offer. Ian Lobb provided our partners with a sense of how the Waterfront Trail is already playing a role in cycling tourism. A recent trip that his company organized on the eastern part of the Waterfront Trail confirmed that people enjoyed seeing what Lake Ontario’s waterfront communities have to offer.

For more information on Steve Bauer Bike Tours go to: www.stevebauer.com

At last year’s partners’ meeting, representatives from communities east of Brockville expressed an interest in joining the Waterfront Trail. Mike Lalonde took our partners on a tour of the largely off-road trail that exists from Morrisburg to the Quebec border (90km). Among the benefits described by the Cornwall and Seaway Valley Tourism to working with the Trust and joining the Waterfront Trail was the expanded market reach. The Trust is pursuing this opportunity further.

For more information on Cornwall and Seaway Valley Tourism go to www.cornwalltourism.com

Since the partners’ meeting the Waterfront Regeneration Trust Board of Directors agreed in principle to extend the Trail east to the Quebec border, subject to local municipal approvals and funding partnerships. We will keep you updated on any progress.

4. Cooperative Communications Program Update

Marlaine provided a summary of the many accomplishments achieved under the Collaborative Communications and Promotion Program. Highlights of our collective accomplishment include:

• raised the media profile of the Trail;
• conducted a Trail User Survey;
• convened regular Partner’s meetings featuring speakers from leading trail organizations such as Velo Quebec, the Seaway Trail and the Coastal Ohio Trails;
• published a new Trail brochure that promotes the Trail’s week-end vacation possibilities;
• published print advertising in local recreational and tourism brochures;
• developed new Trailhead Signs;
• expanded the Trail eastward to Brockville;
• transformed the already popular website into an easy to use trip planner for trail users.

A detailed report on the 2004 Accomplishments will be published in the December Ezine.

Velo Quebec Conference

Nikki and Vicki of the Trust recently attended Velo Quebec’s Tourism and Cycling Conference held in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Inspired by the anticipated completion of the 4,000km La Route Verte by 2007, almost 250 participants attended the conference to discuss the development and marketing of bike tourism. The conference had international representation with participants from Ontario, New Brunswick, British Columbia, the US, France and Germany. Vicki gave a presentation on the Waterfront Trail in the revitalization and tourism stream of the conference to introduce the Trail to the Quebec market and highlight the achievements and leadership of our partners. The Waterfront Trail was also featured in the October edition of the Tourisme et Velo magazine that was not only distributed at the Sherbrooke conference but will be used at other conferences and events across Quebec.

For more information about La Route Verte visit www.routeverte.com

New Kijimba Kind Sculpture Unveiled in Pickering

The latest sculpture by artist Dorsey James entitled, “Mermaid” has recently been installed at the intersection of Liverpool Road and Krosno, the gateway to Pickering’s waterfront. Landscaping and planting of local grasses and flowers will take place in spring 2005.

Waterfront Trail Update from Whitby

Bob Short from the Town of Whitby has reported that construction of a new gallery on Whitby’s waterfront is now underway. A former train station, built in 1913, will form part of the new gallery space. As shown in the photo below the building is currently being moved to the future site of the gallery in Iroquois Park, situated at the top of Whitby's recreational harbour. The project is expected to be complete for the 2005 summer traffic on the Waterfront Trail.

David Crombie Becomes a Member of the Order of Canada

Congratulations to David Crombie who recently became a member of the Order of Canada. According to the official Order of Canada website, the Order recognizes people who have made a difference to our country. Members are recognized for their distinguished service to a particular group or in a particular field of activity at a local or regional level. The award is Canada's highest honour for lifetime achievement.

David Crombie is the founding Chair and a board member of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust.

For more information on the Order of Canada go to www.gg.ca/honours/order_e.asp

Friends of Second Marsh’s Wetland Stomp, February 4th, 2005

Mark your calendars for Saturday February 5th to join the Friends of Second Marsh for dinner, dancing and live entertainment. It’s a wetland theme of coarse – be sure to wear your safari clothes! All proceeds from the event will be in support of the Great Lakes Wetland Centre.
For more details contact Marilyn Cole at 905-723-5459 or campaign.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).