Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail News

An Ezine Produced by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust

September 2004

In this issue:

• Niagara Trail Opening, Saturday October 30th
• Upcoming Partners Meeting, Friday November 5th
• Raising the Trail’s Political Profile
• An Update on Hamilton Harbour
• Trust Staff Member Receives Training Bursary
• The Trust Receives Nomination for Bicycle Friendly Business Awards
• Greater Niagara Circle Route Photos

Upcoming Conferences and Community Events:

• Urban Green Tourism Leadership Forum, Friday October 1st
• Rouge Park Awards, Thursday October 7th
• Ball’s Falls 30th Anniversary Thanksgiving Festival, October 8th-11th
• Tourism and Cycling in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Thursday October 21st
• The Proctor-Simpson Barn Theatre in Brighton, Ontario

Attachments:
Letters to MPs.doc

Niagara Trail Opening, Saturday October 30th

The Trust, in association with the municipalities of the Region of Niagara is planning an event to launch their completed projects of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Investment Program. The ceremony, set to take place in Jordan, will officially open new portions of the Waterfront Trail. The Trust will also unveil at the event the first of our newly designed TrailHead signs that include the eastern extension of the Trail out to Brockville. More details will follow. Hope to see you there.

Upcoming Partners Meeting, Friday November 5th

Mark your calendars for the Trust’s annual partners meeting to be held this year on Friday November 5th at Ontario Place in Toronto. Once again the meeting promises to be an interesting, informative event with the Trans Canada Trail set to unveil there new economic feasibility study on trails, as well as the official launch of the Trust’s redesigned website. In addition the Trust has invited Ian Lobb, Sales and Marketing with Steve Bauer Bike Tours and Mike Lalonde from Cornwall and Seaway Valley Tourism for a panel discussion on the importance of the Trail to cycling tours and to the local community. More details to follow. Hope to see you there.

Raising the Trail’s Political Profile

In August the Trust began sending out letters to the newly elected MPs to congratulate them on their recent election. The Trust also used this opportunity to inform them of the Trail and its importance as a community asset and tourism potential. These letters are important because they help to maintain the political profile of the Trail and enable us to keep in touch with the ridings along Lake Ontario’s waterfront. We received such a positive response from some of the members that we thought we would provide you with the following excerpts from their letters.

“I certainly appreciate remaining informed of the exciting progress you are making in greening our lakefront and making its beauty accessible to all”. Peter Milliken, MP for Kingston and the Islands.

“I look forward to working with the Waterfront Regeneration Trust during the upcoming legislative session. I strongly support the Trust’s activities and believe that my community, in particular, will continue to benefit from sustained federal support for the regeneration of our waterfront.” Colin Carrie, MP for Oshawa.

To view a copy of the letter please open the attachment “Letters to MPs.doc”

An Update on Hamilton Harbour

There is a lot of activity underway at Hamilton Harbour, Pier 4 to Pier 8. The Trust was recently treated to a boat tour aboard the Hamilton Waterfront Trust’s Hamiltonian to view the changes. At Pier 8 the addition of new facilities are providing great amenities for the area. The Canadian Government Discovery Centre is now open at Pier 8 and the Hamilton Waterfront Trust has leased a building on the spit to Pier 8 which they have renovated for their offices and a Williams Coffee Pub with a patio. In addition, work has begun on the City of Hamilton’s CPier 4 to 8 project – part of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Investment Program. A 10-foot wide extension of the Waterfront Trail is in place from the Pier 4 park, running adjacent along Guise Street and then along to Pier 8, right around to the Discovery Centre. Work has also begun on the 20-foot wide extension of the Waterfront Trail which will run close to the water’s edge at the Leander Boat Club and then in front (road side) of the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club.

Through to Thanksgiving the Hamilton Waterfront Trust is operating a leisurely guided tour of the western portion of Hamilton Harbour aboard the Hamiltonian. The boat leaves from Guise Street East in Hamilton and tours the western portion of the bay with commentary provided by the boat’s captain.

For more information visit the Hamilton Trust’s website at www.hamiltonwaterfront.com.

Trust Staff Member Receives Training Bursary

The Sustainability Network works with environmental non-profits to make them more effective and efficient, helping to strengthen the environmental community. They provide a bursary to help nonprofit leaders take advantage of workshops and management opportunities. Nikki Rendle of the Trust office was recently awarded a $500 bursary to put towards her participation in the Non Profit/Voluntary Sector Management Program at Ryerson University. Congratulations Nikki!

For more information on the Sustainability Network go to: http://sustain.web.ca/

The Trust Receives Nomination for Bicycle Friendly Business Awards

Each year the City of Toronto recognizes and thanks businesses and organizations within the city who support and promote cycling and who demonstrate leadership by encouraging employees and clients to ride to work. The Bicycle Friendly Business Awards highlight the many benefits that cycling can provide to businesses, their employees, and their communities. This year the Trust has been nominated for Best Small Business Award (up to 99 employees). You are invited to attend the presentation of the 2004 awards on Thursday October 7 at 6pm in the Toronto City Hall Rotunda (100 Queen Street West).

For more information about the awards visit: http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/bfba/2004.htm

Greater Niagara Circle Route Photos

The photo journal from our July trip on the Greater Niagara Circle Route are now up on our website. The trip was recently featured in the Travel section of the Toronto Star in an article written by Kate Harries who accompanied us on our trip. The article will be uploaded to the site shortly. To view the photo journal go to: http://www.waterfronttrail.org/trail-itineraries.html

Upcoming Conferences and Community Events:

Urban Green Tourism Leadership Forum, Friday October 1st

The Green Tourism Association and the Canadian Urban Institute are
co-hosting a dynamic leadership series event on October 1, 2004 at the
Holiday Inn on King in Toronto. The workshop is called Where Have All the Tourists Gone? Can Canada’s Number One Destination Find Its Way Back?

For more information and to register go to: http://www.canurb.com.

Rouge Park Awards, Thursday October 7th

Join Rouge Park Alliance members, friends and others for an evening celebrating the efforts of local community members in helping Rouge Park become the great success it is today. All members of the public are welcome. Rouge River Community Centre, 120 Rouge Bank Drive, Markham at 7pm. Accessible by public transit.

For more information call 905.713.6007 or go to: www.rougepark.com/events/events.php

Ball’s Falls 30th Anniversary Thanksgiving Festival, October 8th-11th

The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority is hosting a Thanksgiving Festival at the Ball’s Falls Conservation Area in Jordan. Festivities take place daily between 10am to 5 pm and will include a gourmet food tent, live family entertainment and heritage demonstrations.

For more information go to: http://www.conservation-niagara.on.ca

Tourism and Cycling in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Thursday October 21st

Velo Quebec will be hosting a conference on issues related to bicycle tourism and the completion of their bike network, La Route Verte at the Delta Sherbrooke Hotel on Thursday October 21st. The conference will bring together about 40 speakers from Quebec and around the world to discuss initiatives that have successfully promoted the development of the bicycle tourism product. Vicki Barron from the Trust will be presenting during the Revitalization and Tourism stream called From Cities to Cities.

For more information about the conference visit www.routeverte.com or email louise_st-maurice@velo.qc.ca

The Proctor-Simpson Barn Theatre in Brighton, Ontario

Plan a visit to the unique Eastern Ontario Theatre setting and enjoy the all season, heated and air-conditioned, circa 1850’s post and beam Proctor-Simpson Barn, Proctor House in Brighton, Ontario. Currently showing is the production of “LATE FLOWERING”, a classic British Comedy by JOHN CHAPMAN and IAN DAVIDSON. Showtimes are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM sharp, September 22nd to October 9th, 2004 and a special Matinee, Sunday, October 3rd, at 2 PM.

For more information call 613-475-2144

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.