The Waterfront Trail nears 15 years of commitment and regeneration

Niagara-on-the-Lake--Today, Vicki Barron, Executive Director of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust joined Niagara area trail managers and planners to kick off the 2006 Trail Managers’ End-to-End Tour of the Waterfront Trail. By the Spring of 2007, Niagara Region, the municipalities and the conservation authority will have completed 13 projects on the Trail. The projects are part of the Trust’s Lake Ontario Waterfront Investment Program with Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program, which once complete will attract $30 million of public/private investment on the waterfront.

As part of the tour, the Trust and trail managers will review the tremendous progress to date on the 70 km Niagara stretch of Trail, examine the remaining gaps and learn about future plans for Niagara’s waterfront. One of the key objectives will be to ensure that the Trail is ready for people next year when the Trust and its partners will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the newly expanded Trail.

When the Waterfront Trail and Greenway opened in 1995, it stretched from Hamilton to Trenton. Today it is twice as long encompassing the Canadian shores of Lake Ontario and the Ontario shores of the St. Lawrence River – 650 kilometres from Niagara to the Quebec border. What has been accomplished in just 15 years is impressive. It would have been impossible without a committed partnership involving all levels of government, businesses and community groups united in a common goal to regenerate the waterfront.

“Tastes of the Trail” Starter Kits launched in response to desire for shorter trips.

During the past few years, energies have been concentrated on trail building and signing the Trail. However, with the completion of 50 projects along the Trail expected this year, it is time to get people out on to the Trail to experience regeneration first-hand.

While many fans of the Trail have traveled it from end to end, many more users have yet to discover areas beyond their favourite stretch. In order to encourage families to explore more of the 650 km Trail, the Trust (along with waterfront communities and CIBC, founding corporate partner) has created a Starter Kit which features complete itineraries for 5 easy outings. “Although many people using the Trail love the idea of riding or hiking the entire route with the 650 km End-to-End Challenge”, Vicki said, “others have said they’d like shorter trips to take with their kids on an afternoon, or a weekend.”

The Starter Kit is a great summer project for people and especially for families that want to introduce their children to the natural and cultural riches of Lake Ontario.

The Starter Kit is just the latest of many Trail projects to have enjoyed the support of CIBC. Since CIBC became a founding partner in 1996, it has contributed $1.25 million. “Our partnership with CIBC is very important to us, and CIBC’s ongoing commitment has helped the Trail fulfill its purpose of bringing the people of Ontario to their lake”, said Vikki Barron.

The Trust is grateful to the Ministry of Health Promotion for its support in developing the Starter Kit.
For more information about the Waterfront Trail, visit our web site at www.waterfronttrial.org

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Contacts:
Marlaine Koehler
Director, Lake Ontario Waterfront Program
Waterfront Regeneration Trust
416 -943-8080 office
416-520-4205 cell
mk@wrtrust.com

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