Trail Questions1) Question: Road Trail Intersection Improvements. OTC
was contacted by Saugeen Rail Trail. They have been invited to present
at more Ministry of Transportation meetings. They want to know - when
two lane highways are re-developed, have any of you been able to secure
trailhead improvements at the crossings, by way of the re-development?
If so, what did you get? Please e-mail Jeff Hemming at jaycee@bmts.com
2) Deadline Extended! to May 31st, 2013 - Support a Great Lakes Guardian Fund Grant. Great
Lakes Guardian Fund applications due tomorrow. Last year OTC supported a
Town of Deseronto CIAF Grant Application and the town got an $80,000
grant to re-develop their waterfront park and the Waterfront trail. As
an OTC Member, Regional partner, or trail stakeholder would you consider
writing a letter in support. E-mail me for our letter template you can
use! Also please consider putting our OTC logo or OTC website as a link
on your website!
3) Capital Funding for Trails - Please
take a minute to complete the capital funding section of our survey. A s
many communities head into the budget cycle other communities want to
get an idea of the relative and comparative amounts communities of
similar size are investing in their trails. Please go to:
Trailhead Ontario - Updates
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June 9-12, 2013 - Peterborough
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Northern Members - Dial in to One or Both Internet Media Panels - 35.00 per person
Join trail advocates, organizations, speakers, builders, use
groups, volunteers, planners and regulators as we discuss, learn and
improve Ontario's Trails!
The Ontario Trails Council,
and the Trailhead Ontario 2013 planning committee wish to acknowledge
the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and sport in
making this conference happen. We could not have a conference and
sustain OTC without their assistance. For this we are grateful. Please
attend Trailhead Ontario and hear all the latest developments on tourism
and recreation from the MTCS!
Tourism development includes trails. Trail packages, trail experiences, trail destinations.
One such trip is hiking. Hear about "
A 1000-MILE GREAT LAKES WALK"
Please join Trailhead Ontario as we present Author Loreen Niewenhuis
as she talks about her experience circumnavigating, on foot - the
waterfront trails of the Great Lakes! In 2009, Loreen Niewenhuis walked
the perimeter of
Lake Michigan and wrote the bestselling book, "
A 1000-MILE WALK ON THE BEACH".
In 2012, she took another long journey, covering 1000 miles of
shoreline touching all five Great Lakes. The book about this latest
adventure,
"A 1000-MILE GREAT LAKES WALK",explores the entire Great Lakes system.
In this presentation, she will take you along the shores of all five
Great Lakes and many of the waterways connecting them. In words,
photos, and video, you’ll explore the geology, hydrology, and natural
history of the largest system of fresh water lakes in the world. She
will also illuminate the threats to this massive ecosystem: invasive
species, pollution, destruction of wetlands, and the gradual warming of
the lakes.
Niewenhuis speaks with the authority of an expert as she has a M.S.
degree in the biological sciences. She raises important questions about
preserving our wild places and protecting the fragile ecosystems on
which we all depend.
International Trail development panel - hear trail association
professionals from the states of Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio and New York
as we convene a panel on cross border trails tourism, promoting the
Great Lakes Basin. Hear how trails are developed, managed and promoted
by our counterparts just across the Ontario/USA Border.
Local Initiatives - Kawarthas Northumberland are promoting trails
and trails activity in new and exciting ways. Working with trail groups
is the cornerstone of the RTO8 trails development agenda. Come and hear
how Kawarthas Northumberland is working with Trent University, Fleming
and the Trans Canada Trail on the development of regional initiatives
such as, heritage trails, provincial trails day (June 1st) and a variety
of other seasonal marketing initiatives for trails and trail towns.
We would welcome your support, rates are reasonable and it would be
great to have a few provincial trail organization booths at the
conference.
General Membership AGM!
Trails Education - Select a Program!We
have updated the program and our 14 module program is here for the
using, as well as on-line learning through Algonquin College!
If you have staff to train, trails to manage or want a session in
your area on a particular topic let us know. We'll coordinate a session
or series on your behalf.
Trail Mapping
Trails Insurance Program AvailableOnce
again, members of the trails community find themselves seeking
alternative trails insurance. The volatility and unpredictability of
your insurance plan keeping you hopping? Wondering what you are getting,
curious if your agent or the underwriter understands trails? If you
want:
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cost stability
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product assurance
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insurance perseverance
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a broker that understands trails
At OTC our mission is "trail preservation." See the note from Intercity Insurance, Mike King, below.
As for what trail insurance products we have "in the box” right now:
a) Commercial General Liability coverage —premium costs start at $1,000.00 for $2,000,000 coverage.
b) Directors and Officers liability coverage — premium costs
start at $200.00 for $I,000,000 coverage. We find that even the smallest
community group is seeing the importance of acquiring D and O coverage.
c) Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage - premiums start
at $250. 00 to cover the Officers, Directors, employees, members. The
limit of coverage is $100,000.
In the near future OTC will be bundling these products as a part of membership services and products.
Performance Measures - Trail Counts!
Low
maintenance - Using weatherproof decals our methods allow users to
quickly and easily provide you with information you need to assess,
improve, direct, re-direct, or provide information to the user - while
on the trail. Our proprietary method has been developed by over 140
trail users and with the input of The City of Thunder Bay and Norfolk
County Trail Managers.
Packages - OTC Member? - Take $25.00 off each package!
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Blue - 4-10 trails: $300.00 plus HST and registration fees
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Maximum 20 sheets of decals
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Green - 10-20 trails: $500.00 plus HST and registration fees
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Maximum 40 sheets of decals
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Gold - 20 or more trails: Starting at $1,000 plus HST and registration fees
Go to
Trail Counts! to purchase. Thanks
Ontario Trails - Your Data Wanted
Since
2007 the Ontario Trails Council has collected trails data, and turned
that data into our award winning website, as mandated by the desires of
the trails community reflected in the Ontario Trails Strategy. Nearly
1,000,000 people a year turn to this information in order to find you
and your trails.
The characteristics we are looking for are:
1. Measurements
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Trailhead Longitude
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Trailhead Latitude
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Completion Time (hours)
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Elevation Change (m)
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Trailhead Elevation (m)
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Maximum Elevation (m)
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Cross Slope Average (%)
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Cross Slope Maximum (%)
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Minimum Trail Width (m)
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Average Trail Width (m)
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Maximum Grade (%)
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Average Grade (%)
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Trail Surface
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Trail Classification (Trail Group/Local Classification/Difficulty/ Rating eg: OFSC Trail Classes)
4. Prohibited Trail Uses
5. Trail Hazards (Poison Ivy, Steep Slopes)
6. Trail Fees (Day Pass, Donation, Parking etc.)
7. Seasons/Dates of Operation
8. Trail Amenities (Visitor Centre, Beach, Boat Launch etc.)
9. Trail Enforcement
10. Trail Permits
11. Trail Speed Limit
12. Trail Signage
13. Trail Environmental Concerns
14. Trail Permitted Use (Dogs on Leash)
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Date of Collection
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Data Collector
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Trail sensitivity (high /low)
So let us know if you are willing to support us by sharing data you already have.
execdir@ontariotrails.ca Thanks
Ontario Trails MembershipOn
behalf of OTC we thank you for your support. If there is a group you
know that is not a member contact us and we'll send them a note on
membership benefits. This past week we received a renewal from the
County of Frontenac. Thank you very much for your support!
THANKS! MERCI! 
OTC Member Saugeen 
