Parks Canada CEO Alan Latourelle, TCT president & CEO Deborah Apps, former federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice, TCT Foundation co-chair Valerie Pringle and Olympian Simon Whitfield announced TCT’s two-year agreement with Parks Canada in Vancouver in October 2010.
Parks Canada CEO Alan Latourelle, TCT president & CEO Deborah Apps, former federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice, TCT Foundation co-chair Valerie Pringle and Olympian Simon Whitfield announced TCT's two-year agreement with Parks Canada in Vancouver in October 2010. TCT
One of the largest volunteer efforts in Canadian history, the Trans Canada Trail can attribute much of its success to the support of its government partners.
Most recently, a two-year Parks Canada agreement, which provided the TCT with $10 million in funding, came to a close on March 31, 2013. This federal government funding helped the TCT deliver support to local volunteer groups tasked with the challenging and expensive task of Trail building. It also supported the development of promotional and fundraising activities that raised awareness of the Trans Canada Trail and its goal of connecting Canadians from coast to coast to coast by 2017.
Many Trail groups also receive support from their provincial and municipal governments. This funding, along with funds raised from donations, all contribute to covering the high costs of Trail development, which include fees for trail permits, signage, planning, construction and promotion.
"Government support has always been essential to the development and promotion of the Trans Canada Trail," says Deborah Apps, president & CEO Trans Canada Trail. "From the first seed funding we received from the Canada 125 Celebrations in 1992, when the Trail was begun, to where we are today, just over 20 years later at 72 per cent connection – we are grateful that all levels of government recognize the important role they play in helping us reach our 2017 goal of full connection."