Philanthropic-minded individuals and companies stepping up in big ways
Trans Canada Trail has given a special name to a circle of influential and visionary leaders who will help connect the Trail and all Canadian: Chapter 150. Each member has committed $500,000 or more in order to realize the Trail's connection by 2017, the 150th anniversary of Canada's Confederation.
I'm a hugely proud Canadian. I love this country. I've always thought that our wide-ranging landscapes are among the differentiators that make our country so unique – from the beautiful Atlantic coast and Ontario's lakes to the expansive prairies, the Rocky Mountains and beyond.
To think of a Trans Canada Trail extending from coast to coast to coast that will be completed in time to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday in 2017 – a Trail that will literally connect us and allow everyone to participate – sends a fabulous message of unity across our country.
Most, if not all of the people who have the wherewithal to be Chapter 150 supporters care as deeply as I do – as we all do – about Canada's inclusive nature. What a unique way to say 'Happy Birthday, Canada. Good for you. Good for all of us.' There are a lot of great causes to support in this country, but this one is as meaningful and lasting as they get.
I became a Chapter 150 member because I support the creation and completion of the TCT. It's good on multiple levels: it promotes fitness and carbon-free travel, it encourages people to get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature, and it is a great Canadian symbol uniting the country from side to side and top to bottom. My family and I have spent days cycling the Kettle Valley Railway portion in B.C., and we enjoyed sections of the Trail made possible by generous contributions from other Canadians. So it was a very quick 'yes' for me when I was asked to support this campaign.
The Trans Canada Trail is an amazing national project undertaken by thousands of volunteers for all Canadians and visitors to experience its vastness and natural beauty.
The Trail not only reminds Canadians of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but also symbolically binds us together in a unique way, stretching across the country from coast to coast to coast.
Whether passing through pristine wilderness areas, over mountains, around lakes and through old growth forests, you cannot help but emerge from a hike along any section of the Trail without feeling refreshed, healthier and a more thoughtful person.
Everyone at Brookfield congratulates those who had the foresight to conceive and organize the building of the first 17,000 kilometres of the Trans Canada Trail, many of whom remain actively involved with the Chapter 150 Campaign to expedite its completion by Canada's 150th anniversary in 2017.
We feel truly privileged to have the opportunity to make a contribution in support of this commendable national project, and look forward, with the rest of Canada, to its completion.
I have three specific pillars that guide my foundation's charitable giving, and the Trans Canada Trail touches all of them: Health and Healthy Living, Recreation and Activity, and Education.
Because the Trail is in communities across the country, supporting the TCT inherently benefits all Canadians. I am delighted to support a segment of Trail in Ontario, which is one of the provinces where my company works.
Beyond its local and national reach, the TCT is making a difference is by encouraging active living, and it's giving Canadians great reasons to explore our country in healthy ways. Not only does this help encourage Canadians to see and experience our country, if more people exercise, the healthier they will be, and our entire country benefits.
I am an avid cross-country skier and cyclist, and I love to walk and hike. I know what I'm going to do this summer: I'm going to cycle a part of the Trail.
Our mission at TransCanada isn't just to provide Canadians with energy to light and heat their homes, it's also to help build and sustain communities across the country. Whether it's providing financial support, sharing resources or volunteering, we are proud to play an active role and to give something back.
Our support of the Trans Canada Trail is a natural fit. The Trail will be within 30 minutes of 80 per cent of the Canadian population, energizing countless communities across Canada. Our support for the Trans Canada Trail allows our organization to participate in an initiative that promotes environmental education and stewardship by providing opportunities for Canadians to learn about our country's environment, history and culture.
I am proud to be a part of the Trans Canada Trail campaign cabinet and am thrilled that our company is contributing to this important national project, which connects communities across the country in an inspired and meaningful way.
I owe my wealth to Mother Nature. And I have been fortunate to work with geologists who are among the most environmentally conscious people you could ever meet, and to see so much of this magnificent country firsthand.
I've relished the journey, crisscrossing Canada by plane, train, automobile, canoe, bike and on foot – from Cambridge Bay to Labrador, over mountains and across the prairies and through national parks, including Banff, the oldest of them all; some of the most spectacular, like Fundy; and the Cape Breton Highlands, a national treasure. These are the parts I really want to share with others.
The Trail is an invaluable gift to all Canadians and will also help people from all over the world get to know Canada and its people. To those who have the means to contribute, I say, what better way to pay tribute to Canada, this beautiful country.
CN, with a rail network spanning Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, shares much in common with the Trans Canada Trail in that both knit together communities across the nation. We support the Trans Canada Trail's Chapter 150 Campaign because it will complete the more than 23,000-kilometre Trail in time for Canada's 150th birthday celebration in 2017, giving Canadians a more extensive means of exploring Canadian history, enjoying the diversity of the nation's land and communities, and contributing to sustainable, economic growth. In this, the TCT campaign is fully aligned with CN's core objectives. CN is a backbone of the economy, moving goods safely and sustainably and helping to foster prosperity, and we are committed to making the communities we serve better, more connected places to live and work."