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The Border-to-Beaches trail in Manitoba

It builds on a legacy of massive transportation achievements, such as the national railway, and horse-and-cart and canoeing routes. It celebrates Canada's natural splendour, rich heritage and inspires healthier lifestyles.

With just four years to go to its scheduled connection in 2017, the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) will ultimately stretch more than 23,000 kilometres. Already, this massive initiative is uniting Canadians from all walks of life and parts of this nation – from volunteers and private donors to major corporations – who are now pulling together to complete the Trail's final and most challenging sections.

Vancouver-based global mining giant Teck Resources Limited is among the major Canadian enterprises that back the TCT.

As a company with a 100-year history in Canada and operations stretching from Newfoundland to British Columbia, Teck recognizes the value of connecting Canadians, says president and CEO Don Lindsay. "We are honoured to be involved in a project that will link communities from coast to coast to coast, enabling a new generation of Canadians to explore all that our country has to offer."

Teck's commitment to community starts with its employees, he adds. "They are incredibly generous with their time and resources. As a company, we aim to reflect those values to help ensure the communities where we operate are not just great places to work, but also great places to live."

Teck celebrated Canada Day 2012 by donating $1 million toward the completion of TCT sections linking the eastern British Columbia communities of Trail, Cranbrook, Kimberley, Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford.

These remaining sections illustrate some of the Trail connection challenges ahead. With Teck's donation, a comprehensive study has been initiated to identify the best ways to tackle them successfully.

"From Castlegar to Vancouver Island, we have established about 1,200 kilometres of Trans Canada Trail route," says Al Skucas, Rockies-East Kootenay director of Trails BC. "We're not at the same state of completion in eastern B.C."

In a mountainous province such as B.C., the land in the valleys that is appropriate for Trail development is generally private property, Mr. Skucas explains.

Once potential routes have been identified, study findings will be presented to landowners, community groups, and provincial government as part of a dialogue exploring a range of issues. These include future mining and timber operations and sensitive environmental areas. Regional organizations will also be consulted on Trail development and agreements for the future maintenance of the Trail.

With 77 per cent of the TCT now connected in B.C., "the low-hanging fruit has already been picked. The remaining sections are significantly more challenging," says Mr. Skucas.

"This is a huge undertaking, but thanks to the thousands of volunteers and donors across the country, we're making good progress to have Canada connected by 2017," reports Trans Canada Trail president & CEO Deborah Apps. "This is one of the largest volunteer projects in Canadian history. Each time I visit a community group or provincial organization, it's motivating and emotional because everyone is there to make their community and country better for their children and grandchildren."

Greater national awareness is an essential component of the work still ahead, says Ms. Apps. "I look forward to the time when all Canadians view the Trans Canada Trail in the same way the Appalachian Trail, the Camino Trail and the Pennine Way are viewed by the citizens of the U.S., Spain and England – as part of who they are, of their national identity."

While several thousand Canadians have contributed to the effort, the last and toughest kilometres will require the help of many more, she stresses. "We'd like Canadians to become champions of the Trail and future guardians of this grand resource."

Many Canadians have made substantial gifts in support of the Trans Canada Trail, which benefits all Canadians, says Ms. Apps. "It's important to thank them and cheer on the volunteers who are working to help us achieve our goal by 2017."

In his passionate support of the Trans Canada Trail, Mr. Lindsay is walking in the footsteps of his great uncle who also personally participated in helping connect Canadians and this country by participating in the historic Canadian Pacific Railway Last Spike Ceremony in 1885.

"I encourage everyone to learn more about the future of the Trail and consider how to get involved," adds Mr. Lindsay. "Every new kilometre represents more communities and families that will be linked together by this incredible part of our shared national heritage."


CONFEDERATION TRAIL

Just over 20 years ago, a group of like-minded and enthusiastic volunteers from across the country met in PEI to discuss their vision of a national trail. Now, the Island is gearing up to celebrate another historic meeting of national proportions – and fittingly it has plans to do so on the TCT.

2014 marks the 150th anniversary of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, the meeting that led to the creation of Canada in 1867.  Prince Edward Islanders will mark this milestone with a year-long provincewide celebration that will include several eco-tourism and active-living events.

"PEI 2014 Inc. is proud to be partnering with the Trans Canada Trail as together we celebrate our incredibly diverse country," says Penny Walsh-McGuire, PEI 2014 executive director. "We are proud that the Trans Canada Trail is nearly fully connected in our province and look forward in 2014 to honouring both the work of Trail volunteers and the legacy created by the Fathers of Confederation. We hope that people across the country will join us in PEI to celebrate the birth of our great country."

As part of the Island's 2014 celebrations, Island Trails will deliver a series of weekend bike rides and woodland hikes on the Confederation Trail. In addition, the PEI Wildlife Federation Souris branch will offer a guided eco-tour in New Harmony, and the PEI Snowmobile Association is organizing a tip-to-tip ride on the Trail.

"The PEI 2014 celebrations are the run up to the Canada 150 celebrations that will take place across the country in 2017," says Deborah Apps, Trans Canada Trail president & CEO. "We are delighted to collaborate with PEI 2014 Inc. as we work towards our goal of connecting the Trans Canada Trail in 2017."

ONLINE

To support the Trans Canada Trail and learn more about projects across the country, visit tctrail.ca.

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