TransCanada Trail Partners with North Shore Communities on Lake Superior

NIPIGON – TransCanada Trail (TCT) Ontario, in partnership with the Townships of Nipigon, Red Rock, Dorion, Shuniah, and Thunder Bay Tourism, is focusing on trail development in the region for the next year by hiring a full time trails coordinator.

Trails coordinator James Williams started work in early September. He will be building a regional trails committee serving the area from Nipigon to Pigeon River. The umbrella group will support the work of local trails associations. His first task, however, will be a feasibility study on converting the CN Kinghorn corridor between Nipigon and Thunder Bay into a multi-use trail.

“This is a great time for our communities to focus on trails, with the annual Hike for Health event on the Nipigon River Recreational Trail coming up on September 25^th,” said Lisa Nyman, President of the Land of the Nipigon Waterways Development Association, “we also see Parks Canada establishing the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, bringing the potential for more hikers to explore the northern coastline of Lake Superior.” For more information on the hike see www.nipigon.net .

Kirsten Spence, Trail Coordinator for Ontario TCT, said, “It is through strong regional, provincial and national partnerships that this project is moving forward. With leadership in place we invite bicyclists, hikers, snowmobilers, skiers, equestrians, and their supporting organizations to get involved and take the initiative to develop and enjoy the trails.”

James Williams is a Lakehead University graduate from the Environmental Studies – Forest Conservation program and has experience in parks management. He is originally from Thunder Bay, has a passion for outdoor recreation and is a long term supporter of the TransCanada Trail.

The Nipigon River Recreational Trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail, the world’s longest network of trails. When completed, the Trail will stretch over 22,000 km from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic Oceans, linking 1000 communities and 33 million Canadians. See www.tctrail.ca for more information.