STAFF REPORT
January 24, 2000
To: Economic Development and Parks Committee
From: Joe Halstead, Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
Subject: Trans Canada Trail Proposed in the City of Toronto Various Wards
Purpose:
To report on the development of the Trans Canada Trail and to identify the City of Toronto's potential participation through
the identification of a trail route through the City and the siting of one or more Trans Canada Trail pavilions at appropriate
locations along that route.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Identifying existing trails and cycling routes within the City as part of the Trans Canada Trail can be accomplished at very
minimal costs to the City (e.g. the installation of Trans Canada Trail signage).
The development of new trails to fill in gaps in the City's trail network will also provide linkages that may be suitable for
the Trans Canada Trail, in either an interim or long-term framework. These sections of new trail will be planned and
budgeted for as part of the City's future Capital Works Programs.
Since pavilions are an integral part of the Trans Canada Trail program, the Trans Canada Trail Foundation provides 100%
of the funding for the construction of each pavilion. Funding assistance for trail development in each province / territory is
potentially available from the Trans Canada Trail Foundation. Individual donations may only be identified by the donor to
be used on a provincial / territorial basis and not at a more specific local level. Other sponsors and agencies could
potentially contribute to the future development of the Trail in Toronto.
There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) Council endorse, in principle, the concept of the Trans Canada Trail travelling through the City of Toronto;
(2) Council endorse the registration of those sections of the existing Waterfront Trail route, from the western City
boundary at the Etobicoke Creek to, and including, the Eastern Beaches, as part of the Trans Canada Trail. (Attachment
No.1 - "Existing Waterfront Trail / Proposed Trans Canada Trail Route");
(3) Councillors and communities assist in identifying other appropriate Trans Canada Trail routes within the City;
(4) staff work with the Trans Canada Trail Foundation and the Ontario Trails Council to site one or more Trans Canada
Trail pavilions along the proposed Trail route; and
(5) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.
Background:
Staff of the Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department have participated in information and planning
meetings relating to the potential implementation of the Trans Canada Trail through the Toronto area over the past two
years. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), the Waterfront Regeneration Trust, and other Greater
Toronto Area (GTA) municipalities have also participated in meetings.
Comments:
The Trans Canada Trail is a recreational trail which will link communities in all ten provinces and three territories on what
will be the longest shared-use trail in the world, projected to be 16,000 km in length. The Trans Canada Trail Foundation,
whose mandate is to promote and co-ordinate the planning of the trail, was established in 1992 as a legacy of the
celebration of Canada's 125th birthday. The Foundation is a registered charitable organization with its own Corporate
Charter and Board of Directors.
The responsibility for the development of the Trail across Canada rests with the individual Trail Councils established in
each province and territory. In Ontario, the Ontario Trails Council is responsible for coordinating the development of
approximately 3800 km of Trans Canada Trail across the province (Attachment No.2 - "The Trans Canada Trail in
Southern Ontario - Proposed Route"). As of January, 2000, approximately 1450 km of trail has been registered as part of
the Trans Canada Trail in Ontario. The development of the Trail is being promoted as a grass-roots initiative, undertaken
by the individual communities and municipalities across Canada, with the assistance of the Trans Canada Trail Foundation.
As such, the Trans Canada Trail is best characterized as a 'confederation of trails' across Canada.
The Foundation carries on a fundraising campaign to support the development of the Trail. Individual donors are the
primary source of contributions, but funds are also raised from corporations, governments, foundations and through a
merchandising program.
Within the GTA, planning for the Trans Canada Trail has been coordinated by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority
(TRCA) through the Trans Canada Trail GTA Route Working Group. The City of Toronto has been represented on this
working group by staff of the Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department.
Participation in this national project would represent a contribution by the City towards national unity and would help to
bring visitors to the City, thus enhancing tourism. Trails and greenways are beneficial to community image and support
active living. The process of registering the Trans Canada Trail within the City could serve as a catalyst for further
development of the City's trail network, which would benefit the City's trail users as well.
The Trans Canada Trail's preferred alignment follows off-road trail networks, although other options could include
abandoned or active rail and hydro corridors, signed on-street routes, and negotiated rights-of-way through private lands.
The routing through the City of Toronto, will require a diversity of trail types. In the former City of Scarborough, a
preferred waterfront route will not be completely implemented for a number of years due to the constraints of topography,
funding and present lack of continuous parkland to accommodate an off-road trail. Staff will consult with appropriate
Councillors and communities in identifying options and securing future interim and long-term trail routes.
Each individual community or municipality is responsible for the implementation and maintenance of those sections of
Trans Canada Trail registered within its boundaries. Signage, provided by the Foundation, will identify the Trail route, but
existing trail names and ownership will continue to exist. Such registration does not prohibit the City from altering the
route in the future. One or more pavilions, which would be sited along the Trail route, would contain information panels
acknowledging individual and corporate contributors to the Trail. City staff are prepared to work with the Trans Canada
Trail Foundation and the Ontario Trails Council to appropriately site the pavilion and to resolve any design issues.
The Trail will be officially inaugurated in September 2000 at a ceremony to be held in the National Capital Region. To
mark this event, a significant event known as Relay 2000 will take place across Canada in the months leading up to the
ceremony. Water, from the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans will be carried in ceremonial batons by some 5000 official
carriers along the proposed route of the Trans Canada Trail. Individual ceremonies and events will take place in the
communities through which the relay is scheduled to pass on its way to the nation's capital. The City is participating in
planning Relay 2000 events to be held at the Canadian National Exhibition and Nathan Philip's Square in August. The City
is assisting, as well, in the planning of the Relay which will pass through the City following the existing Waterfront Trail
and other trails and on-street routes. On April 11, 2000, the Trans Canada Trail will be celebrated in Toronto, at Roy
Thompson Hall, through the performance of the "Trail of Dreams Suite" by Canadian composer / musician Oscar Peterson.
Conclusions:
The Trans Canada Trail is a high-profile national project involving communities in all Canadian provinces and territories.
The City of Toronto has the opportunity to participate by registering existing sections of the Waterfront Trail as Trans
Canada Trail in the City and by locating one or more Trans Canada Trail pavilions along the route. Future sections of the
City's trail system can be registered as Trans Canada Trail route when they are completed through capital trail
implementation programs. Consultation with area Councillors and communities will be required to develop future trail
linkages in the City.
Further information relating to the Trans Canada Trail program (Attachment No.3 - "Answers to the Most Commonly
Asked Questions about the Trans Canada Trail in Ontario") is attached. Additional information can be accessed from the
Trans Canada Trail's web site at: www.tctrail.ca
Contact:
Mark Edelman
Supervisor, Open Space and System Planning
Telephone: 392-0094
Fax: 392-6657
e-mail: medelman@toronto.ca
Joe Halstead
Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
List of Attachments:
Attachment No. 1 - "Existing Waterfront Trail / Proposed Trans Canada Trail Route"
Attachment No. 2 - "The Trans Canada Trail in Southern Ontario - Proposed Route"
Attachment No. 3 - "Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Questions about the Trans Canada Trail in Ontario"
