Canada launches Great Trail phone app

Celtic Shores Coastal Trail in Nova Scotia; photo from Tourism Nova Scotia

App is a free, one-stop tool for trekkers of all interests and abilities From the Trans Canada Trail

unveil the largest system of multi- use trails the world has ever known?

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The history of The Great Trail: A most Canadian moment

It all started with an idea, in a sce- nario that might have looked some-  Canadians in a log cabin, huddled around a table. Outside snow is falling   cozy.

FALL 2016 AmericanTrails.org

anadians are known for politeness and modesty. But who needs humility when you’re about to

Our main characters are dressed in plaid shirts, and over their meal of pancakes drenched in maple syrup and thickly sliced bacon, they begin talking about their dreams for the future. In the background, Bryan Adam’s (Everything I Do) I Do It for You ema- nates softly from the cassette player. After all, this is 1992.

This is how we imagine the con-

“Do you know what my dream is?” “Tell us, Pierre.”

“A trail that connects all Canadians from Newfoundland to British Columbia and everywhere in between.”

“That would be great, eh?”

“Yeah. I could use a trail system for hiking or snowshoeing— or maybe even to paddle my canoe.”

“Let’s do it.” …While this retelling may contain

 that this ambitious project was launched 24 years ago, when two patri- otic Canadians— Pierre Camu from Montreal and Bill Pratt from Calgary— conceived of a multi-purpose recre- ational trail that would connect the country and showcase everything there is to love about Canada.

Introducing The Great Trail

And so it began, with only $450,000 in funding, and great doses of enthusi-  Trans Canada Trail was established in 1992 with the goal of connecting and creating trails that would ultimately form a large, nation-wide system. The vision was to connect

Canadians from coast to coast to coast — yes, Canada has three coasts — through a system of recreational trails that encourage both residents and visi- tors to experience the diverse land- scapes of Canada.