The Trans Canada Trail now runs completely through Wellington County.
Officials from the provincial government, County of Wellington, Region of Waterloo and townships of Centre Wellington and Woolwich, gathered to celebrate the opening of the Cottontail Road Trail in Elora on June 17.
A contingent of students from Elora Public School and local citizens invited to walk the new 14-kilometre trail also attended the ceremony at the Gambrel Barn on Wellington Road 21.
The $194,336 construction project began with site preparation work in February of 2015. The work was funded by a Trans Canada Ontario Pan Am grant of $150,000, a federal Trans Canada Trail grant of $9,458 and a County of Wellington contribution of $34,878.
In addition to funding, the trail was made possible by the municipality of Centre Wellington hosting part of the trail on township property.
“This new trail completes the Trans Canada Trail connection through Wellington County,” stated Warden George Bridge. “We are proud to be a part of the Trans Canada Trail and all that it represents. This trail shows what can be accomplished through partnerships of all kinds.”
Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott noted, “It is said that the Trans Canada Trail is perhaps our country’s largest ongoing volunteer project and we need to acknowledge and thank all the individuals, groups and sponsors – all the partners who give of their time to make the system work.
“This last link between Elora and the Kissing Bridge Trail in Waterloo Region represents a splendid enhancement of our quality of life and will be appreciated by generations to come.”
Bridge noted trails are important to both existing and prospective residents.
“We do surveys of why people come and live in our communities and one of the big things is nature trails. Those are big drivers to bring people to your community, which brings economic development up,” Bridge told the gathering.
Centre Wellington Mayor Kelly Linton called the project “exciting” and noted trails don’t always get the same level of attention in municipal budgets as roads and bridges.
“But it’s really hard to hike on a bridge, so it’s really important to spend taxpayers’ money on other things that talk to our quality of life,” said Linton.
Gail Brown of the Elora Cataract Trail Association said trails provide a variety of benefits.
“We all know the healthy benefits, both mental and physical, that come from this system of trailways and for users they are free,” she noted. “We have learned from the recently-completed Centre Wellington Community Foundation’s Vital Signs report that trails provide people a sense of belonging to a community and that’s an important function.”
The Cottontail Road Trail showcases several types of trails: off-road gravel, grass and paved surfaces, together with on-road gravel, paved and paved shoulder portions. All of these segments come together to connect two major trails in the county: the Kissing Bridge Trailway in Guelph-Eramosa and the Elora Cataract Trailway in Centre Wellington.
“Trails bring people together,” commented county planning committee chair Andy Lennox. “This trail can deliver a wide range of experiences, from a long bike ride to a short walk with the dog. This trail will be enjoyed and well utilized for years to come.”
“Make sure you use this trail. Have fun with it,” Bridge urged.
