Trans Canada Trail a Millennium Project

The Nova Scotia Trails Federation welcomes the federal announcement that the multi-use, recreational Trans Canada Trail stretching from Newfoundland to British Columbia is now a Millennium Project.

In making the announcement yesterday(March 12), Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gray encouraged all Canadians to support the completion of the 15,000-kilometre Trans Canada Trail in the year 2000.

"The Nova Scotia Trails Federation is pleased that the federal government has declared the trail to be a valuable addition to Canada's national heritage," said Vera Stone, chair of the Trans Canada Trail Committee. "We hope the government and people of Nova Scotia will join in the efforts to ensure the trail's completion in this province."

The Trans Canada Trail, one of about 10 projects announced yesterday to celebrate the millennium, will come under the new Millennium Bureau of Canada that will have a budget of about $160 million to be spent over three years.

"The Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission has always supported the Trans Canada Trail," said Bruce Holland, Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission. "We applaud the hard work of the many volunteers involved in this exciting project and look forward to its completion."

Nova Scotians can contribute by buying symbolic metres of trail. Money raised in Nova Scotia will be used for construction of the trail in this province.

The Nova Scotia Trails Federation, an umbrella group representing a wide range of trail users throughout the province, has the primary purpose of promoting the development and wise use of all recreational trails for the benefit of Nova Scotians and visitors.

The Nova Scotia Trails Federation is composed of federate member associations, such as the Field Naturalists of Nova Scotia, Canadian Motorcycle Association, Dartmouth Volkmarch Club, Canoe Nova Scotia, Canadian Hostelling Association, Bicycle Nova Scotia, Cross-Country Ski Nova Scotia, Snowmobilers Association of Nova Scotia, All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Nova Scotia, and the Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation, dozens of community-based trail building organizations, and hundreds of individuals interested in recreational trail development and use.

Since 1994, the Nova Scotia Trails Federation has been working with government and volunteers to develop Nova Scotia's contribution to this national dream. Local community groups, supported by the Trans Canada Trail Committee, will design, construct and manage Nova Scotia's part of the Trans Canada.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The following is a list of local community association contacts from Trans Canada Trail -Nova Scotia:

Claude Nehring Sydney Cape Breton County Trails Association 902-567-1073

Al MacDonald Creignish Ceilidh Trail Association 902-625-0865

D. N. Brodie Onslow Colchester Trails Association 902-427-0550 ext. 4906

Gerald MacLennan Oxford Cumberland Trails Association 902-667-5533

Eldon Sutherland Guysborough Guysborough County Trails Association 902-533-3145

Paul Euloth Halifax Regional Trails Co-ordinator Halifax Regional Municipality 902-490-4408 902-490-6789

Fred Bird Margaree Centre Inverness and Victoria Counties Trails Federation 902-756-2583 902-756-3830

Pat MacDonnell New Glasgow Pictou County Trails Association 902-752-8981