TCT Honours Canadian Military Engineers at The Great Trail Pavilion in Dartmouth
The Trans Canada Trail (TCT) celebrated its long-standing partnership with the Canadian Military Engineers (CME) on Sunday at The Great Trail’s recently renovated pavilion in Dartmouth. The CME were responsible for the construction of dozens of trail bridges along The Great Trail in Nova Scotia and across the country that were vital to making the connection of The Great Trail a reality. TCT board members including Valerie Pringle, Michael Lindsay, and Honorary Colonel Michele McKenzie were all in attendance to honour the support and commitment of the CME.
“This trail was an idea that began in 1992 to connect all the recreational trails across the country, coast to coast to coast,” said TCT Chair, Valerie Pringle. “The vision and the ambition of it all led to connection across the country 2 years ago for Canada 150 which was an astonishing achievement, 24,000 kilometres of trail. We never ever could have done it without the support of volunteers and trail groups and all levels of government, donors, many of whom are honoured in the pavilion here. But the volunteers we really want to recognize today are the wonderful Canadian Military Engineers who’ve built bridges for us literally and figuratively. We love you deeply.”
Catherine Anne Martin, a member of the Millbrook First Nation, opened the celebration with a drum ceremony and was followed by additional speakers including: Brigadier General Steve Irwin, Canadian Military Engineers Branch Colonel Commandant; City Councilor Sam Austin; the Hon. Tony Ince, Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs; and the Hon. Arthur J. LeBlanc, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.Â