Trails Strategy

Trails Strategy

Background

The desire for a central strategy for trails in Nova Scotia was born out of the 2010 Trails for Tomorrow Today Conference. The development of the strategy was one of the key outcomes of the World Café and the Government Summit held in conjunction with the conference.

Representatives of NS Trails and the Provincial Government have been meeting since 2013.

 

Members of the Trails Strategy Working Group (TSWG)

  • Blaise MacEachern – Chair, NS Trails, Trans Canada Trail Committee
  • Peter McCracken – Communities Sport and Recreation Division, Fundy Regional Manager, CCH
  • Hilary Paquet – Parks and Trails Coordinator, Municipality of the County of Colchester
  • Rocky Pearce – 2nd VP, ATVANS
  • Dawn Stegen – ICT Co-Chair; Director of Regional Services, Communities Sport and Recreation Division, CCH
  • Steve Vines – Trails Consultant, Communities Sport and Recreation Division, CCH
  • Holly Woodill – Director, Nova Scotia Trails Federation
  • Heather Yule – Manager, Experience Development, Tourism Nova Scotia
  • Janet Barlow – Executive Director, Hike NS
  • Doug Oliver, OHV Coordinator, DNR

 

Past Members

  • Rick Jacques – Trails Coordinator, Annapolis Valley Trails Coalition; VP of Nova Scotia Trails Federation
  • Rick Gilbert – retired ICT Co-Chair; retired Director of Corporate Strategy, Active Living Branch, Department of Health & Wellness
  • Robin Norrie – Manager of Recreation, Active Living Branch, Department of Health & Wellness
  • Vanda Jackson – CEO, Nova Scotia Trails Federation
  • Sandy Anderson – Park Planner, Department of Natural Resources
  • Ted Scrutton – Past-President of Nova Scotia Trails Federation

 

Profiling Nova Scotia’s Trail Movement

The TSWG researched and selected a process to develop the strategy, and has profiled the trail movement in Nova Scotia. This background document informs discussions regarding development of the strategy by providing a snapshot of where the trails movement in Nova Scotia currently rests.

Profile of the Trails Movement in Nova Scotia

Trail stakeholders across the province had the opportunity to provide feedback on this document through an online survey.

 

Regional Consultations

During the spring of 2015 a series of 7 regional consultations was held with members in the trails community to begin to put together the go-forward strategy. Over 300 stakeholders participated in 3-hour sessions. Building on the Profile, the sessions were designed to envision where we’d like the trails system and trails movement to be in 10 years’ time.

Three additional consultations were held with the paddling community, provincial recreation organizations and relevant provincial government departments. The commitment and passion of the entire trails community is fantastic. The TSWG would like to thank everyone who participated in these consultations which assisted in the development of a draft framework for the strategy.

 

Draft Trails Strategy

The Nova Scotia Trails Federation and the Interdepartmental Committee on Trails (Government of Nova Scotia) have been working closely with the trails community in the development of a provincial trails strategy that will define a shared vision, establish strategic goals and set the direction to advance trails in the province.

The Trails Strategy has been endorsed in principle by the Board of Directors of the Nova Scotia Trails Federation. The Interdepartmental Committee on Trails is seeking government direction on the the draft trails strategy at this time.

 

Interdepartmental Committee on Trails

The Interdepartmental Committee on Trails (ICT) coordinates all provincial government related trail activities that intersect or cross departmental mandates.  The committee will interact with and seek input from a Trails Forum (composed of trails stakeholders) on related issues.

Matt Parker (Committee Co-Chair)
Director
Dept Natural Resources

Dawn Stegen (Committee Co-Chair)
Director Regional Services
Communities Culture and Heritage

Andrew Paton
Planner
Service NS & Municipal Relations

Neil Morehouse
Manager Protected Areas
Dept of Environment

Greg Newell
Area Manager
Dept of Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal

Oliver Maass
Policy & Program Coordinator Protected Areas
Dept of Environment

Heather Yule
Manager Experience Development
Tourism NS

Elizabeth Pugh
Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal

Mana Wareham
Senior Analyst, Sustainable and Renewable Energy
Dept of Energy

Catherine Chase
Development Coordinator
Dept of Energy

Steve Vines
Trails Consultant
Communities Culture and Heritage

Brendon Smithson
Acting Manager of Recreation
Communities Culture and Heritage