MOOSE JAW — The Trans Canada Trail’s scenic leg through Moose Jaw saw a little extra love on the morning recently, as volunteers gathered in Wakamow Valley to plant trees, collect garbage, and carry out key maintenance in celebration of International Trails Day.
Held annually on the first Saturday in June, the event brought together a mix of local residents, Moose Jaw Girl Guides, Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Megan Patterson, and trail partners — all united by a shared goal: to care for Canada’s 29,000-kilometre trail network, the longest recreational trail in the world.
“This is about making sure the trail is ready for users to come and enjoy the clean air,” said Raymonde Arseneault, co-ordinator of trail infrastructure and signage with Trans Canada Trail. “We did get a nice turnout and there are a lot of people (out here today), so that’s great.”
More than two dozen volunteers took part in the local cleanup, hosted by the Wakamow Valley Authority. Tree planting, garbage removal, fence repairs, and brush trimming were all on the checklist, as participants gathered at the Kiwanis River Park Pavilion and fanned out along the trail — joining 12 other groups across Canada in the same nationwide effort.
“We’ve been … (attending) different activities today, running from coast to coast … across the country,” Arseneault said, speaking on behalf of the Trans Canada Trail organization. “We’re all out today, taking part in the trail’s (maintenance).”
Each section of the national trail is maintained by local groups, with Moose Jaw’s portion stewarded by the Wakamow Valley Authority. Thanks to funding from the Trail Care Grant program — supported by sponsors including Toyota Canada and Columbia Sportswear — small-scale maintenance projects like Saturday’s cleanup play a big part in preserving the trail for future generations.
Arseneault praised the involvement of young people in this year’s event, calling it a hopeful sign for the trail’s future.
“It would be nice if there’d be more volunteers (across the country). Even though there are a lot of people (out here today), the trail is an ongoing project even into the future,” she said. “I like that there’s a bunch of kids here today, taking care of their trail.”
If you’re interested in supporting trail maintenance or volunteering for future cleanup efforts, reach out to the Wakamow Valley Authority at Wakamow.ca or on Facebook at “Wakamow Valley Authority.”
To learn more about the Trans Canada Trail, visit TCTrail.ca.
