Hampton House residents are once again walking the Trans Canada Trail to help fund its completion.
Last year, residents Geoff and Joan Hodgkinson wanted to support the trail that they had a long connection with. They had been involved with the trail since 1994, and wanted to get back to it. As part of the home’s Moments that Matters, the Hodgkinsons and two dozens of their neighbours traveled to the trail for a walk, a picnic, and to celebrate a successful fundraiser.
This year, they are doing it all over again. But this time, they’re also celebrating Canada 150. Their second annual Trans Canada Trail Walk will be called Toonies for the Trail, and will take place on Tuesday, July 4. They will have their lunch at McDonald Park on the Sumas River Dyke Trai.
For every $1 they raise, the government matches it with .50 cents. Last year a donation was made to match the .50 cents, making it a $1 match, and they’re hoping that could happen again. They raised $500 last year, and with the donations doubled that meant they contributed $1,000 to the project.
In addition to raising money for the TCT project, Tracey McDonald says “this a great way to get the residents outside and exercising, and it’s a great platform for them to give back to our community and to the trail which connects us to all of Canada.”
Beginning construction in 1992, the Trans Canada Trail is the world’s longest network of recreational trails. When fully connected, the trail will stretch 24,000 kilometres from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic oceans. More than 22,000 km of the trail have been completed, and the goal was to have the gaps bridged by Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017. Bringing people together in the names of health, environment, history and legacy, 80 per cent of Canadians live within 30 minutes of the TCT route.
The trail is now 93 per cent complete.
See related story: Seniors get chance to ‘Make Moments Matter‘