42 - Friday, August 21, 1992 - North Shore News

Network extends from Victoria to St. John’s

On NOV. 7, 1885, the last spike was hammered into place to mark the comple- tion of an unparalleled engineering feat that for over 100 years has linked the two distinct coastlines of Canada.

By A.P. McCredie News Reporter

Apart from Hockey Night in Canada, and perhaps Labatt’s Blue, the uniting feature of the

national railway system remains a.

defining moment for this country.

With ‘the vision of a Sir John A. MacDonald (the driving force behind the coast-to-coast rail- line), a non-profit organization in Vancouver is bidding to make re- ality of a modern National Dream, Part Two to rol! through the North Shore. _.

“The Centennial Trails Trust is actively promoting the creation, development, management and use of a muthi-purpose, intercon- necting trail network stretching from Victoria to Banff,’’ Glen Anwick, the organization's mar- keting officer, suid recently.

Such a trail is not a new idea.

The original Centennial Trait was developed in 1964, and three years later it was dedicated to commemorate the Confederation of Canada and the Union of Van- couver Island and British Colum- bia.

At that time, the west trailhead was located at Burnaby Mountain, meandering cast along the 49th parallel, then snaking up through Fort Steele to Invermere and the Alberta foothills.

The new, improved trail will

connect Horseshoe Bay, via the Baden-Powell trail, to the original trailhead. A trail from Victoria to Nanaimo will complete the 1,400-km circuitous route.

This, however, is just beginning.

The Great National Trail of Canada — connecting trails across all 10 provinces and covering some 7,800 km from Victoria to St. John’s — will be the world’s longest trail when it is completed.

Though the idea of a cross- Canada trail has been informally discussed for decades, the recent growth in public interest in hiking and outdoor activities has inspired a determined effort by hiking and trail associations across the coun- try to make the dream a reality.

According to a recent B.C. Parks survey on outdoor recre- ation, hiking was identified by 56% of those surveyed as their most popular activity, with recre- ational walking/hiking enjoyed by over 80% of B.C.’s population.

Anwick beiieves the multi-use trail, allowing horses and bicycle (travel on designated sections, will be a boon to tourism — much as the West Coast Trail on Van- couver Island has been — attrac- ting hikers from around the world.

The patron cf the Centennial Trails Trust is former B.C. Lt- Gov. Henry P. Bell-lrving.

The trust is operating through government and private funding, plus tax-deductible memberships and donations from the gencral public and business.

Outdoor enthusiasts who are in- terested in becoming members or volunteering can call 735-9195 (fax 738-7396), or write te the Centennial Trails Trust at 1646 West 7ih Ave., Vancouver, B.C., V6s 185,

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