SJAM Winter Trail News

The most recent news is that the Champlain Park Community Association made a $500 donation to support the Sir John A. Macdonald Winter Trail. Our community association co-chair Lynne says:

One of our goals this year is to support the SJAM, an especially important resource for community exercise and recreation with the pandemic making outdoor physically distanced activities critical to a healthy winter.

In this photo from a snowy cold Wednesday morning on October 28th 2020 are Jeff Leiper (our city councillor), Dave Adams (SJAM Winter Trail), and Adrian Bradley (CPCA).

SJAMWinterTrail Thank You from Dave Adams (center). Jeff Leiper (left, city councillor) and Adrian Bradley (right, CPCA)

After the ceremony, we had a look at where the Pontiac curb would be cut (need a 10 foot wide space) with sloping sides to make room for the groomer to continue the ski trail onto the field. Previously we had a seasonal ramp made of wood chips. Continue reading “SJAM Winter Trail News” →

SJAM Winter Trail Fundraising Update

Update by Dovercourt Recreation Association
October 30, 12:59 PM

Just under $200 to reach our $17,500 goal and then its the home stretch! We are planning on some exciting partnership activities with the The Canadian War Museum and the SJAM Winter Trail is the perfect way to get there including their onsite licensed cafe! Please help us finish by sharing this with your friends and family. We’re almost there!

For more information and a great video click here. Project’s regular web site is http://www.wintertrail.ca/

Background: Fundraiser for New Ottawa River Winter Trail Project

From https://fundrazr.com/SJAM.Winter.Trail
Winter Trail Progress as of 20161030

16 km trail network that extends along 6 km of beautiful Ottawa River shoreline.
- From: Canadian War Museum in the East.
- To: Dominion Station in the West.
- Along the way: Westboro Beach, Island Park, Champlain Park forest trails, Remic Park, Lemieux Island crossing, Prince of Wales train bridge.
All winter long: 3-4 grooming sessions a week from first snow to spring melt.
Professional standard: main trails will feature parallel machine-groomed classic ski tracks with firm-packed “cordouroy” centre.
Multi-use: suitable for skiing skate-skiing, walking, running, fat-tire cycling.
Side trails: Smaller trails will snake through scenic parks and forests, and connect the trail with side trails, access points, and transit.
FREE for the public to use! No permits required. Just strap on your skis and go!
We’ve already done it! Our February 2016 pilot project was a runaway hit; we counted 216 trail users in just one hour!
We’ve got permission to do it again! The National Capital Commission has given us the go-ahead and support needed for us to use their land for at least the next 3-5 years!

To make this happen, the organizers have to show solid community backing for the project. Which means at least 1/3 of their costs have to be covered by fund-raising campaigns like this one – with the rest coming from sponsors, grants, and government. Your TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation: will help them buy, maintain, and fuel their grooming machine, and pay their trail groomer for the first season. Then, if they do very well, your funds will begin to cover the next few years as well.

Email Correction: Trimming help wanted with SJAM Winter Trail within our forest

Oops Sorry! Email address correction to this post , should have read as follows:

If you can help with the trimming of buckthorn bushes and small branches along the edges of the proposed Winter trail in the NCC forest please send your email to champlainpark@hotmail.ca with your contact information and you will be added to a mail listing. This list will be used to contact volunteers with dates and times for trimming parties. If you are available, your help will be greatly appreciated.

i.e. Please send to champlainpark@hotmail.ca

Thanks

Trimming help wanted with SJAM Winter Trail within our forest

Looking for volunteers who would be able to help in trimming small bushes and branches along the proposed 2016 Winter trail within the NCC forest. This forest trail will be joining up with the main Sir John A. MacDonald (SJAM) Winter trail network which be running along the SJAM Parkway.

champlain-woods-x-ski-trail-2016 — 2016 Proposed SJAM Winter Trail within the NCC – Champlain Park forest area

We plan to start trimmings on Sat Oct 22 weekend and continue with additional weekend mornings over the next few weeks as required.

Please contact Adrian Bradley is you have any questions: 613-722-2248;

Project Details

Work involved
– trimming back buckthorn brushes at base where possible
– trimming over head branches of bushes
– trimming over head branches of small trees
– placing and spreading all trimmings flat on the forest floor away from the trail (as there will be no chipping provided). Placed so they don’t stick up for safety purposes

Equipment:
– No mechanical equipment will be used
– Only manual garden tools will be used. i.e. Small garden saws and garden clippers.
– Volunteers asked to provide their on equipment, suggest wear garden gloves and safety glasses

When?
– Will be staring late-October 2016
– We expect trimmings to take place at various times over a 3 week period

Steps for this Project Activity:
– All volunteers will be asked to sign our waiver form when they sign up as volunteers

Benefits: The trimming of Buckthorn bushes and small over-hanging branches along the edges of the proposed Winter trail in the NCC Forest is to ensure the accessibility and safety of all users of the trail. This work has been coordinated with agreement between the NCC, Nakkertok and the CPCA’s sponsored activity approval.

Other Trail related

SJAM Winter Trail grooming fund

If you wish to contribute, any amount however small would be most welcome!
For donation details for SJAM Winter trail grooming fund please check here.
This is a crowd sourced funding initiative which has a closing date of November 14, 2016.