The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure
Cycles from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Quebec Border
July 4-11, 2008

Toronto, Ontario – July 3, 2008 - The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure tour, the Waterfront Regeneration Trust's first annual eight-day, 680 km cycling tour of the Ontario Waterfront Trail, takes place July 4-11, 2008, and will pass through 41 Ontario communities in eight days, celebrating the new and expanded Waterfront Trail. Over 170 cyclists will travel from Niagara-on-the-Lake in the west to the Quebec border in the east, in an organized tour that will stretch along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, using the Waterfront Trail and Greenway. The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure provides a fitness and recreation opportunity putting the WOW factor - Wonderful Ontario Waterfront – into the new and expanded Waterfront Trail and Greenway.

The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure tour will showcase waterfront communities such as Niagara-on-the-Lake, Grimsby, Hamilton, Toronto, Port Hope, Brighton, Kingston, Brockville, and Cornwall, and help promote cycling, tourism, and active living in Ontario. The cyclists will have an opportunity to see vibrant communities and beautiful parks, experience delicious local food and entertainment, learn fascinating history, visit the last remaining coastal wetlands, forests and beaches, and enjoy charming shops and unique local businesses.

“The tour is for everyone to enjoy – participants from ages 9 to 76 have already signed up from communities across Canada and the U.S.”, said Marlaine Koehler, Executive Director of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust. “There are families, riders new to touring, experienced riders, as well as non-riders joining for the week, a day, or two.”

The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure tour begins in McFarland Park, Niagara-on-the-Lake on July 4th with a breakfast for cyclists and dignitaries, followed by a launch ceremony at 9:00 a.m. with the Minister of Health Promotion, the Honourable Margarett Best. At the sound of a cannon blast, more than 170 riders will set out on their 8-day waterfront journey.

“The McGuinty government is committed to supporting the development and use of trails,” said Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best. “This is the fourth year we have invested over $400,000 in the Trails for Life Program, supporting healthy and active living for all Ontarians, and encouraging more people to get out to hike, bike, and enjoy Ontario’s wonderful network of trails.”

The tour ends on July 11, 2008 with ceremonies in Cornwall, Ontario and Rivière Beaudette, Quebec, where the ride ends. The Cornwall event begins at 9:00 a.m. at the RCAF Building in Lamoureux Park. Among the dignitaries on hand, Jim Brownell, MPP, Stormount-Dundas-South Glengarry and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism. Mr. Brownell will announce funding from the Ministry of Tourism for the creation of a Welcome Kiosk at the eastern terminus of the trail. The second ceremony takes place later that day at 12:30 p.m. in Rivière Beaudette at Sam’s Place, Hwy 338, chemin Frontière, Quebec. Hosted by Vélo Québec, this event will feature the unveiling of new inter-provincial trail signage to promote the connection between Ontario’s Waterfront Trail and Quebec’s La Route verte. This event will also celebrate the completion of the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure tour, with participants receiving medallions honouring their end-to-end accomplishment of 680 km.

The Adventure has something for walkers and the viewing public as well. The waterfront communities are preparing celebrations for the cyclists and public to enjoy as the convoy rolls through, including:

Friday, July 4th from 10:30 to 12:30 pm
Port Dalhousie: A self-guided walking “scavenger hunt” loops along the Lake Ontario shoreline, harbour and downtown area of Old Port Dalhousie. The public parking area for the "Old Town" is in Lakeside Park and is where the tour will start.

Saturday, July 5th from 9:00 – 12:00 pm
Oakville: The Town of Oakville and Cyclepath are teaming up to provide free bike exams and bicycle safety workshops in Coronation Park from 9 am to noon.

Sunday July 6th from 9:00 -11:00 a.m
Toronto: Friends of Fort York and David Crombie will lead a Trails Open Ontario walk from Toronto’s Fort York National Heritage Site to the Distiller, pointing out heritage sites and new projects along this 5km waterfront stroll.

Tuesday, July 8th from 8:00 to 10:00 pm
Kingston: The City of Kingston has planned an exciting evening in Lake Ontario Park, including the outdoor viewing of a cycling themed movie, music, and dancing.

Wednesday July 9th at 9:00, 10:00, and 12:00 pm
Gananoque: The 1000 Islands Kayaking Company is offering a view of the Waterfront Trail from a different perspective, and a chance for cyclists to use different muscles. They will be leading a 2 hour paddle on the St. Lawrence River, leaving from Rotary Beach in Gananoque at 9 am, 10am, and noon.

Thursday July 10th starting at noon
Cornwall: Lift Off, the annual hot air balloon festival will rise again during the weekend of July 10-13, with all events taking place in Cornwall's Lamoureux Park located on the St. Lawrence River. In addition to the extensive balloon roster, there is an impressive list of musical groups that will perform on stage, including Glass Tiger.

For a complete listing of events in each waterfront community, visit www.waterfronttrail.org

The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure tour is organized by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and its over 50 waterfront partners, including local municipalities, conservation authorities and community groups and is generously supported by: MMM Group, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, CIBC and The Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario, gave the Waterfront Regeneration Trust a three-year, $210,000 grant to help launch the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure.

CIBC announced the renewal of its long-standing partnership with the Waterfront Regeneration Trust with funding of $250,000 over five years. As the founding Corporate Sponsor for the Trust, CIBC has invested $1.55 million in the environmental regeneration of the Lake Ontario waterfront since 1996.

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust is a registered charity that co-ordinates a partnership of waterfront communities, conservation authorities, community groups and corporations dedicated to the completion, enhancement and promotion of the Waterfront Trail and Greenway.

- 30 -

For media information contact:
Edye Rome Tel: 416-785-6213; Cell: 416-993-6213, or by email: edyerome@sympatico.ca or Helen Kampfmuller Tel: 416-694-5640; Cell 416-804-5640, or by email: Helen-kampfmuller@rogers.com

Return to News Release index