For only $50, river trail lovers can put their name on part of Winnipeg’s beloved Nestaweya River Trail. The Forks Foundation is inviting people to help build the trail this winter by “adopting” a metre through its Trail Together campaign.
“This year we’re inviting everyone who loves, uses, or takes pride in the river trail to support it in this exciting and meaningful new way,” says Sara Stasiuk, Chief Executive Officer, The Forks North Portage. “Everything great in Manitoba was built by people, friends, families, and communities coming together, and The Forks is no exception.”
Metres can be adopted in the donor’s name or in honour of a trail lover in their life. For every $50 donation, the donor will receive a tax receipt, the honouree name will appear listed on the Trail Together webpage, and come river trail season you'll be able to find your metre on signs along the trail itself.
The Nestaweya River Trail is no small feat to build. Regardless of whether it’s a 75-day-long river trail season with 10 km of skating and walking trails or nine days on a short little trail, it takes the same amount of monitoring, flooding, testing, and building ice. The Forks receives no operational funding from any level of government, and amenities like this rely on community.
During the longer river trail seasons, more than 200,000 people use the Nestaweya River Trail, and it takes a team of more than a dozen to maintain it.
“If the Farmer’s Almanac is any tell, we’re in for a real Winnipeg winter this year,” says Stasiuk. “Seeing hundreds of people along the trail skating, skiing, walking, and rolling along makes me proud to be part of this community. It’s inspiring, and I’m excited to lace up my skates again and get out on our frozen rivers.”
Rain or shine, freeze or flow, resources are committed each year to getting the river trail built as it’s a valuable connector for the community. In years with a shortened or non-existent river trail season those resources are reallocated to support other winter programming around The Forks site.
For more information, and to adopt a metre today, visit www.theforks.com/trailtogether.
The Forks Foundation is the affiliated charity of The Forks North Portage, established in 2006. Over the years The Forks Foundation has received major gifts from caring Winnipeggers to help build the skatepark at The Forks and commission public art that is seen around the site. This campaign marks the first time The Forks Foundation has undertaken a public fundraising effort.