Alberta designates 2 volunteer organizations as trail managers
The province is downloading responsibility of trail management onto volunteer groups.
The Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association and the Alberta Snowmobile Association have been designated as the first two community organizations to be official trail managers under the Trails Act, the government announced on Friday.
The organizations will be in charge of maintaining, improving, and repairing a number of snowmobile and off-highway vehicle trails across the province.
“We are confident the way they conduct their work on Alberta trails will serve as a great example for others to follow,” said Todd Loewen, minister for forestry, parks and tourism at a press conference on Friday.
Both volunteer organizations received $1 million in provincial funding in 2022-23, and would receive another $1 million each over the next three years as part of Budget 2023 for the work.
Trails managed by the trail managers must align with approved land-use plans for the area to ensure environmental commitments are met.
“Trail agreements are being developed so there is a clear understanding of the goals for the funding and environmental protections,” Loewen said.
The province says the appointment will ensure there are sufficient high-quality and low-cost recreation sites in the province.
The success of the first two trail agreements will be evaluated by the province, and used to develop similar agreements with other organizations in the future.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.