The Grand Valley Trails…

The Grand Valley Trails Association (GVTA) is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that has been in existence as a registered charitable organization since 1973. Our mandate is to maintain the 240 km Grand Valley Trail, which stretches along the Grand River from Belwood in the north to Port Maitland on Lake Erie in the south. We do not own land but rather depend on the generosity of local private landowners and the collaboration and support of public landowners such as the local municipalities and townships and the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA). In fact, about a quarter of our trail is located on land managed by the GRCA, with whom we have excellent relations. We particularly appreciate that we share a common goal: providing residents with easy and low-cost access to nature, as the multiple physical and mental health benefits are well known from reducing anxiety and stress to enhancing mood and improving sleep.

As the province is considering the amalgamation of Conservation Authorities, we want to stress how important it is that the proposed Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency and the seven Regional Conservation Authorities keep at the top of their mandate the need:
• to preserve and protect the natural environment,
• to maintain low cost, safe and easy access to nature for the citizens of Ontario, and
• to allow organizations such as ours to use land under their jurisdiction for the development and maintenance of hiking trails open to the general public. 

Our organization has a 50-year plus history with the Grand River Conservation Authority. We are run entirely by volunteers and value the fact that we can communicate directly with a local entity, with people who live in our community, know the issues and are knowledgeable of the local history and culture and finally, who can take decisions locally.

We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Proposal for the regional consolidation of Ontario’s conservation authorities, and we are looking forward to working with the new Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency and our new Regional Conservation Authority, as they work to manage the watershed and further the conservation, restoration, and management of natural resources.