N.S. SPORT/RECREATION--Trans Canada Trail a Millennium Project
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The Nova Scotia Trails Federation welcomes the federal
announcement that the multi-use, recreational Trans Canada Trail
stretching from Newfoundland to British Columbia is now a
Millennium Project.

In making the announcement yesterday(March 12), Deputy Prime
Minister Herb Gray encouraged all Canadians to support the
completion of the 15,000-kilometre Trans Canada Trail in the year
2000.

"The Nova Scotia Trails Federation is pleased that the federal
government has declared the trail to be a valuable addition to
Canada's national heritage," said Vera Stone, chair of the Trans
Canada Trail Committee. "We hope the government and people of
Nova Scotia will join in the efforts to ensure the trail's
completion in this province."

The Trans Canada Trail, one of about 10 projects announced
yesterday to celebrate the millennium, will come under the new
Millennium Bureau of Canada that will have a budget of about $160
million to be spent over three years.

"The Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission has always
supported the Trans Canada Trail," said Bruce Holland, Minister
responsible for the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission.
"We applaud the hard work of the many volunteers involved in this
exciting project and look forward to its completion." 

Nova Scotians can contribute by buying symbolic metres of trail.
Money raised in Nova Scotia will be used for construction of the
trail in this province.

The Nova Scotia Trails Federation, an umbrella group representing
a wide range of trail users throughout the province, has the
primary purpose of promoting the development and wise use of all
recreational trails for the benefit of Nova Scotians and
visitors.

The Nova Scotia Trails Federation is composed of federate member
associations, such as the Field Naturalists of Nova Scotia,
Canadian Motorcycle Association, Dartmouth Volkmarch Club, Canoe
Nova Scotia, Canadian Hostelling Association, Bicycle Nova
Scotia, Cross-Country Ski Nova Scotia, Snowmobilers Association
of Nova Scotia, All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Nova Scotia,
and the Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation, dozens of
community-based trail building organizations, and hundreds of
individuals interested in recreational trail development and use. 

Since 1994, the Nova Scotia Trails Federation has been working
with government and volunteers to develop Nova Scotia's
contribution to this national dream. Local community groups,
supported by the Trans Canada Trail Committee, will design,
construct and manage Nova Scotia's part of the Trans Canada.

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Contact: Michael Haynes
         Sport Nova Scotia
         902-425-5450 ext. 325

         Vera Stone
         Chair, Trans Canada Trail Committee (Nova Scotia)
         902-423-3166

         Stan Slack
         President, Nova Scotia Trails Federation
         902-883-9747


NOTE TO EDITORS: The following is a list of local community
association contacts from Trans Canada Trail -Nova Scotia:

Claude Nehring
Sydney
Cape Breton County Trails Association
902-567-1073

Al MacDonald
Creignish
Ceilidh Trail Association
902-625-0865

D. N. Brodie
Onslow
Colchester Trails Association
902-427-0550 ext. 4906

Gerald MacLennan
Oxford
Cumberland Trails Association
902-667-5533

Eldon Sutherland
Guysborough
Guysborough County Trails Association
902-533-3145

Paul Euloth
Halifax Regional Trails Co-ordinator
Halifax Regional Municipality
902-490-4408
902-490-6789

Fred Bird
Margaree Centre
Inverness and Victoria Counties Trails Federation
902-756-2583
902-756-3830

Pat MacDonnell
New Glasgow
Pictou County Trails Association
902-752-8981

ngr                    Mar. 13, 1998                 2:05 p.m.