Shaping Canada's Trails
Canada's First Trail Summit Unites Experts in Winnipeg to Map Future for National Networks
Anonymous
Canada's trail sector is coming together for its first-ever national summit, set for June 16–19, 2026, in Winnipeg. Financial Post reports that Trans Canada Trail is hosting the Canadian Trail Summit at a moment when trail networks face mounting pressure from climate change, aging infrastructure, and a surge in use that has grown nearly 50% since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Registration is nearly sold out. Over 75 presenters will lead sessions across three program streams. The Trans Canada Trail network now stretches 30,000 km and recorded 145 million visits in 2024–25, according to Montreal Gazette.
A Trail System Under Strain From All Sides
Canada's trails are more popular than ever — and that popularity is breaking them. Trail use jumped nearly 50% during the pandemic and has stayed high. But funding has not kept pace. The National Active Transportation Strategy provided $400 million between 2021 and 2026, according to Infrastructure Canada. Now, many regional groups face a "funding cliff" as those pandemic-era grants expire.
Canada also has no unified national trail strategy — unlike other infrastructure sectors. Trans Canada Trail CEO Mathieu Roy has been lobbying Ottawa as recently as May 2026 to change that. Roy said this is "a crucial moment" and that the Summit will help "build a strong, united national trail sector — one that will ensure a resilient future."
Keynote Speakers Tackle Health, Access, and Reconciliation
The Summit's speaker lineup reflects how broadly trails touch Canadian life. Dr. Melissa Lem, president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, will argue that trails are "preventative healthcare infrastructure" that could save the medical system millions. Lisa Franks, a seven-time Paralympic medalist, will focus on inclusive design and accessibility mapping, according to Woodstock Sentinel Review.
Ryan Shackleton, CEO of Know History, will lead sessions on Indigenous narratives of the land trails cross. The Summit also features a session on the Beardy's and Okemasis' Cree Nation trail enhancement project. Organizers say the goal is to shift how Canadians think about trails — from "pioneer routes" to shared Indigenous landscapes.
A $10 Billion Trail Economy Seeks Unified Data
Trails are big business. Canada's "trail economy" is now valued at over $10.3 billion per year when tourism and powersports are included, according to a Moto Canada report. The 142,000 km off-road powersport network alone — ATVs, snowmobiles — represents a massive parallel sector. But the Summit's organizers say the sector lacks consistent data, which weakens its case for government funding.
One goal of the Summit is to standardize how trail-use and economic data are collected. After the event, organizers plan to release findings from a "State of the Trail Sector" national study. That report is expected to form the core of a formal 2027 federal budget request for a permanent National Trail Strategy, according to Clinton News Record.
Tensions Simmer Between Motorized and Quiet Trail Users
Not everyone in Canada's trail community agrees on the path forward. Groups like Trails BC have issued strong statements opposing any expansion of motorized access to shared trails, citing safety risks and environmental damage. The conflict between ATV and snowmobile users on one side, and hikers and cyclists on the other, is one of the sharpest divides the Summit must navigate, according to Sault This Week.
Urban and rural trail managers also face very different problems. Cities like Toronto are focused on e-bike rules and commuter trail networks. Rural managers are dealing with wildfire-damaged routes and "vegetative encroachment" — overgrowth that blocks paths — with far less media attention. The Summit's three program streams — innovating trail management, strengthening the sector, and fostering healthy communities — are designed to address all of it.
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