Officials hope title will boost tourism
Nov 24, 2008 - 03:13 PM
By Jeff Hayward
UXBRIDGE -- Uxbridge can now lay official claim to a title it has been working towards for years.
The Township has been handed a 'Trail Capital of Canada' designation certificate by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. The document allows Uxbridge to legally advertise the trademark said Ingrid Svelnis, chief administrative officer.
She explained the application process took about two years, completed with the help of a Township lawyer. "We've always said we were the trail capital, (now) we've grown into it," said Ms. Svelnis.
She noted another municipality on the nation's west coast was also laying claim to the title, but Uxbridge beat it out for the honour.
There is no direct funding for Uxbridge tied to the title, but it may help secure funding through trail partnerships in the future, said Ms. Svelnis.
Tom Rance, a member of Uxbridge's Town Trail Committee, said years of effort have gone into developing the trail system and the designation is a plus for Uxbridge. "This is really recognition of the large trail system in Uxbridge for walking, cycling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling," he said.
There are currently eight in-town trails and two more are on the way, explained Mr. Rance. That's in addition to a number of countryside trails, including the Trans-Canada and Oak Ridges trails, he said.
The trail committee began concentrating on the in-town network in late 2003, but the outer trails have been in the works for decades, said Mr. Rance. "A lot of the trails were built on natural routes (with existing paths), it made a lot of sense," he said. "The evolution of the trails goes back a long, long way."
Both Ms. Svelnis and Mr. Rance see the title as an opportunity to boost tourism.
"I think this will be a real benefit to the township, it will bring people into town to eat and find out more about Uxbridge," he said.
Uxbridge Mayor Bob Shepherd said the Township will begin a major push to promote the official designation next spring or earlier. "We have five entrance signs, we're thinking at the end of the year to (add) trail capital of Canada (to them)," said the mayor.
He said come warmer weather, the Township may offer guided tours of the trail network and an updated trail guide. "We'd like to do it right, a whole package," he said.
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