History
FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS,
the Board worked with landscape architect Larissa Panachenko, to plan out the route of the modern day Crow Wing Trail. An 1887 map of a proposed provincial highway from St. Boniface to Emerson became a valuable tool. (It was provided by the St-Pierre-Jolys Museum Committee, who had done a lot of research on the trail, erecting a cairn at the Museum entrance.) Highway no. 606 was to be built along the historical Crow Wing Trail, but Highway 59 was built instead, at a greater distance from the Rat River. Although most of the historical trail was worked under for cropping, the map guided the re-creation of the trail which now meanders between fields and pastures; on dirt, gravel roads and grass road allowances; and through parks and communities that provide amenities for trail users.
AUGUST 7th, 2005,
dignitaries, residents and visitors alike, attended the grand opening of the Senkiw Suspension Bridge, which was restored by volunteers and is now a feature attraction. This was the last of four bridges that were built on the Crow Wing Trail. Bridges are the biggest challenge and all levels of government support were needed and received. The other bridges are the suspension bridge in Emerson, the bridge over the Rat River in St. Malo and the bridge over the Coulée des Naults beween St. Malo and St-Pierre-Jolys.
SEPTEMBER 9th, 2006,
having fulfilled the criteria of a continuous, signed trail, the Crow Wing Trail was officially opened at the St. Adolphe Park. La Vérendrye MLA Ron Lemieux cut the ribbon on behalf of the Province of Manitoba.
IN 2012,
in order to address the maintenance needs of this 191-km trail, the Association led a Trail Maintenance Pilot Project. A Trail Boss saw to the maintenance of the trail from June to September, from Emerson to Winnipeg. A 50-page report documented the planning and execution of the project, and provided 13 recommendations. The report will be distributed at the Annual Meeting, in spring 2014.
SEPTEMBER 30th, 2013,
the Crow Wing Trail Association received the Manitoba Sustainable Tourism Award. The award recognized the volunteers from six municipalities and one First Nation, who have worked together to re-create this early historic trade route, which is now the longest Manitoba section of the Trans Canada Trail, and promote tourism through sustainable tourism events and active transportation for healthy people and communities.