NEWS RELEASE

Bedford-Sackville Connector Greenway grand opening,
International Trails Day, Saturday June 3

(Thursday, June 1, 2006) - The Sackville Rivers Association will open the newly-finished Bedford-Sackville Connector Greenway on Saturday, June 3, 2006, International Trails Day, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the trail attended by federal, provincial and municipal partners, representatives from community groups and the general public.

Representatives of Bedford and Sackville will gather in two locations and walk towards each other along the trail to meet at the downstream bridge on the DND Bedford Rifle Range and cut the ribbon to officially open the trail.

Re-connecting Bedford and Sackville with this portion of the historic walking trail has required funding commitments totaling $935,000: $494,000 from the Government of Canada, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Strategic Community Investment Fund Program; $65,000 from the Government of Nova Scotia, Department of Health Promotion and Protection, Sport and Recreation, Recreation Facility Development Program; $215,000 from Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) through the Halifax Regional Trails Advisory Team (HRTAT) and $161,000 from the Sackville Rivers Association. (HRM and the NS Department of Health Promotion and Protection have also contributed to building the rest of the trail.)

The Sackville River Trail follows the Sackville River, providing a historic connection between the c1770 Scott Manor House, Fort Sackville, in Bedford, Fultz House, in Sackville, and many more heritage sites. The riverway was also a traditional trail for the Mi’kmaq, who used it for summer access to the shellfish, fish and seal resources of Chegnecto Bay (Bedford Basin and Halifax Harbour).

“The Bedford-Sackville Connector Greenway provides a safe and healthy natural space for Nova Scotians to enhance their overall quality of life through exercise activity and appreciation of its beauty,” said Carol Davis-Jamieson, Central Region Representative, Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection. “Just as the trail connects communities, it can connect people to greater health opportunities and more fulfilled lives.”

Along the trail, birdwatching is recommended and salmon sightings are common (in season). The trail will be completely wheelchair accessible soon: it’s fully-graded and needs a finish coat of either crusher dust or asphalt (it will be finished during fiscal 06/07). The trail is open to foot and bicycle traffic (no motorized, non-wheelchair vehicles).

“This trail is an important part of HRM’s Active Transportation corridors,” said Mayor Peter Kelly. “These corridors provide links between home and work for commuters, offer tourist destinations and provide health and recreation benefits to communities. For these reasons and many others, this new trail is another great asset to HRM.”

Grand Opening, Bedford-Sackville Connector Greenway
International Trails Day
Saturday, June 3, 2006

Time: between 10 a.m - 12:00 noon; ribbon-cutting at 11:00 a.m.
Location: ribbon-cutting on trail at downstream bridge on DND Bedford Rifle Range.
Groups will gather in two places - at the Fultz House parking lot in Lower Sackville, and the Range Park parking area in Bedford between 10:00 am and 10:30 am. Both groups will start to walk towards each other at 10:30 a.m, and will meet at 11:00 a.m. on the trail for the ribbon cutting and speeches.

(Pouring rain date Saturday, June 10.)

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For more information, please contact:

Mayor Peter Kelly
Mayor’s Office
Phone: 490-4010
Email: kellyp@halifax.ca

Don Ambler
HRM Trail Specialist
Phone: 490-6633
Email: amblerd@halifax.ca

Jennifer Beck, Project Manager
HRM Corporate Communications
Phone 490-4079
Email beckj@halifax.ca