We are thrilled to announce that Colour the Trails has been awarded a grant from the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) Funding Program! This contribution helped us to continue our mission to improve access to outdoor activities for BIPoC and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, by enabling us to hire or retain 11 BIPoC events and marketing leads to support our summer programs.
HIGHLIGHTS
The TCT grant allowed us to:
- Host introductory events and clinics to break down barriers for BIPoC and 2SLGBTQIA+ adventurers. (i.e. hikes, birdwatching, trail building, conservation etc).
- Develop mentorship programs to foster a sense of community and belonging in the outdoors. (i.e. trail running mentorship).
- Create media that showcases BIPoC stories in outdoor spaces, promoting representation and inclusion. (i.e. hired marketing staff to create marketing assets and promote upcoming events).
- Continue to pay our BIPOC and Youth-led staff for their time and contributions to the movement.
Omimah Hassan (she/her) – Calgary Summer Events Lead
She led:
- Intro to conservation
- Taylor Lake hike
- Stanley Glacier guided hike
- Intro to backcountry camping
And will lead a second conservation event in November!
Tolu Amuwo (she/her) – BC Hike Lead
She led:
- Bowen hike
- Stawamus Chief Trail (advanced hike)
- Whistler community day hike
- Community evening hike
Amanda Lyn (she/her) – Ontario Summer Events Co-Lead
She led:
- Community birdwatching hike at Tommy Thompson Park
- Evergreen Brickworks fall hike
Priya Moraes (she/her) – Global Strategic Partnerships / Ontario Chapter Lead
She led:
- Funding procurement
- Support for new leads
- Marketing efforts (website and social media)
- Intro to frontcountry camping at Killarney Provincial Park
Lizzy Ojo Martens (she/her) – Vancouver Chapter Lead
She led:
- Trail building in Tofino with Wilderness Committee and the Tribal Parks Guardians of the Tla-o-qui-aht Nation
- Learn-to-Camp with Parks Canada at Alice Lake Provincial Park
Hafsah Penny (she/her) – Edmonton Trail Running Mentorship Lead
She is leading the 12 week Edmonton Trail Running Mentorship
Medāneghā́ʼ Detʼele (Zir/zir/zirs) – BC Trail Running Mentorship Lead
Zir led:
- BC’s 12 Week Trail running mentorship
Anicha Anli (she/her) – Montreal Chapter Co-Lead
She led:
- Collaboration and promotion of Quebec hikes (Alfred Kelly and Oka Wetlands)
Grace Simone B (she/her) – Social Media Manager
She led:
- Creation of engaging content to promote trail building, hiking, and other trail related events etc via social media communications as part of marketing and promotions
Temi Akintan (she/her) – Newsletter and Blog Coordinator
She led:
- Newsletter and blog creation to promote upcoming events, affiliate links and share information with the CTT community
Keyara Valencia-Hinds (she/her) – Montreal Chapter Lead, Marketing
She led:
- Marketing and promotion for trail events across country
Colour the Trails would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Trans Canada Trail for their generous support. This funding will not only help us improve our section of the Trail but also contribute to making the Trans Canada Trail more accessible and inclusive for all.
Through donor support, Trans Canada Trail provides grants via their TCT Trail Funding Program to ensure funds have the greatest impact for the Trail. By receiving this grant, we’re able to increase and improve the quality of the Trans Canada Trail by creating more accessible and inclusive outdoor experiences for BIPoC and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
Stay Tuned for Upcoming Events and Initiatives
With this new funding, we were able to roll out more programs and events in this year than ever before.
Once again, thank you to the Trans Canada Trail for their support, and thank you to our community for your continued engagement and enthusiasm. Together, we’re making the outdoors a more inclusive and welcoming space for all!
Click here to view TCT Acknowledgment Post on Instagram