City agrees to help fund east-end winter trail

If everything goes according to plan, cross-country skiers could be gliding down a new groomed trail along the Ottawa River as early as Saturday.

After a successful two-week pilot project last winter, a group called Ski Heritage East set out to raise $40,000 to hire professional groomers to maintain eight kilometres of trail between Green’s Creek and Trim Road for skiers, snowshoers, fat-tire cyclists and pedestrians.

The long-term dream would see another eight-kilometre stretch to the west of Green’s Creek, all the way to the New Edinburgh boathouse. This week, the group learned the city would chip in $15,000.

“It’s enough to get us started,” organizer Ian Gadbois said Wednesday.

Some diehard skiers have already broken their own trail along the river, but Gadbois said the groomers, Lafleur de la Capitale, will get to work on Thursday.

“I think people will be on a groomed trail by Saturday,” an excited Gadbois predicted.

Orléans Coun. Bob Monette is credited with shaking the right tree at city hall to free up the one-time funds from the recreation, culture and facilities budget.

He had indicated his support for the initiative last month when Gadbois presented the proposal during the community and protective services committee’s budget deliberations.

Monette says the pilot project last year whet the public’s appetite for groomed trails in the east end.

“People were saying they’d love to see it for the whole season,” he said.

The city’s contribution may not stretch that far, “but it gets them started,” Monette said.

“Hopefully what this will do is showcase how successful this can be in the east end.”

The councillor also hopes the group will secure federal or provincial funding in the future.