Emerald Necklace Trail, Petawawa

The Rotary Club of Petawawa made a significant contribution to the Emerald Necklace Trail through funding with a Trillium Foundation grant, in partnership with the Town of Petawawa for the Trillium Trail component of the Emerald Neckalce Trail System.

The Emerald Necklace Trail System was designed as Petawawa's Millennium Partnership Program to explore our heritage, celebrate our achievements, build our future, and leave a lasting legacy Throughout the years, Petawawa's settlers have formed the paths, which now make up the Emerald Necklace. There are eight phases to the system that will eventually unite Petawawa - the Millennium Trail, the Trillium Trail, The Terrace Trail, the Neighbourhood Paths, the Petawawa River whitewater canoe, kayak and rafting trail, The Ottawa River Waterway, the Soldier's Challenge and the Bike Trail.

The Millennium Trail

The Millennium Trail, a paved 2-kilometre walkway along the Petawawa River, is Phase One of the Emerald Necklace. The Petawawa Rotary Club was the lead applicant with funding by the Canadian Millennium Partnership, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Town of Petawawa, Ontario 2000, and donations from local residents, businesses and CFB Petawawa.

The beautiful lush green of 'emerald' scenery gives the Millennium Trail rare glimpses into the past and how the area must have looked in the time of the early settlers. It is designed for walkers, joggers, in-line skaters, cyclists, cross-country skiers, and snowshoe enthusiasts. The walkway is highlighted with an outdoor museum featuring storyboards that tell the history of our people, the environment, and how the people of the area lived off the land.

The Millennium Trail also features a flow-through swimming pool, the Evergreen Stage - a performing arts stage constructed from logs, a beautiful Victorian-styled gazebo, and a prayer/wedding chapel. The entrance gates feature timber-framed monuments meant to evoke memories of the areas heritage in logging and agriculture. Trail goers can relax at various rest stations located on the trail and bask in the tranquil beauty of the Petawawa River.

The Trillium Trail

The Trillium Trail is Phase Two of the Trail System. It was completed in 2003. This is a motorized trail that is shown on maps as the 'TOP A' snowmobile trail. It joins the Trans Canada Trail from Ottawa to North Bay in the winter. The Petawawa connection is 26 kilometres and runs parallel to the community's main street, Petawawa Boulevard.

The Petawawa Terrace Provincial Park contains an extensive trail system. It is best described as a 12 km woodland walk, incorporating numerous interpretive panels along the way. These panels feature Ontario songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, snakes, frogs, turtles, butterflies, fur bearing animals, fish, rodents, bats, species at risk, invasive species, salamanders, upland birds and owls and deer and beer of Ontario. Traditionally this park has been the home base of the Petawawa cross-country ski trails maintained by Fred Molson who also maintains the down hill ski facility at Mount Molson just next door the Terrace. The interpretive storyboards and interactive kiosks will be completed and installed in October 2004.

For Phase Four, the Town of Petawawa has embarked on an ambitious trail system to connect various neighbourhoods and their parks. This 'necklace' system of paved and natural trails also leads to the crown jewel - the shopping district, the Town Hall, and the Millennium Trail.Petawawa River whitewater cane, kayak and rafting trail.

The Petawawa River runs from Algonquin Park to the mighty Ottawa River converging in the heart of Petawawa. Some of the best whitewater canoeing, kayaking and rafting in the Ottawa Valley is found on the Petawawa River. The scenery is breathtaking.

For example the Barron River Canyon is one the area's natural wonders. To watch the award winning movie about this beautiful stretch of water entitled 'Jewel of Ontario - The Petawawa River' or for a guide on canoeing and kayaking the Petawawa River contact the Petawawa Public Library. The Ministry of Natural Resources at (613) 732-3661 also has guidebooks on canoeing and kayaking on the Petawawa River.The Ottawa River Waterway Experience the pristine wilderness that was familiar to some of Canada's earliest explorers along this 500 km section of the Ottawa River, from New Liskeard to Arnprior. Pleasure boaters can customize their uniquely different boating adventure as a day trip or a weeklong holiday along this scenic waterway. The Waterway accommodates watercraft up to 30' long, using a series of hydraulic trailers to lift your boat around the various rapids and dams along the way.

For more information, call (613) 735-5416 Fax (613) 735-5666, Email: lsarazin@pembroke.ca or check out their website at www.ottawariverwaterway.com. Visit the Ottawa River Legacy Landmark Kiosk at the Petawawa Point (beside the public boat launch). There are 12 kiosks located at various points along the Ottawa River, from Hawkesbury to New Liskeard. Learn to appreciate the importance of founding community partners in the history of the Ottawa River.

In 2005 Canadian Forces Base Petawawa will celebrate its 100th anniversary. To commemorate this centennial, the local service clubs, the Town and the Base Recreation Department are combining forces to build one of the most interesting and challenging fitness courses in Canada. Individuals of all fitness levels will have the opportunity to challenge themselves against Canada's best cardiovascular and muscular endurance, strength, balance and flexibility activities. The trails feature the latest information on training, levels of exertion, staying hydrated, warm-up, cool down and safety information. The Millennium Trail features the Recruit Trail with information about what is expected physically from those interested in joining the military, the Parachute Trail, the Search and Rescue Trail and the Joint Task Forces Trail. Dondonald Hall will be the start of the most demanding trails - the Battle Fitness Trail and the Iron Man Trail. The expected completion date of these trails is summer 2005.

Bike Trail

The Town of Petawawa continues to demonstrate its commitment to environmentally friendly forms of transportation and active living. The eighth and final Phase in the Emerald Necklace will feature a bike trail that runs from Petawawa to Pembroke, and then over to Quebec and on to Ottawa. As roads are repaved, bike trails are added on both sides of the roads. The goal is that someday workers and school children alike can bike or roller blade daily to their destination. These trails will help define Petawawa as the home of active living in the Valley with a strong emphasis on the environment - a place where people can share the memory of the past and share their dreams of the future.