Hike Canada En Marche Strategic Plan May 2021

Land Acknowledgement

Hike Canada En Marche acknowledges, recognizes and respects the Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of the land through which hiking trails pass, and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories.

Vision

To promote the development and use of a Canada-wide system of trails open to the public that offer both Canadians and visitors access to the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the country’s diverse regions, as well as facilitating a form of exercise that is physically and mentally beneficial.

Values

a. Environmental Stewardship Preserving the natural wilderness and its wild and rugged beauty, open spaces, magnificent vistas, and clean air. b. Sustainability Nurturing community support for trails by advocating charitable giving and government funding for trails and trail maintenance, as well as legislation for the establishment and maintenance of hiking trails in all parts of the country. c. Access Protecting public access to the trails by keeping them open, free and available to all who respect accepted standards of hiking etiquette. Where possible, supporting the principle of hiking trails that are separate from trails for motorized vehicles. d. Inclusion Hike Canada En Marche recognizes that the privilege of hiking in nature is open to young and old, rich and poor, and to people of all ethnic backgrounds. Hiking equates with diversity, inclusivity, and being an outdoor ally. e. Leave no Trace Encouraging trail users to leave the trails and their environment undisturbed, only taking away photographs. To advocate for the construction of trails with only those structures sufficient to protect the environment from the impacts of hikers, and for the safety of trail users. Ensure that hiking trails are free of commercial advertising. f. Membership Hike Canada en Marche membership or volunteering is open to all who share our vision, values and goals. g. Safety Safety is the first priority in all policies, standards, signage, training and work practice. h. Signature Trails Hike Canada en Marche recognize the value of Signature Trails as designated hiking trails within Canada that are deemed to offer a unique and memorable experience for the visitor, as well as reflecting the cultural and natural landscape of their location.

Specific Goals

a. To promote the completion of both an interconnected system of coast-to-coast National Hiking Trails, as well as other non-connected hiking trails. b. To assist hikers in finding hiking trails and planning for their hiking activities in all parts of Canada, by means of our web site and other media. c. To work with the federal government with relation to those policy objectives that we share with them, such as the promotion of active transportation, tourism, healthy exercise, improved mental health, and encouraging Canadians to connect with and value the natural environment. d. To working with Provincial hiking and trails organizations with the promotion of hiking trails in all regions of Canada, and to assist these organizations in raising funds for local trail construction and maintenance. To work with provincial hiking and trails organizations to encourage hiking in all regions of Canada, and the assist these organizations in raising funds for local trail construction and maintenance.” e. To work with other trail organizations in the promotion of the general principle that, where practical, separate trails be established for motorized and non-motorized trail user groups, in order to ensure public safety, and for the reduction of conflict. f. To discourage any irresponsible use of information on hiking trails, whether by individuals, social media groups or trail tracking programs, and to discourage any uses of hiking trails that are inconsistent with HCEM’s values. g. To encourage best practices in trail construction and maintenance, by working with provincial hiking and trail organizations to establish:

• Hiking construction standards, taking into account different trail types and different local environmental conditions.
• Hiking trail maintenance standard
• National standards for the degrees of difficulty offered by each specific hiking trail.
• Hiking trail signage and way-finding standards.
• National standards for definitions for the various kinds of hiking trails; i.e trail, path, walkway, greenway, non-motorized, urban, wheelchair accessible, single track, multi use, unmarked, wilderness, etc. h. To educate the public about hiking trails in all regions of Canada, and to encourage their use in a manner consistent with conserving the natural environment.