Matane, March 26th, 2010 – The National Trails Coalition received 25 million dollars from the federal government as a part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The International Appalachian Trail – Québec (IAT – QC) is proud to announce that they received a total of $71~875 from the National Trails Coalition for the completion of a three-point revitalisation plan.
Improved Accessibility in the Matane Wildlife Reserve
During Fall 2009, an emergency clean-up operation was undertaken in the Matane Wildlife Reserve, so that the trail is easier to access. In spite of the persistent efforts of many volunteers over the past years, the IAT – QC was unable to properly maintain this secluded part of the trail because of a lack of appropriate funding. Moreover, torrential rains, wet snows and the high winds of Fall 2007 caused more damage than the volunteers could deal with. The first part of the revitalisation plan consisted of hiring six experienced forestry workers to clear the trail of hundreds of fallen-over or broken trees, and to rebuild wood bridges and foot walks over a period of twelve weeks.
Walk Across Matapédia Valley without a Tent
Three other workers were hired over the 2009-2010 Winter season to prepare and set in place new shelters in the Matapédia Valley section of the trail. The main objective was to allow hikers to walk this section of the IAT – QC without having to carry a tent by converting existing tent platforms into four-bed enclosed shelters. These shelters were set up in all six municipalities along the path of the IAT – QC in the Matapédia Valley: Sainte-Marguerite, Causapscal, Saint-Alexandre-des-Lacs, Lac-au-Saumon, Amqui, and Saint-Vianney.
Good Signage Equals Improved Safety
The third part of IAT – QC’s plan was to implement a new signage system. The Upper Gaspé was the first region to benefit from this improvement. First of all, the IAT – QC standardized all of their signs in a new signage guide. Secondly, the organization purchased a computer-assisted engraving machine which will allow the production of new signs.
OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING
Under the terms of the government’s program, the IAT – QC had to find fifty percent of the total funding. With the support of various local organizations, the IAT – QC managed to collect the required amount of funds. With that success in mind, the IAT – QC wishes to thank Matane and Amqui’s Employment Centers, the Conférence régionale des élus(es) of the Bas-Saint-Laurent and the Gaspésie/Iles-de-la-Madeleine regions, the Matane Wildlife Reserve, Avignon, Matapédia Valley, Matane, Upper Gaspé, and Gaspé Coast’s Regional County Municipalities, Amqui’s Work Transition Service, the Caisse populaire de la Vallée-de-la-Matapédia, the towns of Sainte-
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