Trans Canada Trail – The Lake Ainslie Development Association, in conjunction with the Nova Scotia Trails Federation (NS Trails) and Trans Canada Trail (TCT) are pleased to announce the official opening of the Bealach Brèagha section of The Great Trail in Inverness County on Saturday, February 4, 2017. The grand opening of the trail is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

The 50-kilometer Bealach Brèagha is Gaelic for “Beautiful Mountain Pass.” The project was made possible by the efforts and contributions of local volunteers and was funded by Trans Canada Trail ($263,266), the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Innovative Communities Fund ($209,735), the Off-Highway Vehicle Infrastructure Fund ($80,750), the Municipality of the County of Inverness ($50,000) and the Department of Communities, Culture & Heritage ($30,000).

Funding contributions assisted with trail construction, the addition of bridges and culverts, and the creation and installation of interpretive and directional signage. The opening of Bealach Brèagha provides residents and visitors with opportunities to participate in safe, healthy, affordable recreation while enjoying the natural beauty of Cape Breton Island.

Bealach Brèagha is one of a number of sections of The Great Trail in Inverness County, including the 92-kilometer Celtic Shores Coastal Trail, the 16-kilometer Cape Clear Trail, and the 15-kilometer Lewis Mountain Trail, scheduled to open in spring 2017. Inverness County will also boast four of The Great Trail’s water access points, the first of which opened at Marble Mountain in August 2016. Water access points at the Whycocomagh Waterfront Centre, the We’koqmaq First Nation and Orangedale are scheduled to open in spring 2017.

The public and media are encouraged to attend the event, which will include ribbon cutting on the trail and a reception at the Lake Ainslie Volunteer Fire Department. Those interested in being among the first official trail users are invited to afternoon trail activities including snowmobiling and guided cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. These activities run from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A detailed map of The Great Trail is available at www.thegreattrail.ca. The online map displays completed sections of trail in green and blue, with planned sections of trail plotted in orange. The online map is routinely updated as trails and access points open, and allows trail goers to visualize their route along The Great Trail.

Date:    Time:   Trail Grand Opening: Location:

Saturday, February 4, 2017 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 11:30 a.m. Trail along Route 395, East Lake Ainslie (ribbon cutting on the trail), reception at the Lake Ainslie Volunteer Fire Dept. (2488 Route 395, RR 1, Scotsville, NS)

For further event information please contact:
Coralie Cameron at 902-258-5439 or David MacLean at 902-258-5680.

About NS Trails:
The Nova Scotia Trails Federation (NS Trails) is a non-profit registered charity that supports the work of volunteer trail groups in the planning, building, maintenance and management stages of recreational trails in communities throughout the province. We are proud to be the lead provincial partner responsible for the connection of The Great Trail in Nova Scotia. 
For more information visit: www.novascotiatrails.com.

Trans Canada Trail: connecting The Great Trail in 2017
Trans Canada Trail (TCT) is a not-for-profit organization created in 1992. TCT is working with donors, partners, governments, public and private landowners and volunteers to create The Great Trail of Canada – an epic trail of trails offering a wide range of activities. By the end of the year in 2017, The Great Trail will be the longest and grandest recreational trail in the world and will wind its way through a variety of landscapes – urban, rural and wilderness – along greenway, waterway and roadway. It will span 24,000 kilometres, link our three oceans and connect over 15,000 communities.
For more information visit www.thegreattrail.ca

About Lake Ainslie Development Association:
The Lake Ainslie Development Association is a local community development association committed to enhancing life in the community. The Lake Ainslie Development Association’s focus is on the economic, social and environmental health of the community.
For more information visit: www.lakeainslie.ca