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Explore Workshops

Explore Workshops at the World Trails Conference

Start your conference experience off by immersing yourself in the local trails of Canada’s National Capital Region! Attendees can choose one of four workshops that will explore the natural heritage of Ottawa and the surrounding area.

These hands-on workshops all take place on Monday, Sept. 30, before the formal start to the conference. They will not only give you a chance to get out on the trail, but also offer real-world learnings on topics including trail building, active transportation, educational interpretation and local natural history.

Round-trip transportation from the Delta Hotel will be provided for all off-site workshops (one is a walking tour that starts and finishes at the hotel), returning with plenty of time before Monday evening’s Welcome Reception.

Pre-registration is required for these experiences and delegates can choose one workshop to attend. All workshops are approximately four hours long, with morning and afternoon sessions available.

Workshop 1 – Sentiers Wakefield Trails: How Volunteering Connects a Village

This workshop will take you 40 minutes north of Ottawa, across the Quebec border, to learn how volunteers have built a network of trails that connect people to place. This flourishing volunteer-driven trail is integrated into the community and supporting the area outside of the trail itself.

Join this walking tour over 3 km of flat trails for a showcase of everything this trail has to offer including history, nature-based climate change solutions, community integration and tourism opportunities. Get a first-hand look at how a community of volunteers has taken on large trail projects, preserved local history and woven the village of Wakefield, Quebec into the Trans Canada Trail.

Workshop 2 – A hike to Carbide Willson Ruins: Balancing Conservation, Recreation and History

Join Gatineau Park experts on a 3.25-kilometre round-trip hike to an enchanting site: the ruins of a fertilizer plant from 1913 built by Canadian inventor Thomas L. Willson. Experts will share the strategies that have been put in place to ensure the sustainability of these trails and enhance the visitor experience. This workshop will give you the opportunity to:

  1. Learn about our Responsible Trail Management Program, including the consultation process, and how we engage volunteers, build sustainable trails and re-naturalize unofficial trails.
  2. Discover mitigation efforts to address the effects of erosion on the Meech Creek shorelines and improve the water quality for flora and fauna.
  3. Hear about our efforts to renew the visitor experience, including a new interpretive plan that tells the story of this location’s transformation through history from an industrial site to an area focused on conservation.

Workshop 3 – Health, Business and Relaxation on the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail

Visit the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail just east of Ottawa for an immersive workshop focusing on health, business and relaxation on the trail. You will join small groups and rotate through one-hour sessions that will include:

  • Cycling along the multipurpose trail with stops at local landmarks
  • Learning about the trail’s impact on economic redevelopment
  • Immersion in the region’s proud French-Canadian culture, complete with local food and drink provided

Come enjoy all that this 72-kilometre rural trail has to offer!

Workshop 4 – Walking Tour along the Rideau Canal National Historic Site with Parks Canada

Join the Parks Canada team for a unique walking tour to connect with nature, culture and trail enthusiasts in a relaxed and scenic setting. During this workshop, you will discover the charm and history of the Rideau Canal, which is proudly designated as a Canadian Heritage River, a Canadian National Historic Site, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Rideau Canal is North America’s best-preserved “slackwater” canal and the only one from the great 19th-century canal-building era that still operates along its original route with most of its original structures intact. Immerse yourself in a well-preserved series of dams and locks, learn how they work, and get hands-on experience operating the locks yourself! Dive deeper into the rich history of Ottawa and the Canal at the Bytown Museum, a treasure trove of fascinating historical artifacts.

This walking tour starts and finishes at the Delta Hotel.

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