Crow Wing Trail reports more than $14,800 in assets at AGM

The Crow Wing Trail organization reported during their AGM on Saturday $14,841 in assets at the end of 2024 with a budget of $16,792.

“The last two years have been very similar. We have a core of 35 to 40 (volunteers) that get involved. Funding basically changes if we’re working on a really big project. If we’re needing to work on creating a bridge somewhere that would really have a different impact on funding,” said president Dolores Braun.

“Its been pretty stable right now because we don’t have a big project that’s going on right now. We are wanting to improve our signage so this coming next two years our budget will have to change a bit as we’re trying to establish some updated signs. It will also include some more of the Indigenous and Metis stories. That will be the next increase in budget that we’ll be looking at.”

There are 21 signs along the 200-kilometre trail that are faded by the sun and need to be replaced. It’s unknown how much the signs will cost. The signs will be done in consultation with Indigenous groups in order to be inclusive as part of Truth and Reconciliation.

“(The trail) is based on a historic trail rooted in Indigenous trails and expanded by the Metis with their Red River ox carts. It’s kind of a microcosm of Manitoba of how communities are connected and stories of the land itself,” said Braun.

In 2024, the Crow Wing received $2,678 from Green Team funding, which was a little bit less than what was received in 2023. Trails Manitoba gave a $7,000 grant for the maintenance of the trail, while Trans Canada Trails gave $1,250 for clean-up of the trail as it transitioned from winter into spring.

New in funding was Southern Health which granted $2,000 as part of the government of Manitoba’s Healthy Together Now grant, which encourages people to eat healthy, be physically active, have good mental health, and live a smoke free life. The grant was also used to do joint programing with Eastman Indigenous Friendship Circle where organizers and Indigenous youth did five outdoor activities along the trail to learn more about the connection to the land as well as ceremonies regarding that connection to nature.

The Crow Wing also reported $3,220 in revenue from memberships and $185 in donations.

The proposed budget for 2025 will be just under $22,000 (if all grants come in), which is an increase as the sign project will be initiated.

Some improvements and points of interest along the trail were provided by the municipalities that were at the AGM.

RM of Ritchot

Ritchot reported that there were Orange Shirt Day ceremonies held by the trail and that a senior’s group walks the trail and holds events there as well as barbecue lunches at the fire pits. Improvement to the trail was done on Main Street in St Adolphe and the RM will be hosting a 5K run this year which will incorporate parts of the Crow Wing Trail.

Town of Niverville

Niverville reported that there is a short section of the trail weaving through town. Four years ago, multiple groups purchased a Red River cart and the community made a pergola for the cart with Communities in Bloom planting some flowers in front of the display.

There will also be a new park station built along the trail and last year a bridge was built to go over a ditch. Hespeler Park saw the installation of a sign that informed people of the history of the area and a spur of the Crow Wing Trail – the Peace Trail, which goes from West to East starting at Mennonite Landing.

The municipality also rerouted the trail by changing the crossing at Krahn Road to Mulberry Avenue for the safety of pedestrians.

RM of De Salaberry (Otterburne)

In the RM of De Salaberry the Crow Wing travels about half a kilometer through Otterburne. The RM straightened and repaved the trail last year as it was difficult to walk, planted more than 140 trees to stabilize the riverbank and put in a port-a-potty.

The RM also got a matching grant to put up a shelter and play structure with picnic tables and a community bulletin board. Signs in English, French, and Michif will tell the history of the region along the trail.

St Malo

St Malo put up a pergola and port-a-potties, did landscaping at the entrance to the provincial park and will build baseball iamonds near the St Malo Grotto.

RM of Emerson-Franklin

The RM of Emerson-Franklin highlighted a restaurant and hotel in Ridgeville that sits along the trail for hikers to enjoy. Braun said the group has moved the trail to Mile 1 so as not to interfere with the increased RCMP presence at the border at Mile 0.

Village of St Pierre-Jolys

St Pierre-Jolys reported that Carillon Park new benches installed along the walking path and next year the village will install information plaques. A shelter inside the park will have a new roof and outside walls and some lighting will also be installed. Maple trees will also be planted behind the St Pierre-Jolys Museum and at Carillion Park, which might see a rain garden added in the future.

The old fairgrounds will see the installation of four new baseball diamonds in partnership with the St Malo Rebels.