Dawson Trek returns for second year, raised just under $10,000 last year

The Dawson Trek is returning for a second year after cyclists raised just under $10,000 last year to maintain the historical route markers along the trail.

“I just kind of (had) an idea one day. They put all the work into these markers that go along the Dawson (Trail) and the history is quite extensive. And I figured, wouldn’t it be nice to have an event that revolves around this trail so that people can come out and just take in the history? I was into cycling, so why not start a cycling event around the Dawson?” said founder Kyle Waczko.

There are 15 signs along the 100 kilometre trail with information about the road in English, French, and Michif, which can be accessed through QR codes on each marker. The trail runs from Northwest Angle to Winnipeg.

The signs were the brainchild of Pierrette Sherwood, a La Coulee artist who decided to create trail markers in order to promote the history and the importance of the first road the Canadian government paid for to link the East to the prairies in the 1780s.

In February, Sherwood was awarded in Ottawa the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming for the markers and promotion of the trail by the Governor General.

“(The trail) is our inheritance. It’s our background. Everybody’s background, our ancestors. We all came through there. So, it’s very important that we learn about it and that we support it, and we continue to do more things about it,” said Yvonne Fontaine-Godard, president of the Musee Dawson Trail Museum, which was asked to take over the care of the signs by Sherwood.

The signs cost about $600,000 to build and install and their upkeep is maintained regularly with some markers already receiving a new coat of paint, according to Fontaine-Godard who is grateful to Waczko and sponsors for supporting the trail.

She noted in the future the museum plans on having bus tours with frequent marker stops. “It would be a beautiful outing to start at East Braintree and come down towards Richer and then you move on to Ste Anne and then Lorette as well.”

Last year, the Dawson Trek had about 40 riders of all skill levels participating and this year 25 have signed up.

While the ride last year started in St Boniface, this year it will start at The Forks in Winnipeg and will continue through to Richer.

“(The Dawson Trail) is a historical place on its own, but (I’m) trying to get closer to that even number of 100 kilometers for the trek,” said Waczko.

Registration is still open with a fee of $200 plus the cost of the official trek jersey. The money will go directly to the museum. Each rider is committed to raise at least $250.

“The $200 entry fee, which gets you a riding jersey, (and a) fully supported ride from food, refreshments, your electrolytes to a pilot vehicle following each peloton. Also, we have a bike shop, La Bikequerie is attending the ride in case anyone blows a (tire). I’ve got Victory Training (Centre) with paramedics following. It’s really a first-class ride,” said Waczko.

There is no rain date for the event so riders need to come prepared for the weather. Waczko said last year the ride happened during the wildland fires that spread across the province. “We were looking at the particulate levels. And it ended up on the day that we were starting early enough where that level was low that trip. So, it was all good. But a little bit of rain won’t stop us,” he said.

The first peloton leaves The Forks at 7 a.m. on July 18 and Waczko has staggered departures for each peloton based on skill level with beginners leaving first and faster more experienced riders leaving last.

“Last year, it was beautiful in between Ste Anne and Richer, all the groups kind of merged together and we all finished the ride together,” he said, noting he plans to hold the trek every year.

“I feel this is very good for the community. It’s bringing a lot of people to maybe an area of Manitoba that they maybe not necessarily would have went and checked out. There has been a lot of talk of the trail recently,” he shared.