Trail Volunteer Champions

For generations, the public lands around Gauthier Marsh and the Cranberry Trail in Callander have quietly drawn people in. Cranberry pickers, hunters, naturalists, and winter wanderers have long known it as a special place. But for much of the year, its trails existed only as informal paths, known mostly to those who already knew their way.

When Andrée Morneault and Daniel Kaminski moved to the area two decades ago, they were drawn to that same sense of quiet exploration. After a nearby informal trail network they loved was lost to development, they began spending more time wandering the bush around Gauthier Marsh in the winter months following instinct and slowly shaping snowshoe trails through the landscape.

Then COVID-19 changed everything. With travel restricted, more people began seeking out local outdoor spaces. What had once been a private, quiet practice quickly grew into something shared. Strangers started following the informal winter trails Andrée and Daniel had been tracing. Some got turned around, so they began marking routes with flags. Then came simple signs. Eventually, Daniel created a QR code linking to a digital trail map.

“The more people that were using the trails, the nicer we made them,” Daniel says. “And the nicer we made them, the more people used them. That’s how it all came about.”

Their work is a true partnership. Through the winter months, Andrée scouts the landscape for potential routes and Daniel follows behind to refine and build them out. “She finds the spots,” he says, “and I come behind and make them beautiful.” Andrée quickly adds, “It’s a team effort.”

For Daniel, the motivation is simple: “We do this because we like it and it’s fun.” For Andrée, it runs deeper. A forester by trade, she spends summers working in the woods and winters in an office. The trails, she says, are a kind of reset. “I enjoy being in the bush,” she explains. “In the winter, I’m in the office. These trails give me a chance to get out, breathe the fresh winter air, and see trees.”

Daniel has since carried that same energy to other trails, contributing to the Stepping Stone Trails in Corbeil and helping build sections of the Three Towers Trails in North Bay. Quietly, their influence continues to spread across the region… one trail at a time.

Today, the Cranberry Snowshoe Trails are lovingly maintained and marked with flags and handmade signs. What began as two people wandering through the woods has become a shared community space created simply because they believe a place this good is worth sharing. 

The cold doesn’t bother James. Nor do early mornings. When he worked shift work he was up at 3:30am. Now that he’s retired, he’s out on the Laurentian Escarpment Community Trails by six – earlier if the snow is good. “The cold doesn’t bug me,” he says. “I’ll dress for it. You get so used to it, you know exactly what to dress for.”

James has been volunteering on local trails since around 2010. It started with mountain biking and a group of friends who wanted better places to ride locally. Trail work became part of the routine: weekends, days off, whatever time they could find. Over the years, it grew from clearing brush and riding to leaf-blowing in the fall and, in winter, grooming fat bike trails. “We just kind of got into it more and more,” he says. “On a regular basis I was planning with them. More or less a pastime… and then it became something.”

When he retired, trail grooming became the thing that filled the days – the “job” he chose for himself. “It’s like I just switched jobs,” he says. “I used to say that when I retired I would have to go get a full-time job.” After a snowfall, James is typically out for 3-4 hours, sometimes starting as early as six in the morning. “I like the grooming. It makes me enjoy the winter more. Gives me a kind of mission in life.” 

He rarely works alone. Yogi, his dog, is always by his side on the trail and, in his own way, pitching in. “Yogi picks up sticks,” James says. “Every little bit helps.”

What keeps James going is simple: he likes the work. He’s been active his whole life – helping his father at the cottage as a kid, hauling wheelbarrows, always moving. Stopping isn’t really an option. “I can’t see myself just stopping,” he says, “waking up and wondering what am I going to do today.”

On the Laurentian Escarpment Community Trails, James knows exactly what he’s going to do… with Yogi along for the ride.

Linda McKenzie arrived in the area in 1979 for a job at Project DARE, a wilderness camp for youth at risk where trail maintenance was woven into the program itself. Students earned community service hours by looking after the hiking and ski trails and cleaning out portages and campsites on the canoe routes near South River. Mother Nature, as Linda puts it, “provided natural consequences and wonderful learning opportunities.” It was a way of connecting young people to the land while giving them real responsibility for it. That ethos has never left her. Four decades later, Linda is still out there, clearing deadfall, grooming ski trails, attending volunteer planning meetings, and convincing anyone who will listen that the outdoors is where people are happiest. “We should all be outdoorable,” she says, with the easy conviction of someone who has spent a lifetime proving it.

One of her proudest contributions has been helping transform Mikisew Provincial Park from a summer-only destination into a year-round one. It started simply: walking Jake, her favourite trail companion off-season and envisioning ski trails. There was resistance at first but Linda and her husband Dave persisted. With permission of Ontario Park’s staff, they spent hours grooming the closed park roads with a homemade groomer. Today, Ontario Parks employs winter staff to groom the trails and keep basic facilities open. 

Linda is also deeply involved with Forgotten Trails Association and the Almaguin Community Trails: attending monthly meetings, helping plan events and volunteer work parties, and promoting trails to new audiences. She has watched trails come and go, flourish and fade with the energy of the volunteers behind them. She knows how much work goes into building a trail… and she knows how quickly that work can be undone. Her biggest frustration is ATV damage on Crown land trails. The irreparable ruts, compacted soil, trails that have had to be closed entirely. “To see all your work undone in a short period of time,” she says, “is really upsetting.”

But the frustrations are outweighed by what the trails give back. She loves introducing people to skiing, snowshoeing, paddling, and hiking. She champions the libraries that lend out park passes and snowshoes and hiking poles. She believes in lowering every barrier between people and the outdoors. “Getting people out on the trails for the first time and seeing how excited they are – realizing they have this in their own backyard – that’s what motivates me.”

Visit the Laurentian Escarpment Community Trails or Three Towers Trails this summer and you will experience the craftsmanship of Brent Bull and crew. While the technical trail features are built to challenge mountain bikers, the real talent lies in the wooden structures designed to cross wet areas and help curb erosion.

Brent has been a “putter woodworker” for over 40 years, and building trails for at least 20. But it was when he retired in 2021 that the work really took off. Last summer, Brent alone logged over 200 hours of volunteer time on the Laurentian Escarpment Community Trails. Much of that time was spent cutting lumber at his home shop, hauling it up to the trail site by hand, and assembling the boardwalk structures with his crew … all before most people have had their morning coffee.

“We could essentially build the structures without speaking to each other. You might get whacked on the back of the head if you’re not moving fast enough… but no time to pause.”

The crew Brent has assembled is tight-knit and skilled. They’ve built enough structures together that the work flows without much need for words. Will brings artistry to the craft. Don builds steps like nobody else. Ted, as Brent puts it, “is the gorilla guy.” Everyone has a role, and the results speak for themselves.

They are also, every one of them, riders. That shared love of the sport is part of what holds the group together and part of what drives them back out to work on trails they could just as easily enjoy. “We’re doing this not just for ourselves,” Brent says. “This is a community trail so many people enjoy it. It’s fantastic.”

On the days the crew wraps up a new boardwalk, they pack up their tools and head home for a short rest. Then, most afternoons, Brent is back out there… on his bike, riding the same trails he just helped build.

In memory of Bonfield Snowmobile Club volunteer, Wib Sperberg

Our trail community lost a dear friend and Trail Champion in January this year. Wib Sperberg was a proud member and director of the Bonfield Snowmobile Club for close to 30 years. Generosity is a defining trait among the volunteers who dedicate their time and talent to maintain the trails that we all love. Wib exemplified this spirit, spending countless hours grooming, brushing, installing signs and staking lakes to mark his beloved snowmobile trails.

Lifelong friend and fellow volunteer Ken Prescott has difficulty finding words to express his gratitude for all his dear friend has contributed to our trail network:

“Wib considered the groomers personal property. He kept the equipment in mint condition and ready to go. Woe the operator that took out a groomer and damaged something, yet he was the first guy to come repair it. If needed, he would head out in the middle of the night to help out a groomer operator.”

Bonfield Club’s Trail BF 202 running from Turtle Lake has been lovingly named “Wib’s Way” honouring the memory and spirit of a dedicated volunteer and recognizing his invaluable contribution to the trail community.

When travelling on Wib’s Way or any other local trail, it’s important to remember that trails don’t just happen. They are shaped by the hands, heart and hard work of folks like Wib. The Bonfield Snowmobile Club, like most of the area’s clubs, operate with a small handful of dedicated volunteers. It’s no small feat considering the Bonfield Club alone maintains 150 km of snowmobile trails and 8 bridges. With more frequent and extreme weather events wreaking havoc on trails everywhere and an aging volunteer base, losing volunteers like Wib threatens the very existence of the trails we love. Without a new generation of volunteers to fill the very large “snowmobile” boots, the specialized skills and knowledge developed by long-time volunteers does not get transferred to the next generation.

For snowmobile trail volunteer opportunities, visit the Near North Trails Association and select the club in your local area.

longtime volunteer at West Nipissing Nordic Ski Club

When Huguette Morin and her husband Clement moved back to Sturgeon Falls in the 1970s, they were simply looking for a place to ski with their young family. They joined the small local ski club on Chemin Leblanc near Cache Bay, and before long, Huguette found herself “volunteered”—first helping, then organizing, and eventually taking a leading role. “One day the president opened the door and left all the books in my porch,” she laughs. “I was elected by default.” That “default” position turned into nearly five decades of dedication, during which Huguette and Clement helped grow the West Nipissing Nordic Ski Club through all its many ups and downs.

One of the most difficult moments came when the trails they’d worked so hard to maintain were clear-cut by the owner of the property —trees felled with signs still nailed to their trunks. The club was forced to leave with nowhere to go. Down to only 34 members, they approached the Sturgeon Falls Rod and Gun Club who owned a large parcel of land north of Cache Bay where their trails would be protected. The partnership began with hesitation on both sides, but soon grew into a strong collaboration rooted in a shared respect for the land and love of the outdoors. By 2005, they started blazing a new network of ski and snowshoe trails, mostly by hand, fueled by a passionate team of volunteers, many of them recently retired and eager to build back what had been lost. Over the next few years, they continued to improve the trails and make new loops, built a small rest cabin and fire pit and grew the community.

Beyond trail building, Huguette found great joy hosting school groups on the trails and introducing more people to her favourite winter activity. She recalls when kids were bussed in, and how a partnership formed between local schools to share ski and snowshoe equipment. She fondly remembers the chaos of cold mornings, fitting kids with equipment and nudging them outside, for many their first real taste of the outdoors. There were moments that tested her patience, but also plenty that made her laugh, often thanks to the antics of kids just being kids. To help young families get out, Clement crafted sleighs with a baby seat that could be pulled through the trails.

COVID forced the club to limit trail visitors to members only and, due to an aging volunteer base and liability concerns, the club has not been able to welcome back the public. However, the ski and snowshoe trails continue to be maintained and the nominal membership with the Rod and Gun Club is well worth it.

Huguette is hopeful that a new generation of trail enthusiasts will find the time to give back, just as she and so many others have over the years, and discover the same joy, purpose, and deep sense of fulfillment that comes from shaping something meaningful in their community.

trail volunteers with Friends of Laurier Woods

“Laurier Woods has been the centerpiece of our lives,” reflects David Haist. It’s a place of healing, connection, and purpose. “It gave to us, and we’ve received so much more in return.”

Terri and David Haist had visited Laurier Woods many times, but it was not until the loss of their beloved son, Michael in 2002 that Laurier Woods became deeply rooted in their hearts. “Michael was 6’7” and always hitting his head on doorways” Terri fondly reminisces, “Being outdoors suited him. He was an avid canoeist and a passionate astronomer. So, when he passed, we asked friends and family to donate to Laurier Woods in his memory.”

To their amazement, over $10,000 was raised – funds that would help build the first boardwalks. In honour of Michael’s love of nature, the Haist Lookout Platform was built overlooking the large marsh. At the platform’s edge sits a special rock with a brass plaque with a sentiment that captures Michael’s spirit: “Dreams of rivers flowing in the night, reflecting the starlight.”

Before the Friends of Laurier Woods was established in 1989, the area was quite neglected, and largely unknown. Thanks to the tireless advocacy and determination of many volunteers led by the Nipissing Naturalists’ Club – through public petition, countless meetings with city officials, the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority, the Nature Conservancy, and Nipissing Rotary Club among others – Laurier Woods gained recognition and protection as a vital natural space in the heart of North Bay.

Terri joined the Board of the Friends of Laurier Woods in 2002, with David following a few years later. Slowly, the protected area grew with the most recent acquisition in 2011.  The Haist Family joined others to purchase a symbolic “Laurie-acre” to add another 100-acre parcel to the Laurier Woods Conservation Area. Fittingly, the platform built in Michael’s memory overlooks their acre of protected wetland.

Over the past 25 years, Terri and David have witnessed the transformation of Laurier Woods into a cherished sanctuary.  “It’s come of age,” Terri reflects. “During COVID, when many parks were closed, Laurier Woods remained open – and free. People gained a renewed respect for the environment because of it.”

Today, Laurier Woods is alive with birdsong and the hum of natural life through all the seasons. For the Haists, it’s deeply moving to see students and families using the platform to explore the wetlands and learn about the intricacies of the ecosystems. Educational programs flourish – salamander boxes, a dipping platform for pond studies, guided bird walks, a nature festival, a bee hotel, and student research projects are just a few of the activities taking place at this very special place.

Terri now walks the trails with her grandchildren. “Passing it on to the next generation—that’s the legacy,” she says. “Seeing other parents and grandparents bring their kids makes me feel so happy. It’s become a part of North Bay.”

Laurier Woods holds many such stories—deep personal connections that inspire protection and stewardship. Volunteers like Terri and David exemplify the spirit of care and commitment that has preserved this natural gem for all to enjoy. Their journey is a powerful reminder that with persistence and passion, and many caring hands, a community can protect a place not just for today, but for generations to come.

Trail volunteer with the Friends of La Vase Portages

When Bernie Stockermans moved to North Bay in 1998, he never imagined he’d become a modern-day Voyageur, but that’s exactly how his story unfolds. Like most Trail Champions, Bernie stepped into a legacy that began long before his time – a legacy carved into the land by the indigenous peoples, and later, by fur traders and Voyageurs navigating ancient waterways for trade and travel. One of the oldest and most storied of these routes includes the La Vase Portages, a historic corridor between Trout Lake and Lake Nipissing that predates European settlement by thousands of years. Its significance was formally recognized in 2002, thanks to efforts from the Restore the Link Committee and the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority, earning the designation of a Canadian Heritage Rivers System. But despite this recognition, the La Vase Portages continue to face threats from development and neglect with some of the original corridor located on private property.

Bernie’s path as a trail steward began, first volunteering with the Wasi Ski Club, helping to clear trails and build the chalet. In 2006, he became an inaugural member of the Friends of La Vase Portages, drawn in by his love of history and the outdoors – values rooted in his years as both a scout and scout leader. “I’m always looking for really cool outdoorsy things to do with the kids, especially if there’s history or culture involved,” he explains. The La Vase Portages offered everything he was looking for: a rich past, an outdoor classroom, and a way to give back. And the Friends goal to restore the portage as close to the original as possible resonated with Bernie.

As a career forester and safety inspector, Bernie can operate a chainsaw and brush saw – handy skills when reclaiming lost and forgotten trails! “Hey Bernie, we’re putting together a maintenance party. Can you come with your chainsaw?” is a call he’s used to getting – and one he’s always ready to answer. He finds satisfaction in cutting back brush, clearing fallen trees, and laying corduroy logs along the muddy sections of the portages. La Vase, after all, means “mud” in French. He calls this work his “shtick,” but it’s far more than that – he is a literal trail blazer.

Each July, Bernie joins fellow volunteers in preparing the portages for Canoe Day. Bernie is one of the main guides for paddlers sharing knowledge passed down from old-timers, and gained through archeological research studies and artifacts found along the route. His shared goal for the La Vase Portages is to one day have interpretive signs along the route, and signs that would enable paddlers to explore its full history unguided. As the volunteer base ages, Bernie emphasizes the importance of capturing and sharing this knowledge before it disappears. Whether helping prepare for visiting paddlers retracing the historic trade route from Montreal or clearing the portages after a storm, Bernie remains a tireless champion of the La Vase Portages.

Trail volunteer with Stepping Stones Trails among others

If you’ve ever wandered the Stepping Stones Trails in Corbeil, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Chris Holmes. He’s one of those familiar faces you’re bound to see – out for a daily hike, checking the trails, planning improvements. Like so many Trail Champions in our community, Chris feels most at home outdoors. Over the years, he’s volunteered with Laurier Woods, Friends of La Vase Portages, and now pours his heart into the Stepping Stones Trails.

“Ever since I was a kid I spent most of my time playing in the bush. This is no different.” Chris is still playing in the bush.

Chris isn’t just a hiker—he’s a trail steward. He maintains a website for the trails, keeps the maps updated, and celebrates how the trails have grown to welcome everyone, from fat bikers in winter to visitors from around the world. Chris takes great pride in how much the Stepping Stones Trails get used. It’s not just locals who appreciate these paths—people are discovering them through signs, online posts, and word of mouth. Chris is thrilled that the trails have become the official venue for the annual Ride for Jack, a winter fat bike event that raises money for autism programs at One Kids Place. $16,000 was raised in 2025 in memory of Jack Lyons.

There’s a certain magic to how these trails have come together. Some donated lumber here, some scrap wood there. Trees don’t stay down for long before someone comes through with a chainsaw. Neighbours are always lending a hand to build a footbridge, clear brush, and groom the trails for winter fat biking and snowshoeing. When health issues temporarily kept Chris from the trails, he found comfort in knowing others stepped up. The trail community kept rolling. That kind of shared responsibility keeps the trails alive—and it means the world to Chris.

It’s not about one person. It never has been. But ask anyone who hikes the Stepping Stones Trails, and they’ll tell you—Chris is at the heart of them.

Volunteer with Wasi Ski Club

Like all well-stewarded trail systems, volunteering at Wasi Cross Country Ski Club is a team effort. Everyone has their role. Scott Taylor is one of nine on the grooming team, up before the sun on frigid February mornings to get the cross-country ski trails track-set for the day. Grooming is Scott’s favourite part of the ‘job’.

Trail volunteer with North Bay Nordic ski and snowshoe club

Volunteering is in Tom’s blood, born into a family where both parents were active in the community. “It was just what was done at home.”  Tom got involved with North Bay Nordic Ski Club when it was a fledgling club in the late 70’s. 50 years later… yes… 50 YEARS LATER Tom still calls it a hobby! Tom had an alpine skiing background and hated cross-country because the equipment wasn’t the best. “It was just too much work.” Tom talks about how they fashioned their own skis back then using downhill skis with the edges torn off and steamed over the bathtub to get the proper curvature.

The snowshoe trails at the club came about from a Rotary Club of North Bay fundraiser for children with disabilities – Kilometers for Kids. A few ski club members who were also Rotarians thought a ski or snowshoe aspect might encourage more people to get involved. Only, there were no snowshoe trails at the time. So, Rotarians Don Wheeler and Dave Chamberlain laid out the initial 3 km of snowshoe trail. From there the trails grew. As time passed, Tom took the lead on the snowshoe trails at the mercy of mother nature and battling with the beavers. Every few years, Tom would go out in the fall and a beaver dam would have given way and carried one of the small footbridges downstream. Trail building and maintenance is a lot of trial and error. Tom seeks help from members of the club “who are, you know, MacGyvers. They can figure it out. They go in armed to the teeth with different tools and different pulleys and jacks and all that kind of stuff. And when they get in there, they say, okay, well, this is what we need to do.” 

Every spring and fall, Tom gets out to flag the snowshoe trail. After the first substantial snowfall of the season, he conscripts his wife and a friend and the three of them go out again and re-establish the trail. At different confusion spots, they grab deadfall and make a barrier. “We exhaust ourselves because as you know, when you’re walking through a couple of feet of snow, you get pretty tired. But it is still a labour of love. We have fun at it.”

Rick Jeffery on Tom Thomson Portage Trail part of the Forgotten Trails

Rick is a longtime volunteer with the Forgotten Trails Association in the area around South River, one of few volunteers still involved until recently. In fact, the Forgotten Trails have faced many of the same challenges typical of volunteer trail organizations – volunteer burnout, frustration over the inability to restrict off-road vehicle access to environmentally sensitive areas and escalating insurance costs.

By 2019, many of the once thriving trails had become overgrown and once again forgotten in time – almost. Rick, steadfast in his desire to keep the trail network available for others to enjoy, never leaves home without his clippers. As appointed trail steward of the Laurier Tower Trail, Rick continues to hike the trail a few times a year in every season equipped with his clippers and ready to trim back brush and undergrowth that grows up along the trail.

The Forgotten Trails have a new burst of energy and enthusiasm. Participation in outdoor activities is at an all-time high and a new generation of caring people have relocated to the area to escape the city. Holding firm to the original mission to create, maintain and promote non-motorized, ecologically sustainable trails, a small and growing group of volunteers are working to revitalize the organization and its beloved hiking trails. Find Forgotten Trails on Facebook as the organization grows again. Rick is ready with his enthusiasm and of course, his clippers!

trail volunteer with Powassan trails

Long-time Powassan trail champion, Gerry Giesler has devoted over 16 years of service to the trails community. Gerry was instrumental in improving paddling access to the South River Water Trail successfully getting portage trails around a number of hydro dams between Trout Creek and Powassan. Volunteering with the Powassan Recreation Committee, Gerry has been involved in The Pines trail network, and is excited to see years of planning take shape in a new trail and water access at Love Lake in Trout Creek in 2023.