At the Sentiers Chelsea Trails AGM, which was held April 25, attendees welcomed many of the new Chelsea Trail Ambassadors who are speaking up to support the transformation of the railway corridor into a multi-use, non-motorized, year-round community trail. These prominent Chelsea residents and community leaders want to lend their names and contribute to the future of this community-building project.
- Mike Beedell, International photographer and adventurer
- Ian Bird, CEO, Community Foundations of Canada
- Ken Bouchard, President and trailmaster, Wakefield Ensemble
- Meredith Brown, Ottawa River Keeper / Sentinelle Outaouais
- Raymond Brunet, President, Ed Brunet et associés Canada inc.
- Claude Cousineau, Vice-president, Friends of the Gatineau Park
- Geoff Green, Founder, Executive Director and expedition leader, Students on Ice
- James Hargreaves, Co-owner of Le Resto, Rear Commodore, Gatineau River Yacht Club
- Kevin Jones, Urban Planner, Coach and athlete
- Robert Lafleur, Former Chelsea councilor, President, Lafleur de la Capitale inc.
- Pierre Lafontaine, CEO Cross Country Ski de Fond Canada
- Madison Mackenzie, Cascades Club athlete and international level kayak champion
- Becky Mason, Canoeist and artist
- Robert Milling, President and innkeeper, Le Moulin Wakefield Inn and spa
- Jennifer Warren- Part and Charlie Part, Co-owners of Les Fougères restaurant
- André Renaud, Former Mayor of Chelsea, Director, Maison des Collines, past president Gatineau Memorial Hospital,
- Louise Schwartz, Director, Gatineau Valley Historical Society
- Ian Tamblyn, Musician, author, composer and performer
- Christoph Weber, Sports medicine physician and athlete
- Stephen and Alison Woodley, Ecologists and President and past president of ACRE
- Ray Zahab, Ultra marathoner and founder of Impossible2Possible
While there appears to be widespread support and excitement for the project from many, others have raised valid concerns, primarily the potential impacts on residents living close to the tracks and the affordability of the project . SCT believes there are ways to address these concerns.
“I gladly support this initiative. I have lived in Chelsea since 1965 and as our children were growing up, we always wished for them to be able to connect with their friends without having to be driven. The groomed trail along the railway corridor has made that possible for the past several winters and now, finally, for us, our children and grandchildren we can look forward to enjoying this experience year round. There will be some challenges. However, by being creative and respectful of differing views and the need to responsibly manage this public resource, we can develop this unique corridor for the benefit of the entire community. This trail will serve as a concrete example of the high value our community places on active transportation and the natural environment.” André Renaud, Chelsea Community Trail Ambassador, is a former Mayor of Chelsea; Director, Maison des Collines; Past Board President, Gatineau Memorial Hospital.
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