Show your Support to our Municipal Elected Officials!

by | Dec 12, 2016 | Members & Volunteers

A coalition of Chelsea community groups has launched a petition to demonstrate community support for the conversion of the railway corridor into a community trail. SCT encourages you to take a look at www.ouichelsea.ca , to sign if you agree, and to pass the link along to other Chelsea residents!

In a world that needs constructive dialogue, this petition is a way for Chelsea’s mayor and council to understand how people in support of the trail think it will benefit them and this community. (more…)

Time Again to Get Ready for Winter along the Rail Corridor – a Call for Volunteers!

Time Again to Get Ready for Winter along the Rail Corridor – a Call for Volunteers!

by | Oct 19, 2016 | Members & Volunteers, Railway Transformation, Winter Trail Updates, Work Bees

P1030709Time Again to Get Ready for Winter along the Rail Corridor – a Call for Volunteers!

Snow is not too far away! And once it comes, the rail corridor will transform, as it has for the past 10 years, into a beautiful ski and walking trail along the river.

But this only happens thanks to the efforts of volunteers who clear out obstructing weeds and brush before that snow flies. If you have free time in the morning on Saturday November 12th or 19th, and would enjoy some exercise, comradery, and being plied with goodies and coffee, see this call for volunteers for more information and to sign-up.

This year will also bring another installment of historical signage along the trail, this time focusing on “New Chelsea” – the area around Mill St, including Chelsea’s first schoolhouse and train station.

Sponsors play a key role in making all this happen. SCT is grateful for the generous donations from the Chelsea Pub, Greg Christie’s Ski and Bike, Lafleur de la Capitale, Physiosport Chelsea, and the Nordik Spa. Funds will be used for the signage and to offset a significant portion of the costs of winter grooming.

Many seniors in our community have written letters to SCT to tell us how the winter trail helps them to exercise in winter – the trail is remarkably flat and level once the snow is packed down, making it a safer option for a stroll than the narrow roads in nearby neighbourhoods. There have also been reports of people skiing to Freshmart for groceries. What a life in Chelsea!

Spotlight on the Chelsea Park Sector

by | Sep 14, 2016 | Trail Projects

chelsea-park-trailThe trail building in the area encircled by Old Chelsea, the 105, and Scott is a good example of the spirit and vision of Chelsea Trails.

This ‘triangle’ contains two elementary schools, the Meredith Centre, and many homes and municipal green spaces. But right now, in many cases, a child living 500 metres from their school can’t walk or bike there. This is particularly true if the only entrance to a home or street is off of the 105, on which children are not allowed to ride their bikes (since the speed limit for cars is 70km/hr).

Marc Desjardins, the SCT Sector Champion for this area, hopes to change all that. (more…)

New Set of Historical Panels along the Community Winter Trail in the Mill Road area.

by | Aug 28, 2016 | Members & Volunteers

Chelsea Trails is once again partnering with the Gatineau Valley Historical Society on a third set of interpretive panels along the railway corridor featuring scenes from Chelsea’s past. The previous two years have seen the installation of a series of historical panels along the railway in the Kirk’s Ferry/Larrimac and Cascades sectors. This year, new panels will highlight the Mill Road area, including the site of the former Chelsea train station, the original English Chelsea Elementary School building and the former section foreman’s house.

Featured here, former Chelsea Elementary students, RJ Hughes and Harold Reid located the sites, while Chelsea Trails Alain Piché marked the placing of the posts for the panels and GVHS rep Louise Schwartz looked on. Photo credit: Heidi von Graevenitz.