The power of love

That’s  what you saw at the Chelsea Trails dance party on May 6, an exuberant celebration, and a great display of Chelsea’s generous community, but  it was also a heartfelt tribute by Richard’s wife, Catherine Morrison and the musicians, to a man they love and miss.  Five years ago, Catherine launched a dance party event in support of Chelsea Trails. This year, she gathered up the musicians and did it again…. only bigger.

Catherine, who is Katie Diamond on stage, brought her band and kick-started the B-sides band to build the event as a tribute to the musical memory of Richard Garlick, who died in 2011. Richard’s infectious enthusiasm for his music and his love of Chelsea’s trails shaped his life and spawned Chelsea Trails. He played rock, Cajun, Brazilian jazz, whatever he could find. And just one band wasn’t enough. He and his guitar fronted the B-sides, took the stage with  Les Poutine Étouffées and played his last performance at a house concert for SCT.

Thank you all for such an amazing gift for Chelsea Trails and a full on show of the power of love.

Petition results send Council strong message of support for Community Trail project

CHELSEA, QC, May 1 , 2017 – Tonight, the Chelsea Community Trail Coalition will present the powerful results of a petition to the Chelsea Municipal Council to voice their collective support of a viable recreational option for the former Chelsea rail corridor.

Presentation1The online petition, OuiChelsea.ca, signed by more than 1,560 people, was launched last fall by a new coalition made up of six community groups who joined forces. They include: Sentiers Chelsea Trails, Rails2Trails, Chelsea Action for the Respect of the Environment (ACRE), Cascades Club, Friends of the Gatineau River (FOG) and Loisirs Chelsea Nord Farm Point. The purpose of the petition is to provide Chelsea Municipal Council a clear snapshot of the support by residents across the municipality. (more…)

Mark your calendars for May 6

Dance Party Image OneCome out to celebrate spring and Sentiers Chelsea Trails with a fabulous evening of music, dancing and food.

It’s the fifth anniversary of the original SCT FUNraiser, and once again, the redoubtable Chelsea rock band, the B-Side, will play tunes from its evocative repertoire of rock and roll favs. Our first event, held back in 2012, was a memorial to Richard Garlick, one of the founders of SCT, and the B-Side’ lead guitarist during the years when the band played many memorable Chelsea gigs.

The Katie Diamond Band will open the event with some jazzy numbers to get you in the mood for more fun to come. Musicians from the Cajun band, Poutines Étouffées, will also put in an appearance. So be prepared to wear out your dancing shoes. (more…)

What a season it has been, and it’s not over yet!

mar 2017 myra & jean with familyThe Winter Trail wonder continues as long as the snow lasts. Enjoy the sun and get out and walk, run, slide, classic ski, skate ski or fat bike – whatever motivates your fun. The Chelsea community winter trail is generously supported by our Corporate Trail leaders:  Gazifère, Greg Christie’s Ski and Cycle, Lafleur de la Capitale the Nordik Spa-Nature, Physiosport Chelsea and Le Pub Chelsea. We thank them for their ongoing support of this community project.

Interpretive Panels along the Chelsea Community Winter Trail on display at Chelsea City Hall, February, 2017

2017-02-18-13-56-34Since 2009 Sentiers Chelsea Trails (SCT) has partnered with the municipality of Chelsea to pro
vide a multi-purpose groomed snow surface along the currently unused railway tracks.

In 2014, SCT initiated a partnership with the Gatineau Valley Historical Society (GVHS) to develop and install interpretive panels along this trail, featuring scenes from Chelsea’s past. (more…)

Show your Support to our Municipal Elected Officials!

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!

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. (more…)