Ontario’s provincial parks hold a special place in the hearts of our donors.
Recently, they stepped up in a big way for Killarney Provincial Park.
In 2018, Ontario Parks asked for donor support to fund an upgrade to Killarney’s “The Crack” hiking trail.
The increased popularity of the short, day-use portion of the multi-day (80 km) La Cloche Silhouette Trail had caused significant erosion, and the trail needed a re-route and rehabilitation.
The response from the park’s visitors and donors was outstanding.
They helped to make the project possible and on September 28, 2019, we welcomed back 23 donors to see the impact of their investment and to say thank you with a guided hike of The Crack.
The hike
The group met in the morning outside the park office, ready and eager for the four-hour hike ahead of them. The trail’s rerouting made the experience fresh, even for those who had hiked it before.
It was the perfect day for a hike, cool, but not too cold, with the emerging fall colours creating a picturesque landscape.
Superintendent Jeremy Pawson led the trek, stopping every so often to point out an upgrade in progress or an interesting fact about the park’s ecosystem and cultural history.
A highlight was the reading of an original letter from Group of Seven painter A. Y. Jackson to former Minister of Lands and Forests William Finlayson, urging him to preserve the land that would eventually become Killarney Provincial Park.
At the top, the hikers were rewarded with a view unlike any other in Ontario (there’s a reason Killarney is known as one of the crown jewels of the Ontario Parks system).
Other donor projects
Donors also contributed to four other projects in 2018.
We’re working on completing:
- the refurbishment and update of the iconic birchbark map at Algonquin Provincial Park
- the upgrade of the Waterfront Trail at Balsam Lake Provincial Park
- the construction of a cricket ground at Bronte Creek Provincial Park
- the extension of the Noisy Bay Hiking Trail and the creation of an accessible trail down to the beach at Lake Superior Provincial Park
Stay tuned for more updates on these other donor investments.
We sincerely thank all our donors.
How you can support Ontario Parks
Donating to Ontario Parks ensures that we can preserve our natural and cultural heritage for years to come.
To find out more about the specific projects we’re fundraising for, please visit OntarioParks.com/donate or email us at OPDonations@ontario.ca.