Oxford Tunnel Completes the Great Trail
Official ribbon cutting ceremony
There was a big turnout of people, ATVs, even a few miniature horses today as Phase 2 of the Oxford Section of the Great Canadian Trail was officially opened by MP Bill Casey and Cumberland South MLA Jamie Baillie.
Phase 2 includes the tunnel under Main Street at Highway 104 and a section of trail running north.
Many trail fans drove their recreational vehicles from many parts of northern Nova Scotia and were treated to a trail walk and a barbecue after the speeches.
And, more good news! Financing for Phase 3 has been announced. Casey said the federal government will give $280,000, while David Hoffman, president of the Oxford and District Trail Association, said the national trail foundation would provide $144,000 for the final Phase.
Phase 3 will close the final gap in The Trans CanadaTrail. It will connect to and cross the Black River Bridge.
Baillie hailed local volunteers for making the project happen
Oxford Mayor Trish Stewart called it “such a great leap forward for our community. It's been 20 years in the making”.
Hoffman said it has taken 25 years for the Trans Canada Trail to become a reality. “We are now fully connected. We can go from coast to coast.
In the attached photos, Debbie Field of Port Howe and Shannon Oickle of Oxford enjoy hiking and jogging on the Oxford section of The Great Trail. They are shown here at the River Philip Bridge which was opened a year ago.
Enson Weatherbee and son Jason (shown in the ATVs) were two of the many volunteers at the official tunnel opening. Enson is a former Oxford resident living in Amherst. Jason lives on Stanley Road.
Bill Henley of Port Howe and Dick Henley of Winnipeg enjoy walking the Oxford trail Saturday. Dick has a cottage at Port Howe and is originally from the area.
Kelly Milner, Addison Mitchell and Diane Mitchell were joined at the official tunnel opening Saturday by Lucky, Dolly, and Dusty, Kelly's miniature horses. The horses were brought to entertain the kids.
Cumberland/Colchester MP Bill Casey and Cumberland South MLA Jamie Baillie cut the ribbon to officially open the Oxford Tunnel. Others in the photo include (from left) Cumberland County Warden Allison Gillis; David Hoffman, president of the Oxford and District Trail Association; Baillie; Casey; Gerry McLellan, and Oxford Mayor Trish Stewart.
Gerry McLellan (left, with hat) was praised Saturday for his efforts over many years for the Oxford trail. David Hoffman (right) called him “the architect of the trail.”