Project Name: Interpretive Trail Signage

Project summary and highlights:

The Waterloo Federation of Agriculture (WFA) created a series of signs that were placed along the Guelph to Goderich Rail Trail where it spans approximately 30 kms of its 132 km total through Waterloo Region. This trail is known as the GSG Rail Trail which is sustained by an enthusiastic volunteer base that is motivated to provide a sustainable inclusive multiuse trail. The section that goes through Waterloo Region is very well known and incorporates historic areas such as the Kissing Bridge Trail.

WFA created a series of 6 signs to post along the GSG trail that engage, inform, and connect the community to the surrounding agricultural scenery of the trailway as a ‘window into agriculture’. Many of the people who choose to use this trailway do so as city dwellers seeking to enjoy the rural environment. It is an ideal location for the WFA to place signage that people will have the time to read and review. The signage is installed at a height designed that is accessible for young children and mobility devices.

Were there any organizations that partnered in-kind contributions?

We were able to collaborate with GRCA’s Rural Water Quality Program for the design of the Water Quality sign. They designed the sign at no cost to us. This design is now material that both GRCA and WFA will use together as potential trade show handouts, presentation material, etc. for promotion of this fantastic grant programme that benefits farmers. This sign will be strategically placed near a liquid manure tank that can be seen along the G2G trail. This collaboration with GRCA staff is one of the great successes of this project.

Additionally, our MSR connected with Senator Rob Black on the creation of the soil health sign, which highlights a QR code that the Senators office created which directs to the recently completed Senate Soil Study. Senator Black was extremely excited about our project and assisted with installation of this sign on July 28th.

Many of the photos on the sign were provided from Directors in Waterloo, Wellington, and Dufferin—MSR Lisa sent a request out to all the Boards for pictures. WFA wanted to have material that truly depicted what trail goers would see in this area.

We partnered with the G2G trail committee to arrange access, suitable locations, and permission from the Region of Waterloo’s Planning, Legislation and Development Department and corresponded with a Senior Planner in the Stewardship Department.

Farm and Food Care assisted with providing access to some of their materials, and various commodity organizations shared content for the signs.