Plans unveiled for Calgary to Cochrane section of Trans Canada Trail

A long-awaited hiking and biking trail that would run all the way fromCalgary's western edge through to Cochranestepped closer to completion Tuesday, as organizersunveiled details of Stage One of the construction.

Parts of the pathway already exist, including a paved trail through Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park.

Organizers said Tuesday that they hope to completethefirst phase of the traila 38-kilometre-long section between the western section of the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway Trail in Calgary along the Bow River through to Cochraneby2025.

Eventually, the group hopes to extend the trail all the way to Canmore, filling a gap in the Trans Canada Trail,which runs more than 27,000 kilometres across the country.

The organizers saidat a news conference at the Cochrane RancheHouseon Tuesday that70 per cent of the land needed to construct the trail from Calgary to Canmore has been secured, thankingseveralprominent Alberta familiesincluding the Haskayne, Harvieand Robinson families for donating land.

Parts of the trail will be built alongTreaty Seven Territory, including lands of the Stoney Nakoda Nation.

As part of the plan, they'll have to build a bridge over the Bow River to Cochrane.

The trail has been the works for more than a decade, according to the group behind the project, which isbeing overseen by the Rotary Club of Cochrane. The group includes volunteers from the Rotary club and members of the prominent Alberta families who donated land to the project.

'A great day for Calgary and Cochrane'

Tim Harvie is part of one of the families who have donated land for the trail. Harvie, who is a board member for the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation (created by his family),saidgetting the trail built has been a dream for the park since it was created.

"Alot of the trail is already built. We just need to connect [it] at either end, and that'll be a great day for Calgary and Cochrane[and] all Albertans to be able to bike, walk, cycle from Calgary to Cochrane," said Harvie.

Harvie creditsthe Albertanfamilies that donatedland to make their vision a reality.

"They're all legacy families, really pioneers, some of them there. They go back with deep roots to Alberta's early beginnings," he said.

"If it wasn't for these families and their philanthropic nature and seeing the value and connecting all Albertans this way, it wouldn't happen. So, it's pretty nice to see."

According to project'swebsite, organizers are still looking for businesses, organizations and individuals to donate toward the completion of the trail. There is also a contest on the website to name the trail. The contest is open to all Albertans.