History of the FGTA
Are you ready for an adventure in nature?
Head to the Glengarry Trails in the beautiful Garry River watershed just west of Alexandria, Ontario, in the Township of North Glengarry. These trails are a mix of woodland and wetland areas, perfect for year-round exploration.
The Friends of Glengarry Trails Association (FGTA) is a non-profit organization established in 1999 to create a four-season recreational trails project in partnership with local townships and the Raisin Region Conservation Authority. With the help of the Canada Millennium Fund, the Municipality of North Glengarry, local businesses, service clubs, and individuals, they secured the funding required to make this dream a reality.
The trails incorporated boardwalks, small bridges, and interpretive signs thanks to the hard work of biologists, summer students, and volunteers. The Glengarry Snowmobile Club, in particular, played a significant role in the trail development at the time. These trails are maintained by volunteers and enhanced through the generosity of trail users, memberships paid to the FGTA, and fundraising events held throughout the year.
The Glengarry Trails are safe and accessible, with some trails groomed for winter cross-country skiing. Whether you enjoy hiking, bird-watching, nature tours, or biking, there is something for everyone here. You can also participate in health-promoting events such as the Terry Fox Walk/Run, Heart and Stroke Foundation walk, running, skiing, snowshoeing, and bike events.
The FGTA is always looking for volunteers to help with trail maintenance. Our Association encourages outdoor recreation and environmental education for school groups. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your gear, and let’s hit the trails!
FGTA Board of Directors 2024–2025
Flo McGrail, Yvon Ranger, and Jeff Manley.
In tribute
We, at Friends of Glengarry Trails Association are saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Kerr (the man in the blue t-shirt). He was a founding member of the FGTA and has been an active member since then. As a board member, he shared his love of the trail system and his wish to protect it. Recently he made a submission to the Township of North Glengarry to rezone the Garry Fen land owned by the North Glengarry Township. He was proud of his success to have it rezoned from “rural” to “open space”. The new designation will help protect the area from development. We will miss you, Richard
For memorial arrangements follow the link to Hillcrest Funeral Home, Vankleek Hill.
Four Seasons Trail Project
Here is a brief historical timeline of the Friends of Glengarry Trails.
May, 1999
- Friends of Glengarry Trails incorporates with charitable status and a 13 member board of directors, which includes one representative from each of North Glengarry, South Glengarry, the Raisin Region Conservation Authority.
- FGTA makes application for Millennium Partnership Funding for 1/3 of total $349,000 projected budget.
Summer 1999
- FGTA receives pledges of support of $50,000 in cash and in kind from companies, individuals and from the Municipality of North Glengarry.
- FGTA and the Glengarry Snowmobile Club form a partnership to jointly develop two parallel trails on the Green Road Concession 3.
- FGTA gets permission from the Municipality of North Glengarry to develop the Green Roads on Concession 2 and concession 3 for recreational trails.
October, 1999
- FGTA is awarded $108,000 from the Millennium Partnership Program.
Fall 1999
- FGTA and Glengarry Snowmobile Club jointly open concession 3 Green Road, known as the East/West Trail, for winter use.
- FGTA and RRCA complete the board walk at Garry Fen (formerly known to some as “Lost Lake”)
February, 2000
- FGTA submits information required for Environmental Assessment.
Spring/Summer 2000
- FGTA marks potential trail routes from Alexandria to south of Middle Lake and begins negotiation of permission agreements with landowners.
- “379 Glengarry Mustangs – Air Cadets” help clear the trails.
- Two biologists and a summer student check out plants and birds near the trail route.
August 24, 2000
- Environmental Assessment is approved.
September 2000
- Work begins on the East/West Trail from the Bonnie Glen to Alexandria to make it useable as an all-season trail.
- FTGA Fundraiser Dinner
- Held at the Georgian House Restaurant in Alexandria Ontario, the FTGA introduced the community to the Trails Project.
- The honourable Don Boudria, presented the Millennium certificate to the FGTA board of directors.
March, 2001
- As part of the North Glengarry Winter Carnival, we joined with the Glengarry Chapter of the Heart and Stroke Fund, and the RRCA, to host the 1st annual Ski Races along the trails.
