History of the FGTA

The Glengarry Trails are located in the Garry River watershed just west of Alexandria, Ontario, in the Township of North Glengarry.  The Glengarry Trails feature both woodland and wetland areas.  
In 1999, the Friends of Glengarry Trails Association was incorporated as a non-profit with charitable status. We had the dream of developing a Four Seasons Recreational Trails Project in cooperation with local townships and the Raisin Region Conservation Authority. The project was awarded $108,000 from the Canada Millennium Fund for 1/3 the total budget of $324,000. The remaining 2/3 of the funding support came from the Municipality of North Glengarry, local businesses, service clubs and individuals. 
Environmental studies were undertaken with  biologists and summer students. In August 2000, the Federal Environmental Assessment was approved.
Boardwalks were constructed with the assistance of the Raisin Region Conservation authority.  There was major Trail development in 2000 with the help of the Glengarry Snowmobile club,  volunteers and summer students.
The maintenance and enhancement of the Glengarry Trails are now financed through the generosity of trail users, the memberships paid to the FGTA, and fund-raising events. The Friends of Glengarry Trails Association creates and maintains the trails,  boardwalks, small bridges and interpretive signs, and provides information via its website, brochure maps and a regular newsletter.
Many hours of volunteer work ensure that the trails are safe and readily passable. In winter many of the trails are groomed for cross-country skiing. The trails provide access for individual and group activities such as hiking, bird-watching, nature tours, and bike-riding, as well as a route for health-promotion events such as the  Terry Fox Walk/Run, Heart and Stroke Foundation walk, running, skiing, snow-shoeing and bike events.
Trail maintenance over the years has been carried out with the help of local high school students, Katimavik volunteers, and the steady support of  members of the FGTA
The FGTA promotes outdoor recreation and environmental education for school groups.