Strategic Plan

Hike Canada En Marche Strategic Plan

May 2021


Land Acknowledgement
Hike Canada En Marche acknowledges, recognizes and respects the
Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of the land through which hiking
trails pass, and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous
Peoples and their traditional territories.


Vision
To promote the development and use of a Canada-wide system of trails open to the public that
offer both Canadians and visitors access to the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the
country’s diverse regions, as well as facilitating a form of exercise that is physically and mentally
beneficial.

Values
a. Environmental Stewardship
Preserving the natural wilderness and its wild and rugged beauty, open
spaces, magnificent vistas, and clean air.
b. Sustainability
Nurturing community support for trails by advocating charitable giving and
government funding for trails and trail maintenance, as well as legislation
for the establishment and maintenance of hiking trails in all parts of the
country.
c. Access
Protecting public access to the trails by keeping them open, free and
available to all who respect accepted standards of hiking etiquette. Where
possible, supporting the principle of hiking trails that are separate from trail
for motorized vehicles.

d. Inclusion

Hike Canada En Marche recognizes that the privilege of hiking in nature is
open to young and old, rich and poor, and to people of all ethnic
backgrounds. Hiking equates with diversity, inclusivity, and being an
outdoor ally.
e. Leave no Trace
Encouraging trail users to leave the trails and their environment
undisturbed, only taking away photographs. To advocate for the
construction of trails with only those structures sufficient to protect the
environment from the impacts of hikers, and for the safety of trail users.
Ensure that hiking trails are free of commercial advertising.

f. Membership

Hike Canada en Marche membership or volunteering is open to all who
share our vision, values and goals.

g. Safety

Safety is the first priority in all policies, standards, signage, training and
work practice.
h. Signature Trails

Hike Canada en Marche recognize the value of Signature Trails as
designated hiking trails within Canada that are deemed to offer a unique
and memorable experience for the visitor, as well as reflecting the
cultural and natural landscape of their location.

Specific Goals
a. To promote the completion of both an interconnected system of coast-to-coast
National Hiking Trails, as well as other non-connected hiking trails.
b. To assist hikers in finding hiking trails and planning for their hiking activities in all
parts of Canada, by means of our web site and other media.
c. To work with the federal government with relation to those policy objectives that we
share with them, such as the promotion of active transportation, tourism, healthy
exercise, improved mental health, and encouraging Canadians to connect with and
value the natural environment.

d. To working with Provincial hiking and trails organizations with the promotion of hiking
trails in all regions of Canada, and to assist these organizations in raising funds for local
trail construction and maintenance.
To work with provincial hiking and trails organizations to encourage hiking in all
regions of Canada, and the assist these organizations in raising funds for local
trail construction and maintenance.”
e. To work with other trail organizations in the promotion of the general principle that,
where practical, separate trails be established for motorized and non-motorized trail
user groups, in order to ensure public safety, and for the reduction of conflict.
f. To discourage any irresponsible use of information on hiking trails, whether by
individuals, social media groups or trail tracking programs, and to discourage any uses of
hiking trails that are inconsistent with HCEM’s values.
g. To encourage best practices in trail construction and maintenance, by working with provincial hiking and trail organizations to establish:

  1.  Hiking construction standards, taking into account different trail types and different local environmental conditions.
  2.  Hiking trail maintenance standard
  3.  National standards for the degrees of difficulty offered by each specific hiking trail.
  4.  Hiking trail signage and way-finding standards.
  5.  National standards for definitions for the various kinds of hiking trails; i.e trail,
    path, walkway, greenway, non-motorized, urban, wheelchair
    accessible, single track, multi use, unmarked, wilderness, etc.

h.To educate the public about hiking trails in all regions of Canada, and to encourage
their use in a manner consistent with conserving the natural environment.