Volunteers to sample tourism on eastern Trans-Canada Trail http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/volunteers-to-sample-tourism-on-easte...

A volunteer group is the first bunch of trekkers to try a new commercial tourism package for the eastern Manitoba portion of the Trans-Canada Trail.

About seven volunteers from the Manitoba Recreational Trails Association teamed up with Jim Bishop, chairman of the national Trans-Canada Trail, on Thursday to begin a four-day, 225-kilometre tour from Pine Falls to Falcon Lake by bike and shuttle.

"You build it, you want to use it," said Ruth Marr, a volunteer who was instrumental in getting the section of the trail in shape. "We're having an opportunity to test some of the economic spinoffs from the trail."

There will be stops at resorts along the way and meet-and-greets with local business people.

The trail association is a network of volunteers who raise money to maintain the Trans-Canada Trail. Now, for the first time in Manitoba, the network is sharpening up its commercial focus with an eye to building ecotourism.

The brains behind the commercial venture is Roy Hildebrand, co-founder of WE Hike and Bike, an ecotourism venture based in Pinawa.

"The Border to Beaches trail is a dynamic asset right in our backyard," he said. "What the MRTA has done is provide a link, a network, for everyone who associated with the trail and there are seven groups along Borders to Beaches, local business people. We want to engage them and promote their sections."

Based at the Wilderness Edge Retreat and Conference Centre in Pinawa, WE is setting up weekend tour packages, ranging from $300 to $500, to launch next spring.