It’s called the Cape to Cape Trail. It’s a good idea and it will only happen if Nova Scotians get behind it.
The vision (capetocapetrail.ca) is to develop a footpath spanning more than four hundred kilometres, connecting Cape George in Antigonish County to Cape Chignecto in Cumberland County. Along the way, it would pass through Pictou and Colchester counties. More than a hundred kilometres have been established so far.
This can be done. The Bruce Trail in Ontario runs from Niagara to Tobermory, covering almost 900 kilometres, plus 400 kilometres of side trail.
Nova Scotia has no similar resource, but it should. It makes sense for tourism, it makes sense for our health, and it makes sense for preserving our natural spaces.
Trail hiking is an accessible sport. At its most basic, it requires shoes. Throw in a hat and water bottle, and you’re practically a pro. Every year tourists would come to Nova Scotia specifically to hike Cape to Cape. And it would be a boon to inter-county traffic. Anyone who can walk can learn to hike, which makes the large majority of us potential users (local loops are also planned for close-to-home jaunts).
Many Canadians are unhealthy, and Nova Scotia is no exception. Many of us need to lose weight – not to look good on the beach, but so we don’t wind up with diabetes or deadly heart disease.
It’s getting to be decision time. Our future looks like an epidemic of poor health due to lifestyle factors. And many of our children will be among the victims. The modest amount of government money this would require would be more than paid for with improved health outcomes and less medical care.
Finally, this trail would be a beacon to young and old, beckoning them to enjoy our natural environment, which would only increase their appreciation of it. We take care of things we value.
This can happen. It will take some government support. But it will really need is passion from the public, plus a cadre of volunteers. So, what are you planning to accomplish this summer?
