Research Initiatives
The Trail Research Hub undertakes research, education, and outreach initiatives to support sustainable trail development, construction, and maintenance across Canada while establishing best practice guidelines for trails governance and management.
Research
The Trail Research Hub undertakes research initiatives to support sustainable trail development, construction, and maintenance across Canada and to establish best practice guidelines for trails governance and management.
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As such, members of the Hub offer the following
Research Services:
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Community-Based Research Facilitation
Study Design and Implementation
Data Collection and Analysis
Production of Academic Papers and Industry White Papers
Presentations of Research Findings
Current Research Initiatives
You can learn more about our current research projects and related initiatives below.
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The Hydrocut Trail
Economic Impact Study
Community-Based Research Project
Team: Dr. Kelsey Johansen
and Dr. Harvey Lemelin
The Hydrocut Trail system is consistently ranked as one of the top MTB riding destinations in Ontario and is recognized across Canada for its 35km of “flowing” trails that see over 80,000 visitors per year. The trails are open and free to the public. They feature board walks and bridges, switchbacks and “armoured” walls, with fast lines and technical features to challenge the most skilled of riders.
The purpose of this study is to define the current local versus non-local Hydrocut Ridership profiles, riding and spending patterns, and market segments, understand the trail tourism destination development needs of its market segments, and determine the current and projected future economic impacts of the Hydrocut trail system for the Waterloo Region.
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This project a joint collaboration between researchers affiliated with the Trail Research Hub, the University of Eastern Finland's Tourism Research Group, Lakehead University's School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism,and community partners, the Hydrocut Trails Committee.
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Via Ferrata Tourism in North America Scoping Study
Academic Research Project
Team: Dr. Harvey Lemelin and
Dr. Kelsey Johansen
The Via Ferrata Tourism in North America Scoping study is an academic research project investigating the expansion and development of Via Ferrata in North America (Canada, the United States, and Mexico) and the unique destination, route, and sport development and planning opportunities and challenges this expansion presents for service providers, land managers, and professional mountaineering associations.
In support of this objective, this study employs a scoping review of English- language academic and industry literature on Via Ferratas, including North American industry web materials and popular media coverage of the growing popularity of the sport in North America, to catalogue how and where Via Ferrata research has been conducted, including the global regions where it has been studied and main research themes emerging from the global body of work.
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This project is a joint collaboration between researchers affiliated with the Trail Research Hub, Lakehead University's School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism, and the University of Eastern Finland's Tourism Research Group.
Past Research Initiatives
You can learn more about our past research projects and related initiatives below.
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Trail Legislation Research Project
Community-Based Research Project
Team: Dr. Kelsey Johansen
and Jane McCulloch
The Trail Legislation Research Project was a 2-year contracted research project (2022-2024) undertaken by researchers affiliated with the Trail Research Hub, and Terminus Consulting, for the East Coast Trail Association.
This research identified the historic and current trail protection issues faced by the Association, provided a comparative analysis of the legislative, policy, strategy, and practice frameworks which support trail protection efforts in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and served as the basis for the development of a business case for a NL Pedestrian Trails Act.
Trails and Social Enterprise
Longitudinal Research Project
Team: Dr. Kelsey Johansen, Jane McCulloch and Kirsten Spence
The Trails and Social Enterprise Research Project was a longitudinal research project (2019 - 2023) investigating how community-based trail organizations can function under a social enterprise and collective impact model.
This research identified key trends impacting trail use in Canada, and sought to determine what governance structures could best support and grow trails in communities across Canada as meaningful outdoor recreation and tourism resources.
Grand Watershed Trail-Based Recreation and Tourism Project
Community-Based Research Project
The Grand Watershed Trails Network is a new trail development organization actively engaged in the design and development of a multi-use trail along the Grand River, encompassing a network of trails in the watershed.
The purpose of this study is to gauge regional businesses awareness of the Grand Watershed Trails Network and Ontario by Bike – Bike Friendly Business criteria, and the importance they place on trail-based recreation and tourism, including but not limited to cycling, hiking, and paddling.
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Blacksheep MBC - Thunder Bay Region Mountain Bike User Survey
Community-Based Research Project
The Blacksheep Mountain Bike Club Thunder Bay Region Mountain Bike User Survey is a joint collaboration between researchers affiliated with the Trail Research Hub, the University of Waterloo's Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies and Lakehead University's School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism, and community partners, including the Blacksheep Mountain Bike Club.
Insuring Ontario's Trail Survey
Analytical Support for
Survey Research
Team: Dr. Kelsey Johansen
and Patrick Connor (Ontario Trails Council)
In response to issues presented by members of the Ontario Trails Council’s Subcommittee on Trail Tourism in early 2021, the Ontario Trails Council designed and implemented the Insuring Ontario’s Trails Survey in partnership with the Trail Research Hub who provided analytical support for the survey.
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This survey aimed to better understand the current insurance acquisition and insurance policy parameter challenges being faced by trail organizations in Ontario as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing policy and practice changes within the insurance sector observed over recent years.
Ontario Trails
ICD Projects
Joint Community-Based Research
Project and Educational Initiative
The Ontario Trails Integrated Curriculum Design (ICD) Projects are a series of joint community-based research projects and educational initiatives being undertaken by the University of Waterloo's Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies in partnership with the Ontario Trails Council and trail organizations across Ontario, including the Bruce Trail, Hastings Destination Trails, and the Hydrocut.
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Research Publications
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Publications arising from these collaborations, including academic papers, white papers, and other outputs (like Infographics, maps and audiovisual materials) created by members
of the Trail Research Hub will be available by clicking the button below
after they have been shared with community partners.
