Rideau Winter Trail letter – 2025 request for funds
Hello Don,
Thank you for reaching out to us and for OOE’s support of the Rideau Winter Trail (RWT).
I apologize for not responding sooner. We have had a busy week or two with the trail, after a combination of recent snowfalls, our community Loppet event about a week ago, and a grant application we are submitting this week.
To provide some additional context for our fundraising and operations:
- For funding, the Rideau Winter Trail relies on and is very grateful for contributions from the community (directly via GoFundMe, and through sponsors and supporters like OOE). Contributions from the community make up about 50% of the funding we raise every year, with the other 50% coming from the NCC and the City.
- The trail is managed and operated fully by volunteers from OOE and other communities adjacent to the trail. With no salary costs, all contributions from the community go towards keeping the lights on every year (including insurance, equipment maintenance, fuel, accounting and administrative expenses), and towards replacing or acquiring grooming equipment necessary to maintain a winter trail.
- We are excited by the potential to extend the trail into Vincent Massey Park, and are exploring potential solutions, including investing in additional equipment necessary to manage large snow banks pushed onto the trail from Riverside Drive.
Best regards,
Stuart
Stuart Inglis
Treasurer
613-286-0699