About the Episode

Originally aired on March 15, 2022

Among the unexpected consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, surely one of the better ones is a nationwide rediscovery of the Canadian outdoors.

Today we are joined by Eleanor McMahon, President and CEO of the Trans Canada Trail. Eleanor has over 30 years of experience within the private, public and non-profit sectors in a resume that defies easy summary because of the sheer number of areas in which she has played a leading and influential role. But she is perhaps best known as the founder of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition – formed in the wake of the tragic death of her husband – and then for the period between 2014 to 2018 when Eleanor served as MPP for Burlington, entering the Ontario cabinet as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and later President of the Treasury Board.

But the reason we are speaking to Eleanor McMahon today is not connected to any of those achievements but in connection with her current role as President and CEO of the Trans Canada Trail. As we shall hear today, the Trans Canada Trail is much more than a pathway across Canada. Much more than “just” the largest trail in the world. Eleanor describes the numerous ways in which in the first thirty years since the Trans Canada Trail concept was born, it has come to embody and symbolize something truly important for our heterogeneous nation.

This episode of The 905er is brought to you by our sponsor:

South River Brewing.  Listen to this episode to see how you can save money on your next order by visiting the link below:

South River Brewing

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Nicholas Paul: sound editing.

The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes!