The Waskahegan Trail was conceived in the spirit of celebration around the time of Canada’s centennial. If you were around, you might remember what it was like. We had Expo 67 in Montreal, a lot of new buildings1, and we even had a song contest.
Ideas were popping up all over.
In Edmonton, Fred Dorward proposed an idea to the Oil Capital Kiwanis group: Let’s build a hiking trail around Edmonton!
On March 20, 1969, the Regional Trails Committee dissolved to make way for the Waskahegan Trail Association. The WTA held its first Annual General Meeting on May 22, 1969, and elected ten members to the board.
Uncommonly Successful
If not for the stewardship and services offered by the Waskahegan Trail Association, the Trail as we know it would cease to exist.
It takes people working together to coordinate volunteers, maintain public support, nurture landowner relations, and raise funds to sustain the Trail. And the Waskahegan Trail Association has been doing it for 55 years.
The fact that the WTA has thrived for that long is remarkable. An analysis of non-profits registered in Alberta reveals that only about 30% of organizations registered in the 1960s-1970s are still active.4
The WTA’s longevity comes down to two factors—the worthiness of the cause and the management of the organization.
The Cause
The Waskahegan Trail is both enduring and compelling. It’s enduring because we will always want to spend time in nature—even in spite of (or because of?) our world of continuous online entertainment and distractions.
The Trail meets that demand by offering three unique experiences. You can take a self-guided walk in the country on an uncrowded path. You might enjoy working in a crew clearing and refreshing trail sections. And you might love sharing your experience of nature with others on our guided hikes. The social connection is a bonus.
Management Organization
WTA’s board of directors oversees the stewardship of the trail. The board has its eye on keeping the public’s trust, honoring relationships, complying with regulations, and ensuring commitments are met.
As the world evolves—socially, technologically, and regulatory-wise— the board helps the WTA keep up by constantly innovating, modernizing, and maturing.
Throughout January, we will introduce you to certain board roles and responsibilities with the hope that you will think about becoming a board member in April. Remember, members are welcome to attend our monthly online board meetings to check us out (just send an email to the president). The next meeting is January 15 at 7 p.m.
Next up – What the treasurer does.
Do you agree with this take? Are there other factors that help a nonprofit organization achieve longevity?
- Two big infrastructure projects in Edmonton were the Provincial Museum (now the Royal Alberta Museum in a new home), and the Centennial Library (renovated and rededicated as the Stanley Milner Library). www.edmonton.ca/city_government/edmonton_archives/1967-exhibit-city-projects ↩︎
- The Waskahegan Trail Guide Book, The Waskahegan Trail Association, Edmonton, Alberta. ↩︎
- See also our About page ↩︎
- The author did the analysis with the help of AI. Contact JoAnne if you would like to learn more. ↩︎
