Seven people came out to hike the trails along the North Saskatchewan between the Quesnel Bridge and the Hawrelak Park footbridge. The sun was shining for most of the day and the weather was pleasant in spite of the cold.
The hike started at Whitemud Creek and old Keillor Road. From Saskatchewan Drive we turned down the long staircase into Hawrelak Park. It’s exciting to know that the park reopens this year.
The footbridge took us into Laurier Park and the middle of the Silver Skate Festival. After lunch at a picnic table we visited each of the snow sculptures. It’s an international competition with entries from France, Germany, Wales, to name a few countries.
One sculpture we found especially moving was a tribute to forest fire fighters. Titled “Ishkuteu Ishkuteu”, this entry from Sturgeon County is a block of snow with an image on each side:
FirefighterThe forest in flamesFirefighter in actionBear crowded out
The wildlife we saw today included a flock of waxwings at the top of a tree–their shrill chirping always draws our attention, and a flocks of geese and ducks swimming in the melted water at the outlet at the Quesnel Bridge.
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!
The reaction was swift and enthusiastic. Support came from all over23. Government leaders together with members of the public formed a Regional Trails Committee. A few private landowners in the Leduc area granted their permissions and trail-building began.
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.
Stoney Creek Trail Guided Hike, July 2025
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.
