The Lakefield Trail Stewardship Committee will be dissolving at the end of this year.
Bruce Bellchambers, chair of the Lakefield Trail Stewardship Committee, gave a delegation to council at the Tuesday afternoon meeting stating that as of December 31, 2025, the entire board will be stepping down from their roles.
Bellchambers explained that with the workload the committee does, the decline in volunteers and the age of the committee members, the work is no longer sustainable for the current system and members.
He told council that the committee formed in 1998 when the Village of Lakefield created the Special Events Committee and the Lakefield Trail Subcommittee was formed as a result.
The Village received funding to create a trail system which was subsequently maintained by the Lakefield Trail Stewardship Committee.
Over the years their scope of work has expanded to include numerous projects.
Bellchambers outlined some of the committee’s efforts to council which included:
• The committee has planted and maintains over 4000 trees and bushes,
• cleans up litter from trails,
• oversees memorial benches and plants,
• helped with the installation of all the signage around the trails both directional and interpretive,
• oversaw the installation of the shade shelter on Water Street
• maintain the native plant gardens along the trail
• mulch and weed the garden beds every spring
• maintain the free little libraries along the Lakefield Trail system
• Send out an annual newsletter
• Host events such as Polarfest Night Hike, Spring hike, Earth Day/Hour hike, Paddle Day in June with participation from Adventure Outfitters and recently Lovesick Lake Kayaking
• And so much more
He told council that the current Lakefield Trails Stewardship Committee will be stepping down as of the end of the year and that while he does not know what will come of the Trail committee or what it may look like in the new year, he asked the township to spend the funds in the committees accounts which Selwyn holds on the maintenance of the trails.
Mayor Sherry Senis thanked Bellchambers and the committee for their years of hard work and asked township staff what the next steps were for the township to take to ensure the trail is properly maintained.
CAO Janice Lavalley said that they would need to regroup and come back to council with a report on next steps and potential options for the future of the trails.
Coun, John Boyko asked Bellchambers how he thought the role of the township would change now with the retirement of their current committee members.
Bellchambers said the in his opinion it would take a new staff person to replace the all the work his committee does. He said with the current staff in Parks and Rec at the township, it would be too much to add to their workload.
Bellchambers report was received and a report will be brought to council at a later date from staff outlining the potential options for the future of the Lakefield Trail.
While the current committee members are stepping down, it is unclear at this point if the committee will dissolve completely or not.
Any residents or community members interested in helping with the Lakefield Trails or joining the committee are encouraged to reach out to township staff.
