FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Buy your ticket today for the East Coast Trail Grand Ol’ Kitchen Party

St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, April 4, 2024 – The East Coast Trail Association (ECTA) is marking three decades of dedication to building a trail and preserving our coastline to help build a viable tourism industry along the eastern edge of the Avalon. Join us on Wednesday, April 17th, to celebrate the East Coast Trail, during National Tourism Week, as a vital contributor to the NL economy and to the social and cultural fabric of the communities located along the eastern edge of the Avalon.  

The Association has built a 336 km world-class tourism and recreational product based on the very best we have to offer – our natural, cultural, historical, and community assets – together with the raw natural beauty of our coastline to create a unique tourist destination that is second to none in the world.  The value proposition resulting from this achievement is the creation of breakthrough sustainable value, year after year,  for the business community located in St. John’s and in the 24 communities located along the Trail.  

“It is safe to say our dream has come true, and our challenge now has shifted to sustaining and growing the value of the trail; while the task of maintaining and operating the  Trail is a labour of love, it requires a significant monetary investment every year,” said Randy Murphy, ECTA’s President. “The Trail’s sustainability has become our Dream #2, and we are working on it; the Kitchen Party is giving us an opportunity to pause and reach out to the business community to come join us in the celebration of our accomplishments, to hear our story, and to help raise some funds for a great cause, all while having a grand old time.” 

This fundraising event is a testament to the Association’s enduring legacy. It is scheduled for April 17th, from 5 PM to 9 PM, at Quidi Vidi Brewery, a locale that captures the essence of Newfoundland’s spirit.  In an evening that promises to blend the warmth of a Newfoundland kitchen party with the cause of maintaining the East Coast Trail, attendees are invited for a $200 ticket to enjoy a selection of fine hors d’oeuvres, taste Quidi Vidi’s celebrated craft beers, and experience the captivating performances of Sean and Sheldon from Sullivan’s Songhouse. 

A highlight of the night will be the presence of special guests and storytellers, sharing their tales from the first 30 years of the ECT. The evening will also feature a thoughtfully curated auction and raffle, offering attendees the chance to win exclusive experiences and items that reflect the trail’s beauty. This initiative is critical for raising funds to support the trail’s maintenance and operational needs, ensuring it remains an invaluable asset for generations to come.

In addition, we’re proud to announce that ExxonMobil Canada, a key supporter of the East Coast Trail for many years, will be represented by their new president at this event. ExxonMobil’s presence is a testament to the strong partnership between ECTA and the broader business community, working together to enhance the Trail, and foster community engagement.

Get your ticket now at https://www.eastcoasttrail.shop/ and join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the East Coast Trail’s 30th anniversary and its vital role in the NL and Canadian Tourism Industry.  We hope to see you there!

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About the East Coast Trail:

The East Coast Trail (ECT) is a 336 km market-ready, pedestrian coastal trail that runs along the eastern edge of the Avalon Peninsula between Topsail Beach and Cappahayden. The East Coast Trail Association is a member-based, volunteer-driven and managed registered charity. The Association’s mission is to develop, maintain, enhance and protect the ECT for future generations while respecting the integrity of our natural environment, the needs of our communities and delivering a high-quality wilderness hiking experience.

The ECT is a  unique and appealing destination offering outstanding natural beauty and wildlife, location, history, culture, and geology.  It is a system of quality pedestrian trails designed for families and avid hikers, residents & non-residents, matching all the features rated by hikers and tour operators as being most important to hiking enjoyment.  The Trail is an awesome product providing a special blend of wilderness adventure, history & cultural contact. 

The Trail strategically connects existing and new tourism infrastructure and attractions, events and activities in the region, providing the opportunity for 24 coastal communities to build businesses serving visitors who come for the trail and stay for the hospitality. And the media response from around the world has been phenomenal and hikers are coming here from all over the globe. The National Geographic Traveller experts ranked the Avalon’s coastline, the home of the ECT, as #1 in the world and extolled the region’s “stunning natural and cultural integrity, and unspoiled scenery” adding that it is “one of the world’s best-kept tourism secrets.”

• #1 Coastline in the world “National Geographic Traveller” magazine
• #1 Motivator for overseas travellers to Newfoundland “HNL Tourism Times”
• #1 Attraction on the Avalon “Dept of Tourism 2016 Exit Survey” 
•  336 km of trail delivered to market linking the economies of 24 coastal communities
• 15,000 individual hikers annually spending $3.5 million driving economic activity
• 90% of residents, businesses and hikers agree that the ECT is an exceptional asset

The tourism industry along the Trail is growing steadily & the Trail is playing a major role. The trail has become a destination trail, a demand generator that greatly impacts visitation, spending & satisfaction. It is a strategic tourism and recreational asset for the province that is generating significant economic, social, & environmental value. The province, the destination management organizations, businesses, & communities recognize the strategic value of the trail as both a tourism & recreational product.

Contact:
Julia Penney, Business Manager, ECTA
julia.penney@eastcoasttrail.com
(t) 709-738-4453 (c) 709-325-7284