East Coast Trail “Meaningful Connections”
Launch of New East Coast Trail Video
Press Release, St. John’s NL, May 16, 2023
For Immediate Release
St. John’s, May 16, 2023 — The East Coast Trail Association is pleased to announce the release of our new promotional video, “Our Story,” on Wednesday, May 17th, at 11 am at Quidi Vidi Brewery. This video showcases the beauty and importance of the East Coast Trail and sets the course for our future. We will also officially launch our newly designed website that showcases the trail in a modern way. We invite you to join us to share this milestone with us, and for those who cannot join us in person, you can tune into the YouTube “Our Story” launch at 11:15 am here: https://youtu.be/9ibRlaOURas.
“The Association has demonstrated that when you set your mind to reach a goal, and if you are determined to reach it, the impossible often becomes possible,” says Randy Murphy, ECTA President. “We take up the challenge of the impossible dream every year to help sustain the reality of the East Coast Trail to make sure the dream is protected and preserved for us to enjoy today and for future generations. And we are excited to share a little piece of our story with you today.”
The video highlights stories from ECTA members and volunteers, including Dr. Emily Ursell, Dr. TA Loeffler, Sharon Sinnott, Patrick Ryan, and Randy Murphy. Featuring videography captured by Epic Trails and Eric Hanson TV crews, we captured the sense of connection with nature and disconnection from one’s busy life. The video features footage from all corners of the East Coast Trail, including the Town of Port Kirwan, the Town of Fermuse, Sullivan’s Song House, and the Town of Petty Harbour.
“Congratulations to the East Coast Trail Association on the launch of their new website,” says The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, “The East Coast Trail is a major attraction for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as tourists to our beautiful province. Hiking provides so many benefits – physical exercise, fresh air, stunning vistas and opportunities for meditation, contemplation and reflection. I believe the new ‘Our Story’ video and the newly designed website will bring even more attention to the East Coast Trail and will highlight what an asset the trail really is to our province.”
The redesign of our website was essential to give us the capability to continually improve our capacity to generate new revenue, attract tourists, convert trail users to ECTA members, and engage trail users across all platforms, including enhanced compatibility on mobile devices. We are pleased to say that our newly designed website makes all that possible, thanks to funding provided by ExxonMobil Canada. View the new website here: https://eastcoasttrail.com/.
“Our company and employees have been supporting the East Coast Trail Association for more than 20 years,” says Laz Cosma, president of ExxonMobil Canada. “These trails allow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and visitors, an opportunity to see parts of the province otherwise unreachable. Being outside and exploring the many communities and landmarks on the trails contributes to our physical and mental health, and their new website is a great source of information for those interested in hiking the trail.”
The support needed for the East Coast Trail is great, and we feel it each year during our Trail Raiser Community Hike, hosted on International Trails Day, June 3. This year the event is hosted in Pouch Cove and features a day of hiking and celebrating the ECT, helping us raise the $100,000 needed to care for the Trail. We encourage you to join us on June 3, register, and/or make a donation to support the ECT. Learn more here: eastcoasttrail.news/TRCH23.
“Council and I are excited to have the Town of Pouch Cove hosting the 2023 Trail Raiser Community Hike. We welcome residents from our town, province, and beyond to take a hike with us on June 3rd to celebrate the East Coast Trail and International Trails Day. I challenge the Mayors and Councils from all the communities along the trail to join us in raising funds for our East Coast Trail, and to invite your residents of all ages to join me on a hike at beautiful Pouch Cove on event day, or hike the section of trail that passes through your community, or simply make a donation. What a great way to get out, be healthy, and enjoy with our families and friends all that the East Coast Trails have to offer.” Mayor Mark Vardy, Town of Pouch Cove
As we continue to tell Our Story, let’s all work together and spread the word that the East Coast Trail is important to you, your community, your business, and the NL Tourism Industry. Use #EastCoastTrail and #ECTLove to show us your ECT stories. We hope to see you in Pouch Cove on June 3!
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About 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.
www.eastcoasttrail.com | @eastcoasttrail
To arrange an interview, please contact:
Julia Penney
Business Manager, ECTA
julia.penney@eastcoasttrail.com
(t) 709-738-4453 (c) 709-325-7284