The Great Coastal Trails
Conference 2026
Agenda
October 5-7, 2026 | Shallow Bay, NL
Agenda subject to changes. Please check this page for the latest updates.
Conference Speakers
Erika Pardy
Executive Director, GCTA
Jennifer Pharr Davis
Author & Adventurer
Nigel Nicholas
Wales Coast Path Officer
Moa Björnson
CEO Træna 365
Co-Chair, GCTA
Dónal Traynor
CEO, Community Finance Ireland
Magi Scallion
Division Manager, McElhanney
Angela Morin
Manager, Trail Infrastructure and Funding
Trans Canada Trail
Coordinator, Extensions and Active Transportation
Trans Canada Trail
Ryan Thom
Day 1: Monday, October 5th
The Long Walk Home
1:00 - 1:30 PM
Opening: The Long Walk Home
Opening Ceremonies
Erika Pardy + Indigenous Representative TBD
1:30 - 2:00 PM
Erika Pardy
2:00 - 2:45 PM
Panel: Trails - Building Strong Communities
Erika Pardy + panelists TBD
2:45 - 3:00 PM
Panel: More Than a Path: The People and Skills Behind Great Trails
Networking Break
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Magi Scallion, Ryan Lindh, Paul Wylezol, Rob Hingston
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Opening Reception and Cocktail Hour
Day 2: Tuesday, October 6th
The Long Walk Home
Morning
Keynote: Why Trails Matter: Lessons in Opportunity, Belonging, and Resilience from Long-Distance Trails
9:00 - 9:15 AM
Welcoming Ceremonies
Erika Pardy, Mildred Lavers
9:15 - 10:00 AM
Jennifer Pharr Davis
10:00 - 10:45 AM
Workshop: Creating a World-Class Trail: Best Practices in Building, Protecting, and Promoting Long-Distance Trails
Jennifer Pharr Davis
10:45 - 11:00 AM
Networking Break
The Creation of the Wales Coast Path: From Vision to Reality
11:00 - 11:45 AM
11:45 - 12:15 PM
Nigel Nicholas
Five Things Every Trail Organization Can Do Today
Angela Morin & Ryan Thom
Day 2: Tuesday, October 6th
The Long Walk Home
Keeping Value Local: How Communities Can Build Strong Rural Economies
Panel: Circular Economies - Building Financial Resilience
Afternoon & Evening
1:00 - 1:45 PM
Dónal Traynor
1:45 - 2:30 PM
Dónal Traynor, Kristen Murray, Dave Saunders, Moa Björnson
2:30 - 2:45 PM
Networking Break
Closing Keynote: Building from Within — What Remote Places Can Teach Us About Development: Reflections from Arctic Norway
2:45 - 3:30 PM
Moa Björnson
3:30 - 4:00 PM
Closing and Workshop Overview for Wednesday
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Dinner/Networking
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Kitchen Party
Day 3: Wednesday, October 7th
