The Atlantic Canada Trails Conference and Trade Show, hosted by the Great Coastal Trail Authority, is a gathering of trail builders, planners, community leaders, and outdoor enthusiasts dedicated to revitalizing rural communities through sustainable trail development and stewardship. Hosted at the Shallow Bay Motel & Cabins & Theatre Newfoundland Labrador in Cow Head, the 2026 edition situates trail conversations inside a professional theatre venue known for telling Newfoundland and Labrador’s stories on stage.
Centered around the 2026 theme “The Long Walk Home,” the conference and trade show will explore how trails serve as economic drivers, wellness infrastructure, cultural connectors, and anchors for rural revitalization across Atlantic Canada and beyond.
Recap from last year’s inaugural conference
In 2025, the Great Coastal Trail Authority hosted Atlantic Canada’s first-ever Trails Conference, bringing 100+ trail builders, community leaders, tourism operators, and outdoor advocates together in Rocky Harbour, NL. Over three days, full rooms and active hallway conversations showed just how ready people here are to work together around trails as shared infrastructure for economic development, health, and belonging—while building stronger connections with trail partners across Canada and around the world.
In 2026, we’re building on that momentum with more time for peer learning, field-based sessions on the Great Coastal Trail, and an even stronger mix of presenters and exhibitors.