December 2025
Introducing The Coastal Current!
Your inside look at the Great Northern Peninsula’s trails, stories, and community spirit.
We are launching The Coastal Current, a brand new monthly GCTA community newsletter that shares updates, milestones, and the incredible stories that make the Great Northern Peninsula what it is: resilient, connected, and full of heart.
Get behind-the-scenes insights into trail development, hear about upcoming community consultations, and explore the topics shaping our coastline’s future.
But most importantly, we want to hear from you.
We’re collecting community stories, especially those that tell how your town, cove, or harbour got its name. These stories are the lifeblood of the trail, the living history woven into every kilometre.
A Holiday Message from the Executive Director
As we come to the close of this year on the Great Northern Peninsula, I want to offer a heartfelt message of gratitude and reflection on behalf of the Great Coastal Trail Authority.
This year has been one of movement, some visible, some behind the scenes, and all directed toward the long-term vision of creating a connected coastal trail system that belongs to every community along this rugged and beautiful peninsula. Much of our work has been spent in conversation: listening to mayors and councillors, meeting with community groups, walking your shorelines, and learning the deep stories that make each place unique. Every dialogue and every step has mattered.
Christmas arrives at the darkest time of year, yet it brings with it a sense of light, possibility, and togetherness. In many ways, that mirrors what we are building here. The Great Coastal Trail is not only about trail construction, mapping, or infrastructure, It is about connection. It is about revitalizing communities on the edge, strengthening local economies, and creating opportunities that keep people rooted in the places they love. It is about honoring history while building a future that our children and grandchildren can thrive within.
This project is as much about people as it is about place.
To every municipality that welcomed us this year, thank you. Your openness, your questions, your hopes for your communities, and your willingness to think boldly about the future are the reasons this project is not only possible but promising.
To our partners, advisors, and allies across the region and province... Thank you for walking beside us. Your expertise, enthusiasm, and support continue to propel the work forward in meaningful ways.
To the volunteers, businesses, future trail users, and residents who stopped to chat, offered ideas, raised concerns, or simply expressed excitement, your voices are shaping the Great Coastal Trail as surely as any map or plan ever could.
As we look ahead to the coming year, the work will deepen: more consultations, more detailed planning, more opportunities for collaboration with municipalities, and the beginning stages of trail design and development. There is much to do, but there is also much energy around what this trail can bring, socially, culturally, economically, and emotionally, to the Great Northern Peninsula.
My hope for all of you this Christmas and Holiday season is simple: that you find rest, connection, and moments of peace. That you gather with loved ones, walk the coastlines that hold your stories, and feel pride in where you come from.
From all of us at the Great Coastal Trail Authority, thank you for being part of this journey. We are honoured to walk it with you.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and warm wishes for the year ahead.
Erika Pardy
Executive Director, Great Coastal Trail Authority
Key Initiatives
Access Improvement
Our focus this month centers on enhancing access to the trail, implementing sustainable practices, and fostering partnerships that enrich our community’s engagement with the beautiful coastal environment.
Sustainability
The construction of sustainable trails is a priority for the Great Coastal Trail Authority. We are continuing to research how we can ensure environmental, social, and community sustainability is at the forefront of our work.
Partner Collaboration
Our collaborations with local businesses and organizations enhance our community engagement, creating a stronger network that supports the trail’s maintenance and promotional efforts.
A partnership with ESRI Canada as a non-profit organization allows our team to have access to industry standard GIS mapping software at a low cost. This will shape planning and visualizing the 850 km GCT route and facilitate community consultations.
Partnership conversations are continuously ongoing with the Trailhead Development Corporation, Main Brook Research and Development, Great Northern Trail Association, Go Western NL, Trans Canada Trails, and NewfoundSand to shape the foundation of this project that is rooted in collaboration and community.
A Great Coastal Heritage Collection Project Announcement
Community Voices
This segment will be used to share stories and history provided to the GCTA by community members. We encourage readers to share their own stories to be featured.
Granite cod fish sculpture in Port Aux Choix, NL
The Sacred Cod
By Kim Ploughman
In Gargamelle Cove, Port au Choix, stands a special monument to an extraordinary facet our of culture- the legendary Cod fish.
At eight feet long, carved from granite, the Cod is more than a piece of stone. It is a tribute to the quintessential fish that lured travellers to our shores for centuries; and a memorial to the ancestors who settled our communities, endured hardships and harvested this iconic catch that fed the world and tied Port au Choix to global history.
Unveilled in July 2024, the majestic stone fish quickly became a magnet for residents, tourists and all who cherish our fish-proud culture.
At its launch, the town also kickstarted the First Annual Cod Festival to fully celebrate the legacy and the enduring gift of what many affectionately call “The Cod God.” The response to both the monument and the festival were overwhelmingly positive.
The following year, residents were invited to suggest a name for this attraction. The chosen title, Sacred Cod, reflects the reverence with which generations of outport families regarded this catch. For centuries, Cod was not simply food, it was divine in its importance, shaping our outports, culture, economy, and our very survival.
Today, though Cod stocks are historically lower, we value this fish more than ever. The Sacred Cod reflects how we view Cod as a proud symbol of our ancestors, our communities, our culture and our stories. It is truly woven into our provincial soul and psyche.
To our forebears, Cod was sacred as a lifeline and a food source; to us, it is sacred as a cultural touchstone, a tribute to those came before us, those whose lives were shaped by the sea and this spirit fish.
Indeed, the monument could have easily been called Spirit Fish, for no other creature compares to the Cod as a symbolism of Newfoundland and Labrador. This name is deeply symbolic and culturally rooted. For centuries, Cod, was more than an industry, feeding families, building communities, connecting generations and drawing settlers to our shores.
Cod also influenced our food, our language, our music, and our sense of place, especially in Port au Choix. From the time the Basques arrived in this special outport, to harvest and salt fish on our shores, to the families, including the English and French, who were the early settlers, Cod was the engine, the heartbeat of our settlement from the 1600s to modern day.
The name Spirit Fish invites emotion, remembrance and reverence. It asks us not just to remember, but to honour. It opens the door to sharing with visitors the greatest story in our culture - the fish-proud story of resilience along a rugged, but a great coast.
Like the Great Coastal Trail Project, it took vision, patience, time hard work and to bring this monument from concept to reality. It involved a team of dedicated volunteers, who kept the momentum alive even when obstacles and setbacks arose. Their work reflects the same resilience that has defined our communities for centuries.
We like to think this special Cod belongs to Port au Choix alone, but in truth, Cod is the heart and soul of all of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is our collective heritage, our spirit fish, and our sacred story. There is no dispute that Cod has been the sea’s greatest gift to Newfoundland and Labrador and its people. It represents spirit, sacrifice, pride and sustenance. Indeed, it is a cultural ancestor and ambassador
So, the Cod monument is Port au Choix’s gift to Newfoundland and Labrador; and just as importantly, to its future generations.
We are confident that the Sacred Cod will inspire sustainability of the Cod and other fish stocks; as well as pride for generations to come, in our fish heritage and the many gems it spawned and inspired.
May the Great Coastal Trail, in time, flow through our community so it will allow travellers to walk in the footsteps of our ancestors, to pause at the Sacred Cod, and to feel the spirit of the sea that has sustained us for centuries.
In doing so, they will carry away not just memories of a monument, but a deeper understanding of the resilience, pride and heritage that define Port au Choix, but all of our great province.
Community Consultations
The Great Coastal Trail Authority (GCTA) is now scheduling council and community consultations across the Great Northern Peninsula to gather local input, ideas, and stories that will help shape the design, development, and long-term vision of the Great Coastal Trail — an 850 km corridor connecting people, culture, and coastline. Please get in contact with us if you would like to schedule a meeting.
-
To introduce residents, councils, and local organizations to the GCTA project
To explain how the trail will bring economic, cultural, and health benefits to the region
To gather ideas, stories, and priorities directly from community members
To identify local assets, opportunities, and potential challenges
To begin building local stewardship and partnerships for future development
These sessions are about listening first. Each community holds its own identity, heritage, and strengths, and we want to ensure that every voice contributes to how the trail evolves.
-
Project Overview Presentation
A short, engaging introduction to the Great Coastal Trail — its vision, regional importance, and the progress to date.
Community Mapping Exercise
Participants will help identify key areas of interest — heritage sites, natural attractions, local businesses, and possible trail routes.
Interactive Discussion
Small-group conversations around topics like tourism potential, environmental protection, youth engagement, and local enterprise opportunities.
Storytelling & Heritage Collection
Residents will be invited to share personal stories, photos, or cultural knowledge that could help shape the trail’s interpretation and identity.
Next Steps & Local Roles
Discussion of how the municipality and residents can stay involved — from stewardship and micro-enterprise to volunteer opportunities.
-
The GCTA is committed to community-led development — meaning the trail will not be designed for communities, but with them.
Your insights will directly influence:
Trail routes and access points
Interpretive themes and signage
Tourism and business opportunities
Environmental priorities
Long-term sustainability and ownership
What to Bring
Your ideas and vision for how the trail could benefit your town
Local knowledge — maps, photos, stories, or landmarks worth sharing
An open mind and collaborative spirit
-
Each consultation will result in a short Community Summary Report capturing local priorities, feedback, and next steps. These reports will help guide design, funding, and partnerships as we move toward building the Great Coastal Trail, together.
2025 Atlantic Canada Trails Conference – Event Summary
October 20–22, 2025 - Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador
The Great Coastal Trail Authority proudly hosted the inaugural Atlantic Canada Trails Conference in Rocky Harbour, bringing together communities, government partners, Indigenous leaders, trail builders, entrepreneurs, and environmental organizations to explore the future of trails, trail tourism, and economic development across the province.
As the first conference organized by the GCTA, we were thrilled by the turnout—more than 70 participants from across Atlantic Canada. We sincerely appreciate everyone who took the time to join the conversations surrounding tourism, trails, community growth, and reconciliation.
Day 1: The Power of Trails to Revitalize Communities
Honourable Gerry Byrne set the tone by highlighting the essential role trails and recreation play in the health and well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. He reminded us that “while the rest of the world is speeding up, we need to slow down.”
Chris Hardwick, Adventurepreneur
Chris delivered an inspiring keynote on opportunity, adventure, and exploration. He shared stories from his lifelong travels and illustrated how tourism and outdoor adventure can spark meaningful connections and unforgettable experiences. He also showcased small businesses operating along the West Coast Trail and North Coast Trail—such as water taxis, remote restaurants, and shuttle services—that thrive by supporting hikers.
Rob Nolan, CEO, Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador
Rob addressed the challenges municipalities face as tourism grows across the province and highlighted how communities are collaborating to plan, innovate, and adapt together.
Keith Henry, President and CEO, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Keith shared personal reflections as a Métis man from Saskatchewan and emphasized the importance of truth in storytelling as a foundation for authentic Indigenous tourism experiences.
Day 2: Technical Trail Design & Sustainable Development
Day 2 was led by the West Coast Cycling Association (WCCA), continuing a partnership we are excited to grow in future years.
A technical panel explored the opportunities and challenges of sustainable trail development, using examples such as the Ridgeline Trail in Rocky Harbour, the Starlite Trail in the Codroy Valley, and the Rockcut Trails in Twillingate.
Magi Scallion, McElhanney
In her session Designs, Not Signs, Magi explained how trail design must be informed by intended users. She shared best practices from across Canada, emphasizing intentional design, accessibility, and clear, effective signage.
Field Learning – Ridgeline Trail
The WCCA team led participants on a hands-on session at the newly constructed Ridgeline Trail—built to sustainable standards following IMBA guidelines. Attendees learned directly from the builders and saw firsthand how technical features are implemented in the landscape.
Workshop – Chris Hardwick, Adventurepreneur
Other participants joined Chris for an interactive workshop at the conference centre, exploring how to bring a “culture of adventure” into their personal and professional lives through seven guiding principles.
Bike Ride and Trails Trivia Night
The day wrapped up with a mountain biking ride on the Ridgeline Trail followed by lively round of Trails Trivia, where five competitive teams battled to prove their trail knowledge—from local routes to global landmarks and pop-culture references.
Day 3: Global Perspectives & Future Opportunities
Our final day brought an international voice to the conversation with Moa Björnson, CEO of Træna 365 (Norway). Her insights on tourism growth, community resilience, and sustainable development on the island of Træna were a highlight for many attendees.
We concluded with a panel discussion exploring community futures, emerging opportunities, challenges, and the evolving landscape of tourism in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thank You
We extend a heartfelt thank-you to all attendees who supported the first Atlantic Canada Trails Conference. Your feedback has been invaluable, and we are already using it to shape and improve future events. We look forward to welcoming you back next year!
GCTA Staff and Contact Information:
Erika Pardy - Executive Director
Melissa Mills - Trail Design and Development
Hailee Mills - Office Admin and Partner Relations
Send questions, comments, suggestions to Info@greatcoastaltrail.com
Send submissions, stories, photos, recipes to Heritage@greatcoastaltrail.com
