Employees from Dufferin Construction Company (DCC), a division of Holcim (Canada) Inc., began work yesterday on renovations to the Peter Street Trail in the Felker's Falls Conservation Area in Upper Stoney Creek. Dufferin Construction is donating labour and materials to assist the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) with the renovation of this wheelchair accessible trail, which is also a part of the East Mountain Trail Loop. Employees of the company are volunteering their time as part of the Together for Communities (TFC) employee volunteer initiative, sponsored by Dufferin Construction, Holcim Canada, and parent company, Swiss-based multi-national Holcim Ltd. The TFC initiative is in honour of Holcim Ltd.'s centennial, and encourages all Holcim employees around the world to dedicate one day of volunteering to the communities where it operates. Dufferin Construction is also celebrating its centennial this year, and through their work on projects like the renovation of Peter Street Trail, Dufferin Construction and Holcim Canada continue to demonstrate their commitment to neighbours and to contributing to making their communities more vibrant, accessible and livable.
Preliminary work on the trail began on Thursday, including the removal of stumps from the trail area. The balance of the work will be completed today, Friday October 19. Finishing touches and a re-opening of the trail will follow in a few weeks.
The renovation of the trail will include increasing accessibility to the existing 700 metre trail, using high and low tech solutions to ensure that all trail users enjoy the community's natural areas regardless of their physical or mobility challenges. The trail will be re-graded with stone dust and seven existing interpretative stations at regular intervals along the trail will feature new signage with large-print text, Braille and QR codes so that smart-phone users can access mp3 audio files telling them about the wildlife, geological formations and other natural features found at each station. Each station will feature paving stones so that visually impaired users will be alerted at each station to the change in surface. Benches will also be installed at each interpretative station so that seniors and others who require regular rest stops can enjoy the scenic beauty of the trail at their own pace and leisure.
Background:
In 1984, a trail was constructed in partnership with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in the Felker's Falls Conservation Area in honour of Peter Street, a buoyant local resident of Upper Stoney Creek who overcame his physical challenges with zeal. The trail was wheelchair accessible and featured interpretive nodes indicated by changes to the trail surface where users could play tracks from a cassette. As the trail has aged and technology advanced, the accessible trail required renovation and investment to meet accessibility requirements and take advantage of modern technology as well as the trail's connectivity with the new East Mountain Trail Loop.
By linking to the East Mountain Trail Loop, the Peter Street Trail will connect with nearby parkland and regional trails such as the Chippawa Trail, which is a part of the TransCanada Trail, and the Red Hill Valley Trail, which links with the Lake Ontario waterfront. This will allow trail users from across the region to connect with the Peter Street Trail.
About Dufferin Construction
Founded in 1912, Dufferin Construction Company (DCC) has built a solid reputation for market excellence, drawing on a rich history and a strong heritage of quality, stability and innovative leadership in the marketplace. Today, DCC is one of the largest heavy civil engineering contractors in the industry. Dufferin Construction is a division of Holcim (Canada) Inc., a leading producer and supplier of products and services for the construction industry, serving customers across Canada.
Holcim Canada is a member of Holcim Group, a Swiss-based multinational with operations in more than 70 countries worldwide. A leading global brand, Holcim is recognized for its long-term financial performance, its environmental leadership, corporate social responsibility and sustainable construction.