by PAUL RAYNER

Changes to the Boissevain Walking Trail are not extensive, but they and the route itself will be better highlighted for those using the scenic path.

A few adjustments have been recently made to the path added to the community in 1997. According to Recreation Director Brent Littlejohn, they are not extensive, but do have a purpose.

“The trail is pretty much the same as it has been the last ten years,” Littlejohn explained. “There are no additions, no new legs, it is still the trail that circles the town. Certain parts have been re-routed specifically to move the trail off private property, as much as we could to avoid potential problems. The effects are small.”

Changes occur in the southwest corner of the route. At the Boissevain Health Centre area, the trail comes out on the west side access road and moves north on McKay Street. When it hits Aberdeen Street, it turns west, continuing down Aberdeen to the west end, before moving north by a storage shed and connecting to the foot bridge by the CPR tracks. Previously it went all the way down McKay, crossing over by the house previously occupied by the Drs. Burnett.

In the same area, the new route also eliminates a jog between the McKay street residence and the Health Centre.

“There is still some but very few parts of the trail still on private property. It is better for maintenance issues and for its usage. The more you can keep it off private property, the better.”

If not a lot of changes, the trail will be better identified. One way that is done is through new proper maps. Created by The Boissevain Recorder, they show the Walking Trail in its entirety. It also breaks it up into four legs – three of a mile and one of .8 miles.

“The re-routing is minor, but along with it we wanted to create a proper map of the trail,” Littlejohn stated. “Previous maps could be difficult to follow, they were just hand drawn on Town maps. This one has an accurate measurement of its length, just under four miles. The idea was to get sufficient detail and make the trail easier to use.”

The maps will eventually be available at the Rec Office and in time at other spots in town.

As well, they have added a number of new signs along the route over the past six weeks. Littlejohn said they too were to help the walker use the trail.

“They’re pretty much everywhere. We’re making the signs more visible, so they are seen from more of a distance. If you had a map in hand you would not need them, but we need the signs for those who don’t have a map.”

As stated, the Walking Trial circles Boissevain. Using the new map as a reference point, leg A moves from the CPR tracks north along Schaffner Drive in the new development, out behind the Town of Boissevain Arboretum, before moving east past the Lions ball diamonds, the campground and Boissevain Collegiate and the cemetery. Leg B continues down the cemetery road before turning south, eventually moving behind the Mennonite Brethren Church. It connects with Aikman, moving south past Glover Equine. Leg C continues south by the pasture, before moving west behind the MTS and Hydro offices, popping briefly on Mountain, cutting past the Tourist Centre and moving past the south side of the Health Centre. Leg D includes the area of changes before moving to connect with A.

Littlejohn said the trail has had plenty of use over its existence, and they like to encourage even more. It is very seasonal, not being accessible in many spots in the winter. Some parts of the trail are used more than others, but that is not a problem.

“That is the beauty of the map,” he stated. “You can skip portions of the trail and hook up with it later. You don’t have to use the entire trail. The recent project is about encouraging more use, to promote the trail more, to make it more visible and more enjoyable to use.”