Mission
To preserve, protect, and support hiking and walking in Ontario’s natural and urban landscapes.
Vision
A fulsome network of sustainable hiking organizations across Ontario that provides users with the best and safest natural experience possible.
Guiding Principle
To ensure safe and appropriate hiking with a purpose to protect nature, educate users, promote healthy living, engage youth and respect all individuals.
Values
| Integrity | We conduct ourselves in accordance with the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour and ethics. |
| Respect | We show respect for all individuals and groups with whom we interact, recognize our special relationship with hiking organizations and acknowledge the traditional homeland of the Indigenous peoples of Ontario. |
| Collaboration | We work cooperatively with all hiking organizations, funders and other partners, share knowledge and best practices, and recognize our volunteers. |
| Commitment | We are committed to supporting all hiking organizations, members, volunteers, donors, and users to achieve our mission and vision. |
| Education | We embrace our role in responsible use of hiking trails by providing courses, training and certification to individuals who will be leading hikes and other outdoor activities. We will ensure there is a focus on youth, nature and for the benefit of all including future generations. |
| Safety | We ensure safe and best risk management practices in everything we do. We offer and manage group insurance to member groups to reduce their risk of liability and ensure continued operation. |
Organizational Summary
Hike Ontario acts as the voice for over 9 million hikers and walkers in Ontario.
While Hike Ontario recognizes the diversity of trails and trail uses, our focus is on the representation and promotion of pedestrian based trails and their benefits, focusing specifically on:
- Connectivity
- Economics
- Education
- Environmental
- Health
- Heritage
- Recreation
- Transportation
Hike Ontario is the umbrella organization that provides these province-wide associations with resources and services to build on these long-established local and regional initiatives in a way in which complements and enhances them.
Governance Structure
Hike Ontario is governed by a board of directors that meets four times per year at various locations across Ontario. Our board consists of 23 people. Eight Directors at Large and Fifteen Trail Club Representatives.
The executive committee of the board meets once a month. The executive consists of President, Vice President, Past President, Treasurer and Secretary and the Chairs of each standing committee.
Objectives
- Encourage walking for recreation, transportation and health
- Provide courses in introductory safe hiking and hike leadership in both wilderness and non-wilderness settings to people of all ages
- Support and facilitate trail development for walking and hiking throughout Ontario
- Enable good trail maintenance and hiking practices and the enhancement and quality of the walking experience
- Encourage and facilitate the development of trail building hiking clubs in Ontario
- Advocate for a club or clubs when requested or when an initiative is deemed necessary
- Promote education and research into the health benefits and other aspects of recreational walking
- Encourage conservation and appreciation of the natural environment
- Maintain and disseminate information on hiking and hiking trails