Caledon man recognized for dedication to Humber Valley Heritage Trail

Dan O'Reilly has been involved with the trail since its inception

By Zachary Roman

The founder of the Humber Valley Heritage Trail Association has been granted an honorary life membership to it.

While Dan O'Reilly is thankful for the honour, he wanted to use the opportunity to promote the trail and association itself. 

“It's kind of nice to be recognized because I did a lot of work… but other people have too,” said O'Reilly in an interview at the Humber Valley Heritage Trailhead. 

“This is built by volunteers,” he said, looking at the trail. “This is not a Town asset… a lot of people using the trail don't realize that.”

Jerry Gorman, current president of the Humber Valley Heritage Trail Association (HVHTA), said he was pleased to be giving O'Reilly his honorary life membership.

“Dan was responsible for establishing the Association and 25 kilometre trail in 1995,

in collaboration with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority on whose lands the trail was

developed,” wrote Gorman.

He explained the HVHTA is an organization of community volunteers dedicated to creating and maintaining a public pedestrian trail in the Humber River Valley.

Membership to the HVHTA is $23 and gives a person access to a semi-annual newsletter, and admission to the HVHTA's annual general meeting and vote.

“The most essential benefit to becoming an HVHTA member is the knowledge that you have become part of a network of people, from Bolton and beyond, who are committed to protecting, restoring, enjoying and sharing the joys and beauty of hiking and walking in the natural beauty of Caledon,” reads the HVHTA's website.

O'Reilly said he became aware of the vision of a Humber Trail extending from Bolton to Toronto after seeing a Toronto Region Conservation Authority concept plan in 1994. 

“For some impulsive reason, I phoned the authority's trail development person, Ian

Deslauriers (who I think is still active in the trail movement) and offered to promote this

project,” wrote O'Reilly in his account of the trail's history.

From that point forward, the trail was a success because of community support, said O'Reilly. Over the years, some examples of organizations and people that supported the HVHTA include: Toronto Bruce Trail Club, Hike Ontario, Palgrave Rotary, Bolton Kinsmen, Bolton Lions, Friends of the Environment, Bolton Sea Cadets, Bolton Scouts, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, HVHTA members and more.

According to the HVHTA's website, today the trail traverses Albion Hills Conservation Area and Duffy's Lane through old fields, meadows, lowland cedar groves and upland maple forests. It continues south through hemlock groves and crosses the Humber River in the Glasgow Road area. It winds along the river through downtown Bolton to Caledon-King Townline Road, and planning of the trail in King Township and Vaughan is proceeding.

HVHTA is always looking for volunteers to maintain the trail and occasionally fundraise. Those looking to get involved can email hvtrail@gmail.com.