There are plenty of trail blazers in central Alberta who have worked tirelessly to connect our communities with trails.

They'll be recognized at a special Great Trail event in Red Deer tomorrow (August 26th), in fact there's celebrations happening in 3 central Alberta communities, as part of roughly 200 events coast to coast, celebrating the connectivity of 'The Great Trail', formerly known as the Trans Canada Trail.

According to President of the Central Alberta Regional Trails Society, Paul Pettypiece, it all started as a bold dream back in 1992, and now the trail stretches more than 22,000 kilometers across Canada.

“It’s a great accomplishment that this trail is now 100% connected and about 92% completed.  Obviously we would love to have it completed in central Alberta as soon as possible, but it will happen."

“Eventually in central Alberta, hopefully within the next 5 years, we hope to have a full off road connection between Ponoka, then through Lacombe of course, the portion between Lacombe and Blackfalds is already built, the portions of the trail have been built within the various municipalities and eventually it will head down to Olds and then east and south from there”.

Tomorrow's Red Deer event runs from 2-4 pm at Bower Ponds with live music and refreshments, it also includes a special commemoration at 2 pm with some central Alberta trail heroes recognized with awards from the Alberta TrailNet Society, and plans for a new trail pavilion will also be on display.

There is also a bbq and cake event planned in Lacombe from 11:30-1 at Elizabeth Lake and in Blackfalds as part of their Family Funfest, there's a Great Trail event running from 12:30-4:30 at the Abbey Centre.