Ontario Investing $1 Million to Expand the Bruce Trail

The following news release was issued by the Government of Ontario (Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks).

Former ski resort will be transformed into a new nature reserve, increasing access to outdoor recreation trails while protecting habitat for species at risk

October 30, 2026

KIMBERLEY — Ontario is investing $1 million through the Species Conservation Program to help transform the former Talisman Mountain Resort into the Talisman Forest Nature Reserve, permanently adding a new 1-kilometre section to the iconic Bruce Trail. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, the project will increase free public access to Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath for residents and visitors to enjoy, while strengthening the conservation of forest and meadow habitat for species at risk.

Led by the Bruce Trail Conservancy, this once-in-a-generation land securement and restoration project will protect 123 acres (50 hectares) of ecologically significant land along the Niagara Escarpment. As part of this work, the Bruce Trail Conservancy will be removing former ski lift and resort infrastructure and reforesting its ski slope, closing a significant gap in forest cover along the Beaver Valley. This work will also include invasive species removal, habitat restoration and long-term stewardship of the property.

“The Bruce Trail is one of Ontario’s greatest natural treasures, and adding a new, permanently protected nature reserve along its route is a generational opportunity to expand on our natural heritage while breathing new life into local tourism economies,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “Through the Species Conservation Program, our government is proud to support the Bruce Trail Conservancy as it restores crucial habitat for species at risk and expands public access to nature, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.”

The Talisman Mountain Resort welcomed skiers, snowboarders and visitors from across the province until it closed in 2011. After the property sat empty for more than a decade, the Bruce Trail Conservancy acquired it in 2025, permanently securing an expansion of nearly 1-kilometre for the Bruce Trail and ensuring the area’s natural landscape will remain protected in perpetuity. The Ontario government is joining private donors in supporting the project, with its $1 million investment delivered to the Conservancy through the Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA).

Through the Species Conservation Program, Ontario has provided OLTA with more than $12.5 million over five years to support land securement and conservation actions that benefit species at risk. Since 2025, these projects have empowered local organizations to spearhead meaningful and lasting conservation projects in communities throughout Ontario.

Ontario’s protected lands deliver more than a billion dollars every year in ecosystem services, helping to safeguard drinking water, support biodiversity and sustain regional tourism and recreation economies. This investment supports the government’s plan to protect Ontario by safeguarding the province’s natural heritage and enhancing public access to nature, while strengthening local economies through homegrown tourism.

Quick Facts

Through the Species Conservation Program, Ontario has more than quadrupled its annual funding for species at risk, from $4.5 million to $20 million, to support on-the-ground projects across the province.

In 2025–26, Ontario funded 46 conservation projects, including 15 new projects and 31 ongoing multi-year initiatives.

The Bruce Trail Conservancy is one of Ontario’s largest land trusts, protecting and restoring habitat along the Niagara Escarpment to conserve biodiversity and support species at risk.

The Bruce Trail runs nearly 900 kilometres along the Niagara Escarpment, from Niagara to Tobermory, and more than 70 per cent of the trail is on permanently protected land.

The Niagara Escarpment is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

Quotes

“Protecting the Talisman property ensures that an important part of the Beaver Valley’s natural heritage will be preserved for generations to come. This investment supports species at risk, strengthens local conservation efforts and ensures residents and visitors can continue to enjoy the Bruce Trail and the natural beauty that makes this region so special.”
– Paul Vickers, MPP, Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound

“The Bruce Trail is one of our region’s most valued natural assets, providing residents and visitors with opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. Protecting these spaces is important to supporting healthy, active communities and ensuring they can be enjoyed for generations to come. Congratulations to the Bruce Trail Conservancy and its partners for their leadership and commitment to preserving this important part of the Beaver Valley.”
– Brian Saunderson, MPP, Simcoe–Grey

“The permanent protection and ecological restoration of the former Talisman lands mark a monumental milestone for the Beaver Valley and the entire Niagara Escarpment corridor. This vital investment from the provincial government is a powerful testament to what can be achieved when vision aligns with conservation action. We celebrate this investment in our work and this great outcome for nature.”
– Michael McDonald, Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Trail Conservancy

“The Ontario Land Trust Alliance is delighted to support the Bruce Trail Conservancy in protecting and restoring the Talisman Forest through Strengthening Species Conservation in Ontario (SSCO). We know that conserving habitat is key to protecting species at risk, and the Talisman Forest Nature Reserve does that and goes further by restoring this precious natural space on the Niagara Escarpment. This project underlines the power of community–government partnerships in protecting the lands we love and the species that depend on them.”
– Marketa Evans, Interim Executive Director, Ontario Land Trust Alliance