SACKVILLE, NB - October 26, 2015 /CNW/ - The Trans Canada Trail (TCT) was thrilled to announce a $500,000 gift from Scotiabank today -- funds that will be matched at 50% by the Government of Canada for a total of $750,000 in Trail-development funding for New Brunswick.

These funds will help the TCT complete a large section of trail, stretching from the City of Dieppe to the Confederation Bridge.

"We are grateful for this generous $500,000 donation from Scotiabank and for the corresponding matching funds from the Government of Canada," said Valerie Pringle, Co-Chair of the Trans Canada Trail Foundation, who emceed the Sackville event.

"Completing this section of the Trail in New Brunswick is an important step in helping the TCT reach our bold goal of a fully connected Trail, from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic coasts, by Canada's 150^th birthday in 2017."

Scotiabank's generous gift to the TCT Chapter 150 philanthropic Campaign will help connect three major Trail gaps, including le Sentier de l'Étoile, where the TCT runs along the historic dike lands adjacent to the tidal Petitcodiac River.

This new funding will also help develop an important section of Trail linking Saint-Joseph and Dorchester, and a number of gaps in The Marshes, a well-known Trail section linking Sackville to both Cape Jourimain and Cape Tormentine.

"We are proud to support the Trans Canada Trail because at Scotiabank we believe in helping build healthy, vibrant communities," said Craig Thompson, Senior Vice President, Atlantic Region at Scotiabank. "The Trail, which will connect our country, will give Canadians great spaces to be active while exploring our diverse landscapes and appreciating our rich history."

The TCT is also currently working with the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI), to identify road cycling routes that will promote active living and transportation, and drive tourism and local economic development. With the support of the DTI, the TCT will connect over 330 km of the province's Trail section via road cycling routes, ensuring the 100% connection of the TCT in New Brunswick by 2017.

The TCT in New Brunswick

New Brunswick's portion of the TCT will be 913 km long when fully connected in 2017. Of this total, 559 km have already been connected in New Brunswick, with 354 km currently under development. The province is currently 61% connected.

Trail Gems in New Brunswick include:

• The Lower River Passage, the province's only TCT paddling route, stretching from Oromocto to Grand Bay-Westfield;
• The Fundy Footpath, 43 km of coastal hiking along the world-renowned Bay of Fundy;
• A 37-km wilderness hiking route through Fundy National Park;
• The Dobson Trail, a 58-km footpath stretching from the northern edge of Fundy National Park to Riverview, near Moncton.

About the Trans Canada Trail

The TCT is on a bold mission to fully connect Canada's national Trail by the nation's 150th birthday, and to becoming the natural stage for 2017 celebrations. The Trans Canada Trail is a nation-building project being realized by Trail groups and partners in all 13 provinces and territories. Trail development is in progress across the country. The TCT is currently 80 percent connected and nearly 19,000 kilometres long from coast to coast to coast.

Once complete, the Trail will stretch almost 24,000 kilometres and will include urban, rural and wilderness trails in every province and territory. It will connect just over 15,000 communities in nearly 1,000 municipalities. The TCT will be the longest and grandest recreational trail in the world, promoting six preferred activities: walking/hiking, paddling, cycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

For more information on the TCT, please visit www.tctrail.ca / www.sentier.ca and follow us on Twitter @TCTrail & @sentierTC

About Scotiabank

Through our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has contributed on average $55 million annually over the last five years to community causes around the world.

Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and parts of Asia. We are dedicated to helping our 21 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 87,000 employees and assets of $863 billion (as at July 31, 2015), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). Scotiabank distributes the Bank's media releases using CNW. For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankNews.