Securing the trail: Tomifobia’s next chapter

One of the Eastern Townships’ most beloved outdoor corridors is entering a new era. In this episode of The Pulse of the Eastern Townships on CJMQ 88.9 FM, host William Crooks speaks with Hélène Hamel, executive director of the Massawippi Conservation Trust, about the recent transfer of the Tomifobia Nature Trail and what it means for the public.

Stretching 19 kilometres from Ayer’s Cliff to Stanstead, the Tomifobia Nature Trail has been a free, year-round multi-use route for more than three decades. Its transfer to the Massawippi Conservation Trust ensures the land will be protected in perpetuity, backed by a dedicated endowment fund designed to support long-term maintenance and repairs. As Hamel explains, the change is less about altering how people use the trail and more about guaranteeing its future as a protected public corridor.

The conversation goes beyond Tomifobia. Hamel also outlines two additional land protection agreements finalized in the same week: a conservation servitude safeguarding more than 200 acres in the Coaticook area, and a land donation from the Village of North Hatley that will allow for a safer walking route to Scowen Park, particularly for children attending a daycare near Town Hall.

Along the way, listeners get a clear, practical explanation of how conservation servitudes work, why these agreements often take years to complete, and how regional conservation groups collaborate across municipal boundaries.