ORTA members and hike leaders Tessa Shelvey and John McCuaig—both active volunteers with Scouts Canada and editors/columnists for the Scouts Canada Rover Magazine—have generously shared a wonderful article highlighting the newly dedicated Path to Reconciliation at Seneca Polytechnic’s King Campus. As many of you know, the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail passes directly through this beautiful area. We are pleased to feature their piece and invite you to take time in the coming months to walk, reflect, and experience this meaningful trail initiative firsthand.
By: Tessa Shelvey 6th Willowdale Rovers
Kirby (John McCuaig) and I were out for a hike in the fall (2025) on the newly reopened trails at Seneca College in King City. The trails had been closed for a couple of years to build new bridges over areas that had become very wet and in poor condition. As we walked along the trail we started to see some orange markers shaped like a small t-shirt every 100metres or so. We wondered what they were. It wasn’t until the end of our walk that we saw a sign explaining what the little shirts meant. They were part of a newly named trail called the “Path to reconciliation”. The trail is 3.7 km’s and goes around Seneca Lake. It’s a fairly easy trail with three lookouts of Seneca Lake and 3 boardwalks. The trail was made in honour of the Anishinaabe-kwe. The Anishinaabe-kwe were a group of Indigenous people in the Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States. This short interactive walk would be a great place for Rovers and Venturers to lead a walk for cubs and scouts to learn about indigenous culture and what orange shirt day is all about. Scouts and cubs can earn their outdoor activity skills badge. A portion of the trail is wheelchair accessible.
Trail markers are placed along the Path to Reconciliation to help guide your journey. Follow the orange T-shirt markers to stay on the designated trail and move in the right direction. There are 139 markers in total, each representing one of the 139 residential schools that once operated across Canada. The orange T-shirt is a symbol of remembrance, honouring the children who were taken and the survivors who continue to share their truths.
There are a number of side trails nearby which can be used towards earning your Oak Ridges trail side trail badge. To earn this pretty crest you need to hike 15 Oak Ridges Trail side trails within a 12 month period, keep a log of what side trails you’ve completed and send it in with $5 to pay for the badge to publicity@oakridgestrail.org and e-transfer to payment@oakridgestrail.org
Plan your visit to Seneca College:
Address: 13990 Dufferin St., King City, ON L7B 1B3
By Car: The Path entrance is located within the Seneca Polytechnic King Campus, just off Dufferin Street and Seneca Court. It is west of Parking Lot A.
Parking: Parking Lot A is most suitable for Path access. Permits for daily, evening and weekend parking can be purchased through the Honk mobile payment system.
By Transit: The Path to Reconciliation is a 10-minute walk from the Seneca College Stop #1706, serviced by the Route 088 Bathurst Northbound bus. Route 088 runs between the Finch GO Bus Terminal and Seneca Polytechnic King Campus.
For more information go to:
www.senecapolytechnic.ca/student-services-and-support/first-peoples/path-to-reconciliation.html
Happy trails!!!
