20 on the Trestle

Trestle summer sunset

In the mid-1990s, the Town of St. Marys purchased the then-abandoned CN rail line which spans the Thames River. In 1996, a volunteer committee turned the eyesore and safety hazard into the Grand Trunk Trail, now an integral part of our trail system.

Now we celebrate this milestone and the trail's continued importance to our community!

The celebration, known as “20 on the Trestle” will begin Saturday, May 18 and conclude Saturday, Oct. 5 to coincide with the October 3, 1999 dedication of the trail. There are 20 -- and counting -- free or by-donation events happening high above St. Marys.

Want to join in the fun? Check out the schedule below. Check back often, as the list is ever-growing! Individual events will be publicized as they approach. In addition to this page, stay in the know by following @stmarysontario on Facebook, and by following @townofstmarys on Twitter. Share your pictures with the #20onthetrestle hashtag, including our Instagram account @townofstmarys!

Unless otherwise indicated, the trestle and trail will remain open during events. Please be respectful of all users.

Just as volunteers stepped forward to fundraise for and build the Grand Trunk Trail, this 20^th anniversary celebration has a strong grassroots component. 20 on the Trestle sponsors are recognized at the east end of the trestle.

Learn more by contacting Events Coordinator Andrea Macko at amacko@town.stmarys.on.ca or 519-284-2340 ext. 249.

Date	Event	Details
Saturday, May 18	Kick-off Parade and Council Meeting	Parade participants of all ages to gather at Wellington Street trail access by 10:30 a.m. to process to trestle for meeting of Town Council and FREE birthday cupcakes. Children and pets are especially invited to festively dress for the occasion!
Thursday, May 30	Sunset Yoga	Join Yoga for You's Christa Royal at 7:15 p.m. to flow in celebration with some gentle yoga, the sunset and spectacular view. Please bring a mat, water and any equipment (blanket, blocks) to make your practise safe and comfortable. Unsure if yoga is for you? Bring a chair and enjoy the sense of community and the beauty of the natural environment. Weather cancellations will be announced on social media. Thank you to the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation for sponsoring this series of one-hour classes.
Saturday, June 1	Bob's Fitness Fun Run	Join in an approximately 6km run -- with some delicious stops -- in this fundraiser for the trail! For more information, contact the studio at 519-301-0762 or admin@bobsfitnessstudio.com.
Sunday, June 2	Avon Trail "Introduction to Hiking"	Avon Trail volunteers will teach hiking etiquette, signage and other tips and tricks at this FREE family-friendly event. Meet at Junction Station at 1 p.m., hike the trail and a special route under the trestle. Please wear suitable footwear.
Thursday, June 6	St. Marys Clicks "Pics by Clicks" Show	Enjoy the favourite images of local photographers in an off-the-wall setting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Rain date is Thursday, June 12.
Thursday, June 13	Sunset Yoga	Join Yoga for You's Christa Royal at 7:15 p.m. to flow in celebration with some gentle yoga, the sunset and spectacular view. Please bring a mat, water and any equipment (blanket, blocks) to make your practise safe and comfortable. Unsure if yoga is for you? Bring a chair and enjoy the sense of community and the beauty of the natural environment. Weather cancellations will be announced on social media. Thank you to the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation for sponsoring this series of one-hour classes.
Wednesday, June 19	St. Marys Volunteer Firefighters' training exercise	There will be no better place to watch our firefighters improve their water rescue skills than from the trestle! Fire Chief Andy will narrate the exercise, which begins at 7 p.m.
Thursday, June 27	Sunset Yoga	Join Yoga for You's Christa Royal at 7:15 p.m. to flow in celebration with some gentle yoga, the sunset and spectacular view. Please bring a mat, water and any equipment (blanket, blocks) to make your practise safe and comfortable. Unsure if yoga is for you? Bring a chair and enjoy the sense of community and the beauty of the natural environment. Weather cancellations will be announced on social media. Thank you to the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation for sponsoring this series of one-hour classes.
Friday, June 28	St. Marys Poetry Circle reading	Enjoy original poetry from our local poets on the theme of "up in the air", beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the trestle.
Friday, July 5	Sunset Yoga	Join Yoga for You's Christa Royal at 7:15 p.m. to flow in celebration with some gentle yoga, the sunset and spectacular view. Please bring a mat, water and any equipment (blanket, blocks) to make your practise safe and comfortable. Unsure if yoga is for you? Bring a chair and enjoy the sense of community and the beauty of the natural environment. Weather cancellations will be announced on social media. Thank you to the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation for sponsoring this series of one-hour classes.
Wednesday, July 10	See the Moon and Stars with the Stratford Astronomy Group	Spend some time viewing the night sky from the Grand Trunk Trestle from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. With volunteers from The Stratford Astronomy Group, view through telescopes the craters of the moon. See where NASA landed the first man on the moon 50 years ago! See the summer triangle stars of Altair, Vega and Deheb. See the soft glowing band of the Milky Way. View Jupiter and its moons. View Saturn and its rings. Rain date is Thursday, July 11.
Thursday, July 11	Sunset Yoga	Join Yoga for You's Christa Royal at 7:15 p.m. to flow in celebration with some gentle yoga, the sunset and spectacular view. Please bring a mat, water and any equipment (blanket, blocks) to make your practise safe and comfortable. Unsure if yoga is for you? Bring a chair and enjoy the sense of community and the beauty of the natural environment. Weather cancellations will be announced on social media. Thank you to the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation for sponsoring this series of one-hour classes.
Friday, July 12	Friendship Centre Fitness	Meet on the trestle at 9 a.m. for a FREE fitness class! Prevent falls and stay active with our group fitness classes. Led by certified senior fitness instructors, these free classes will keep you staying well and living independently.
Saturday, July 13	Heritage Festival Walking Tour	Gain new appreciation for our railway bridge history with an informative tour courtesy of Larry Pfaff. Meet at the boat launch at 10 a.m. for a one-hour walk and discussion.
Thursday, July 18	Storytime on the Trestle	This popular St. Marys Library program for children will go to new heights of celebration! Meet at 10 a.m. on the trestle to participate.
Thursday, July 18	Sunset Yoga	Join Yoga for You's Christa Royal at 7:15 p.m. to flow in celebration with some gentle yoga, the sunset and spectacular view. Please bring a mat, water and any equipment (blanket, blocks) to make your practise safe and comfortable. Unsure if yoga is for you? Bring a chair and enjoy the sense of community and the beauty of the natural environment. Weather cancellations will be announced on social media. Thank you to the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation for sponsoring this series of one-hour classes.
Saturday, July 20	T'ai Chi demonstration	Taoist Tai Chi® practice includes the 108-move set. Working on these movements under the guidance of an accredited instructor contributes to better balance and posture, increased strength and flexibility, improved circulation, calmness and peace of mind. People from all ages, backgrounds and walks of life learn, train and practise together. They have diverse reasons and motivations for their involvement, ranging from a simple enjoyment of the practice, to an interest in the health benefits, to the rewards of participation in a friendly and supportive community, to the pursuit of a spiritual path whose roots reach back to ancient times. All are welcome and encouraged to participate as they choose. Come to the Trestle to watch and participate at 11 a.m.
Monday, July 22	Bubbleology Show	Miss T is taking her huge range of exciting bubble tools and tricks to new heights in this fascinating show at 7 p.m.! Watch from the trestle or from the river on your watercraft as bubbles big and small make their way over the edge! Thank you to the Lions Club of St. Marys for sponsoring this dreamy show.
Thursday, Aug. 1	Sunset Yoga	Join Yoga for You's Christa Royal at 7:15 p.m. to flow in celebration with some gentle yoga, the sunset and spectacular view. Please bring a mat, water and any equipment (blanket, blocks) to make your practise safe and comfortable. Unsure if yoga is for you? Bring a chair and enjoy the sense of community and the beauty of the natural environment. Weather cancellations will be announced on social media. Thank you to the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation for sponsoring this series of one-hour classes.
Monday, Aug. 5	Holiday Monday Picnic on the Trestle	Bring your own picnic basket and enjoy some lazy summer fun! More details to come. Sponsored by Kitchen Smidgen and The Flower Shop... and More.
Thursday, Aug. 8	Thorn & Roses concert	Thorn and Roses is a three-piece amalgamation of powerful vocals and intricate instrumentation. This trio features a blend of uncompromising three-part harmonies, unique arrangements of country, classic rock and pop standards. This dynamic trio features Katie Korfmann on fiddle and background vocals, Janna Leduc on guitars and lead/background vocals, and Jay Riehl on an impressive simultaneous right handed bass keyboard and drums, as well as background/lead vocals. The show begins at 6:30 p.m.; blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged! Thank you to the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans (ANAF) Br. 151 for this event.
Saturday, Aug. 10	Nuit Blanche St. Marys	The trestle and trail will be artifully illuminated from 8 to 11 p.m. Enjoy this very special experience for free thanks to the generosity of Thames Crest Farms and its builders: Bickell Built Homes, Larry Otten Contracting, Heritage Homes and Teahen Homes.
Tuesday, Aug. 13	Zumba Class	Join Instructor Tish from the St. Marys Friendship Centre will lead a Zumba class on the trestle at 7 p.m.! Zumba takes the "work" out of workout, by mixing low-intensity and high-intensity moves for an interval-style, calorie-burning dance fitness party. Zumba is total workout, combining all elements of fitness – cardio, muscle conditioning, balance and flexibility, boosted energy and a serious dose of awesome each time you leave class.
Wednesday, Aug. 14	Friendship Centre Fitness	Meet on the trestle at 9 a.m. for a FREE fitness class! Prevent falls and stay active with our group fitness classes. Led by certified senior fitness instructors, these free classes will keep you staying well and living independently.
Thursday, Aug. 15	Sunset Yoga	Join Yoga for You's Christa Royal at 7:15 p.m. to flow in celebration with some gentle yoga, the sunset and spectacular view. Please bring a mat, water and any equipment (blanket, blocks) to make your practise safe and comfortable. Unsure if yoga is for you? Bring a chair and enjoy the sense of community and the beauty of the natural environment. Weather cancellations will be announced on social media. Thank you to the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation for sponsoring this series of one-hour classes.
Friday, Aug. 16	Storytime on the Trestle	This popular St. Marys Library program for children will go to new heights of celebration! Meet at 10 a.m. on the trestle to participate.
Wednesday, Aug. 21	Stratford Perth Chamber of Commerce "Business After 5" networking event	Meet new faces in our business community and stay connected with those you know! Join us from 5:15 to 7 p.m. for cocktails and conversation. Thank you to the Stratford Perth Chamber of Commerce and Quadro Communications. Visit the Facebook event page for more information. Free for chamber members; $10 for non-members.
Saturday, Aug. 24	T'ai Chi demonstration	Taoist Tai Chi® practice includes the 108-move set. Working on these movements under the guidance of an accredited instructor contributes to better balance and posture, increased strength and flexibility, improved circulation, calmness and peace of mind. People from all ages, backgrounds and walks of life learn, train and practise together. They have diverse reasons and motivations for their involvement, ranging from a simple enjoyment of the practice, to an interest in the health benefits, to the rewards of participation in a friendly and supportive community, to the pursuit of a spiritual path whose roots reach back to ancient times. All are welcome and encouraged to participate as they choose. Come to the Trestle to watch and participate at 11 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 29	Sunset Yoga	Join Yoga for You's Christa Royal at 7:15 p.m. to flow in celebration with some gentle yoga, the sunset and spectacular view. Please bring a mat, water and any equipment (blanket, blocks) to make your practise safe and comfortable. Unsure if yoga is for you? Bring a chair and enjoy the sense of community and the beauty of the natural environment. Weather cancellations will be announced on social media. Thank you to the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation for sponsoring this series of one-hour classes.
Sunday, Sept. 15	Terry Fox Run and Walk	Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the St. Marys YMCA (268 Maiden Lane, at rear of hospital), and participatns can begin their 5k route along the Grand Trunk Trail between 9:30 a.m. and noon. More information to come regarding this fundraiser for the Terry Fox Foundation.
Saturday, Sept. 28	Doors Open St. Marys	The Grand Trunk Trail and Trestle is one site in this self-guided tour through some of our community's notable structures! Doors Open runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit Doors Open's official website.
Saturday, Oct. 5	Closing ceremonies	Come to the trestle at 3 p.m. for closing remarks, a free concert by Emm Gryner, and your opportunity to be part of a special photo to celebrate our community!