Ganaraska Forest Recreational Users Committee (RUC)

Senior couple hiking in the Forest

Important Ganaraska Forest Information

  • Please refer to the Ganaraska Forest Trails Map for available trails, which represents Ganaraska Forest Trails only. Municipal roads are not part of the trail system.
  • Before you visit the Ganaraska Forest, please read the Ganaraska Forest Rules & Etiquette. The Ganaraska Forest is open from dawn until dusk each day.
cross country skiing 2

Helping Support Forest Recreation

The Ganaraska Forest Recreational Users Committee (RUC) is a volunteer committee to the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) Board of Directors.

The Committee’s purpose is to provide advice/comments to the GRCA Board of Directors as it pertains to the recreational use types of the Ganaraska Forest. The RUC follows a Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct.

Members of the RUC serve a 4 year term and are appointed by the organizations listed below. Members represent a particular use in the Ganaraska Forest and represent the users of the Ganaraska Forest.

In addition, a member from each municipality whose boundaries fall within the Ganaraska Forest will be appointed to the RUC.

A member from the GRCA Board of Directors sits on the RUC as an ex-officio, non-voting member and will be appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Board of Directors. The role of the Board Member is to represent the Board of Directors and act as a liaison to the Committee.

When the Chair position becomes vacant, the GRCA advertises for the position and interviews are held, with the successful candidate being selected. This position is a non-voting member. The Chair's role is to facilitate and chair meetings in a neutral / non-biased manner, ensuring everyone can participate in contributing to the meeting.

GRCA Online Store

Ganaraska Forest Rules & Etiquette

Contact Information

RUC Meetings

Meetings of the Ganaraska Forest Recreational Users Committee are held on the first Thursday of the months of April, June, September and November at the Administrative Office of the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, both in office and virtually (hybrid), or virtually. The general public is welcome to attend meetings to observe. Meeting agenda packages and minutes are available online.

Delegations will be encouraged to first address their presentation to the Board of Directors of the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority. In turn, the Board of Directors may suggest a presentation to the Recreational Users Committee.

All correspondence shall be addressed to the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority and submitted to the CAO/Secretary-Treasurer. Correspondence will go into the Board of Directors meeting, where it may be actioned to go forward to the next RUC meeting for consideration.

A woman rides a horse in the Forest

Current RUC Members

  • Bob Gallagher, RUC Chair
  • Lance Nachoff, GRCA Board of Directors
  • Steve Brownell, Municipality of Port Hope
  • Karen Graham, Municipality of Clarington
  • Matt Mair (WBFN), Ontario Nature
  • Shawn Marshall, Cross Country Ski Ontario
  • Maureen McDonald, Township of Cavan Monaghan
  • Garry Niece, Hike Ontario
  • City of Kawartha Lakes (position unfilled)
  • Amber Panchyshyn, Orienteering Ontario
  • Jim Pearson, Ontario Trail Riders Association
  • Carolyn Richards, Ontario Federation of ATV Clubs
  • Matthew Robbins, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
  • Alex Schmidt, Ontario Cycling Association
  • Lisa Thompson, Ontario Federation of Trail Riders
  • Rick Trumper, Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs
  • Peter Wood, Ontario Federation of 4WD Recreationists

Ganaraska Forest RUC Member Contact Form

Please use the form below to contact members of the Ganaraska Forest Recreational Users Committee (RUC). For all other enquiries about the Ganaraska Forest, please contact the GRCA directly.

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