Canada's biggest treasure hunt launches on The Great Trail

OTTAWA, Aug.23, 2018 /CNW/ - Trans Canada Trail (TCT) is joining forces with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) to launch The Great Trail Treasure Hunt, starting August 26^th to celebrate the one-year anniversary of when the Trail became fully connected across all of Canada. "What better way to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the cross-Canada connection of The Great Trail than by launching one of the world's biggest treasure hunts," says Danielle St-Aubin of TCT. "It's everyone's chance to have fun exploring the Trail and be rewarded with really great prizes."

George Kourounis RCGS Explorer-in-Residence with treasure box (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Geographical Society)

Chief-Isadore-Trail, B.C. (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Geographical Society)

Walking along the Meewasin Trail in downtown Saskatoon (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Geographical Society)

Treasure hunting has a timeless appeal — the challenge of figuring out clues, poring over maps, and finally the rush of discovery. Summer may be winding down, but with 100 treasure boxes hidden along The Great Trail from coast to coast to coast, there's never been a better time to get out and explore the world's longest network of recreational trails. Every province and territory is home to its own stretch of The Great Trail, which is owned and operated at the local level, and most Canadians live within 30 minutes of the Trail network.

Starting August 26^th, Canadians can visit The Great Trail Treasure Hunt to see segments of the Trail where they can find a treasure box. The first person to find each box will receive a $100 gift card from Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) and a one-year subscription to Canadian Geographic magazine.

Those that aren't first need not despair! By following the instructions on the outside of the box, treasure hunters can gain entry into a weekly draw for a $250 MEC gift card, a Nikon camera, a SPOT GPS device, a KEEN gift card, and a one-year subscription to Canadian Geographic magazine. And, at the end of the hunt, one grand prize winner will receive a trip of a lifetime for two onboard One Ocean Expeditions' newest expedition cruise vessel RCGS Resolute to experience OOE's Labrador and Torngat Mountain Explorer voyage, as well as additional prizes.

Over the next five weeks, clues will be released on the treasure hunt website to help treasure seekers along. The final clues will be released by Sunday, September 30^th, but the contest will continue until October 31st. The grand prize winner will be announced on November 1^st in Ottawa.

"Helping Canadians to learn more about Canada and its geography is the mandate of the RCGS," says John Geiger, CEO of the RCGS. "The Great Trail Treasure Hunt will entice Canadians to get off the couch and explore over 100 trail sections, both land and water, across Canada. It's a fun, healthy way to learn more about Canada."

TCT and the RCGS gratefully acknowledge the support of the following sponsors: One Ocean Expeditions, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Nikon Canada, KEEN Footwear, Clif Bar & Company, SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger, The Globe and Mail, and Parks Canada.

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SOURCE Royal Canadian Geographical Society

For further information: Deborah Chapman, Communications Manager, Royal Canadian Geographical Society, O (613) 613-745-4629 ext. 160, C [phone], Email: [e-mail]