Douglas James Knapp 1935-2024

Doug ‘Skip’ Knapp was a visionary leader, but was also a local teacher at the Kingston High School and a member of the Kingston Field Naturalists. 

It was his time dedicated to the Kingston Field Naturalists when he became the first Treasurer of the Rideau Trail Association (RTA) and with a crew of helpers forged a new path – a hiking trail between Kingston and Ottawa in February of 1971. 

The trails team was funded by a paid summer government work experience program that consisted of a team of 27, that within the next 3 months with blood, sweat, and tears mapped out and carved out the various loops and hiking paths now in existence. This is now known as the Rideau Trail Network. 

Knapp also created the initiative known as Rails to Trails where no-longer-utilized train routes were converted into hiking trails. He was also the visionary ‘man’ behind having an organization represent the various trail organizations to multiple levels of municipal and provincial authorities. This initiative eventually became what is now known, as Hike Ontario. 

Knapp through out his life was greatly involved in supporting access to hiking for everyone and his legacy will continue on after.