Maria E. Legault

Degree

MES (Master of Environmental Studies), Tourism Policy and Planning

Thesis title

Lived Experiences of the Trails: Perspectives from Three Southwestern Ontario Trail Organizations

Year of defence

2013

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative thesis was to describe common elements of sense of place in the lived experiences of volunteer trail managers. Through a triangulation of data gathered from secondary research, interviews with trail managers, and participation observation of hikers, the study drew out the essence of the trail managers’ sense of place towards their trail experience and connected this back to ongoing management challenges faced by their trail organizations. Some of these challenges include declining membership, limited lines of communication, and problematic relationships with private landowners. Themes around this common sense of place related to meanings, relationship/ attachments, emotions, and behaviours towards the trail experience. Interrelationships between sense of place, phenomenology, and trail management were also highlighted.

Biography

Maria Legault
Maria is currently working as a communications coordinator for the Back2Nature Network. She is also a freelance tourism consultant, volunteer board member, and environmental advocate. Her degrees in Environment and Resource Studies (University of Waterloo, 2011) and Tourism Policy and Planning (University of Waterloo, 2013) have enriched both her career opportunities and her understanding of the world we live in.