The Chelsea Community Trail (Les Amis de La Voie Verte Chelsea)

My friend and mentor Sandy Foote is a community builder. His role in strengething, advocating, and building communities over his life is remarkable.

Between Ottawa and Wakefield Quebec, there used to be an old steam engine that travelled along the Gatineau River. For many years it served the tourism inductry, taking revellers back in time for a short trip. Sadly it was decommissioned many years back, and what was left was an old rail bed with a nice view. Envisioning it as an opportunity, Sandy had a vision to convert the railbed into a community trail - no easy task.

After many years, and lots of fundraising, the trail now acts as the perfect trail to link communities around Old Chelsea, promoting health and activity, while simultaneously providing an unbridled view of the Gatineau River.

Project Objectives

Create a responsive WordPress website that functions seamlessly across all devices

Implement a custom design that aligns with the client's brand identity

Optimize the website for search engines and improved online visibility

Integrate necessary functionality to support business operations

Project Phases

Planning and Research

Conducted client consultations to understand their needs and goals

Developed a content strategy

Design and Prototype

Created wireframes and mockups for home page

Designed a custom WordPress website tailored to the existing brand

Development and Testing

Built the WordPress website using best practices and coding standards

Implemented a responsive design for optimal viewing on all devices

Installed and setup necessary plugins for added functionality

Conducted thorough testing for functionality, compatibility, and performance

Deployment and Maintenance

Performed final quality assurance checks

Provided client training on WordPress content management

Established a maintenance plan for ongoing support and updates

Key Features

Custom WordPress theme design

Responsive layout for mobile, tablet, and desktop devices

Integration with Yoast SEO and Backup tool

Contact forms and lead generation tools

Social media integration

Timeline

The project was completed over a 4 week period, with key milestones as follows:

Week 1-2: Planning and Research

Week 3-4: Design and Prototype

Week 5-6: Development and Testing

Week 7: Deployment and Client Training

Results and Success Metrics

increase in website traffic within the first month of launch

Improved user engagement, with average time on site increasing by [X] minutes

[X]% increase in lead generation through optimized contact forms

Enhanced brand presence and visual appeal, as reported by client feedback

This WordPress website project successfully delivered a custom, high-performance online presence for [Client Name], meeting all specified objectives and providing a solid foundation for their digital marketing efforts[2][3].

Recent Updates - "Hero" Memorial

When a strong supporter and notable community member passed away this fall, supporters of SCT rallied around to fundraiser for a memorial bench in his honour. Dave was known for his deep voice and kind heart.