Prescribing Nature: Dr. Melissa Lem joins Canadian Trail Summit Keynote Lineup

WINNIPEG – Dr. Melissa Lem, a national leader at the intersection of health, nature and community, will take the stage as a keynote presenter at the Canadian Trail Summit in Winnipeg, June 16–19, 2026. The Summit, hosted by Trans Canada Trail, will bring together leaders and learners from across the country for a first-of-its-kind gathering for Canada’s trail sector. 

Dr. Lem is a Vancouver family physician who also works in rural and northern communities. She is Co-Founder of PaRx, Canada’s national nature prescription program, which empowers health professionals to prescribe time in nature to improve physical and mental health, and past president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.  

“Trails are the connective tissue of Canada,” says Dr. Lem. “They provide us with healthy spaces to move and find adventure, they deepen our social connections, and they inspire us to care for the outdoors. I can’t wait to meet more of the people who protect, use and learn from trails at the Summit, and share my perspectives on the vital relationship between nature, trails and our health.” 

In addition to her clinical practice and program leadership, Dr. Lem is an internationally recognized voice on nature, biodiversity and health. She is a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, serves as a climate-change panellist on CBC Radio’s Early Edition and medical columnist for CBC TV Vancouver, and is a widely published writer. She also contributes to global research on nature prescriptions as a co-investigator and advisor on major international projects including PANDA and RESONATE with total funding of more than $10 million. 

Dr. Lem has received numerous national and international awards for her work on health and sustainability and also advises the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Health & Well-being Specialist Group. 

“We are extremely excited to welcome Dr. Lem as a keynote presenter,” says Trisha Kaplan, Director of Trans Canada Trail’s Centre for Trail Excellence. “Through her groundbreaking work, she is uniquely positioned to illustrate how time in nature supports healthier people and healthier communities. This aligns perfectly with the Summit’s goal to strengthen Canada’s trail sector and ensure that people of all ages and abilities have access to the incredible public-health benefits that trails provide.”  

The inaugural Canadian Trail Summit is a unique opportunity for trail builders and managers, researchers, advocates, government officials and volunteers to come together to exchange bold ideas and practical solutions that will shape the future of trails. Under the theme “Trails for a Changing World,” the Summit will explore topics ranging from adapting infrastructure and building for climate resilience to advancing inclusion, supporting healthy living and strengthening community ties.  

Registration is currently open. 

Media Contact

Justin Fauteux
Manager, Communications
jfauteux@tctrail.ca

About Trans Canada Trail

The Canadian Trail Summit is hosted by Trans Canada Trail, the organization that advocates, stewards and champions Canada’s nationwide trail system.

The Trans Canada Trail is the longest multi-use trail system in the world and it is always growing. It reaches every province and territory, and connects all three of Canada’s coastlines. Each section of the Trans Canada Trail is managed locally and supports different activities and community needs.