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AGM 2007: Summerland May 5th & 6th.

Saturday, May 5th.

Summerland Municipal Hall, 13211 Henry Avenue.

8:30 - 09:15 Opening RemarksMarilyn Hansen, President: Summerland Trans Canada Trail SocietyDr. David Gregory - Mayor of Summerland - Summerland Historic Trails

09:15 - 10:00 Dr. Maurice Williams - UBC Kelowna - Early KVR History.

10:00 - 10:15 Coffee Break.

10:15 - 11:00 Ken Campbell - Myra Canyon Restoration Society -Trestle Rebuild.

11:00 - 12:00 Bill Marshall - MTSA - British Columbia Trail Strategy.

12:00 - 13:00 Lunch

13:00 - 14:00 James Clark - Director of Trails - Trans Canada Trail Foundation.

14:00 - 15:00 Al Skucas - Trails BC Rockies Region Director - Rockies News.

15:00 - 15:15 Coffee

15:15 - 16:30 Regional Directors Update

Sunday May 06, 2007

Summerland Municipal Hall, 13211 Henry Avenue.

09:00 - 12:00 Trails BC Annual General MeetingVisit the Trails BC website at www.trailsbc.ca for additional information.

Newsletter of the Trails Society of British ColumbiaVol. 12 No. 2 — April 2007

Contents

AGM 2007: SummerlandMay 5th & 6th. 1

North Shore ChallengeJune 24, 2007 2

Member Profile 2

Rails to Trails Progress inthe Rockies 3

Trans Canada TrailFoundation AGM 4

The Victoria – CowichanValley Link 5

Trail Society Reports 6

The Kinsol Trestle Debate -Rehabilitate or Rebuild? 7

Renew Your Membership 8

Trails BC 2006-2007Board… 8

Volunteers Essential forTrail Survival! 8

The historic 188-metre-long, 73-metre-high Trout Creek Bridge, in the heart of Summerland,is considered by many to be the highest on the Kettle Valley Railway and one of the highestin North America. Photo by Murphy Shewchuk

ISSN 1705-4559

Published quarterly by:Trails BC315 – 1367 W. BroadwayVancouver BC V6H 4A9

Editorial CommitteeMurphy ShewchukSue BurnhamLéon Lebrun

www.trailsbc.ca

Advance Registration Required: Forms at www.trailsbc.ca.

North ShoreChallengeJune 24, 2007

By Léon Lebrun

This year there will be only one challenge event to beheld in the Southwest Region. The venue is the GreaterVancouver North Shore with an option to include theTrans Canada Trail route through the City ofVancouver. As usual participants will be able to choosetheir mode of travel (cycle, walk, or run) and thedistance travelled (between 9 and 61 km). A greatvariety of trail experiences are in the offering includingmountain and urban trails sprinkled with natural andheritage features all the way along.

Visit the Trails BC website (http://www.trailsbc.ca)and sign-up right away. We have quite a following thatsee it as a great way to discover the trail.

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North Shore Challenge - June 24, 2007 Trail Talk: Vol. 12 No. 2 — April 2007

ACCEPT THE TRAILS BC CHALLENGEAdditional Information and sign-up

forms are available on-line at:WWW.TRAILSBC.CA

Member Profile

WildWays Adventure Sports is a full service shopnestled in the Monashee Mountains at Christina Lake.WildWays offers a great range of amenities such as alarge parts inventory — with qualified and friendlymechanics always on hand — and rental bikes andchild trailers. They also rent kayaks and canoes toenjoy BC's favourite lake, and offer guided kayakingtrips on the Kettle River for all levels of paddlers.

WildWays also offers transportation assistance forself-guided bike tours with a 15 seater van, as well as avariety of guided day tours on the Kettle ValleyRail-Trail and the Columbia & Western Rail-Trailsections of the Trans Canada Trail. Sections of thetrail, such as Eholt to Grand Forks, or the Paulson toChristina segment, are some of the easiest and mostpopular rides around; downhill all the way and superbscenery with trestles and tunnels.

The shop is open 7 days a week in the summermonths, and is located on the east side of ChristinaLake just 10 minutes from the Christina Lake-to-Castlegar section of the Trans Canada Trail.

Bob & Lucinda DupeeWildWays Adventure SportsHighway 3 at Johnson RoadChristina Lake, BC, Canada V0H 1E2Phone/Fax: 250.447.6561Toll Free: 1.888.WILDWAY (945.3929)Email: adventures@wildways.comWeb: http://www.wildways.com

Rails to Trails Progress in the RockiesBy Al Skucas

The last year saw the TCT gain traction in theRockies/East Kootenay. Much excitement has beengenerated over the potential rail to trails projectbetween Kimberley and Cranbrook. The model for thisproject is somewhat different than in other parts of theprovince. In this instance the province is not taking aleading role in the development of the rail trail but thecommunities of Kimberley and Cranbrook themselveswill be spearheading the project. Although thisendeavour will be become part of the province’s Spiritof 2010 Rails to Trails legacy, the two communitieswill control the development.

In a Memorandum of Understanding signed inSeptember between the two communities and CP Rail,CP Rail will donate the line to Kimberley andCranbrook. CP Rail has agreed to remove the steel railsby the end of this year. Also a big concern has beenalleviated with CP Rail taking responsibility forremoving the contaminated float rock that had beenused for ballast on the line. It is estimated that CP railwill be hauling out over 15,000 truckloads of theballast over the next year and a half. Estimated cost forthis work is between two and three million dollars.

Details on the final governance and stewardship ofthe rail trail are currently been explored by the twocities, the regional district and affected stakeholders.

This 27 km rail trail combined with the 13 km IsidoreCanyon rail trail to the east of Cranbrook will form thebackbone of the TCT in the Rockies/East Kootenayregion. With these two trails being the only rails trails

in Eastern BC they should generate the mostrecreational traffic along the route.

Last year also marked the first year in five years thatTCT trail has seen trail registered in the Rockies withthe registration of the trail through the City ofKimberley. Fourteen kilometres of trail will wind itsway through the community from the RiversideCampground on the west side through the KimberleyNature Park to the Platzl. The Platzl is a pedestrianmall that is the heart of Kimberley, from there the trailwill follow the Mark Creek Trail to Marysville.

With the announcement that the TCT foundation willbe proceeding with the official BC guidebook thisspring/summer, efforts have been revived regardingthe TCT corridor in the Elk Valley. Discussions withhigh level government officials last year recommendednot pursuing any trail formalization on crown land inthe Elk Valley. Without any hope to formally recognizethe trail within the foreseeable future a strategy hasbeen developed to promote a more trail-like route thatthe general public can use and enjoy. It would be aroute that would utilize available public accessiblerecreational corridors.

Attend the 2007 Trails BC AGM in Summerland formore details on this updated BC Rockies route planand strategy.

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Rails to Trails in the Rockies… Trail Talk: Vol. 12 No. 2 — April 2007

Coming into Wycliffe on the Cranbrook-Kimberley rail line.Photo by Bob Whetham

A public recreation corridor in the Mt Broadwood NatureConservancy near Elko. Photo by Al Skucas.

Trans Canada Trail Foundation AGMBy Al Skucas.

I had an enjoyable time attending the Trans CanadaTrail Foundation’s 2006 AGM in Montreal last June. Itwas a rainy and blustery weekend, so being indoorswas OK for that time of the year.

With last year’s passing of the torch from CEO andPresident John Bellini to Sanderson Layng, there hasbeen much anticipation on the future direction of theTCT Foundation. This is the first time in thefoundation’s history that a change hasbeen made at this level.

Make the Plan Come Alive…In an effort to revitalize the Trans

Canada Trail, this AGM focussed onreviewing the strategic goals of the TCT.As a result the theme was “Make the PlanCome Alive”.

Instead of the usual reports from theprovinces and territories, the AGMbecame a brainstorming exercise. To facilitate this, theboard and trail representatives were broken up intofour groups. The four groups had to come up withconsensual recommendations and suggestionsconcerning:

Resource Development…“To ensure the provision of the financial and in-kind

resource needed to accomplish the Mission of theFoundation and assist local and regional fundraisinginitiatives.”

Public and Community Affairs…“To promote the Trans Canada Trail and trail

organizations within all spheres of influence toenhance the development, management and use of theTCT at the national level as well as in regional andlocal jurisdictions.”

Community Assistance…“To assist local and provincial trail organizations with

the range of community development tasks required toprovide for the development, management and use ofthe TCT.”

Trail Development…“To liaise with our trail partner organizations so as to

ensure an active, engaged and mutually beneficial

working relationship to maximize the development,management and use of the TCT.”

Each group was to come up with fiverecommendations or suggestions at the end tofacilitate these strategic goals.

A lot of positive and creative ideas came up duringthis workshop and Sanderson was committed to abusiness plan that in part will be guided by thesuggestions arising from this exercise.

The foundation is also going to try toramp up the funding aspect of the TCTF.To that end they solicited the support ofGovernor General Michaelle Jean andJean Beliveau to head a new fundraisingdrive. You may have also seen the newpromotional TV ads that have appearedthis year. The foundation has also hired afunding consultant who will be targetingdonations from Corporate Canada.

New Foundation Director…The foundation has added Becky Scott to the board.

She is also on the board of the 2010 Canadian Olympiccommittee and will be helping to promote the TCT asthe route of the Olympic Torch Relay.

Sanderson Layng also announced a program that willattempt to embed the TCT in the minds of youngCanadians. The TC Leaf has been introduced as acartoon character which will star in a colouring book;an animated television series; and a video game. As hetravels along the Trans Canada Trail, "TC" will haveadventures, meet friends and teach lessons about ourhistory, heritage, and geography, plus the importanceof an active lifestyle.

Overall I found the atmosphere of this AGM to bevery positive and open. Lots of good contacts weremade and worthwhile discussion took place around thetables. I think we should make an effort to encouragemore representation from Trails BC at future TCTAGMs. Editor's Note: The TCTF 2007 AGM will beheld June 7 to 10 at the Lonsdale Quay Hotel, City ofNorth Vancouver.

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TCTF AGM 2006 Report Trail Talk: Vol. 12 No. 2 — April 2007

SUPPORT TRAILS BCMEMBERSHIPS AND DONATIONS CAN

NOW BE PROCESSED ON-LINE AT:WWW.TRAILSBC.CA

The Victoria – Cowichan Valley LinkBy Jeannette Klein

The long-awaited 24 kilometre missing link betweenthe Victoria to Shawnigan Lake Trans Canada Trailsection and the Cowichan Valley Trans Canada Trailsection is about to be built. Anyone who has followedthe TCT on Vancouver Island will know that it willmean no longer using the very busy Malahat Highwayto get to Shawnigan Lake. With the exception of theKinsol Trestle it will also mean travelling completelyon trail from Victoria to Lake Cowichan.

Some years ago the original path of the TCT northfrom Victoria was routed through the Capital RegionalDistrict’s watershed via the Galloping Goose Trail. Thissection of the trail was flooded with theraising of the dam for the main watersupply for Victoria. The regional districtand the provincial government establisheda compensation fund for construction of anew trail.

In December 2006, $1 million of the TCTRelocation Fund was released to theCapital Regional District (CRD) and theadjoining Cowichan Valley RegionalDistrict (CVRD) for trail corridoracquisition and construction of thissection. It will not be on rail grade buttravel through the CRD's Sooke HillsWilderness Park Reserve and several otherpublicly and privately held parcels of land.

A gateway to the trail will be built on thesite of an abandoned reservoir. The newlink of the TCT will pass through analready existing CRD park wilderness areawhere new trail will be constructed tomeet up with an old seven-kilometre-long

forestry road. This is especially beautiful as you passthrough a leafy bower of established deciduous trees.The road climbs to an opened area where there is aspectacular view of Finlayson Arm and surroundingmountains; the summit is 475m.

The intention is that this trail section will be ownedand managed by the adjoining regional districts.Hopefully, detailed engineering and design willcommence this year and the big hope and wish wouldbe to see construction commence in 2008. Then we'llhave a party!

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The Victoria - Cowichan Valley Link Trail Talk: Vol. 12 No. 2 — April 2007

Part of the new Trans Canada Trail will follow an old forestry road.Photos courtesy of the Capital Regional District (CRD).

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Trail Society Reports

Trail Society Reports Trail Talk: Vol. 12 No. 2 — April 2007

Vermilion Trail Society

by Judy Short

This year the Vermilion Trail Society of Princeton,stewards of 113 kilometres of the Kettle Valley Railwayright-of-way/Trans Canada Trail between Osprey Lakeand Brookmere, has been active in maintaining andupgrading the stretch of trail in our area.

The V.T.S. had a successful 2006which included a second TCTChallenge Event that was very wellattended. We met with governmentofficials to discuss the situationwith off-road vehicles on therail-trail. They assured us they areworking on finding solutions. Wealso had a meeting with theRegional District of OkanaganSimilkameen and it appears thatthey may have an interest in managing the rail-trail.This would be very helpful as it would relieve ourgroup of the sometimes overwhelming responsibility oftrail maintenance.

In the late summer of 2006, in cooperation with theTown of Princeton, the V.T.S. paved three kilometresof the trail from the Tulameen River, through thecommunity to the mouth of the Princeton Tunnel. Thisuser-friendly surface is enjoyed by residents andtourists alike. Those in wheelchairs or pushing strollersalso appreciate the smooth travelling. Our groupwould like to see the paving project extended toinclude the area from the Tulameen River crossing eastto the Old Hedley Road crossing near theWeyerhaeuser Mill. We are now trying hard to findfunding to pave this section.

The V.T.S. is currently overseeing the completion ofthe Weyerhaeuser Roundhouse Kiosk. This structure isbeing constructed on the site of the connection of theK.V.R. and the Great Northern Railway and will becompleted in the spring of 2007. Finding funds tocomplete larger projects and repairing Mother Nature'swinter damage on the trail will keep our membersbusy for the immediate future.

Contact:Judy ShortVermilion Trail SocietyPO Box 2104, Princeton, BC V0X 1W0Email: info@vermiliontrailssociety.comWeb: http://www.vermiliontrailssociety.com/

Slocan Valley Heritage TrailSociety

by Rory Lindsay

The Slocan Valley Rail Trail provides an amazinghiking, biking or equestrian experience as the trailmeanders alongside the scenic Slocan River and itsdiverse flora and fauna. It passes by important

archaeological sites and places richin the history of the silver miningand lumber industries and theJapanese Canadian internment.The trail has a very gentle gradethroughout and is suitable forchildren and seniors as well as theseasoned trail user. Striking rivervistas alternate with wetlands,forests and quaint pastoralsections. Periodically, the trail

passes through one of the small Slocan Valleycommunities where a trail-user can take advantage ofa local restaurant, cappuccino bar, bakery orconvenience store. The northern terminus is the scenicbeachfront on beautiful Slocan Lake.

The Slocan Valley Heritage Trail Society manages the50 km long Slocan Valley Rail Trail under astewardship agreement with Tourism British Columbia.With the help of a SICEA grant in 2004 - 2005, theformer CPR rail line was converted into a world-classrail trail with construction of bridges, trailheads andmany kilometres of resurfacing. This spring, theSociety is finalizing a few construction items, but thetrail is up and running and being well used. CrescentValley, Passmore, Winlaw, Lemon Creek and theVillage of Slocan all have trailheads with parking andinformation kiosks to provide entry points.

Contact:Slocan Valley Heritage Trail SocietyPO Box 22, Winlaw, BC V0G 2J0Tel: 250-355-23971-888-683-SVRT (7878)Email: info@svrt.caWeb: http://www.svrt.ca.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDVolunteers are needed across the

province. Contact trailsbc@trailsbc.ca tooffer your help.

The Kinsol Trestle Debate - Rehabilitateor Rebuild?by Jeannette Klein

By now everyone in Victoria and probablymost of Vancouver Island knows about theKinsol Trestle. It is 187m long and 38m highand is the largest remaining railway trestle inthe British Commonwealth. It spans theKoksilah River on southern Vancouver Islandand is part of the Trans Canada Trail.

It certainly was not all that well knownwhen I first started cycling the Trans CanadaTrail on Vancouver Island in the early 1990s.(Yikes! The previous century!) We werecycling on the rail grade in Shawnigan Lakewhen we more or less happened upon it.

This past summer the Ministry ofTransportation announced that this nowfamous/infamous trestle was to be removedfor safety reasons at a cost of $1.2 million.For those of us interested in the TCT it wouldmean the start of the process of building areplica of the trestle, needed for crossing theKoksilah River. For the manysupporters of maintaining thetrestle, this was confirmation oftheir worst fears. Many letters,both pro and con, appeared in thelocal papers.

On September 22 & 23, 2006the Cowichan Valley RegionalDistrict (CVRD) Parks Departmentand the Ministry ofTransportation jointly hosted an"open house" at the north side ofthe Kinsol. Along withrepresentatives from theirengineering consultants, theyattempted to demonstrate thepoor condition of this woodenstructure. Over 300 people madethe journey into the trestle siteand viewed for themselves itscondition. The results of a surveytaken were overwhelmingly infavor of rebuilding the Kinsol tolook like the original. Thosewanting to rehabilitate the trestlesubsequently commented that the open house was just

an attempt by the CVRD and MoTto sway the public for demolition.

The Kinsol was completed in1921 with the last train makingthe crossing in 1979. In 1984 theBC government begannegotiations with CNR to acquirethe right-of-way partly for arecreational corridor. From thattime many attempts have beenmade to rehabilitate it. Twoattempts by arsonists have failedto destroy it. Recently, the CVRDParks Dept has applied for aLocalMotion grant of $1.6 millionto start the fund raising forrebuilding.

It's a grand site to see - thecurved wooden structure over avery narrow steep gorge. I hope Iget to cross it one way or anothersome day.

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The Kinsol Trestle Debate Trail Talk: Vol. 12 No. 2 — April 2007

A passenger train crossing the Kinsol Trestle in 1954.Photo taken by Elwood White.

The Kinsol Trestle shows its age.Photo by George Klein.

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Back to Business Trail Talk: Vol. 12 No. 2 — April 2007

Renew Your MembershipAs we begin another year of work on the British Columbia portion of the Trans Canada Trail, we need your

continued support and membership renewal. Application forms are available at www.trailsbc.ca.

Individual: $25 Group Member: $100Business Associate: $100

Payment may be made by sending a cheque to the office or by paying on-line at www.trailsbc.ca. Tax receiptswill be issued for individual membership payments (as well as all donations).

As you will read in the newsletter, there is progress being made in each of the regions across the province. Ourdedicated volunteers continue to work with individual citizens, Trails BC member groups, local businesses andall three levels of Government in order to reach the goal of having the BC Trans Canada Trail navigable fromVictoria to the Alberta border by 2010.

With your help we can do it together!

Trails BC 2006-2007 Board…President:

Murphy ShewchukVice President:

Léon LebrunTreasurer:

Jack HarderSecretary:

Sue Burnham

Regional Directors:

Vancouver Island:Jeannette Klein

Southwest:Léon Lebrun

Boundary:Ernie Hennig

West Kootenay:Sjeng Derkx

Rockies/East Kootenay:Al Skucas

Northeast:Jack Gladysz

Directors-at-Large:

Ray JohnsonKelly KoomeLarri Woodrow

Provincial Office:

Trails BC315 – 1367 W. BroadwayVancouver BC V6H 4A9

Tel: (604) 737 3188

Email: trailsbc@trailsbc.caWeb Site: www.trailsbc.ca

Volunteers Essential for Trail Survival!Trails BC needs your expertise to continue the work

of developing and maintaining the Trans Canada Trailacross British Columbia.

First, there is the obvious continuing field workpatrolling and maintaining the trail network andancillary facilities such as gates; fences; signage; andtrailhead structures. While this work is essential for thesafety and well-being of the trail user as well as thelongevity of the system, the management of Trails BCand the various volunteer societies that coordinate andcarry out this work is of equal importance.

The computer is as mighty as the shovel.

While work parties can be fun, your help is alsodesperately needed for the day-to-day duties such aschairing meetings; serving on planning teams andcommittees; fundraising and looking after the finances;editing and publishing newsletters; and designing andmaintaining websites. Each day of field work often

requires several days of preparation – much of it in theform of administration and planning.

If you aren't able to swing a shovel, you may be ableto make an equally important contribution by assistingwith all of the other tasks involved in the operation ofthe Trans Canada Trail in British Columbia.

Please volunteer your services.

Please visit http://www.trailsbc.ca or emailtrailsbc@trailsbc.ca to find out more about Trails BCand the various regional groups and member societies.

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SUPPORT TRAILS BCMEMBERSHIPS AND DONATIONS CAN

NOW BE PROCESSED ON-LINE AT:WWW.TRAILSBC.CA