The dedicated group who construct and maintain the intricate trail system which crisscrosses the Shuswap will have more money at their disposal thanks to new government funding.
The provincial government has announced a funding commitment of $98,061.43 to support the Shuswap Trail Alliance’s work on trails in the region, including a series of new projects announced at their recent annual general meeting.
The grant comes from the the BC Rural Dividend (BCRD) Program under the Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
According to a government press release the BCRD Program supports rural communities’ economic resilience.
“Enhancing tourism and recreation through well designed and managed trail systems is now recognized as an important element in growing rural economies,” the release reads.
“I particularly like that the Shuswap Trail Alliance supports so many communities throughout the Shuswap, from Chase to Malakwa, and Enderby to Seymour Arm,” said Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo. “The alliance is also engaged with First Nations communities in developing trails to raise the profile, culture and heritage, of the Secwepemc peoples.”
The release says the new funding for trail development will help grow tourism in the Shuswap, particularly into the shoulder seasons, through the addition of six new four-season trails totaling 15 kilometers within the existing trail system for hiking, mountain biking, equestrian, and winter snowshoeing.
“These include the Rubberhead Dickson mountain bike climb trail, the South Canoe Mo Bedda Mo Budda mountain bike trail, the South EQ Trail Loop Extension, the Larch Hills Traverse Top-O-the-Sic and Cedar Circuit trails, and the North Fork Wild Historic Pack Trail (Perry River Trail Big Tree Loop),” the release reads.
“We targeted completion of currently approved but unfinished trail work within the region,” said Shuswap Trail Alliance Executive Director, Phil McIntyre-Paul. “Each of these build on some of the region’s most visited destination trail networks.”
Along with the grant supporting new trail construction, a smaller grant for trail planning, totalling $9800, will also be invested in the region’s trails.
“Planning support has always been a challenge,” said McIntyre-Paul. “Grants often favour building things, but we can only do that well with thoughtful and responsible planning.”
The planning grant will support planning upgrades to existing alpine trails in the East Shuswap, mountain bike trails at Rubberhead, regional connector trails within the South Shuswap, improved trail management around Skimikin Lake, and new trail projects in the West and North Shuswap with local trail stewards, communities, CSRD Parks, and BC Parks.
“This allows us to bring technical expertise together with local knowledge to consider truly sustainable and value-added additions to our growing destination trail network,” said McIntyre-Paul. “It also allows us to expand awareness of our commitment to work together through the new Shuswap Trails Roundtable toward a more accountable acknowledgement of our place within Secwepemc Nation Territory.” The Shuswap Trails Roundtable includes Secwepemc Nation leadership, municipal/regional governments, the province, trail stewardship organizations, industry, and community sectors.