It was a party that more than fulfilled its promise and purpose.
The Shuswap Trail Alliance’s annual trail party was a nod to Canada’s 150th anniversary and a $37,000 boost to another year of trails to get people active, outside and on their feet.
The party also continues to put Shuswap Trails on the map, says Shuswap Trail Alliance executive director Phil McIntyre-Paul.
“Now in its 12th year, the Shuswap Trail Alliance acts as the meeting point for regional partners to work together to design, sign, maintain, and promote greenway trails,” he says. “It’s a vision that has made the Shuswap a recognized trails destination in the province.”
McIntyre-Paul says the trail alliance is also a forum for figuring out how to do things better together; how to build more environmentally sustainable trails, share knowledge and resources, shape common signage and messaging, and more accountably acknowledge our place within Secwepemc Nation territory.
“It all kicks off each year with a great big party and fundraiser supported by hundreds of individuals and businesses throughout the Shuswap,” he says giving accolades to the reunion performance by the band, Scarecrow, along with DJ Patrick Ryley, and Brian Coffey’s BC Sound.
McIntyre-Paul also gives kudos to the many local businesses, who supplied food and catering as wells as Shuswap Tourism and bartenders provied by Hall 3 of the Salmon Arm Fire Department.
“Decor colours picked up on the Canada 150 theme this year, with notable appearances by Salmon Arm Couns. Kevin Flynn and Tim Lavery in fetching red and white tights to sell 50/50 tickets, reported to sell in record numbers,” he says, praising members of Okanagan College’s Enactus members, who made sure everyone got home safely afterward, using shuttle vehicles by several car dealerships.
“A huge thank you to all the people who were so generous donating and purchasing the silent auction items,” said long-time volunteer and Shuswap Trail Alliance treasurer, Joan Mitchell, acknowledging the more than 120 sponsors who contributed to the success of the auction.
In 2016 the Shuswap Trail Alliance worked on 70 projects with more than 75 partners, building 10 new trails totalling 8,200 metres. Another 1,200 metres were repaired, 184,000 metres maintained, two new boardwalks, 10 bridges, three sets of stairs built, 383 new trail signs installed, and 21 trail plans developed.
“We saw 70 volunteer trail event days with over 340 volunteer stewards out,” noted trail alliance board chair, Reg Walters, along with other collaborative projects like the Trail Mix Art Exhibition with the Shuswp District Arts Council, invasive species work with the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Council, and the first full year growing the new Shuswap Regional Trails Roundtable.
And 2017 is looking just as promising, with new trail plans in the works, improved trail management targeted for alpine areas, and a sub-committee underway through the Trails Roundtable to update our trail sign standards including Secwepemc leadership developing naming protocols. Plus buzz is growing about major legacy trail projects including the Sicamous-to-Armstrong Rail-Trail and the West Bay Trail projects.
