229887
229719
BC Trails Day 2021

Jun 4, 2021

The pandemic has demonstrated just how essential BC's trails
are to the health and well-being of British Columbians, and the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) says that it's our turn now to give back.

On Saturday, June 5, outdoor recreation groups all across British Columbia will be uniting to celebrate the first-ever BC Trails Day. ORCBC is leading the charge and is partnering with volunteer groups, the public and land agencies to celebrate and care for BC's trail system, educate about responsible recreation and help more British Columbians enjoy trails and outdoor spaces.

“Over the past year, British Columbians have turned to community trails and greenspaces to stay healthy and to boost their connection to nature and community. There are more recreation users on the trails than ever, and that means more wear and tear," says Louise Pedersen, Executive Director of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC. "BC Trails Day is an opportunity to
come together to give back to the trails we love and bring attention to the many benefits that they provide.”

Tennessee Trent, Provincial Trails Manager for Recreation Sites and Trails BC, one of the provincial partners, said: “Great to see the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC initiate a Trails Day for the province and it’s especially encouraging to see so many communities from across the province embracing it. I look forward to participating locally as well.” Outdoor groups and communities are encouraged to host local COVID-safe events, ranging
from recreational outings, trail stewardship projects or virtual events such as online workshops to spread awareness and give back. Events are planned in more than 20 communities, including Golden, Revelstoke, Creston, Penticton, Merritt, Logan Lake, Grand Forks, Armstrong, Kelowna, Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, North Vancouver, Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton, Gibsons, Victoria and Nanaimo.

Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association (WORCA) is one of the many groups taking part in the inaugural event. “While it has been great to see a significant growth in trail usage over the past year, it also increases the need for additional trail maintenance,'' says Trevor Ferrao, WORCA’s Executive Director. “Keeping the trails clean and safe for outdoor enthusiasts takes a
tremendous amount of volunteer effort, and two of the best ways people can help BC’s trails is to support their local outdoor groups by joining a trail maintenance event and becoming a member.”

Louise Pedersen continued, "If you are unable to participate in an organized event this weekend, hit the trails on your own! Pack a small garbage bag and some gloves with you, and pick up any trash you may see on the trail. This helps keep local trails clean and safe for other outdoor users and the wildlife that live nearby."

Here are some ways you can celebrate BC Trails Day on your own, with your family or friends:

? Go for a walk, ride, or paddle and have fun. If you're taking any four-legged friends along, don't forget a leash and waste bags.

? Pack a small garbage bag and some gloves with you, and pick up any trash you may see on the trail. This helps keep trails clean and safe for other users and the wildlife who live nearby.

? If you're able to maintain proper social distancing from others (staying at least 6-feet apart), invite a friend who's new to experiencing the outdoors or your preferred outdoor activity. By being a guide, you can help grow the outdoor community by connecting new people to the trails.

? Show support for your favourite trails by joining a local trail group. Your membership will contribute to trail maintenance and advocacy for your community's trail systems. Check out ORCBC's membership directory for opportunities.

? Share a social media post on why you're celebrating trails for a chance to win some great prizes. Tag #BCTrailsDay and the ORCBC (Facebook & Instagram: orcbc.ca, Twitter: orcbc_ca) to be entered to win.

The ORCBC's BC Trails Day is made possible with the generous support of gold supporters Fortis BC and TD Friends of the Environment, and bronze supporter MNP. Provincial partners include Recreation Sites and Trails BC and BC Parks.
More information about BC Trails Day, including a calendar of events, is available here:

https://www.orcbc.ca/bctrailsday.

ORCBC has created a new publication for BC Trails Day that lists 17 trail benefits for British Columbians to help the outdoor recreation community make a stronger case for investments in trails and outdoor recreation in BC.

For more information, please contact:
Louise Pedersen, Executive Director, 778-833-2662 or [email protected]

Additional quotes from event hosts:
BC-wide: Damyn Libby from Trail Society of BC says "BC Trails Day is a great way for people to connect with the outdoors and roll, walk, or cycle trails and pathways. This is also an important moment for reflection, as we contemplate the work that needs to be done to decolonize outdoor recreation and make it a more inclusive and safe environment for all, especially Indigenous peoples.”

Gibsons: Barry Janyk, Heritage Hill Neighbourhood Association, Gibsons: "Building trails has been a part of our life activities for as long as humans have clambered around this country. From neighbourhood to national, they are an important part of our heritage and our futures!"

Grand Forks: Michelle Mallette, Vice President for the Grand Forks Community Trails Society says: “Grand Forks is blessed with so many beautiful trails that give both residents and visitors access to nature, history, wildlife, and beauty. Trails Day is a chance for us to introduce our trails to people who want to know more, and to encourage experienced trails enthusiasts to share their love of this area.”

Logan Lake: The Logan Lake ATV Club has been helping to create and maintain trails in the Logan Lake area for over 23 years. The club promotes shared trails for everyone's use and enjoyment. Jane D'Silva from Logan Lake ATV Clubs said: "Our decision to host a BC Trails Day event is an effort to promote "staycationing" in our own area along with promoting the very large Logan Lake ORV trail system."

Merritt: MMBA President Jordan Pinto said how pleased he was that members and hikers/runners from the Nicola Valley were converging on Godey Creek Trail June 5 to get this very popular trail ready for the 2021 season. "Directors Sam McKibbin and Darch Oborne are going to make this a successful community event" he said, "and we'll have a BBQ after, for all the volunteers". The Godey Trail is easily found on Trailforks and starts at the Info Centre in
Hwy 5 at 97C. Hiking takes about 2 hours to go up and return; while bikers can ascend TMI and then descend on Godey in 1.5 hours. MMBA appreciates ORC and Trails BC for their work to develop and protect Greenways trails in BC.

Penticton: Andrew Drouin, Vice President for the Apex Community Association said: “The Apex Community Association is grateful for the support of the Outdoor Recreation Council for our June trail-day event. Trail-days not only support the maintenance of mountain-based recreational infrastructure - much of which is out of the purview of any other organization, but
they also bring people together in the spirit of doing something healthy, positive and inspiring for the community.”

Vernon: North Okanagan Cycling Society’s Executive Director, Bridget Grant said: “North Okanagan Cycling Society is proud to partner with Outdoor Recreation Council of BC to celebrate BC Trails Day on Saturday, June 5th. Through this pandemic, trails have been the outlet for outdoor enthusiasts everywhere but most notably in BC. In the North Okanagan, we have all experienced a record number of trail users with some trails seemingly bursting at the seams with hikers, bikers, and horseback riders all looking to escape COVID restrictions. This event raises awareness of the importance our trails had on our mental and physical health when everything else in our lives paused. As our community shifted to trails this past year our organization pivoted from a volunteer trail maintenance program to a combination 4-person paid trail crew and volunteer trail maintenance. We owe a debt of gratitude to our 22 local sponsors, private donors, and extraordinary volunteers for being as committed to our trails as we were. Please remember trails, like everything else in life, need to be maintained, preserved, and cared for. Please take a moment and learn who manages your trails, who built them, and how you
can ensure they last for generations to come. You can help by signing up to volunteer at the NOCS Volunteer Brushing Day happening Saturday from 9-11 or 11-1 at Kal Park. Or invest in your trails by buying a membership.”

Victoria: Alon Soraya, President of South Island Mountain Bike Society: "BC Trails Day was an amazing opportunity to give back to the trails at Hartland - Mt Work Regional Park. Our local trails contribute so much to the health and well-being of our community, and it was especially meaningful to share this experience with other communities across the province."

About the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORC): The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORC) is a charitable organization composed of 50+
organizational members representing the broad and diverse spectrum of outdoor recreation user groups in BC, including paddlers, hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, quad riders, 4WDs, sport fishers and nature interests.
Our vision is that recreation and outdoor places are valued as essential to healthy individuals and vibrant communities and that every British Columbian has access to meaningful outdoor recreation experiences. We work to promote and advocate for access to and responsible use of BC's outdoors for public recreation, build bridges between outdoor recreation groups and represent the broad interests of the public outdoor recreation community to government. Learn more at www.orcbc.ca.

Company Contact Information:

Company: The Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia
Contact Name: Louise Pedersen
Contact Email: [email protected]
Company Website: https://www.orcbc.ca/
227074

Submit a Press Release

Submit your press release to the Castanet Press Room to communicate your message to the Okanagan's largest online audience. With over 380,000 unique visitors weekly, the Press Room is an effective way to make an announcement with impact.

Disclaimer: All press releases are reviewed by Castanet staff before going live. From the time you submit your press release, please allow up to 48 hours for your release to go live.

Submit a Press Release
229143