A message of thanks and gratitude
This has been an incredibly productive month for this project and I hope you enjoy reading about it.
Support for the project is coming from many directions. Both levels of Government, Taylor Bachrach and Nathan Cullen have expressed their support and are working for us in their respective governing houses.
The Regional District is supportive of this trail and has taken the lead in applying for construction grant funding and making application to the ALC for the trail in the highway ROW. One of the ownership stumbling blocks has been how to pay for trail maintenance costs without going to the taxpayer, which sometimes comes with a host of challenges. The Board of Cycle 16 decided to seek support from business owners and individuals in Smithers & Telkwa to cover trail maintenance costs and the response has been overwhelming. To see who these kind souls are, please see the list at the bottom of this newsletter.
The Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure (MOTi) has been especially helpful and kudos must go to Carl Lutz, Rosemary Barnewall and the team at the Smithers office for their foresight and belief in the value of this trail. The following press release will give you an idea of the support MOTi is giving this project.
In mid-September 2020, as part of the BC Government Economic restart plan, Stronger BC, The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure received funding for various infrastructure improvement projects. The Ministry was able to secure $500K of Active Transportation funding to support the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako and its work with the Cycle 16 Society in the goal of the multi-use path. The Ministry has committed this investment for design of Phase 1, and the purchase of materials such as gravels, culverts and signage. We look forward to continuing to work with the RDBN and the Cycle 16 Society on this exciting potential project.
We recently received a $5k grant from the Bulkley Valley Community Foundation. These funds were used to complete a safe and scenic conceptual design through Wim & Inge Tersago’s property.
For almost 30 years the Bulkley Valley Community Foundation has supported groups like Cycle 16. Thanks to generous donors, the Foundation has built a permanent endowment that generates funds for grants and learning awards in the fields of education, social, cultural, community, health, youth, sport, recreation and fine arts from Topley to Kitwanga. They are proud of the vital contributions and positive impact that these groups and individuals make to our communities. You can sign up for their newsletter for full information on BVCF grant and learning awards at www.bvcf.ca.
Our project manager, Allan Kindrat from the Smithers office of WSP, organized the digging of 22 test holes along the Phase 1 route in order to determine what level of groundwork will be needed for trail construction. It looks like we have acceptable ground conditions along most of the route and, apart from a couple of spots, not a great deal of material will need to be removed and replaced with a more solid option. Vihar Construction dug the holes and operator Downy Phillips showed off his talent by leaving a very tidy job in his wake.
Allan & the team at WSP have been charged with a heavy workload which includes completing detailed construction drawings, developing an overpass conceptual design and exploring the feasibility of a route going under the highway in a tunnel very similar to the underpass at the cross country ski trails.
Our fundraising team is busy looking for funds to complete conceptual design work on phase 2 and just today we heard from CN Rail that they have offered us a grant of $20,000.00. This will cover one-third of the cost of the design work. We are very grateful for their contribution.
We must thank Erica Lilles and Bill Price for giving up one of their precious days off to come out and dig soils pits on Wim & Inge Tersago’s property. (it was not easy digging!) We need to complete a soils restoration plan. Hopefully, we’ll have that in our hands soon so we can complete the ROW through that property. We appreciate the Tersago’s patience as we work our way through this bureaucratic challenge.
We have received signed letters of intent and donations for trail maintenance from the following funding partners:
LB Paving
Seabridge Gold
Northline Auto Body
Northwest Truck Rentals
Kelly Jones
ProTech Forestry Resources
Summit Reforestation
Kermode Bobcat
With the holidays coming up, I’d like to remind you we have memberships, t shirts and aprons for sale. They’ll make great Xmas presents. Our 6 grandkids are getting a Bear on a Bike shirt each. We think they’ll be delighted and I am especially happy as we ‘re giving gifts that cost less than $30.00 each and we are shopping locally!
Email info@cycle16.ca or follow the links on www.cycle16.ca to order your holiday swag or purchase your membership. T-shirt and apron options and prices
We’d like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday!