The Barriere Trails Society (BTS) will be signing a stewardship agreement soon with the District of Barriere in partnership towards further developing a trails system in the area. This news comes following a presentation to the District of Barriere council on Monday, January 20 by the society.
“In essence this will allow our organization to become more official while proving ourselves for one year," said BTS president Harry Waldron. "We’ve begun to identify a few local projects that will require some collaboration with the district."
Waldron said they have received close to $10,000 that has been donated in the last few weeks.
"The Lower North Thompson Community Forest kindly donated $7,500.00 of that amount, which is greatly appreciated."
Waldron is also a director with the Barriere Outdoor Club and sees the two outdoor focused organizations as “great community partners” working towards improving and maintaining existing trails while developing new networks in the region that will provide “safe, enjoyable and well maintained trails” for all ages as well as attracting more tourism to the region.
“In a way we are modelling after the Chilliwack Outdoor Club and Chilliwack Parks Society and how they co-exist and maintain their different areas," he told the Barriere Star Journal. "The outdoor club does more trips and hikes with regularly scheduled events, even coordinating some rather large international events while the parks society does more advocacy for local trails and trail maintenance. They even work a bit with the mountain biking community."
Waldron said he feels confident both groups will continue to evolve and work well together in unison to support outdoor activities in and around Barriere.
“"Our winter outdoor cross country student lessons are a regular part of the school’s curriculum now in our area,” said Mary MacLennan, vice-president of the Barriere Outdoor Club, “It’s a fun way to bring seniors, adults and students together for a positive outdoor experience. Interest in both the outdoor club and the Barriere Trails Society is continuing to grow year-round.”
MacLennan noted the Barriere Outdoor Club (BOC) will be holding their annual Ski and Tea this coming Tuesday, January 28 inviting snowshoers to join at the Barriere Forks Trails. The group will be meeting at the warming hut at 11:00 a.m.
Grade 7 students will be enjoying their first cross country ski-lessons on January 30 at the Barriere Forks Trails starting at 9:30 a.m. and the club will be travelling to Clearwater on February 8 for the annual Wells Gray Birchleg at the Candle Creek cross country ski trails in Clearwater starting at 10:00 a.m. for a great family event. The Wells Gray Outdoors Club will be awarding prizes for the best Viking costumes that day while serving a Norwegian style lunch.
“We hope to see people from Barriere involved in the Ski and Tea as well as the upcoming Birchleg in Clearwater soon," added MacLennan. "With so much outdoor fun year-round it’s a great way to enjoy these winter activities together.”
To contact the Barriere Outdoor Club call Mary at: 778-538-2796 and for the Barriere Trails Society you can reach Harry Waldron at: waldron@hotmail.com
