At a time where rural communities are being asked to promote tourism and economic development, leaders in Christina Lake claim the province has failed to maintain the infrastructure that makes it possible.
This comes after the province announced it would reclassify a 67-kilometre stretch of the Columbia Western Rail Trail (CWRT) as “non-status rail grade” managed under “wilderness status” – eliminating its eligibility for funding, oversight and maintenance.
Grace McGregor, director for Area C with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, called the move worrisome, noting Christina Lake contributes significantly to B.C.’s tax base.
“It’s worrisome because we often get put on the side burner. That’s difficult for us because Christina Lake pays a lot of taxation into the province’s coffers because of the lake properties. They have huge homes, and what they pay in is significant.”
Tourism impacts
The province originally announced the changes to the trail in 2019, at the time promising no impact to its access or its Great Trail designation.
However, Tracey MacGregor, economic and community development manager with Christina Gateway, said the province has since broken that promise.
“There is no preventative maintenance being conducted on this trail. There is no funding available for maintenance of the rail grade,” she said.
“Five years ago, the province said we were going to notice no particular difference in using this trail. Now it’s saying it’s going to be reverted back to wilderness. So where does that leave us?”
She added that the decision also comes at a time when investments in tourism are at a peak – referencing Destination B.C.’s Rockies to Rainforest strategy and Destination Canada’s Prairies to Pacific campaign.
MacGregor said the CWRT downgrade undermines those strategies.
“Rural communities need to leverage their natural assets so they can attract more tourism and investment into our communities and create resiliency,” she said.
“How do I signal to investors that Christina Lake is a bankable option? How do I say that they should come and set up an off-the-trail restaurant or a repair station if I can’t give them any assurances that in two to three years it’s not going to be shut down completely because there’s no maintenance plan in place?”
Christina Lake has relied on tourism as a major economic driver since its sawmill closed in 1970.
Today, the CWRT supports a wide range of users, including residents, hikers, horseback riders and ATV riders.
“It’s a link to the whole Boundary. Not to mention its historical significance to all of us – including the Duke of Wales,” added Grace McGregor.
A call for coordination
While acknowledging there’s no simple solution, Tracey MacGregor said that makes it even more important for the province to engage with local stakeholders.
“There are 25 different reasons why we shouldn’t close it, and I suspect there is no easy, out-of-the-box solution. We need to come up with something that doesn’t place an unnecessary burden on any one group. So that we can be clear on where accountability starts and stops, and have a clear management path forward.”
The pair is calling on the ministries of Forests, Tourism, Parks and Water, Land and Resource Stewardship to come to the table and help develop a coordinated management plan.
Letters have been sent to those ministries on behalf of user groups and stakeholders, as well as to local MLAs, MPs and other federal and provincial partners. But as of this week, there’s been no formal response.
The issue, according to Tracey MacGregor, is bigger than one trail.
“This is truly a B.C. issue. It could set a precedent for a number of different communities. And we have to think regionally and provincially when it comes to rural tourism. People don’t just come to one tiny little town, they float all around the region. And the more we can make that welcoming for them, the better off we’re all going to be.”
Want to get your business noticed? Have you considered advertising through your local radio station? Speak to one of our sales agents and find out how radio advertising can boost your business today. Call 250-365-7600 or email Vista Radio.
