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VICTORIA – The government of British Columbia, the Capital Regional District and the Cowichan Valley Regional District are partnering on a $1.2-million project to construct a portion of the Trans Canada Trail. The new 24-km route will connect existing recreational trails in the regional districts.
“The B.C. government is committed to helping communities improve environmental sustainability,” said Environment Minister Barry Penner. “So it’s great to be able to assist these two regional districts as they work to see this important trail project through. The development of this world-class trail fits right in with our government’s strong support of healthy and sustainable communities.”
“To help B.C. communities improve their environmental sustainability, our government has also recently announced the creation of the $40-million LocalMotion Fund,” said Community Services Minister Ida Chong. “Over the next four years, the Province will cost-share capital projects on a 50/50 basis with municipal governments to build bike paths, walkways and greenways, and improve accessibility for people with disabilities.”
The new trail will
branch north from the Capital
Regional District’s Galloping Goose Regional Trail in the City of Langford
through Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park Reserve to join the existing
Cowichan Valley Regional Trail south of Shawnigan Lake. The funds
will be used by the two regional districts to proceed with trail planning and
design, a detailed cost estimate and construction.
“The construction of this trail will complete an important community vision identified in the CRD Parks Master Plan and will provide recreational and tourism opportunities for generations to come,” CRD board chair Denise Blackwell said.
The route will be developed as a multi-purpose, non-motorized trail for hikers, cyclists and equestrian use. Once this portion of the Trans Canada Trail is completed, users will be able to travel from downtown Victoria to Lake Cowichan.
“Connection of these popular regional trail networks contributes significantly towards completion of the 140-km Cowichan Valley Regional Trail initiative,” noted CVRD board chair Jack Peake. “The CVRD’s regional trails program links our communities, enhances outdoor recreation accessibility and creates new opportunities for the local recreation-tourism industry.”
“The volunteers of Trails BC have been working for the past several years, assembling the Trans Canada Trail across B.C.,” said Jeannette Klein, Vancouver Island regional director of Trails BC. “The CRD and the CVRD will now be able to complete an important link in this wonderful, cross-Canada recreational trail. This funding release is great news!”
The Trans Canada Trail is a nationwide initiative to connect Canada’s provinces and territories via an 18,000 km multi-use recreational trail. The trail is being completed section-by-section, with many segments incorporating existing trails such as the Galloping Goose and Cowichan Valley regional trails. For more information about the Trans Canada Trail, visit www.tctrail.ca or www.trailsbc.ca.
The B.C. government also supports healthy living programs through ActNow BC, the health promotion platform that is helping British Columbians live healthier lives by being more physically active, eating better foods, living tobacco free and making healthy choices in pregnancy.
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A map of the proposed trail and a photo are available at:
www.mediaroom.gov.bc.ca//DisplayEventDetails.aspx?eventId=343
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Media Relations 250 953-4577 |
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