FAQ: Trails BC and Trans Canada Trail

Updated September 2000

Q: What does Trails BC do?

A: Trails BC, also known officially as the Trails Society of BC, is a non-profit registered society (1995) under the Provincial Societies Act. TrailsBC became a Registered Charity effective December 1st, 1996, and can issue Income Tax receipts for donations. Our mandate is to "facilitate the development of shared use and sustainable trail networks, including the Trans Canada Trail, within British Columbia".

Trails BC has been designated by the Trans Canada Trail Foundation to facilitate the development of the Trans Canada Trail in BC.

Our immediate goals are:

• To gather public support for our efforts to build and manage trails.
• To build a local community-based membership of trail-minded individuals and groups.
• To promote a provincial trail network and to record existing trail routes throughout BC.

Our achievements include:

• The development of about 40% of the Trans Canada Trail in BC (southern route), and the registration of 53% of the trail with the Trans Canada Trail Foundation, as of January 2000.
• Amendments to provincial legislation, increasing opportunities for the general public to have recreational access to private and leased lands.
• Advocacy work with the Land Use Coordination Office, resulting in government recognition of the need for a province-wide trail strategy.

Q: How long is the Trans Canada Trail in BC? Across Canada?

A: In BC the trail will be approximately 1,750 km from Victoria to the Alberta border when completed. The northeast section (part of the route from the Arctic) will be another 1,600 km, cutting diagonally across northeast BC through the communities of Fort Nelson and Fort St. John. From St. Johns, Nfld. to Victoria, BC the Trans Canada Trail will be about 16,000 km – the longest shared use trail in the world.

Q: Is there a map of the trail route in: the Lower Mainland/ BC/ across Canada available? Where can I get one?

A: Some sections of the route in BC have not yet been finalized, and there are no detailed maps as yet. We are exploring ways to provide maps, and in the meantime if you have internet access you can check out the following Websites for route information and some limited maps:

• Trails BC (check out the Southwest Region with good trail descriptions from Horseshoe Bay to Hope): http://www.trailsbc.ca
• Cycling the Kettle Valley Railway (Okanagan - also lots of great links): http://www.planet.eon.net/~dan/kvr.html
• Galloping Goose Trail in Victoria (part of the TCT from Victoria to Langford area): http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/galloping_goose.htm
• Trans Canada Trail Foundation (national scale map, relay info, metre purchase form): http://www.tctrail.ca/
• Boundary Sub rail bed (Castlegar to Midway: possible spur trail of TCT): http://www.kootenay.org/Trails/boundary/BoundTrail.html

Q: How much of the trail is developed/ How much still needs to be developed?

A: In BC about 40% of the TC Trail (southern route) has been developed, and is useable (January, 2000). 53% has been registered with the Trans Canada Trail Foundation (same date). Some significant portions in BC remain to be developed. These include part of the Coquihalla Valley and the trail east of Creston to the Alberta border.

Q: When will the Trans Canada Trail be completed/opened?

A: The trail officially opened on September 9^th, 2000, with the finish of the Trans Canada Trail Relay 2000 in Hull, PQ. However, the Trail is still not complete. Trail building groups across Canada are working hard to get trail route registered and actual trail developed. In BC, the goal is to have as much trail as possible accessible to users, and we will continue to build, maintain and improve the trail as needed.

Q: What are the details of the opening ceremonies?

A: The national celebration featured the three final water vessel carriers from the Relay 2000: the Arctic route, the west coast and the east coast carrier poured ocean water from the three oceans into a cermonial fountain in Hull, symbolizing the opening of the TC Trail and the end of the relay. There were celebrations on this date in the provinces as well.

Q: How can I assist? What kind of help do you need?

A: If you haven’t already, the best ways to lend a hand would be to

• buy a metre or two of the trail (see associated question) and
  
• join Trails BC.
  

Your membership will help ensure that the trail will be completed. As a member you will receive a quarterly newsletter on trail activities around the province, meet like-minded people at our AGM and other trail events, and you can help out with events and projects such as:

• trail development and route organization locally, regionally, and around the province
• assisting with events such as fairs, pavilion openings and organization, booths and campaigns
• getting the word out to make this trail, and other connector trails around the province, work over the long term.

We will need your help more than ever after the opening, for continuing trail construction, upgrading and repair; educating the public on proper trail use and etiquette; and organizing trail events.

Q: Is the trail marked? When will it be marked?

A: The trail isn’t marked in areas where the route is not yet finalized. Some parts of the trail are already marked and we are working towards making the route easy to follow in as many areas as possible. Portions of the trail on Vancouver Island in the Nanaimo area are now marked, and signs are going up in the Southwest and Okanagan regions (April 2002).

Q: How do I donate money to the TC Trail? What does it buy/where does the money go?

A: The Trans Canada Trail Foundation is in charge of donations for the Trail, and they accept donations through a program whereby people purchase a metre or metres of the Trail, and in return can put a name or name and inscription on a panel which is part of a trail marker pavilion (you can request a specific pavilion). A trail metre costs $40 and buys a space on a panel of names (up to 25 characters), or you can purchase 10 metres or more for more space. Most of the money (minus administration fee to keep the foundation running) from metre sales is returned to the provinces for trail and pavilion construction.
The Trans Canada Trail Foundation is in Montreal and can be reached at 1 800 465 3636.

Donations can also be made directly to Trails BC. A tax-deductible receipt can be issued for donations. Please contact the Trails BC office at the address below for details.

Q: Where are trail marker pavilions located in BC?

A: In BC there are completed pavilions in Penticton, Vancouver, Burnaby, Hope, Abbotsford, Coquitlam, Fort Langley, Nanaimo and Victoria. Pavilions are planned or in progress in Cranbrook, and North Vancouver. Fort St. John and Ft. Nelson also plan to build pavilions.

The dominance of pavilions in the lower mainland is due to local community support. Most of these will be smaller pavilions and are financed by the community.

Copyright © 2000 - 2008
The Trails Society of British Columbia
803 - 1018 Cambie Street
VANCOUVER BC   V6V 6J6
Email: trailsbc@trailsbc.ca
Phone: (604) 737-3188