Thanks to our sponsors
for their generous support:
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THE BC MARINE TRAILS NETWORK officially opened on MAY 14TH, 2011 during the Annual Vancouver Island Paddlefest in Ladysmith, BC!
The Grand Opening ceremonies were thrilling and truly memorable, for both participants and observers. Read the Summer 2011 issue of the BCMTN Newsletter for details, and go to the photo and video links on our News page.
OPENED ARE:
The GULF ISLAND MARINE TRAILS, with 30 access/launch and camping sites so far, and more expected in the near future.
The WEST COAST VANCOUVER ISLAND NORTH MARINE TRAILS currently with 74 access/launch and camping sites, again, with more expected to be added soon.
Look for details of these two trails sections on the Maps page.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL!!
There are so many paddlers who donated their time and energy to this event that it is impossible to mention them all by name. Thank you:
- to the flotilla organizers and launch site coordinators and to the one hundred plus participants in the (as John Kimantas has coined it...) Great 'Floatzilla'
- to those who contacted their friends and spread the word to join the flotilla
- to those on shore who helped haul boats or were simply there to support us!
Thank you to all the BCMTNA member paddle clubs. We really appreciate your continued support!
Thank you to all the vendors at this year's Paddlefest for putting up with the disruptions we caused...
We also want to thank the Vancouver Island Paddlefest Society for allowing us to become part of their events schedule this year and recognizing the BC Marine Trails Network Association with its 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients:
Members of the BC Marine Trails Network Association
"The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes overall contribution to the advancement of paddlesports on Vancouver Island and beyond."
"This year we are recognizing the efforts of a group of volunteers who have worked for a number of years on creating a marine trails network suitable for the use of kayaks, canoes and small beachable watercraft along the BC coastline." (Source: www.paddlefest.bc.ca/events.htm)
Thank you to John Kimantas of Coast & Kayak Magazine, Richard Antonchuk of Alberni Outpost, and Ralph and Lannie Keller of Coast Mountain Expeditions for their special support of the BC Marine Trails initiative!
Thank you to Peter McGee and all the members of the original BC Marine Trail Association in the 1990s who worked so hard to get this initiative started, to Charlie Cornfield, the then Recreation Officer who encouraged them and later assisted and guided the new BCMTNA during its first year, and to Ray Pillman of the Outdoor Recreation Council for supporting the initiative for so many years.
And thank you to our Government Sites and Trails BC partners, especially Janis Leach, Frank Ullman, and Duncan McTavish. Thank you all for your vision, dedication, and support over the past three years.
Prize Winners
The BCMTNA Booth has attended two Outdoor Shows and the Vancouver Island Paddlefest (site of the Grand Opening) this year. Thanks to the generosity of many in the Paddlesports industry, we have been able to offer some really exceptional prizes for those visiting our booth to learn about the BC Marine Trails initiative.
Congratulations to:
- Peter Boon - Package of goodies including a Valhalla $50 Gift Certificate
- Michel Lahaye - 'GoKayak' Gift Certificate
- Audrey Hansen - Hiking Socks & Merino Wool underwear
- Dan Gellein - Greenland Paddle by VIPaddles
- Harry van Heerwaarden - MEC goodie bag
- Ray Murtsell - Comox Valley Kayaks Goodie bag
- Kathleen McKinnel - Alberni Outpost tent
WHAT'S NEXT??
ONGOING WEBSITE CONSTRUCTION:
PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH OUR DEVELOPING WEBSITE. WE REALIZE IT DOES NOT YET ANSWER ALL YOU QUESTIONS ABOUT SITES AND THEIR LOCATIONS. Over the next few months it will be undergoing some significant development towards becoming a more interactive information centre for all aspects of the new BC Marine Trails Network. We are hoping to have a large portion of this work accomplished by fall, 2011.
MORE WORK TO BE DONE:
The Grand Opening is just the start. We now have an official 'backbone' of sites but we still have to fill in the details. We are working with communities to arrange overnight parking and signage on our access/ launch sites. We will also be adding more strategically located commercial sites to supplement the Crown land, regional district, Provincial and National Park sites on the Marine Trails.
We will once again be sending out the ground proofing troops this summer. This will add new sites to our growing inventory to assist in future proposal design. Our focus for this year and next is the rest of Vancouver Island and adjoining islands.
Please contribute to help
make the BC Marine Trail a success...
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